The Tip Sheet

Brian Kelly and Jack Williams became the first joint winners of the Ken Thornett Medal in over 20 years - since Nathan Cayless and Timana Tahu couldn't be split back in 2005 while Abbi Church dominated the NRLW awards as expected. The 2026 Ken Thornett Medal is in the books and while The Tip Sheet ran live against the unfolding awards night yesterday, Sixties and Forty20 now get the chance to run it back and review the full list of award winners across the five grades. Elsewhere, there are fresh reports from the Daily Telegraph linking Roosters' firebrand Spencer Leniu to the Eels as the Blue & Gold look to be closing in on a key addition to their pack for 2027. There is always time to yap about potential signings to the squad so once more the boys dig into what Spencer can bring to Parramatta and some of the risks that come with his signature.

It is a wrap on a tough, disappointing season for the Parramatta Eels but before we fully close the chapter on season 2026 - the Ken Thornett Medal ceremony will celebrate the bright moments and talented individuals who shone in spite of the trials and tribulations this year. With Sixties in live attendance at the banner event, Forty20 will man the console for a fly-by-the seams live stream. Outside of the live winners from the KT Medal, The Tip Sheet will look at the weekend results and wrap up the small amount of news out of Parradise this week. The wheels are in motion across the wider NRL though as 8 teams gear up for the finals while the cold war between players and PVL gets a fair bit more intense as battle lines begin to be drawn over the controversial set restart era of the game.

We salute each and every fan that persevered through the painful conclusion to the 2026 season for the Parramatta Eels in a game where the Blue & Gold repeatedly and fundamentally showed a lack of Footy IQ. The Eels completely dropped their bundle in Round 27 as they let slip a 12-point lead in the second half to allow the Dragons to steal a victory in the final minutes despite having a man in the sin bin. The Tip Sheet is here for all to vent as the season wraps up on a particularly bitter note with the Eels serving up some of their worst footy in months.

The Parramatta Eels head into the final round of the 2026 NRL season dropping some hot retention news with the club confirming that Ronald Volkman has extended his stay with the Blue & Gold for another 2 years. The Tip Sheet breaks down Volkman's new deal as Sixties and Forty20 go over the rumoured details and where it places Ronnie in the big picture at the Eels. Of course the preview podcast has some games to discuss and with the lower grades wrapping up last week all that is now left are the NRLW and NRL. The ladies head to the nation's capital to tussle with the Raiders while the fellas are bound for the 'Gong as they gear up for a tilt with the Dragons. Will Tyrese Lokeni become the third straight Eel to debut in first grade on Sunday? The boys talk about what the versatile forward brings to the table for the Blue & Gold and the hard work he has put in across 2026 to potentially feature this week.

Parramatta's 'Elite 7' Hit List was revealed on the weekend and The Tip Sheet is ready to put bounties on each individual based on who is the biggest priority for the Blue & Gold. Sixties and Forty20 discuss the latest recruitment and retention news before reviewing the weekend's action and then turning their eyes to the Ken Thornett Medal and Team List Tuesday. Injuries and suspensions have wrought havoc in the NRL ahead of the finals...who emerged unscathed and who is panicking? PVL wants to bring back a midweek cup in an already jam packed schedule while the code celebrated a hugely emotional moment for Jai Arrow as he took to the field in the first leg of a two-game stretch that will see him notch 100 games as a Bunny.

There is still one more round of NRL to be played but the Parramatta Eels signed off from their home finale at CommBank Stadium in some style as they piled the points on against the Cronulla Sharks and in doing so, consigned their opponents to a finish outside the Top 4. The Eels bookended the outcome today with a rapid start and a flurry of a finish but had to see of a genuine fightback from the opposition in the second half as Sixties and Forty20 debrief on the big Round 26 victory.

It is the final week of regular season action in the lower grades while the NRL and NRLW are still rolling on into next week as The Tip Sheet previews the final 5-game docket of the year. Sixties and Forty20 run their eyes over some tough match-ups against the Cronulla Sharks for the lads while the ladies are looking to finish with a flourish in the NSWWP and spring a massive ambush in the NRLW. Of course, one of the major stories this week is the debut of Ryda Talagi as the Eels continue to build by way of blooding young talent at the end of 2026. The boys discuss what Ryda will bring to the team and what to expect from him in the limited minutes he projects to get against the Sharks on Sunday.

