Eels Blogs

Isiaih Iongi – Fullback (turns 22)

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SZHqokzW2Lk

General/Player information:

• Probably the most watched player on the weekend. If you not only replace but then allow for Gutho to leave, it is clear how highly the club rate Iongi.
• Been playing NSW Cup since 2022 so certainly has done his apprenticeship.
• At the start of 2024, he was regarded as the best fullback yet to play NRL. He has been learning the past few years from Dylan Edwards which is great. His defensive game is quite good.
• He has great explosiveness/acceleration and footwork which allows him to frequently break tackles and exploit small spaces. His top speed however is probably average. He is good under the high ball too and is very good with support play.
• He still has to work on his ball playing. So please remember, like any young player, he still has a few areas to improve on. His yardage is not as good as Edwards either as he is a smaller body. He also needs to eradicate handling errors from his game too.
• Only negative for most of us here is that he is actually a Queenslander.

Player comparison = Mixture of Keano Kini and Dylan Edwards

Richard Penisni – Centre/Winger (turns 20)

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ri7UbdestR8

General/Player information:

• Like his older brother, Richie went to Kings school and played union but has been in the eels pathway for a while. Richie had a great 2023 season where he even made his NSW Cup debut at 18 but that unfortunately ended with a concussion after just 4 minutes.
• For the 2024 season the club had planned big things for Richie however he did his ACL very early in the season. The club still kept an eye on him as he was involved with the club and even went to Darwin for the game against Dolphins. Now he is back to good fitness.
• Richie looks like an athlete. He is slightly taller than his brother. He has a really similar play style like Will especially through the juniors. He has the ability to break tackles or set up his winger. Importantly, Richie has been a good defender in junior footy too. While he lacks that high level speed and acceleration, he has that power and athleticism. So as you can tell very similar to Will.
• Like any athlete, it may take Richie a full year to properly recover from the ACL, but he seems ready to have a strong year. Top 30 contract next year shows how much the club view him as a top prospect.
• I believe his future will be as a winger.

Player comparison = Will Penisni 

Charlie Guymer – Lock and Backrower (turns 21)

Highlights: none

General/Player information

• Interesting transformation it has been for Guymer. Been with eels since HM where he was a centre. Then transitioned to the backrow in SG ball. Then moved to lock in NSW Cup which I believe is his best position.
• Has a great tackle technique and work ethic to be in the middle. I think he lacks the explosiveness and lateral movement to be a backrower to be honest.
• Is highly regarded at the club and surprised he is not on a top 30 contract already. Was the SG ball captain in our 2023 winning season.
• What an NRL debut. Not because he had a spectacular try. But because how he outshone and outperformed our senior forwards (tbf were poor) with pure fire and grit. Absolutely tackled his heart out with some big shots on big names players like Murray. Was I surprised? No. Maybe did not expect him to be that brutal, but he was folding players in cup on the regular.
• Unfortunately his chance to play more NRL was cut short with that syndesmosis injury.
• He does need to work on his defence under fatigue. In NSW Cup he would sometimes miss some important tackles under fatigue. But as he gets fitter and develops through the pre-season and being older, this will slowly be removed from his game.
• Do not expect barnstorming runs etc but just someone who can hopefully generate quickplay the balls and work hard in defence.

Player comparison = Liam Martin/Ruben Cotter

A player I have compared him a lot to for the past couple years is Jurbo and Martin. However now that I believe Jurbo is on the decline, I believe a good middle to compare him to is Cotter. A smaller body shape but like both Martin and Cotter, complete workhorses that can hit hard and fearless.

Joash Papali’i  - Fullback and Winger (turns 21)

Highlights: https://www.yowutube.com/watch?v=Qo2K3M9NvWU

General/Player information:

• A player everyone on here has heard about in your new signings. Has played 2 years of NSW Cup despite only turning 20 this year.
• This year in NSW cup he rotated between fullback, wing and the 14 role.
• Has good acceleration and speed but nothing too amazing. He has good footwork but probably has better play making than Iongi.
• Again, some work to do on his overall game.
• If you see his NSW cup stats, his meters/game is a bit underwhelming sometimes as well as his tackle breaks. A big pre-season and I personally would love to see him develop into a 14.
• He can goal-kick too.

Player comparison = Jayden Campbell and Sua Fa’alongo

Jordan Samrani – Backrow and Centre (turns 23)

Highlights: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iXV2TQuykI

General/Player information

• 2023 (broken ankle) and early 2024 was unfortunately disrupted by injury.
• He played centre, backrow and on the interchange for the dogs NSW Cup side.
• A perfect number 17 that can play centre and backrow. Has just enough speed to play in the centres.
• He is a very strong runner of the ball and can run good lines which is most of his NSW cup highlights.
• Capable of having those games at centre where he breaks plenty of tackles and runs for over 200m.
• I believe his future is at 17 but perhaps NRL wise, he is more of a 2026 player to watch.
• I have not seen much of him to know his full game and weaknesses. All I know is that after the injuries and with the size on him, he can struggle sometimes laterally which means he is more suited to the backrow these days. 

Player comparison = Dylan Lucas