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Tackles and Tinnies - E29 - Parramatta Eels 2025 Review & 2026 Preview
27 Plays3 months ago
Parramatta are stuck in the hardest spot in footy: not bad enough to blow it up… not good enough to scare anyone in September. They finished 12th in 2025 (10–14, -76) and the vibe was basically “transition year, identity pending.”
In this episode of our 17-part 2026 NRL mini-series, we break down what actually went wrong, what the roster reset means, and why the Eels’ season could get decided before winter. They’ve lost serious leadership and yardage (Gutho/RCG/Sivo) and now they’re asking a new spine to find chemistry fast.
We get into:
- 2025 snapshot + why it felt like no-man’s land
- The roster shift: de Belin + Pezet + Brian Kelly in, big culture change out
- The early-season danger zone: 11 straight games before the first bye, with Storm/Broncos/Panthers early
- Projected Round 1 look: Iongi, Moses + Pezet, and the selection headaches around the pack/bench
- Ryan’s ladder call: 16th (and why the margin between 10th and cooked is tiny)
Cap or Fact: the Eels are “not bad, not good… just Parramatta”?
Eels fans — where have you got Parra finishing in 2026 in the comments below. 👇
Recommended
Transcript
Introduction and Overview
00:00:00
Tackles and Tinnies
Yo, what's good, Tackles and Teniers listeners? We are back for our mini-series of all 17 teams review for the 2025 season and their preview for the 2026 season.
Eels' 2025 Performance Analysis
00:00:13
Tackles and Tinnies
The next episode we are currently doing is the Parramatta Eels. This team for the 2025 season was a tale of two stories in my eyes.
00:00:24
Tackles and Tinnies
When Mitchell Moses was there, top eight team. When he wasn't there, they were definitely a bottom four team.
Cultural and Leadership Impact
00:00:31
Tackles and Tinnies
Jason Riles, I'll give credit to the guys straight away. Jason,
00:00:36
Tackles and Tinnies
They were, let's say, a nice way saying it, crap, um the year prior. And i think them I think him getting complete agency and getting rid of some of the players he did not want there and trying to ah change the culture, saying, hey, you're all in or you're all out.
00:00:53
Tackles and Tinnies
I like that. I like that leadership that he brought straight away for that season. But again, you're only as good as your cattle. And again, that reflected a lot. A bit of turbulence in recent times, obviously, with Zach Lomax leaving the club, Dylan Brown, the whole contract situation. We're going to go through all that all that in this episode.
Team Composition Changes
00:01:14
Tackles and Tinnies
But again, i want to hear from you guys. As the fans, how do you think Parramatta Eels went in 2025? And where do you think they're going to go for 2026? Yeah.
00:01:24
Tackles and Tinnies
But let's just get straight into it guys. So in 2025, the Parramatta Eels were 12th on the ladder with 10 wins, 14 losses, and only a negative 76 for and against.
00:01:36
Tackles and Tinnies
Not good, not great, the definition of mediocrity. um So again, that was a bit that awkward zone. Again, when I said before, when Mitchell Moses was there, I thought they were quite competent.
00:01:47
Tackles and Tinnies
When he wasn't there, again, they're a bottom four type of team. Again, they're moving on from people like Gutherson, RCG in the start of the 2025 season, a lot of experience leaving the squad.
00:02:01
Tackles and Tinnies
Even guys like Ryan Madison, Sean Lane, these are out and out veterans who have been there for a long time. You can even say Michael Civo as well. Completely new team.
00:02:12
Tackles and Tinnies
Isaiah, sorry, Josiah Papali'i, another guy who came through. I thought he was quite good at times, but again, young, youth. Again, they're trying to transition to the new era.
00:02:25
Tackles and Tinnies
But in terms of their roster losses in that
Player Losses and New Signings
00:02:28
Tackles and Tinnies
2025 season at the start, they lost ah RCG to the Titans. God damn, I thought that was a good signing for the Titans, but that backfired significantly. Clint Gutherson, again, he was there their leader.
00:02:40
Tackles and Tinnies
He set it to stand. He set the culture. Big loss in regards to that sort of thing. But in regards to it attacking upside, I think a guy who we're going to talk about very soon ah probably exceeded expectations there.
00:02:54
Tackles and Tinnies
Mike Acevo, he's that absolute beast on the wing, barnstorming, running, tri-scoring machine, folk hero. Big loss in my eyes in regarding to the wing, but they've got a guy in Josh Adokar who's almost like a one-for-one.
00:03:09
Tackles and Tinnies
Some other guys who were gone, Ethan Sanders, who's most likely probably going to be starting for the Raiders in 2026, but he was a big loss. ah You also lost Blaise Talangi, young prodigy coming through the ranks, got shifted between fullbacks and a wing in that 2024 season. So I think that was a bit of a loss for them from the Panthers.
00:03:31
Tackles and Tinnies
They're probably like the two main guys. you could talk about like Bryce Cartwright and Offen Gowey, but they're more in their back end of their career and
Key Player Contributions
00:03:38
Tackles and Tinnies
obviously they've gone to the Super League. They're probably the main guys to talk about in regards to losses.
00:03:44
Tackles and Tinnies
I think Sanders... Obviously, he wasn't getting he didn't have a clear path to that number seven role, which i obviously with Mitchell Moses being there for at least another three to five years, going off his age, and I guess he's quite injury prone in recent times, but yeah, going off his age, yeah, Sanders had to go in that regard.
00:04:06
Tackles and Tinnies
And they've picked up a guy for 2026 only for one year in Jonah Pezit. So again, we'll get to him very shortly. But guys who are locked in, um so Josh Adekar, who came, he's here at the end of 2027.