The penultimate round of the regular season of the NRL is here and it feels like there is more news than ever to discuss. The Tip Sheet is set to power through a massive Parra docket headed by the news that Ryda Talagi will debut against the Sharks on Sunday. There is plenty more though from Jason Ryles unloading on the Bunker to the potential retentions of Junior Paulo and Ronald Volkman as Sixties and Forty20 break it all down. The NRL section is headlined by some genuinely heart warming news as the code is set to make special provisions to allow Jai Arrow to take the field in South Sydney's final two games of the year to reach his ton as a Bunny. There is some big time signings news with Joey Manu joining the Chiefs while Jacob Preston and the Bulldogs finally reached an accord for a 4-year extension at Belmore.

Effort marred by errors...and some crumby calls - it sure sounds like the themes of 2026 as the Parramatta Eels fell to the Dolphins in Round 25. As they have for some time now, the Eels showed plenty of ticker against their far more favoured opposition but it wasn't enough to overcome defensive lapses, sloppy errors and yes some dubious calls. Sixties and Forty20 break down the Round 25 result as always in the Instant Reaction Podcast.

The Eels walked away winners from a gunfight with the Cowboys last week but are they are the ready for one of the most high powered offences in the NRL? Sixties and Forty20 discuss the Round 25 match up with the Dolphins and how Parramatta can look to put a put a dent in perhaps the most electric back line in the competition. The NRLW have the chance to consolidate on a breakthrough win as they travel to the Shire where they face the Sharks. Cronulla have been struggling much like the Eels and the the Round 8 clash will go a long way towards deciding who will finish last this season. The NSWWP make the same trip as they play in a double header at Ocean Protect Stadium and will bolstered by an injection of surplus NRLW talent this week. It is a road trip to the capital for the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup as the Eels meet the Raiders in both grades in the penultimate week of the regular season. Bailey Simonsson's return is the big ticket story here as the boys preview two pretty evenly split matches.

It is a crazy week for back rowers in all aspects of the game as The Tip Sheet gives you a front row seat to all of the action. Starting with a serious note, Ryan Matterson is walking away from the great game of rugby league after a long battle with concussions. While the news as expected, Sixties and Forty20 look back on Matterson's two stints as an Eel and what he brought to the club. Jezaiah Funa is set to debut. No it isn't deja vu - but hopefully this time the young forward gets to see the field as the Eels travel to Brisbane to face the high flying Dolphins. On the outgoing players front, the Melbourne Storm have signed Kelma Tuilagi for 2027 as both the Eels and the Storm continue to hone their rosters for next year. In the wider NRL there could be a November 1 frenzy for star backrowers as Jacob Preston, Tallis Duncan, Liam Martin, Hudson Young and Xavier Willison all inch towards testing the market. The show makes the usual stops around Parradise and the Greater NRL as the boys recap the week that was and look at all the top news and story lines heading into Round 25!

If anyone ever tells you that the Parramatta Eels are a boring team then make sure to bring the receipts from the last months of footy. It continued into Round 24 in the most dramatic fashion as the Eels, on the back of a clutch Captain's Challenge from Mitchell Moses, kicked themselves to victory from the boot of the very same man to claim an insane 32-30 victory. In a game that featured some mind blowing tries from both sides - including a legendary try assist to Junior Paulo - Parramatta did just enough to secure the season sweep on the men from North Queensland. Sixties and Forty20 try to settle the adrenaline levels as they debrief on a legitimately absurd game that featured oodles of offence and the scantest semblance of defence.

This week's preview podcast comes with an extra dose of reaction as the boys offer their thoughts on the announcement that Jim Sarantinos will stand down from his position as CEO of the Parramatta Eels at the end of year. On the actual preview front, the show dives into a diverse docket this week with the Eels taking on a different opponent in every grade. In the NSWWP, Parramatta host the table-topping Knights while the Jersey Flegg are jetting off to Sigatoka to face the Silktails. The NSW Cup are looking to avenge a heavy loss to the Bears from earlier this season as Lincoln Fletcher is called back into the grade to partner fellow young gun playmaker Lorenzo Talataina. The NRLW are still hunting for the first win of the year in a tough campaign as they host the Bulldogs. They thumped their Western Sydney rivals in the preseason but have since struggled mightily to find any semblance of form. Can they spring the upset on Saturday? The podcast wraps up with the NRL as the Eels and Cowboys get ready for a shoot out. Parramatta prevailed in a bizarre 3-point golden point upset earlier this year...what awaits the teams and fans on Saturday night?

