Home Ground: CommBank Stadium Parramatta

Coach: Jason Ryles

It’s been a dire few years at Parramatta but the tide finally looks like it has turned as the Jason Ryles rebuild enters a second season. Ryles took over as coach for 2025 and while things started horribly, the Eels finished strong with five wins from their last seven games. The absence of Mitchell Moses for much of the season due to injury didn't help their cause much, and when the halfback was on the field, Parramatta looked like a finals side.

The early part of 2025 was rough. Results weren't there, combinations were unsettled, and the squad often looked caught between old habits and new expectations. Ryles made it clear he was looking forward, and he made tough calls on players who were not part of the long term picture, even if they could have helped win games in the short term. The Dylan Brown situation became the lightning rod. Brown's talent never disappeared. He later played outstanding football for New Zealand, and at times looked like one of the most dangerous five eighths in the world.

The signing of Jonah Pezet for the 2026 season prompted debate, with some fans questioning how a one-year agreement for a player already committed to another club aligns with our youth-first development strategy. From a purely football-centric perspective, this decision holds some merit. Pezet will benefit from a full season of development alongside Mitchell Moses, and Parramatta will gain a highly capable game manager to fortify their core, particularly given Moses' history of injury-related absences.

While Moses is set to strike up a short-term halves pairing with Pezet, the emergence of young gun Isaiah Iongi at fullback and the Ryley Smith/Tallyn Da Silva hooker combination gives the Eels a quality spine. Parramatta possesses a formidable forward pack, blending youthful talent with seasoned experience, further strengthened by the acquisition of Jack de Belin, following the earlier addition of Dylan Walker in mid-2025. Should Moses maintain his presence on the field and the team sustain the momentum demonstrated in the latter part of last year, Parramatta could potentially participate in September finals footy for the first time since their Grand Final defeat to the Panthers in 2022.

However, that may not suffice unless they establish early-season momentum to build upon. Ryley Smith may become one of Parramatta's most important pieces in 2026. Playing 22 matches in his debut season and earning an extension through to the end of 2027, he showed the club trusts him as a genuine NRL hooker. Smith's performance is characterised by a conventional dummy half approach, primarily focused on service. His key objective is to efficiently retrieve the ball and provide ample time for the halves to execute their plays. He is able to prioritise defense and service, underpinned by a strong emphasis on reliability.

If all the components can link up efficiently on attack as a fully functioning unit, then we may see a vastly improved Eels side in 2026. Plus Parra have signed Brian Kelly after he was granted a release from his Titans contract. Kelly is set to replace Zac Lomax in the Eels' backline. Add in the forward experience of Matterson, Hopgood, De Belin and the flair of Will Pensini and Josh Addo Carr, then we could expect the Eels to be well and truly in the finals hunt come the business end of the season. It’s just whether they will possess that killer punch nearing the finals.

PREDICTED SEASON FINISH - 8TH