Eels claim pre-season title
Parramatta secured the 2026 pre-season challenge title as youngsters impressed in Gosford
Parramatta’s come from behind 28-22 victory over the Sydney Roosters in Gosford on Saturday evening was enough to secure the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge.
With 2 wins from 2 outings and a host of bonus points, the Eels were in a virtually unassailable position, even with the Gold Coast Titans putting Melbourne to the sword in the final game on Saturday.
Why the pre-season challenge exists and wisdom of the point scoring system is a matter best left for another time.
But winners are grinners and the Eels certainly looked the part against the Roosters.
Head coaches Jason Ryles and Trent Robinson both named near full strength sides for the final hit out before the NRL season properly starts.
Trial form means nothing, but more importantly coaches are looking for energy, physicality, combinations and no injuries. On this, the Eels seemed to have ticked all the boxes.
Mitchell Moses netted himself a mixed 40 minutes, scoring a try following a beautiful short ball from Dylan Walker to a rampaging Matt Doorey. Moses’ usually trusty right boot deserted him as he put two kicks out on the full.
Sam Walker put on a clinic for the Roosters as they raced out to a 22-12 half time lead.
Special mention to Sean Russell, who is starting to show the levels of talent he promised in Parramatta’s lower grades. His demolition of the Roosters’ right edge in the first half set up Josh Addo-Carr’s four pointer.
As the changes began coming thick and fast, the Eels were the more connected of the two sides in the second half.
Rookie half Lorenzo Talataina set up Jordan Samrani for a try with a delightful short grubber and almost pulled off the trick a second time if it weren’t for the close attention of a Roosters defender.
Samrani grabbed himself a double after new recruit Brian Kelly stripped the ball from Mark Nawaqanitawase following a Ryley Smith kick.
Importantly for the Eels, it was their younger brigade who again were putting their hands up to get a crack in round 1. Sam Tuivaiti led the pack once Junior Paulo departed the scene, while Jordan Teancum Brown again impressed.
Just a point on Jack de Belin and Tallyn Da Silva here.
JDB had what I would call a mixed afternoon, split almost entirely into good defensive output with a poor offensive output.
He was recruited as an experienced player to help sure up a middle defence that could drop intensity and resilience during matches. On that mark, he played his role. There was a noticeable difference in ruck speed when JDB was on compared to when he was off.
Offensively though he looked a little out of sorts, making a couple of mistakes. This was probably exaggerated by Dylan Walker once again changing the match when he replaced JDB.
On TDS, I think much of the criticism around him centres on the fact he isn’t Ryley Smith. That’s despite TDS being 3 years younger than Smith.
The young rake is electric out of dummy half, and he showed his speed when he split the Roosters open off an offload.
He and Smith play two different roles. I of course would like to see more defensive harrying from TDS, but I also think having 2 hookers with slightly different styles will complement each other in the long run.
Smith himself is the nailed on starting hooker and it’s hard to argue otherwise. But with the extended 6 man bench now available, TDS has a spot and will hopefully be able to show his wares throughout 2026.
As the trials have now drawn to a close and the gambling extravaganza of Vegas looms, Ryles has plenty of decisions to make. And good decisions at that.
He has to squeeze the three or Russell, Kelly and Penisini into 2 spots, find a way to include Samrani and Papalii, while also having an engine room that fired on pretty much all cylinders.