The Eels will have to close out season 2026 without Isaiah Iongi and Sam Tuivaiti after blow young stars succumbed to high grade MCL sprains (with a bonus PCL sprain thrown in for Iongi). The Tip Sheet looks at how coach Jason Ryles plans to cover for their losses as the Eels prepare to host the North Queensland Cowboys in the second leg of Indigenous Round. Reports are emerging that talks between the Perth Bears and Junior Paulo have fallen apart - is big Junez set to return to the Blue & Gold in 2027? Brian To'o is a Chief while Corey Horburgh, fresh off a public castigation from his coach Ricky Stuart, is now the primary target for the Bears as both expansion franchises look to make moves. The NRL continues to chase controversial changes as they moot a 3rd Place Play-Off and in injury news, Isaah Yeo marks a huge loss for the Panthers after injured his pectoral muscle in the loss to the Warriors.

That was certainly one out of the box. The Eels produced some of their worst and best footy inside the same game as they nearly broke a NRL record in their ill-fated comeback attempt against the Rabbitohs in Indigenous Round. The Tip Sheet breaks it all down from the awful first half to the big fight back and everything in between.

Indigenous Round is back and the Parramatta Eels are set to meet the South Sydney Rabbitohs once again in the iconic cultural round of footy. The Eels enter the week on the back of a rather difficult victory against the Tigers and will be looking to somehow snap the hoodoo the Bunnies have had over them in recent seasons. Sixties and Forty20 take a dive into all of the action for the Blue & Gold including a triple header at Redfern Oval as the Jersey Flegg Cup, NSWWP and NSW Cup squads all do battle with the Bunnies. The Flegg and NSWWP are looking to stay on pace with other finals contenders and will need to knock over a competitor in that regard in the Rabbitohs. The NRLW has the titanic task of trying to upset the Sydney Roosters on Sunday. The show looks at the areas where they can disrupt the Tri-colours in a game where they are mammoth underdogs.

Sean Russell and perhaps Bailey Simonsson are set to return for the Eels in the NSW Cup while Jezaiah Funa-Iuta could be in line for a NRL debut in the back row. Sir Mix-a-Lot might have something to say about all the back that is in action for Parramatta this week. The Tip Sheet mixes it all down like a circa 1990s Seattle DJ as Sixties and Forty20 get stuck into the front leg of Indigenous Round as the Eels meet the Rabbitohs. The Blues have a new head coach as Matt King replaces Laurie Daley to lead the NRL news as the boys go around the code to bring you the latest happenings through club land the representative scene.

Where do you even begin with that one? The record says that the Parramatta Eels won in Round 22 of the 2026 NRL Premiership but anyone that bore witness to this game will have questions about what they saw. In one of the ugliest, most ill-disciplined victories you will ever see - the Parramatta Eels have defeated the Wests Tigers 16-13. Sixties and Forty20 try desperately not to add to the error count as they debrief a decidedly hollow victory on Sunday night.

We have a trio of games against the Wests Tigers (and Magpies) for the men and a trip to Wagga Wagga for the ladies as they play in Magic Round against the Newcastle Knights. The Tip Sheet is all over it as the Flegg, NRLW and NRL all look to build on tough, gritty efforts last week that all barely failed to yield points while the NSW Cup have a chance to consolidate on a season beat performance following their upset win over the Panthers. Sixties and Forty20 preview the quartet of games (it is a global bye in the NSWWP) in what will be an action packed Sunday for the Eels.

It is up for debate whether Rudyard Kipling would approve but with the Eels, Bears and Tigers all converging this week we have something of the rugby league equivalent of The Jungle Book playing out in real time. The Tip Sheet looks at the latest happenings from Parradise and the NRL as the Perth Bears table an eye-watering offer to Junior Paulo. Parramatta go big cat hunting for the second week running as they look to bring down the drama-laden Wests Tigers in the NRL. It is Magic Round in the NRLW as our girls look to try and build on a heart breaking loss to the Warriors in what was a greatly improved team performance. The boys break down all of the big news from TLT across these grades and all the way down to the Jersey Flegg. The Tigers have dominated the news cycle in the last week following the sudden feud between coach Benji Marshall and top player Adam Doueihi. What is it all about and where has it left the joint venture? Newcastle are reeling from a devastating loss that cost them both Dylan Brown and Dylan Lucas for the season. Is it time to put the red line through them?

I am not sure they get too much more frustrating than Round 21's hugely controversial clash against the Panthers after the Eels fell just 7-points shy of a monstrous boil over amidst some jaw dropping missed calls. Sixties and Forty20 review the heart breaking loss in a fired up Instant Reaction podcast.

