It doesn't change the better part of the last three years, but we won the 2026 Witzer Pre-season Challenge on the back of some encouraging trial form.
Gus Gould says trial results mean nothing. What matters is physicality, fitness and energy within systems. The Eels passed that.
The first trial vs the Sharks was a 40–6 cakewalk. The second vs the Roosters, a contender, essentially a full-strength, was a better test.
The Roosters drew early blood, before a lightning storm put a blowtorch on scheduling, pausing proceedings. On resumption of play, it was punch for punch. Sean Russell, with a bear-like fend, busted through and linked up with the Fox to level the scores six-all. Then, 10-6 to the Roosters. Next, 12-10 to the Eels.
Moses had a mixed half. A blazing try: brilliant support play off a Dylan Walker short ball in the middle. A few kicks out on the full. Pezet is showing glimpses, but Moses backs him.
“He’s a very confident kid, very loud," Moses told SEN Radio last week.
“We've been linking up pretty well at training. He loves his footy, I love my footy, so it's been a pretty easy transition."
“It's what we needed, you know what I mean?"
"We need someone with a strong personality in that position that will take chances."
Five minutes before half-time, it was the Roosters young gun that took his chances in a one-two punch. Momentum shifted.
Sam Walker waltzed in bamboozling the Eels. Three minutes later, he and Angus combined to give them a 22–12 lead at the break.
Whyte was a semi-trailer in the middle, and two tries through aerial raids on Simmonson’s corner rang alarm bells. The blowtorch was on.
After 46 years, it felt familiar. Early effort, before the fade. Remember 2024?
Moses was off in the second half. But somehow, in a blur of twenty-four interchanges, Samrani’s nose for the tryline, Joash, Lorenzo, Big Sam, the New Brown and the rest of the Baby Eels, the second half was won 16–0.
Our line speed, 7.1 to 5.8 (pre-contact metres), rushed the Roosters into errors. For anyone who knows what those numbers mean, over 6.0 is good. Over 7.0, raises eyebrows. Ryley Smith take a bow.
We were deserved winners of the Pre-Season Challenge. Even if we are meant to be cursed.
Most winners have ordinary seasons. Manly won in 2023, Brisbane in 2024, and both slid to twelveth. Brisbane, though, won again in 2025 and became premiers.
Lombardi told us winning is a habit. So is losing. Something similar could be said about the Eels' evolving culture.
That ties into good squad depth for our brutal weak-link sport.
In both trials, whatever jerseys were on, 1 through to 28, they all knew what to do. They trusted. They all wore the same badge on the same page.
On Wednesday night's Members' Forum, February 11th, 1EE members heard the same alignment from our CEO, head coach, chairman and GM. The party pies didn’t last long.
That journey probably started three years ago. The club, removing player options from then on, creating new strategies that largely went under the radar.
Trials might mean nothing, but the rest might not.
The Day After.
Replies
Trial form means nothing but it certainly doesn't hurt to win either. I mean that's precisely what both teams are trying to do in a trial match. Winning is infectious.
Exactly, Muttman. It's about habits and mindset. Everyone always says trial form means nothing, but some players don't like to loss coin tosses or ping pong rallies no-one is watching.
It's not so much the result in trials, but what you did to get there. Parra showed that they are up for a challenge, especially coming from behind to win. That's what would excite Ryles at the moment. Not winning trial games, not even winning the Pre-season Challenge, but turning up and doing what you are meant to be doing for the team. That's what builds confidence and a hunger to win. If we can take this form and attitude into Round 1, anything is possible. Excited for what could be ahead!
Good points as usual, Longfin. I'm not sure if anyone else felt this, but when the Roosters gained momentum, with Moses off, kids on, I expected 12-46 not 28-22 (16-0 second half) and the conclusion "it's only a trial".
As a fan I don't look at the score it gives me a chance to hone in on certain things much like last year all I looked at was the middle of the ruck purely because for me as a fan I wanted to see a game we can take to Melbourne and win with.
Pre season is the only indicator that allows me to judge this.So from a fan perspective I take quite a bit about what you take out of preseason results regardless.
Sam Moa from what I'm seeing your fowards are doing there jobs first contact wrestle and numbers in the tackle are spot on right now.Edge defense looks connected and secure I've liked what I've seen.
Ive also liked the connection and combination in attack and defense also.For the most part everyone has slotted in fairly smoothly and the buy in to what JR is selling has been taken onboard across the squad.
Id say signs are very positive and fans should be optimistic for us being competitive yr2 into a rebuild.
Coryn, spot on. Good signs.
One to twenty-eight there was buy in.
Systems. Culture. Depth. Fitness. Energy. Our line speed ruffled the Chooks' feathers at times.
I don't see second year syndromes yet, or regression.
Hopefully, it continues. How we handle successive losses when they happen, and bounce back, will be important.
What I liked most was when our firsts ran off, the replacements stepped up. The intensity against Cronulla maintained when the youngsters came on and these youngsters did the same against the Roosters to come from behind. Injuries will occur but our replacements seem to be up to the standard and system we need.
GF Tickets available yet??
Phil, well said. That impressed me too. You expect a drop off or worse. Especially, during trials. It didn't happen.
If you're going to R1, be on the lookout for one of our most esteemed and educated members.
The cautionary tale of 2012, played 4 trials, won all 4 trials. Went on to win 6 games all year. Granted we have a much better roster than 2012 under Kearney but yeah when i watch trials i do not normally get emotional as i do during the year. I look at it with players and their form more than the result. Like we were down 22-12 at HT, i was not bothered as i felt our performance was not too bad.
A lot of coaches mention they would prefer no trials. I think trials matter as it can form combinations and lifts morale. Compared to 2025, our first trial was dominant, like this year, but our 2nd trial we were with all due respect rubbish and it was an indicator to where this squad was. Fast forward to this year our 2nd trial arguably was better than our first. We got better as the game went. Trials help that going into the year.
But i will say, i said last year at around Round 6-7, that we need to finish strong to build for 2026. We did finish strong and now reaping the rewards of that finish and has given us confidence and the players buy in for the season.
Wise words, LB. Can't disagree. Trials often lie, but they can also reveal. I'm happy with how 1-28 played, especially the kids. There appears buy in, fitness and cohesion. Hopefully, that isn't an illusion.
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