R25 v Chooks: Baba Yaga

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. We must bring controlled aggression or suffer a similar fate.

Middle
Whyte, Collins and Leniu will aim to smash us. Yet the Roosters concede more tries here than any other side. Will we find cracks and ice them?

Roosters’ Left vs Eels’ Right
Moses, Lomax, Penisini and Tuilagi own the game's 4th-leakiest right edge. 5 of the last 7 tries we've conceded have come down this corridor. They will be targeted by Walker, Savala, Tedesco, Tupou, Smith et al. Also, the lion-hearted Zac Lomaz has 7 tries in 7 games. Will it continue?

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 14 losses from the last 16 games since 2021. Someone has called the Officiating Gods to check if the body is buried. Baba Yaga waits. We may need Refereering Relationship Crisis Counselling.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)

Eels: 1. Isaiah Iongi 2. Zac Lomax 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Dylan Brown 5. Josh Addo-Carr 6. Joash Papali’i 7. Mitchell Moses 8. J’maine Hopgood 9. Ryley Smith 10. Junior Paulo 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Jack Williams 13. Dylan Walker Bench: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Charlie Guymer 16. Matt Doorey 17. Jordan Samrani Reserves: 18. Dean Hawkins 19. Haze Dunster 20. Dan Keir 21. Toni Mataele 22. Joey Lussick	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 19. Blake Steep 20. Taylor Losalu 21. Sandon Smith 22. Tom Rodwell
Cut:TBC	Cut:TBC
Coach: Jason Ryles	Coach: Trent Robinson
INS Dan Keir Dean Hawkins Haze Dunster Joey Lussick Toni Mataele OUTS Luca Moretti (season, calf)	INS Junior Tupou Sandon Smith Siua Wong Taylor Losalu Tom Rodwell OUTS Daniel Tupou

Sportsbet wooden spoon watch: Titans $1.57, Knights $2.30, Eels $34 odds have lengthened. Souths are off the list.

"My take is it's some armchair expert just like us having his opinion no different than he's most likley done on here under whatever name he goes by . "

"If South Sydney are our ultimate bogey side/the ibiza final boss then Easts would be the sub boss. They have won 8/10 against us and average over 24 points at least in terms of scoring points."

"The young Halangahu kid from the dragons is built in the same mould as Fifita. He played well tonight in a losing team, making 45 tackles with zero misses and 122 metres gained over the 80 minutes.
Let Wayne have Fifita. Lacks pace laterally and…"

Replies

- - - Hell On Eels > Eli Stephens August 21, 2025 at 9:30pm
      
      Eli, Unbelievable. Would've loved to watch this game. 72 mins. Souths 34-0. 36/38 sets. 4 errors. Crickeys.
      - Eli Stephens > Hell On Eels August 21, 2025 at 9:33pm
        
        Near perfect footy from them in the wet conditions, a Wayne Bennett game plan working to perfection
        
        Hell On Eels > Eli Stephens August 21, 2025 at 9:39pm
        
        Yep. Souths 40-0. Full time. 39/41 sets. 5 errors.
        
        A typical Bennett team. Give no quarter. Disciplined. If Souths have Murray, Keon and Mitchell healthy, they'll be a different team next year. Like their kids too. Gray. Duncan. Hubner.
        
        Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Hell On Eels August 21, 2025 at 10:03pm
        
        They looked lost without Debelin
        
        Hell On Eels > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 August 21, 2025 at 10:07pm
        
        Haha, Chief. The JDB factor.
Strange-eel August 21, 2025 at 9:53pm

It makes the loss last week fell a little better. Dragons weren't good but Souths didn't let them be.
Steel be with you August 22, 2025 at 12:02am

If South Sydney are our ultimate bogey side/the ibiza final boss then Easts would be the sub boss. They have won 8/10 against us and average over 24 points at least in terms of scoring points.

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