A rapid fire turnaround from Team List Tuesday to Thursday night footy means a not so rapid fire show as Sixties and Forty20 pull double duty for a news and previews super show. There was no follow-up signing news after the Eels confirmed Jarome Luai would join the club in 2027 so the fellas check in on the latest as fans remain hungry for more additions to the roster. It is a monster week against the Panthers in all five grades as the show goes in depth from the Jersey Flegg all the way through to the NRLW and NRL. Every squad barring the NSWWP are hunting either bounceback wins or desperate turnarounds in form...which of them figure to be in the mix for a reversal of fortune? As always, the boys go around the NRL to bring you the latest across the code. Several superstars are facing season ending injuries while Manly and Wests are well and truly in their own respective quagmires as their form lines trend down and down.

The NRLW and NSWWP come to the fore this weekend with a bye round putting the men's competitions on the backburner. While both teams are looking to snap back from losses last weekend their respective seasons stand in deeply contrasting situations. The NSWWP are looking to keep touch with the breakaway group at the top of the ladder while in the NRLW the Eels desparately trying to disengage the handbrake. Sixties and Forty20 take a deep dive into both games as the Eels suit up to take on the Wenty Magpies in reserve grade and the Gold Coast Titans in the NRLW.

And just like that the Parramatta Eels and Jarome Luai have confirmed that their unlikely partnership for 2027 is very much real and official after the club put out a press release on Tuesday afternoon announcing that the premiership and Origin winning half was joining the Blue & Gold next year. Luai, a polarising figure in the code, has understandably split fans on whether it is the right move for the Eels but regardless of where you stand there it is ultimately the first major move Parramatta have made for next season since signing Jaydn Su'A. Sixties and Forty20 reflect on the news and the significance of the signing and ruminate on who could be next as the media link the Eels to Jack Howarth. As always, the boys go around the NRL to scope out the latest happenings. The NRL is prepared to make an allowance for Mark Nawaqanitawase to play in the World Cup while Josh Hannay has unloaded on officials after his team went down to the Melbourne Storm in Round 19. All that and more in another live edition of The Tip Sheet.

Daniel Tupou got his magic milestone game as the 300-gamer notched a hat-trick on Saturday night. For the Parramatta Eels though, it was a case of some genuinely gutsy defence getting worn down by a string of errors as the Roosters took an age to capitalise on a gargantuan gap in possession and territory. Sixties and Forty20 review the Round 19 loss in a game where the Eels were all heart but came up short against a top-of-the-table side.

Another mammoth preview podcast sees The Tip Sheet covering five grades, some massive news out of the Tigers (for which you should also check Ep 74 for more in depth thoughts) and a rapid fire review of Origin III. Sixties and Forty20 run right through the Flegg all the way to NRL as the Eels face the Roosters in the mens footy and the Dragons/Steelers in the ladies this week. With only the NRLW dropping their game last week the Blue & Gold now have a terrific chance to build across Saturday and Sunday - so how do they stack up? Lincoln Fletcher is set to make his NSW Cup debut in Round 19 as he rejoins Lorenzo Talataina in the halves. It adds an extra layer of interest to the Cup this week as the Eels ramp up their development in reserve grade. In the NRLW, Parramatta will be looking for a vastly improved effort after they slumped to a disappointing loss to the Tigers in Round 1 while the NRL squad will be looking to play spoilers to Daniel Tupou's 300th cap on Saturday night.

The NRL was rocked by a breaking report today that the Wests Tigers had given Jarome Luai permission to sign with other clubs for the 2027 season following his decision to link with the PNG Chiefs from 2028. That situation has swiftly evolved into the Parramatta Eels leading the chase for his short term services as they look to simultaneously install a star next to Mitchell Moses and keep the pipeline open for a number of highly touted halves prospects. Sixties and Forty20 convene for an emergency podcast as the wheels whir into motion for the Eels. Of all the potential players - could Luai be the signing to ignite some recruitment momentum for the Blue & Gold?

The NRL is set for an explosive expansion of the salary cap in the wake of the a massive windfall from the new media deal. With rumours suggesting the figure could be around 20 million dollars, the landscape of the code will be changed forever. Sixties and Forty20 tackle the mind-blowing numbers in a live edition of The Tip Sheet. Meanwhile, in Parradise the Eels are reloading after a largely successful weekend against the Sea Eagles and Wests Tigers. Injury and suspension have struck both the NRL and NRLW as Jason Ryles and Steve Georgallis turn to young options to replace Sean Russell (Quadriceps, Rd 23) and Boss Kapua (Suspension, Rd 4). Lincoln Fletcher is set to make his NSW Cup debut this week in an exciting iteration of Team List Tuesday. The big decider for State of Origin takes place tomorrow night - who will prevail? The boys give their finals thoughts on the game before going around the code to discuss the latest bits and bobs.