00:04:20
Tackles and Tinnies
He regained some of that lightning-fast Fox form that we've seen with the Melbourne Storm in past years. I thought he was very good, but we're going to go over a story later on in one of the rounds in the later rounds.
00:04:32
Tackles and Tinnies
want know if you guys know that one. It almost actually made it into a loss, but, yeah, it resulted in a lack of confidence under a high ball. What round was that, guys?
Challenges and Inconsistencies
00:04:44
Tackles and Tinnies
Bailey Simonson, he's locked in. ah Isaiah Iongi. So he was the guy for Blaze Tolangi and Iongi. They were pretty much the swap. ah Panthers to Eels, Eels to Panthers.
00:04:57
Tackles and Tinnies
Iongi, I thought he was fantastic. He came in at $201,000 on super coat, bottom dollar cheapie. And the whole thing was, can this guy...
00:05:08
Tackles and Tinnies
in a key pivotal position, get enough repetitions where he's going to gain enough confidence to be that gun and get to those expectations that he was having. I think it exceeded him personally.
00:05:19
Tackles and Tinnies
um Yeah, he was fantastic. Plays fullback, played 5-8 for Tonga in the ah Pac Nations, another option there in 2027 potentially. ah when Pezzit leaves.
00:05:31
Tackles and Tinnies
Hayes Dunstar, he's locked into 2030. ah Richard Penassini, yeah, he's pretty good. Samrani, he's there to 2027, another option in the outside backs.
00:05:43
Tackles and Tinnies
Mitchell Moses, he's there to 2029, fantastic for them. Jonah Pezzit, so he's been their major gain for only one year as he's gone to the Brisbane Broncos in 2027. Now, Jonah Pezzit.
00:05:54
Tackles and Tinnies
now jonna peit
00:05:59
Tackles and Tinnies
Probably starting at 5'8", more than likely. He's definitely the backup halfback when Mitchell Moses goes down, which is at this stage inevitable, unfortunately. Touchwood is healthy.
00:06:11
Tackles and Tinnies
But Pezzit. Didn't get much of an opportunity with Melbourne Storm, obviously, with Jerome Hughes and Cam Munster being in the ranks. But when he did get that opportunity, I thought he had a lot of poise and control in his kicking game and control of the team.
00:06:25
Tackles and Tinnies
But that's a halfback's job.
2026 Lineup and Strategy
00:06:27
Tackles and Tinnies
You've got Mitchell Moses. And again, I've got a story which also relates that earlier on with Addo Carr. That same game, Mitchell Moses is the guy. He is amazing.
00:06:38
Tackles and Tinnies
He is the hardback. He is the general. Can Pezzit take a step back in order to fit into the culture to get regular first game games? Time will tell. But I think overall, he's a good signing for one year.
00:06:51
Tackles and Tinnies
But does that stunt the growth for someone else potentially? And that guy is actually Joash Papali'i. He signed there um for the end of next year. He's a fullback bit of utility. He's just a footballer. I'm not sure exactly what position he's probably best in. I'm probably going to say fullback.
00:07:10
Tackles and Tinnies
But does that mean a guy like Isaiah Iongi then has to shift into the halves in 2027? Maybe. Where does Joash fit in the team now that Jonah Pezet is here for 2026?
00:07:24
Tackles and Tinnies
Well, I think he's actually been saved by that extended bench squad with 19 players now, but we'll see. We'll get to that ah top 19 later in the episode. They're forward to a locked in. you got Junior Polo.
00:07:38
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, we'll we'll talk about him later on, but he's there to 2026. Jermaine Hopgood, or better known as Jermaine Propgood, he's there to 2027. Yeah, again, we'll get through him later on. Ryan Madison, 2026.
00:07:49
Tackles and Tinnies
Luca Moretti, 2027. Matt Durie, 2027. And guys like Kelma Tualangi, King Tonga, sorry, Kartoga, not King Tonga, Kartoga, who's there 2027. And also Jack Williams, who had a fantastic year, is also there for 2027.
00:08:06
Tackles and Tinnies
So they're sort of the main guys who are there. Some gains that they've got though. So Jack DeBallon, who's come from the Dragons, middle forward, big experience, good in defense, international representative for Papua New Guinea. I think he's going to be very, very good for them. Again, losing a little bit of experience in the past years ah with obviously RCG leaving the team, Sean Lane leaving the team. I think DeBallon is going to be perfect player.
00:08:31
Tackles and Tinnies
perfect guy for that type of role. I think he's going to get probably around 45 to 50 minutes. So again, he'll be a mainstay in that team. We've already talked about Jonah Pezik, a young half, very controlling halfback, but can he play 5'8"?
00:08:46
Tackles and Tinnies
Can he play 5'8"? And if the team's doing bad, do they just bench him and say, hey, you're just the backup? He's only there for one year, guys.
00:08:57
Tackles and Tinnies
I think that's a big thing. If the Iles underperformed for 2026, I don't think Pezzit will be a mainstay in the team personally. I think he'll be Mitchell Moses' backup.
00:09:08
Tackles and Tinnies
So today's date is the 5th of January and it's being confirmed by the Gold Coast Titans Instagram page. Brian Kelly,
2026 Performance Outlook
00:09:15
Tackles and Tinnies
who is the Gold Coast Titans mainstay in the centres, he has now gone to the Parramatta Eels for the 2026 season. I'm not sure on the length of the deal, but he'll least be there for one year.
00:09:26
Tackles and Tinnies
I do like the signing for them. When we get to their top 19, particularly looking at their outside backs and their depth in their outside backs, There's not much. I think Brian Kelly at this stage, it's his jersey to lose in the centres, particularly with a guy who we're about to talk about leaving the team. um He could be very good for them. He was a 2019 Dallium Centre of the Year medal winner.
