UPDATE: We upset the Chooks 30-10. We hustled, hunted in packs. Pressured the Roosters into imploding. Roosters made 11 errors completing 1/9 in the last twenty minutes when the game was on the line at 20-10.
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
UPDATE LAST HOUR: Lomax is playing. Roosters pack reshuffled. Lenui and Ioelu starts. Watson and Wong to bench.
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: |
Roosters: 1. James Tedesco 2. Junior Tupou 3. Billy Smith 4. Robert Toia 5. Mark Nawaqanitawase 6. Hugo Savala 7. Sam Walker 10. Lindsay Collins 14. Benaiah Ioelu 17. Spencer Leniu 11. Angus Crichton 13. Victor Radley 8. Naufahu Whyte Bench: 9. Connor Watson 12. Siua Wong 15. Salesi Foketi 16. Egan Butcher 18th Man: 18. Ethan King |
| Cut: 18. Dean Hawkins, 20. Dan Keir,
22. Joey Lussick, 19. Haze Dunster |
Cut: 19. Blake Steep, 20. Taylor Losalu, 22. Tom Rodwell 21. Sandon Smith |
| 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
Just been to see Naked Gun (with my Grandson)....Liam Neeson (Frank Drebin) is who we need.
How was it? Trying to hard to be like the originals or good on it's own?
I want spoof movies to be back in fashion.
Pretty good one liners, my 20 year old grandson took me and really enjoyed it, surprised me somewhat because its not a type of humour that I thought 20 year olds of today would necessarily understand. He was way ahead of me, which is not unusual.......as my youngest son 43 told me a little while back, your not as sharpe as you were Dad, my grandson said something similar and it ended in Poppy.
Some great moments just don't get lost in the plot.LOL
I reckon Liam Neeson handled it pretty well and the surprise was Pamela Anderson, she must be in her mid 50's and there may have been plenty of makeup, but no obvious plastic surgery or botox. She actually acted rather well, when my grandson asked what she had been in, I nonchantly mentioned the classics "Tommy Lee and Pam".....and a lot of other porn movies LOL
Glad to see the mood has lifted on here lads. Pops, I’ve dodged that movie like a banana peel on a dance floor.
PS: There's always Baywatch, and those unforgettable red swimsuits.
I have never noticed you as the "dodgey" type Hoey lol
I notice that it is only about an 1 hour 30 mins barely. I will watch it on streaming but a nice runtime. Liam Neeson is great, oscar nominee and should have won over Tom Hanks, Philadelphia, for Schindler's List. Though Hanks in Philadelphia was incredible too.
Just back from seeing Naked Gun also. Funniest movie I have seen in years, A couple of the best one liners since The Marx Bros. I have never heard so many people genuinely laughing hysterically out loud in a movie theatre. You have to keep an eye on the background as well as watching/listening whats on screen. If ever there was a perfect bit of casting to replace Lesley Nielsen it's Liam Neeson. Don't forget to stay until the very end and read all of the closing credits
Parramatta 0 Roosters 64 if they take it easy on us
Had we beaten Souths you would not predict anything near that. I would take 2 good weeks out of last 3.
Dylan Walker's 250th he has won every milestone game. Watch us ruin that streak.
JAC's 200th next week then Penisini's 100th the week after.
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