Just as we all expected! The Parramatta Eels were too tough and too hungry for the lowly Sea Eagles. In a complete reversal of their respective ladder positions it was the Blue & Gold that largely dictated terms to Manly on the first Sunday of July. The stunning upset came on the back of some of the feistiest and energetic play of the Eels from the whole season - with a few comical moments for both sides. Sixties and Forty20 celebrate a tremendous upset victory as the Eels set things right after a disappointing loss to South Sydney last week!

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 71: Rd 18/Rd 1 Previews by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 70: The Pure Andy Raymond Experience by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 69: NRLW Kicks Off, League Locks In New Broadcast Deal by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 68: A Nightmare on Eels Lane by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 67: Round 17 Supershow (News & Previews) by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 66: More Bye Week BSing, Origin II & Klein Drama by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 65: I Guess Close Enough Is Sometimes Good Enough by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 64: Rd 15 Preview vs Raiders by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 64: Rd 15 Preview vs Raiders by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 63: No Rest For The Wounded by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 62: One For The Sickos by The Cumberland Throw

The Eels and the Bulldogs meet across all three grades in Round 14 with the two clubs surprisingly evenly matched in the Flegg, Cup and NRL. Sixties and Forty20 preview an age-old rivalry against the back drop of the King's Birthday long weekend and the Monday games. With Kiraz and Crichton potentially in doubt, how do the two teams stack up? The boys discuss how the Eels can complete the sweep on their Western Sydney rivals and what challenges face them in that task.

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 60: Eels Missing Moses, Eagles Subscribe to Foztel by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 59: Knights Error-ant, Eels Show Courage But Lack Composure by The Cumberland Throw

Chris Ricketts joins Forty20 to preview all of the Round 13 action against the Newcastle Knights in the latest episode of The Tip Sheet. The boys make a quick pit stop to check in on the two Origin results as NSW stole Game 1 from QLD in controversial circumstances on Wednesday while the Blues completed a historic series sweep on Thursday night. It is a triple header at McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday as the Eels and the Knights clash across the Jersey Flegg Cup, NSW Cup and NRL. Forty20 and Chris break down all three grades as the Eels look to surge out of the bye. With Mitchell Moses and Jonah Pezet ruled out this week, the burden falls on Ronald Volkman and Joash Papalii in the halves - can the rest of the team lift in order to make their jobs easier? Likewise there are concerns over the lightweight pack the Eels have named this week. How do they find a way to stack up against the in-form Newcastle middles?

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 57: More Eels Hurt As Abdo Resigns by The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 56: Bye Week BSing by The Cumberland Throw

An embarrassing inability to complete a multitude of premium attacking opportunities has cost the Eels dearly in Magic Round. While the Melbourne Storm eventually ran out easy winners on the scoreboard, Parramatta squandered an infuriating amount of chances to seize both the initiative and the momentum on Saturday night. Sixties and Forty20 debrief on the incredibly frustrating loss as the Eels now move into a bye and look to reset with some key players hopefully back in the fold in Round 13.

Some big NRL news interrupts the preview podcast as Sixties and Forty20 discuss the most recent developments surrounding Luke Metcalf and Ivan and Nathan Cleary. The Dragons continue their spending spree as they look to remodel their roster after signing Metcalf for 3-years while Ivan Cleary's decision to step back from coaching at the end of 2027 has created intense speculation around Nathan's future. As for the Eels - because this is a Parramatta focused podcast after all - they are in action in the NSW Cup and the NRL as both grades play out of a singular venue this weekend. For the NRL it is Magic Round at Suncorp Stadium while the NSW Cup is hosting its Festival of Footy at North Sydney Oval. The boys preview both games as the Cup look to bounce back from a heavy loss to the Bears while the NRL are looking to build on a crazy win over the Cowboys and bury some Magic Round hoodoos against the Storm.

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 53: Magic Round Madness, Metcalf Mania by The Cumberland Throw

It is time to wrap up the 2026 Junior Representatives following campaigns that saw the Parramatta Eels progress at least to the second week of the finals in all four grades. Of course the headline act was the Tarsha Gale Cup and their dominant defence of their 2025 title but Sixties and Forty20 are joined by Steve Georgallis to defrief the Harold Matthews, Lisa Fiaola and SG Ball Cups as well.

The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 51: Gilded Boot, Golden Point; Eels & Moses Find A Way by The Cumberland Throw