1. Joash Papaili
2. Bailey Simmonson
3. Brian Kelly
4. Sean Russell
5. Josh Addo-Carr
6. Jonah Pezet
7. Mitchell Moses (c)
8. Jack Williams
9. Rylex Smith
10. Junior Paulo
11. Kelma Tuilagi
12. Kitione Kautoga
13. Dylan Walker
Interchange:
14. Tallyn Da Silva
15. Sam Tuivati
16. Charlie Guymer
17. Luca Moretti
18. Jack De Belin
19. Apa Twiddle
Reserves:
20. Ronald Volkman
21. Teancum Brown
22. Araz Nanva
INs: Apa Twiddle, Jack De Belin
OUTs: Isaiah Iongi, Matt Doorey
Referee: Peter Gough
Joash Papalii is the new fullback with Isaiah Iongi (ankle) sidelined. Charlie Guymer joins the bench to fill the void left by Matt Doorey (ACL). Veteran prop Jack de Belin has been added to the six-man bench along with fullback Apa Twidle, who bagged four tries in NSW Cup last week.
Replies
That's an ordinary looking team.
When Penisini, Iongi, Doorey and Hopgood are out injured then year that will make it ordinary. Had those 4 be able to play it looks better of course.
Will Jason Ryels make the stupid statement the game plan will be to play through the middle, if parramatta do that a flogging is in store
When did he say that?
Colin, I thought Ryles talked about our short passes in the middle not just "burn through middle"? The Eels lack hulking mobile props for that middle power game plan
Did you see J R Foxtels interview prior to game ,also how many back line movements did you notice,that's where tries are scored Daz
The press conference prior to the Panthers game on the eels website. https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2026/03/27/round-4-coachs-media--...
They were speaking about NRL rule changes and how its changed the product of the game etc. JR said "all I want to know is what are the rules and let us know as soon as possible."
I may be overthinking this but it sould like eels were not ready for how fast the game and ruck would be with the 6 agains. Cause in the trial and vegas games, the refs ruck interpretion for 6 agains was essentially the same as last year. Our defence in the trials actually looked strong espicially in the ruck. But in round 1 the speed and control around the ruck all changed with refs giving so many 6 agains that we still have not been able to learn how to defend with these changes. Hence, making me think during the pre-season we werent training for this type of ruck.
Which is odd if true because VLandys is a pretty open book - he wants a faster game with more tries so he can sell more TV ad time and make the NRL worth even more in broadcast rights.
We should have been ready for the touch footy. Other teams were.
I dont think other teams were because many coaches and players have questioned these decisions and like eels so many teams have conceeded a lot of points. It is just eels have been the worst of the lot and a big reason to do with that is we probably have the worst starting middles in the NRL right now.
Same for every team though EA so being unprepared is something that could be said about all the teams going soso early.
Simply put in the first few months of the comp imo you simplify the game keep it really basic.Build into the season concentrate on a specific weakness you have in your team and start there with the improvement.
I mentioned very early Sam Moa and first up contact with regards to our foward pack especially.Whats happened here has nothing to do with the rules it's an attitude thing and for me that's what's gone missing we are being dictated to physically this has to change.When I heard in the last presser JR didn't know where the mentioned had gone to me that was a worry and now with the onset of injuries this is going to be a real test the next month of footy.
I see us as a 500 team which in a rebuild isn't all bad but it's glaring to see we just don't have the quality in depth or in elite talent that's the facts of it.Everyone understand the limitations and elephant in the room now it's upto the club to fix it.
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