Last week, the Boogeyman struck again. This week, the Eels host Baba Yaga. The one you send to kill the Boogeyman, Johnny Wick reminds us.
History is a brute. We have lost 10 of their last 12 against the Roosters since 2017. Not a single win outside Parramatta since 2008. Our most recent win against them was over three years ago. Round 15, 2022.
The Roosters arrive in ruthless form. Sam Walker's wizardry is back steering, and they've won three-straight steamrolling the third-placed Dogs, Dolphins, and Manly. They've scored 96 points in two weeks while the Eels have conceded 100 points to them in their last three meetings. An average 14–33 defeat.
For us, there are glimmers. Commbank. The place we've had our only two wins against them in nine years. It’s Dylan Walker’s 250th NRL game. And if Moses hits top gear, hope lives.
This week’s focus: Unity. Kaizen. Can we bounce-back after being out-hussled in last week’s 20–16 loss to Souths?
Matchups
Forwards Battle: The Dogs and Dolphins tried to bash the Roosters. They got blown away.
Middle: Whyte, Collins and Leniu will aim to smash us. Yet the Roosters concede more tries here than any other side.
Roosters’ Left vs Eels’ Right: Moses, Lomax, Penisini and Tuilagi own the 4th-leakiest right edge. Five of our last seven tries were conceded here. Lomax has 7 tries in 7 games.
Eels’ Left vs Roosters’ Right: The Roosters’ right edge has Walker and Nawaqanitawase threats, but it can be error-prone. Can Papali’i, Moses, Brown and Addo-Carr pounce?
Eels vs Raymond-Gee: Under those two officials, collectively, we have lost 14 from the last 16 games since 2021. Baba Yaga.Can Walker’s milestone galvanise the squad?
Bottom Line
We own just one win from ten against top-eight teams this year. And 85 errors in 6 weeks. We're rebuilding. And lack cohesion at key moments. The Roosters, meanwhile, are humming. An intimidating power game. Every inch a finals force in their trademark late-season surge.
If we hold their middle. If we tighten our fundamentals, there’s a path. Better ball control. Support. Execution. Last-tackle options. Urgent kick-chases. Win the loose ball contest. Hussle. Fight. If not, a blowout looms. Kaizen is at stake.
History, form and the bookies all scream Rooster. The head nods along. But the heart clings to Commbank magic.
Moses’ leadership, boot and composure will be decisive. Can he be the glue that binds and inspires? Or will Baba Yaga devour again?
Team Lists
Saturday, 7:35pm AEST, 23 August 2025, Eels v Rooster, Commbank Stadium, Parramatta
Sportsbet: Eels $3.20, Roosters $1.35
Weather: Could be Wet.
Referees: Wyatt Raymond (on-field ref), Adam Gee (bunker), Chris Sutton (touch judge)
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Eels: |
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Junior Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 8. Naufahu Whyte 9. Connor Watson 10. Lindsay Collins 11. Angus Crichton 12. Siua Wong 13. Victor Radley Bench: 14. Benaiah Ioelu 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Egan Butcher 17. Spencer Leniu Reserves: 18. Ethan King 21. Sandon Smith |
| Cut: 18. Dean Hawkins, 20. Dan Keir,
22. Joey Lussick |
Cut: 19. Blake Steep, 20. Taylor Losalu, 22. Tom Rodwell |
| Coach: Jason Ryles |
Coach: Trent Robinson |
|
INS |
INS |
Sportsbet wooden spoon watch: Titans $1.57, Knights $2.30, Eels $34 odds have lengthened. Souths are off the list.
Replies
No one really expecting much from Parra this week outside of the four walls at the club, need to use this to their advantage and ambush the chookies
Chooks Rounds 1-18: 7 wins, 8 losses, 3 byes. Then Sam Walker returns for Round 19.
Rounds 19-24 Chooks 4 wins, 2 losses. Those games? Chooks 31-14 (Dragons), 18-31 (Sharks), 30-34 (Storm), 20-4 (Manly), 64-12 (Dolphins), 32-12 (Dogs). It's obvious Chooks are a better side with Walker.
The Eels' high error rate and poor finishing of opportunities, and defensive frailties in their own red zone, suggest this is going to be a tough night and the Eels being within 20 points at full time might be the best outcome? Losing to the Bunnies should be a giant kick up the you-know-where, though, so will the Eels show greater competence and more energy and make a game of it?
Haze Dunster comes in for Lomax
Mataele also coming in for Guymer or Samrani
You know this or guessing?.
Educated guess, Lomax wasn't at captains run, Dunster was on his wing.
Mataele pulled from cup but at captains run today
We're u at the captain’s run Joel. Just asking
No but I know somebody who was there
Have to be for Samrani we don't need another edge on the bench, looks like Lomax definitely wasn't training with them and haze was on that wing
God help us. Just trial a jersey flegg kid instead
Let's see what haze can do, expectations definitely low for this game now but just don't lose by 30
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