00:09:52
Tackles and Tinnies
I think the Titans, the Titans fans and himself can probably agree that they need a fresh start. And I think going to the Paramount at Eels, again, probably in a similar bracket with the Titans in terms of where they're meant to ah where they're expected to perform and should perform, um I think Brian Kelly will do very well. And particularly with a guy like Mitchell Moses in the team.
00:10:15
Tackles and Tinnies
But yeah, heaps of talent, but can he be consistent? That is a big talking point. 2026 losses. So some big ones. Okay. So Zach Lomax, my God, what a debacle, what a situation. Zach Lomax, absolute gun superstar, Australian, New South Wales representative, hated playing on the wing, but that literally rejuvenated his career over a year ago now.
00:10:43
Tackles and Tinnies
More than likely was planning to go to R360 in that 2027 season. However, R360 is now being postponed. Now he's looking to just go to ra rebel like a super rugby team or an overseas rugby league team potentially.
00:10:58
Tackles and Tinnies
He's lost a lot of money. He's lost a lot of money. I saw a news article the other day, i think it was from Fox Sports, that he was meant to get around a million dollars or just under at the St. George Illawarra Dragons. last year if he stayed on then he signed unders for the Parramatta Eels on a couple years for about 650 to 750,000 per year and now he's a off-contract free agent probably going to be signing for less than five hundred k I've seen as low as dollars
00:11:33
Tackles and Tinnies
Man, you talk about guys dropping the bag. Zach Lomax is that guy. Is that just him? Is that his management? Is that people around him influencing his decision? I don't know. I'm not in the room. But yeah, I wish Zach Lomax all the best. I wish he comes back to rugby league, especially the NRL.
00:11:52
Tackles and Tinnies
um Yeah, he's going to sorely missed, and he was a fantastic aerial threat. Great running game. ah Pretty good converter and consistent kicker besides when he played for New South Wales. Thank you. Go, Queensland.
00:12:06
Tackles and Tinnies
Big loss. The other huge loss for the 2026 season is Dylan Brown. He's gone to the Newcastle Knights. We'll talk about Dylan Brown later on in
Impact of Player Changes
00:12:17
Tackles and Tinnies
the show, but yeah.
00:12:19
Tackles and Tinnies
Feel for the guy. I feel for the guy in 2025. And it was good to see him get a bit of a redemption arc at the Pac Nations. And yeah, media scrutiny and the media absolutely slamming him, stepping on his head all of 2025 and then getting that redemption arc and the the fans, the media saying he got robbed of the golden boot.
00:12:43
Tackles and Tinnies
Love that for Dylan Brown. I'm expecting huge things at the Newcastle Knights for him. And, guys, we talked about Dylan Brown in the Newcastle Knights preview slash review. Go to our Instagram or YouTube or TikTok, wherever you want to go watch your ah video format, or please go to Apple Podcasts and Spotify to go check out that review and all our team reviews.
00:13:05
Tackles and Tinnies
But, yeah, Dylan Brown, huge loss. Sean Lane, he's off the team. He's retired or... I can't see exactly what he's done, but yeah, he's off the team. Yeah, a bit of a plotter these days, but he was the mainstay there for a couple of years. Brandon Hands, he's gone. He had a bit of opportunity there um at the hooking position, but yeah, he's gone now.
00:13:28
Tackles and Tinnies
But what do you guys think? Who is the Parramatta Eels' biggest loss, Zach Lomax or Dylan Brown? I want you guys to tell me. Zach Lomax is Dylan Brown. Who is the biggest loss and why? Let me know in the comments below.
00:13:44
Tackles and Tinnies
and who is their biggest addition? it Is Jack DeBallon getting that ah mainstay in the forwards, bit of grunt, bit of experience? are you looking at guy like more like Jonah Pezzett?
00:13:55
Tackles and Tinnies
Could be the backup half, could be starting 5'8". Only there for one year though. Or it could be a guy like Brian Kelly looking for that redemption story. ah Former Dallium, center of the year, six years ago now, which is seven years ago. Wow, that's crazy.
00:14:10
Tackles and Tinnies
Seven years ago now, um is Brian Kelly due for a bounce-back season? Let us know. Biggest loss, Zach Lomax or Dylan Brown? Or biggest addition being DeBallon, Pezzet, or Brian Kelly? Let us know in the comments, guys.
00:14:24
Tackles and Tinnies
Now, also what to talk about. Coaching. Coaching. I think Jason Riles had a fantastic year overall. Expectations were low in my eyes personally.
00:14:37
Tackles and Tinnies
um I thought he set the culture really well. Again, I mentioned earlier, he had the mindset, you're completely in or you're completely out. Buy in or you're gone.
00:14:49
Tackles and Tinnies
um If you're Deadwood, you're gone. um If you're a hard worker, you're in. He's setting new standards. I love that. Jason Riles, if I had toified to give a rating out of 10, I would give him...
00:15:02
Tackles and Tinnies
an eight out of 10 for their season. I thought he was very, very good overall. So Jason Riles, hat off to you. Get a fresh crack of the tin. Now, 2025 performers, how it actually went.
00:15:16
Tackles and Tinnies
So again, when Mitchell Moses actually played, I thought he was fantastic. Great control, ah level-headed. Well, besides the one story that, i again, I will share later on. But, yes, very level-headed, fantastic kicking game, can goal kick, injuries, and staying on the paddock is his biggest issue.
