Eels Blogs

Game Day Blog R3: Danger Game as Desperate Dragons Hunt First Win (Hard Fought 30-20 Win)

UPDATE: Jack Williams starts at prop. Dylan Walkers starts at lock. Hopgood goes to the bench. Jason Ryles confirmed Jack De Belin, who has been cut this week against his former club, needed to work on some areas of his game in attack and defence bu

Round 3 Team List v St George Illawarra Dragons

1. Isaiah Iongi

2. Bailey Simmonson

3. Jordan Samrani

4. Sean Russell

5. Josh Addo-Carr

6. Jonah Pezet

7. Mitchell Moses (c)

8. J’maine Hopgood

9. Ryley Smith

10. Junior Paulo

11. Kelma Tuilagi

12. Kitione Kautoga

13. Jack Williams

Interchange:

14. Dylan Walker

1

State of the Site 2026

With the 2026 season now underway I thought I would provide an overview of how the site is tracking both in numbers and in overall feedback we've been receiving.

Analytics

2025 built on the 2024 season and 1 Eyed Eel continues to grow. Numbers-wise w

Winning It Twice, Off The Canvas

Gus Gould often says there is only one thing harder than winning a game.

It’s winning it twice.

In Round 1, 2021, Parramatta came back from 16–0 down at halftime to beat Brisbane 24–16 at Suncorp.

Five years later, in Round 2 on Thursday night, it

Game Day Blog R2 v Broncos: Back on the Horse (W40-32)

Update: Eels won it twice in a thriller that had to be seen to be believed. 

Both suffered heavy round one losses. Both will be seeking redemption.

The Eels won the last meeting here 22-20 in a Walsh-inspired cliffhanger, but they have lost four of

Round 2 Team List v Brisbane Broncos

1. Isaiah Iongi

2. Bailey Simmonson

3. Will Pensini

4. Sean Russell

5. Josh Addo-Carr

6. Jonah Pezet

7. Mitchell Moses (c)

8. Jack Williams

9. Ryley Smith

10. Junior Paulo

11. Kelma Tuilagi

12. Kitione Kautoga

13. Jack De Belin

Interchange:

14. Dy

Take Aways from the game

Positive Comments:

No injuries.

All other comments:

• After the first minute of the game I immediately knew that no matter how good we try to play that we would not win the game. The corruption was pretty clear. But wow we played awful.
• The sin bin was ob

Kemp: Eels vs Storm R1 refereeing was "Disgraceful"

Denan Kemp, the former Broncos NRL player and SEN commentator was equally scathing of the Eels as the officiating in the Eels’ Round 1 loss to the Melbourne Storm in his podcast.

“The jersey deserved better than that second half," he admitted.

“(But

Game Day Blog R1 vs Storm: Gilgamesh and the Beer Goddess (L52-4)

Update: Heavy 52-4 loss. Worst loss since the 64-10 loss to the Storm in round 9, 2019 at Suncorp's Magic Round.

Epic heroes come and they go. What truly makes the hero is whether their fame goes to their head and they become a self-obsessed jerk,

Round 1 Team List v Melbourne Storm

1. Isaiah Iongi

2. Bailey Simmonson

3. Will Pensini

4. Brian Kelly

5. Sean Russell

6. Jonah Pezet

7. Mitchell Moses (c)

8. J’maine Hopgood

9. Ryley Smith

10. Junior Paulo

11. Jack Williams

12. Kitione Kautoga

13. Jack De Belin

Interchange:

14. Dylan Walker

15. Sa

Eels win in the Supreme Court

Summary:

Zac Lomax has settled his legal dispute with the Parramatta Eels, agreeing he cannot return to the NRL without the club’s written consent before the 2028 season.

In a surprise development in the NSW Supreme Court, both parties reached a settle

Official: Parramatta Eels upgrade Teancum Brown

The Parramatta Eels are pleased to announce that rising talent Teancum Brown has been upgraded to a development contract for the 2026 season, and an NRL contract extension for the 2027 and 2028 seasons.

Brown joined the Eels in 2024 in the Club’s Jer

Parramatta, NRL to investigate images of rising Eels star

Iongi: Recent Illicit Substance Scandals vs NRL Sanctions

Even if the Iongi photos are legitimate with alleged illicit substance use, it likely happened years ago while he was at the Panthers. It appears to be a personal smear campaign. Hopefully, we fully support Iongi. He's young and players aren't angels

Who Said Trials Mean Nothing?

It doesn't change the better part of the last three years, but we won the 2026 Witzer Pre-season Challenge on the back of some encouraging trial form.

Gus Gould says trial results mean nothing. What matters is physicality, fitness and energy within

Poppa's Corner: A Very Special Young Man Who Just Happens to Be a Parramatta Player

Trial #2, Game Day Blog v Roosters: We Just Won the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge

Let's go Eels.

Can't wait to see Moses / Pezet vs Daly / Walker

This could be sensational.

Prediction: Eels 32 - Rorters 18

Final Score: Eels 28 - Rorters 22

https://www.nrl.com/news/2026/02/19/the-wrap-mitchs-eels-in-six-way-fight-for-pre-season-

Trial #2, Pre-Season Challenge Week 3: Team List v Roosters

1. Isaiah Iongi

2. Bailey Simmonson

3. Will Pensini

4. Sean Russell

5. Josh Addo-Carr 

6. Jonah Pezet

7. Mitchell Moses (c)

8. J’maine Hopgood

9. Ryley Smith

10. Junior Paulo

11. Jack Williams

12. Kitione Kautoga

13. Jack De Belin

Interchange:

14.

Ryles 2.0: 2026 gets off to a bright start in Eels trial

Trials always present the double edged sword of fans getting excited that footy is finally returning, while trying to hold back on any bold predictions given the chopping and changing that occurs at this time of year. 

Parramatta fielded a mix of you

Picking Up Where We Left Off?

Obviously, it’s only a trial. Other than reviving Henson Park, at best it's test of whether juniors' physicality is up to the task. We passed that test. Perhaps, there were symptoms of something else.

We seemed to have picked up where we left off at