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
My 20 year old son jumped to the Roosters in 2018 when they held the shield aloft to my chagrin. Try to adopt him out but who wants a greasy faced teenager with bad BO and a penchant for people magazines. He's a heavy weight boxer now so I keep those comments to myself. My hatred for the roosters is now personal, but I digress.
Moses needs to stop reffing games and badgering them and start concentrating on his game and running the team. Like some have said he before ease up on constantly kicking to Lomax. It's like groomsman on a bucks night ( ya know it's going to cum ) dinks forJAC it worked before try again. I fear the worst for Saturday night and the ear bashing I will get from my son. So I will dust of the people magazines and use them as a distraction. Go the EELS give them as much hell as you can muster.
Neegan Great post mate, please become a regular!
Can't see Eels winning this after their performance last week.. Hawkins should be number 6
X A million billion
I dread this game every year with the wife being a born and bred Rooster.
I have the displeasure of watching these games with her Rooster friends one of which delights in walking in wearing a sombrero.
One of the few times I've had the last laugh was watching the win at commbank in the infamous Dylan Brown kneeing incident .
I had the opportunity to say goodbye to the rooster fans that night who left early for some reason with the rest of the crowd , that's sustained me up until now.
One of but a few highlights in our rivalry at home that's going on 23 years without much to gloat about as an Eel fan.
A win for Parra would all but snuff out their chances of making the eight with them facing Melbourne then there arch rivals Souths.
In a year where we didn't get one over the dogs or Storm,we're able to beat Manly , Broncos and the Tigers a win over these bastards would be the highlight of the year for me.
I don't care how we win , since bins, send offs , suspensions just get the two points and I'll happily start the off season early.
Roosters walk into most games with the talent advantage just by being the roosters haha. They can't seem to touch the storm or panthers but which is strange
Not going to lie here but I don't like the look of our bench at all there's zero impact amongst that lot unless TDS shows me something I haven't seen yet.
Loved the old Naked gun movies poppa, will definitely take the minister for war and finance on a date night to watch it. Of the same ilk I miss movies like flying high.Cant beat a good belly laugh in these turbulent times.
Flying High is a movie that many do not get but is hilarious for those of culture haha. Even the second one, though not amazing, has some good laughs.
As was Top Secret.
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