00:15:36
Tackles and Tinnies
When he played, top eight team. When he didn't play, bottom four team. I've reiterated that a couple of times this podcast. Josh Adokar, what a resurgence. Fantastic to see him play. um I loved...
00:15:48
Tackles and Tinnies
the energy that he brought, the enthusiasm, the culture
Season Highlights and Coaching
00:15:51
Tackles and Tinnies
building that he's had from the ah Melbourne Storm for the past few years. Addo Carr, fantastic bounce back year for him. Dylan Brown, again, he's not a halfback in my eyes.
00:16:03
Tackles and Tinnies
Will he be playing a halfback for Newcastle Knights? More than likely, scary thought. Can he play halfback? Yes, we've seen that before, but he's more of a run of the ball.
00:16:14
Tackles and Tinnies
When he has that complementary piece in the halves, that's when he's his most dangerous. We'll see what happens. Attack, clunky. Clunky, clunky, clunky.
00:16:25
Tackles and Tinnies
When Mitchell Moses was not there. Iongi, again, bit of growing pains, but overall I thought he played well at fullback. And then the hooking position as well. I think they had like four hookers, guys. Crazy. Talon De Silva came in late in the year. Riley Smith, Brandon Hands, Joey Lussick. Yeah, there's four off the top of my head, guys. I'm sure Dylan Walker had a crack there at one stage as well. um But yeah, who's going to get the hooking position in 2026?
00:16:53
Tackles and Tinnies
Not sure. Riley Smith, Alan De Silva, they're probably the two guys we can talk about. But again, we'll wait for that till we get the top 19. Now, defense. ah Defense, defense, defense.
00:17:06
Tackles and Tinnies
Aging forwards in some regards, they got rid of them and they went for complete youth. Jermaine Hopgood was coming back from a back injury injury. looked underdone for majority of the season, particularly playing at lock. He was playing very little minutes for a guy. He's used to playing 60 plus minutes a game. He was like half of that.
00:17:27
Tackles and Tinnies
Um, but at the back end of the year, he shifted from lock to front row, much better. Jermaine prop good in the back end of the year like that. Uh, They had guys like Sean Lane, Ryan Madison, who were mainstays in prior years. ah They really didn't get much game time at all. They were playing reserve game for most of the year, if not injured.
00:17:50
Tackles and Tinnies
They had new fellas coming in, which we'll talk about soon, in Jack Williams
Player Development and Improvement
00:17:54
Tackles and Tinnies
and Kartoga. I thought they were fantastic on the edge. Will they make the starting team later on? We'll find out.
00:18:02
Tackles and Tinnies
So, again, overachchi and um overachievers and underperformers for 2025. Jermaine Hopgood, as again, I mentioned one more time. Jermaine Propgood, if he stays there in the middle, particularly not the lock position, but in the front row position for 2026, love that.
00:18:18
Tackles and Tinnies
Hard worker, good motor, tackling bot, good runner of the ball. ah Yeah, love him there. Billy Slater also put him in origin camp, even though he was a bit underdone.
00:18:29
Tackles and Tinnies
Again, if Billy Slater says he's pretty good, he must be good. But again, let's see if that position change for 2026 pays dividends for the Parramatta Eels.
00:18:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Luca Moretti, genuine middle rotation, mainstay. Does he make the top 19? I'm gonna probably say yes at this stage. Good motor, bit of youth, bit of enthusiasm, goes a long way.
00:18:54
Tackles and Tinnies
Now, overachiever as well, Joe Ash Papali'i. ah I thought overall shifting between fullback, utility, and 5'8", I thought he was pretty good. He's just a footballer.
00:19:09
Tackles and Tinnies
Give him the ball, let him run, almost like a Tasmanian devil in a lot of ways. Yeah, what is his true position? I probably would say fullback. Could he develop into 5'8"?
00:19:21
Tackles and Tinnies
Potentially. I kind of like him coming off the bench. Does he make that 19th spot his own and being that emergency player? Time will tell. We'll have to find out later on the podcast.
00:19:33
Tackles and Tinnies
Kartoga. Now, I saw him pop up on Supercoach and I was like, yes. Cheapy, ah second rower, dynamic ball runner, good footwork, tries really hard, bit enthusiasm.
00:19:46
Tackles and Tinnies
ah I love him. Kartoga, mainstay, big upside. Yeah, he was a huge overachiever. And then another one, Dylan Walker, I thought he overachieved.
00:19:58
Tackles and Tinnies
Pretty underdone with the New Zealand Warriors in the first half of the year. And then when he swapped over to the Parramatta Eels, he looked a bit more rejuvenated.
Youth Integration for 2026
00:20:06
Tackles and Tinnies
He looked like ah his old self, provides great utility value, can almost put him anywhere on the field he'll do a job. Center, second row, lock, literally put him at front row. He's played 5'8". He's a he's a Perfect utility player for this team. Great leg speed as well.
00:20:24
Tackles and Tinnies
um Yeah, kind of i like him at Locke more, but we'll see where he ends up in the top 19. Now, guys who underperformed and had question marks.
00:20:35
Tackles and Tinnies
First guy I want to talk about is Junior Polo. Now, I wanna emphasize here, in the last few games and particularly in the Pacific nations, my God Junior Polo looked like 25 28 year old Junior Polo.
00:20:49
Tackles and Tinnies
Origin level, high caliber in the pack nations in particular, but the inconsistencies in the start of the season, I think again with RCG, his running mate for most of that 2024 year.
00:21:03
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah. Losing him. I think that might've played a bit of impact with how he performed. Yeah. Yeah. ah if he can replicate what he did in Pac Nations for the 2026 season, even doing that at an 80% to 85% clip, he's going to be fantastic for them.
00:21:18
Tackles and Tinnies
ah But again, can they manage his minutes? Can they manage his work rate? Does he come off the bench? We'll see. But again, fantastic for Samoa. I honestly thought he he was borderline their best player.
00:21:32
Tackles and Tinnies
Sean Lane, inconsistent. Lost that position to Cartoga and Jack Williams. Yeah, he's he's off the team now. So yeah, he was bit underwhelming. And again, in prior years, he's been a mainstay in that second row position.
00:21:45
Tackles and Tinnies
Now, another guy we could talk about is Kelmar Tualangi. Dynamic ball runner, hits hard, should be the ideal second roller, Timu Olokowatu almost.
00:21:59
Tackles and Tinnies
Nah, just taking the piss. But yeah, he's a very good ball runner. But again, decision-making, ah energy at parts, defensive reads were his probably his biggest letdowns. And again, that's why he probably got dropped.
00:22:14
Tackles and Tinnies
um particularly Jason Riles wanting that consistency from his boys did make an appearance later on the season, but does he make the team in 2026? He's due for a big off season.
00:22:26
Tackles and Tinnies
Uh, Dylan Brown, obviously we touched on him earlier on. Injuries, he had that partial ACL rupture and then he didn't get surgery.
00:22:36
Tackles and Tinnies
Looked pretty good. i was a bit worried because again, that could always lead to a a full tear. Guys have had partial tears before and they haven't been able to rehabilitate that. um The guy in recent times is Billy Walters for the Brisbane Broncos, but Dylan Brown overall, I thought he was good, all things considering that.
00:22:54
Tackles and Tinnies
Not having Mitchell Moses there, again, he's a running 5'8". He's eyes up football. He's a Jerome Luai-esque type player. um But on his given day, he can be the best player in the park.
00:23:08
Tackles and Tinnies
And I think the biggest thing for the letdown for him was the whole contract debacle with Parramatta and you can almost say the media bashing of him with his long-term contract with the Newcastle Knights and the huge money bag that goes with it.
00:23:25
Tackles and Tinnies
Hey, go get that bag every single time. Go get that money. But I think that played a big thing for the culture of the team and for him personally. he has He should be one of the best halves in the game on his given day. I'm hoping a fresh start for him will be the best for him.
00:23:44
Tackles and Tinnies
But Paramount Eagles fans, i want to hear from you. How do you think Dylan Brown went in 2025? Let's get a rating out of 10. I'm going to give Dylan Brown all things considering I just said. Dylan Brown, 7.5 out out of 10.
00:24:00
Tackles and Tinnies
In the Pack Nations for New Zealand, my God, he was a 10. He was a 10. He should have been the Golden Boot winner. How the hell did Harry Grant get Golden Boot? Seriously, guys, how did he get Golden Boot?
00:24:13
Tackles and Tinnies
Go through the stats, guys. I've talked about it in our off-season review, so you can go watch that in our link tree um with Chris about the Golden Boot slash the Pack Nations slash the...
2026 Challenges and Predictions
00:24:26
Tackles and Tinnies
ah Ashes series.
00:24:28
Tackles and Tinnies
So go watch that if you want our full breakdown of the Golden Boot situation with Dylan Brown and Harry Grant. But yeah, Dylan Brown overall very good. Bit inconsistent, media bashing, big contract, fresh start, best thing for him.
00:24:44
Tackles and Tinnies
Outside backs, yeah, Lomax was good overall, I thought. Very good on the wing. Hate him at center. We can play center, don't me wrong, but he's just that aerial threat.
00:24:55
Tackles and Tinnies
He's pretty much a cheat code. He's Xavier Coates, but better in my eyes in that regard overall. um He's going to be, yeah, he's going to be missed. He is great yardage out of their back line as well.
00:25:07
Tackles and Tinnies
Now with him gone, Adokar aging, obviously played fantastic for the Kangaroos. Yeah, a couple boys coming back from injury as well. The back line will be very interesting when we get to that top 19.
00:25:19
Tackles and Tinnies
Now, I've referred to this a couple of times on the podcast now, but their highlight or top story, again, I'm not the biggest Parramatta Eels fan because I'm a Queenslander, but I do watch most games and I do record this one vividly.
00:25:32
Tackles and Tinnies
Round 23, Cowboys versus Eels, Mitchell Moses spraying Talon to Silver three times for poor service. and him taking the line on, uh, go do yourself a favor, go on YouTube. All you have to type in is Mitchell Moses spray talent to silver on Tik TOK, YouTube, Instagram, whatever it will come up. My God, it's the funniest things.
00:25:54
Tackles and Tinnies
He's literally just runs up and I'm just putting his arms out like a gazelle and just absolutely laying into him. It almost cost him the game. ah okay crazy and in that same game which almost cost them the game ah which I forgot about until I watched the video of the highlights of the spray but but Josh out of car big bomb went up by the Cowboys Josh out of car missed time the run and had to stick his foot out missed the ball Cowboys regained the pill within the ah the red zone or the 20 meter line and then
00:26:26
Tackles and Tinnies
Block play at the back to, I think it was their halfback. Nanai doesn't run through the line and takes out Mitchell Moses and it became a no try.
00:26:38
Tackles and Tinnies
He got called a try at the very, very start for Jake Clifford. That's the name. Jake Clifford was thinking the head. Jake Clifford scored the try. Nanai didn't run through the line. Mitchell Moses absolutely milked it, but Nanai did do the wrong thing technically. But a tale of two stories, Mitchell Moses...
00:26:54
Tackles and Tinnies
spraying Talon De Silva, getting the field goal, and then doing the best acting play of all time, doing the flop. um and Yeah, that's something I remember. And again, that's why he's a winning player.
00:27:06
Tackles and Tinnies
So rookies in place to watch for 2026. A couple of boys here we've mentioned already, but Isaiah Yonghi, he's their long-term fullback. He's a genuine gun, X-factor, played 5'8 for Tonga. He signed until 2030, which is huge.
00:27:22
Tackles and Tinnies
He's going to be in their plans somewhere. way Does he shift to 5'8 in 2027 when Not sure. But first year at fullback, he's only going to get better. i would keep him there, personally.
00:27:35
Tackles and Tinnies
ah like I like Aiyong at the back. Another guy, Charlie Geimer, inconsistent with playing time, but extremely hardworking. And Jason Royal obviously respects and appreciates that with his boys. Does he secure a bench spot for 2026?
00:27:50
Tackles and Tinnies
twenty six I'm probably going to say yes. A bit of versatility, bit of youth, ah big motor. And now with the extra playing positions, with the two extra spots, I think he might get a crack, but we'll see.
00:28:08
Tackles and Tinnies
Jordan Samrani, still young, athletic, played on the wing, can play in the second row, was playing off the bench at times ah for the Parramatta Eels. Love him as a player. Does he lock in a wing position?
00:28:23
Tackles and Tinnies
We'll see. Very athletic and really good on the high ball. He's got a multi-year deal. Does he come off the bench for that bit of utility role? That's up for debate.
00:28:33
Tackles and Tinnies
What do you guys think? Does Samrani make the starting 17 or starting 19? Or you reckon he gets that bench spot in regards to the utility wing slash second row? Or does he get the wing position to start with? want hear from you guys.
00:28:50
Tackles and Tinnies
Jonah Pezzit, obviously their biggest one to watch. Minimal games played in 2025, but definitely a proven and ready to perform halfback.
00:29:01
Tackles and Tinnies
But can he play 5-8? And I mentioned before, if the Parramatta Eels start stinking up the joint, which is definitely possible. The league's very, very good this coming for 2026.
00:29:12
Tackles and Tinnies
Do they just say, hey, you're not playing 5-8 anymore. You are Mitchell Moses' backup. Very possible. Very possible. He's only there for one year. He's gone to the Brisbane Broncos in 2027. Does that then put Joe Ashpapali'i into the team?
00:29:26
Tackles and Tinnies
Potentially. We'll see. We'll see when we get to the ah top nine team. Another guy to talk about and play is to watch Talon De Silva came mid-season.
00:29:36
Tackles and Tinnies
He featured in that ah big spray that we talked about from Mitchell Moses. But again, he's there according to Fox. So the NRL.com, he's there until 2029.
00:29:49
Tackles and Tinnies
So saying all that, he looks like their definitive number nine, personally. Does he start over Riley Smith? We'll see. We'll get to that top 19.
00:30:01
Tackles and Tinnies
Very crafty. Hopefully he can regain some confidence, um but definitely potential in his game. So the 2026 draw and strength of schedule according to Fox Sports. Their draw difficulty. So cons. Two games impacted by origin against the Raiders and Manly Seagulls.
00:30:19
Tackles and Tinnies
No buy until round 12. So you've 11 straight games to start the year. I almost would rather that personally. You'd almost rather that. Pre-opening with the Storm Broncos and Panthers in the first month.
00:30:33
Tackles and Tinnies
um Yeah, I'm probably going to say...
00:30:37
Tackles and Tinnies
Yes, again, those brutal schedule with the Storm, Broncos and Panthers in the first month. How will they perform against those teams? They're probably at a minimum top six, maybe some regression from Melbourne Storm losing Pappenhausen and Ellie Cartola.
00:30:54
Tackles and Tinnies
ah Broncos, reigning premiers, you expect them to be minimum top four. Panthers, proven winning team, literally lost no one.
00:31:06
Tackles and Tinnies
and all their younger fellas have got another year of experience. And Blaise Talangi, another year with Nathan Cleary in the offseason. Again, that's only going to prove dividends for the Panthers. Slow start, we'll see.
00:31:19
Tackles and Tinnies
ah So again, if they're starting two out of six or three out of seven, what's that going to say about their prospects with Jonah Pezzit?
00:31:31
Tackles and Tinnies
What's that going to say with their prospects regarding... let's say potentially Joe Ashpapali'i, Isaiah Youngi, will there be shifts around? There's Talon to Silva, start the hooking position. Many, many variables due to that fact.
00:31:44
Tackles and Tinnies
ah Again, does Pezzet and Moses gel due to, i'd say, again, Moses' dominant playmaking nature and Pezzet's very similar playing style in regards to controlling a team?
00:31:58
Tackles and Tinnies
We will see. And then obviously during origin, losing guys like Moses is going to be hugely impactful. I do project Moses and I do project Cleary to be the starting halves for New South Wales in 2026.
00:32:14
Tackles and Tinnies
But again, can a guy like Pezit then lead the ship? I think it's a perfect one for one. But again, key talking point there.
00:32:24
Tackles and Tinnies
So guys, a projected start starting 17 plus the extra two players who might get a crack depending on the game situation. So again, we've re-rated this now. They've got 19 players on the bench.
00:32:38
Tackles and Tinnies
You can only use 17. So only four out of the six players on the bench can be utilized. So at fullback, I've got Isaiah Iongi. okay Again, another year of development, another year in the offseason, another year gelling with Mitchell Moses.
00:32:56
Tackles and Tinnies
Out and out gun. Did play 5-8 for Tonga, which is notable. However, I do project him starting a fullback. On the wings, I've got Josh Adokar.
00:33:07
Tackles and Tinnies
He's a mainstay there. And I've got Bailey Simonson. Two strong contact players, two very fast players, two players who will be ah good finishes.
00:33:31
Tackles and Tinnies
But currently, I've only got Sean Russell, who was a mainstay there for majority of the year last year. And then there's a spot up for grabs in regards to Zachy Lomax leaving.
00:33:43
Tackles and Tinnies
I'm going to say Brian Kelly. Yeah, he's almost a one-for-one. So I'd say Simonson swaps from that center position that he's normally used to playing. He goes to the wing. And I say BK or Brian Kelly from the Gold Coast Titans. I think he gets that center position. Yeah.
00:34:01
Tackles and Tinnies
There's some other guys that we could talk about, potentially a Joe Ash Papali'i as another guy who could get a a spot there. You could also look at guys like Richard Penasini.
00:34:13
Tackles and Tinnies
You could look at a guy like Will Penasini. You could look at a guy like Jordan Samrani, that jack jake tart or Jake Targo. These are all guys who could get that position. I think there's...
00:34:28
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, two out of the five positions are all up for grabs. But we'll see you lock that down. So again, fullback, Iongi on the wing, Addo Carr and Simonson. At center, I've got Brian Kelly and Sean Russell.
00:34:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Then in the halves to start the year, I've got at 5'8", Jonah Pezzett and Mitchell Moses at halfback. I'm pretty confident those two will be there. Again, if shit hits the fan, you could probably argue that Jonah Pezzett might get dropped, Joash Papali or Iongi goes to 5'8", but we will see.
00:35:00
Tackles and Tinnies
But yeah, Mitchell Moses, he'll be your captain. He'll be your goal kicker. He'll be out and out, half back, lock and load, set and forget, um due for a big bounce back year. Mitchell Moses in the prime of his career.
00:35:13
Tackles and Tinnies
I'm expecting big things from him. Front row. Junior Polo, I think he retains the front row position. He is a steady hand, reliable leader, ah coming off a great pack nations for Samoa.
00:35:29
Tackles and Tinnies
Yeah, he's got a lot of experience. Yeah, he'll be there in Forza. And then to accompany him into the front row, i've got Jermaine Hopgood or Jermaine Popgood. Simplify the role for him.
00:35:41
Tackles and Tinnies
Tackle bot, running bot, get him in there. um Yeah, I think Hopgood at front row, perfect complement to Junior Paulo. Those two will work really well hand in hand.
00:35:52
Tackles and Tinnies
At the hooking position, now, tough, tough, tough, tough. There's two guys that stand out to me. First one will be Riley Smith, who's contracted there for two years, so end of 2027.
00:36:05
Tackles and Tinnies
And then you've got a guy like Talon De Silva. Okay, he's contracted there until the end of 2029.
00:36:11
Tackles and Tinnies
Now, you could argue De Silva might be better off with a bit more speed off the bench when forwards tied, Riley Smith being that more like Mitch Kenny-esque type player, where Talon De Silva would be more like that Tom Starling base player.
00:36:27
Tackles and Tinnies
Contract alone, I'm going to say Talon De Silva. Now he's got that off-season gelling with Mitchell Moses. um I'm going to say yeah De Silva, he said, sorry, he's gone for the redemption arc.
00:36:41
Tackles and Tinnies
um De Silva will start over Riley Smith. But again, that could very well change. As I mentioned, there's five hookers in 2024. Sorry, 2025. so twenty twenty five In the second row, i think these guys maintain their spot. Jack Williams and Kartoga, both of those boys were very good in their own right. Good running of holes, good work rate, good leg speed.
00:37:06
Tackles and Tinnies
I project them to maintain their spot. Jack Williams, all the rows to him, I thought he was very good in 2025.
00:37:14
Tackles and Tinnies
A new guy coming in, Jack DeBallon. I think he rounds out the forward pack at the number 13 position. Again, paper papa New Guinea. um Has a lot of experience with the Dragons.
00:37:25
Tackles and Tinnies
Good work, great. ah Yeah, I think he's fantastic. Great signing for the Parramatta Eels for 2026. Now, six positions on the bench.
00:37:37
Tackles and Tinnies
We will see. Okay, now... I'm not sure how coaches will play this position with their roles. You would assume that there'd be like a half utility.
00:37:50
Tackles and Tinnies
Then you assume there'd be an as outside back utility. Then you assume an out and out front rower, probably out and out second rower and then two like hybrids. I'm and guessing it could be very different. There could be an out and out hooker on there.
00:38:02
Tackles and Tinnies
But going off that, I've got Dylan Walker as my number 14. Again, mid-season signing from 2025. I thought he was fantastic. Can play anywhere. get Honestly, he could play anywhere. Center, second row, 5'8", lock, second row, you name it, he could play it.
00:38:19
Tackles and Tinnies
ah But I think he will be the backup 13. I've also got number 15, Ryan Madison. I think he's due for a bit of a bounce back year. He's an edge middle. So again, that hybrid role i was talking about earlier on.
00:38:32
Tackles and Tinnies
Big body. He is actually a very big body. Very good in contact. i'm He had a heart-to-heart I saw on the news the other day. Probably, like honestly, within a week, so probably within the new year.
00:38:46
Tackles and Tinnies
I'm expecting him to either a have that bounce back here, or B, probably get released from his contract. I don't think there's any middle ground. He's either playing or he's getting released personally. We'll see, but he's a he should be there. He should be there.
00:38:59
Tackles and Tinnies
At number 16, Kelma Talalangi. Again, he started the year instead of Kartoga. Those two will be fighting for that edge position to start the year. But I do have Talalangi to come off the bench.
00:39:14
Tackles and Tinnies
Who do you think is going start, guys? Kartoga or Tuolangi? Tuolangi, who do you think? But yeah, he could probably play middle as well. Another guy who talked about rookies or younger players to watch. I said Luka Moretti. I think he'll be there at number 17. He's a middle.
00:39:28
Tackles and Tinnies
ah Yeah, I'm expecting him to be another mainstay in that team. Another guy who was a younger fellow we talked about was Charlie Geimer. Again, middle edge. ah Good work, great, hardworking,
00:39:42
Tackles and Tinnies
Wants to prove himself, bit of hunger, bit of youth and enthusiasm. All that goes a long way. And then number 19, I got Joash Papali'i. He's a utility back slash half.
00:39:54
Tackles and Tinnies
So ah does he start at 5'8"? Does he start at fullback? Does he potentially start on the wing or center? Not sure. um But I think he'd be the perfect add an ah outside back utility slash half replacement.
00:40:09
Tackles and Tinnies
What do you guys reckon on my team, guys? Would you change anyone? Am I overreaching on some players? um Should someone be starting? Should someone come off the bench? Let me know what you guys think.
00:40:22
Tackles and Tinnies
ah Some Smokey picks. Again, Jordan Samrani. He's probably the biggest one who I didn't name. He could definitely be starting either on the on the bench or maybe even Smokey wing spot.
00:40:37
Tackles and Tinnies
yeah He's probably the biggest guy that I'm underselling here. So predictors. Now for 2026, cap or fact, Parramatta Eels to be in the bottom four according to chat GPT.
00:40:52
Tackles and Tinnies
Parramatta Eels fans, don't dislike my videos. Please like my video regardless, but I actually predict them to be number 16.
00:41:01
Tackles and Tinnies
Yep, you're losing Dylan Brown. you've got Jonah Pezzet in. However, harsh draw early with 11 straight gains with no buy. Their roster's good, but not great. I think they've still got to ah sort some positions out.
00:41:18
Tackles and Tinnies
Some younger fellas who had not yet proven some aging forwards in regards to Junior Paulo, can he stay healthy? When Mitchell Moses goes to origin, can they hold the ship?
00:41:31
Tackles and Tinnies
What about if Moses is injured for a long time and Pezzet doesn't deliver, I think they're going to struggle. I think they're going really struggle. I think the league is really tight. I don't see them like ah coming second last by multiple wins. I think there'll be a multitude of teams like this year will be a very similar bracket and one win could shoot you up to 10th place.
00:41:55
Tackles and Tinnies
I think it's going to be that close this year, guys. But I've got them as 16th, second last. Don't kill me. Now, capital fact. Capital fact.
00:42:06
Tackles and Tinnies
Eels are stuck in no man's land. Not bad, not good. Just Parramatta. I'm going to say fact. Yeah, Parramatta Eels fans, again, i don't think you can disagree with me personally. I don't think they have the talent.
00:42:20
Tackles and Tinnies
There's too many unproven guys, too many young fellas, guys like Iongi, Joe Ash, Pezet, De Silva. You can even talk about... ah They're second rowers who are quite young still.
00:42:33
Tackles and Tinnies
A lot of youth, not a lot of experience, not a lot of proven winners. I think this a bit of a growing year for these guys. Yeah, I'm going i go say fact.
00:42:45
Tackles and Tinnies
Definitely fact. Cap of fact, Pezzet finishes the year in the 17 and Joe Ash plays more of a roaming 13 style footy at times. Now with the new 19 player,
00:42:57
Tackles and Tinnies
team and the extended bench with six players. I do see break glass and catch an emergency. Joe Ash Papalii went down a try or two, chuck them on the field and see how they go. Small ball with Dylan Walker as well um to try score points.
00:43:13
Tackles and Tinnies
Again, does Pezzit stay within the 17?
00:43:17
Tackles and Tinnies
If they know there's probably not a chance not to make finals football, I see Pezet getting dropped. It just makes sense. Dylan Brown was the same thing. He got shifted to center halfway through the year. Well, he got shifted.
00:43:31
Tackles and Tinnies
Sorry, he got dropped. He got dropped two-thirds way through the year and then got shifted to center in the final couple of games. Jason Reiles is obviously not afraid to make those hard decisions. And I think the same decision will be made with Jonah Pezet.
00:43:44
Tackles and Tinnies
not being there next year again they've got to look to their future again i think this is a year of growing so that being said does he finish the year in the 17th i'm gonna say cap and i do project joe ash papali to get more game time within the net within the end of the year But guys, that's the podcast. 45 minutes. These aren't turning in the mini podcast. They're turning a lot longer than I thought they would.
00:44:12
Tackles and Tinnies
But want your thoughts, Parramatta Eels fans and NRL fans. What do you think of the 2025 review slash preview for Eels? What do you think of their top 19? Do you think I'm underselling them? Do you think I'm spot on with the projection of number 16?
00:44:31
Tackles and Tinnies
Can their young fellas develop enough to make the top eight? Can they see the ship of Mitchell Moses is not there? So many questions, so much to our look forward to for next year.
00:44:45
Tackles and Tinnies
But want to hear from you guys in the comments. ah Will they make the top eight? Yes or no? And tell me why. But, guys, that's the podcast. We're just going through all the teams. Next up should be the
00:45:01
Tackles and Tinnies
probably the Manly Seagulls I'll be doing next, guys. But, yeah, keep an eye out for that one. But overall, guys, like, subscribe, share this. Tell a friend, ah show some love. I want to grow the channel. i want to be popping off for 2026. I love you. i appreciate you guys. ah Enjoy your Monday or Tuesday whenever you see this. Thanks.