Squad breakdown: Eels 2025 NRL Supercoach analysis

The Parramatta Eels enter the 2025 season looking to make amends for a highly underwhelming 15^th placed finish last year.

A few new faces in the backline and a fully fit Mitchell Moses should reinvigorate their attack.

Zac Lomax joins after a career year that saw him debut for New South Wales and Australia, while rookie fullback Isaiah Iongi comes with high regard from Penrith.

After a brutal opening to the season against the Storm in Melbourne, their draw softens with four of their next five games at home, along with the Tigers twice in the opening seven weeks.

A new coach in Jason Ryles will bring some uncertainty to roles, so keep a close eye on the pre-season fixtures to learn more about how they’ll operate under a new reign.

Let’s take a look at their Supercoach prospects to begin the NRL season.

Parramatta Eels

1. Isaiah Iongi
2. Bailey Simonsson
3. Will Penisini
4. Zac Lomax
5. Sean Russell
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Jack Williams
9. Brendan Hands
10. Junior Paulo
11. Kelma Tuilagi
12. Bryce Cartwright
13. J’maine Hopgood
14. Joey Lussick
15. Ryan Matterson
16. Shaun Lane
17. Joe Ofahengaue

Unavailable: Josh Addo-Carr (suspension, round 5)

Analysis: Penrith recruit Isaiah Iongi is expected to fill the boots of Clint Gutherson at fullback, however he’s facing genuine competition from fellow recruit Joash Papali’i.

NSW Origin star Zac Lomax will return to the centres at his new club.

Brendan Hands and Joey Lussick are likely to share hooking duties, however coach Jason Ryles may opt for a sole hooker in 2025.

The edge back-row is a lottery, with Kelma Tuilagi, Bryce Cartwright, Shaun Lane and Ryan Matterson all options to start.

I believe they’ll go with Tuilagi and Cartwright, with Lane and Matterson utilised as middle forwards.

The partner to Junior Paulo in the front-row could be any number of options, from Joe Ofahengaue to Jack Williams to young gun Charlie Guymer.

DRAW

Storm (A), Tigers (H), Bulldogs (H), Sea Eagles (A), Dragons (H), Raiders (H), Tigers (A), bye

First five rounds rating: 6/10

GUNS

Zac Lomax I CTW I $773,800

Lomax went gangbusters last season with a 79 point average.

It was due to a few reasons, firstly the move to the wing, and secondly that he was on Ben Hunt’s edge that almost exclusively got all of the Dragons attacking ball.

In season’s prior when playing centre he had averages of 62, 60 and 57.

Back at centre at a new club I’m not interested.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE SC PLAYBOOK SUBSCRIBER COMMUNITY

However, there’s a strong argument to say Lomax is a different beast to what we’ve seen in the past.

There’s no debate in saying his football reached new levels last year.

I’ll be interested at some point, I just don’t see him hitting close to his average early in the year.

He should goal-kick, but if Moses was favoured you’d put a line through Lomax immediately.

Buy rating: 4/10

J’maine Hopgood I 2RF I $657,500

Hopgood is the forgotten man after injury ended his 2024 season in round 14.

To find Supercoach interest you only have to look back to 2023 where he averaged 73 points per game in his first full season in the NRL.

His minutes also reduced across those seasons from 66 to 60 per game.

He’s a workhorse with attacking upside and an outstanding offload.

He could be genuine value to begin the year, I think I’d like to just see how he’s utilised under Ryles and most importantly what minutes he’ll play.

Buy rating: 6/10

Dylan Brown I HFB-5/8 I $651,800

I’m not seeing much value at five-eighth just yet, which like last year leads me back to Dylan Brown as a serious starting option.

He’s dual position, won’t be impacted by Origin, is durable and has some of the best base stats of any 5/8 in the game.

Further, I think he’s undervalued to begin the season due to a fairly shambolic Eels outfit last year.

He averaged 67 points per game which was well down on averages of 76 and 74 in the two seasons prior.

He was rock solid, he just didn’t go big very often with just one tonne in 25 games.

Despite the Eels poor season, he scored under 50 on just three occasions with a low of 36 which is hardly bad for a five-eighth.

In eight games with Mitch Moses he averaged 62.37 points per game, compared to 68.69 without him.

Essentially, I don’t think it’s a major difference either way.

When Moses is out he takes more control, when he’s in they’re just a better team with more attacking opportunities for Brown.

Buy rating: 6/10

Mitchell Moses I HFB-5/8 I $628,900

Albeit in restricted games, Mitch Moses is another who elevated his game to new heights in 2024.

It was primarily on the representative scene, but those games will do his confidence the world of good.

He would be a Supercoach option to start the season, but it appears as though recruit Zac Lomax may be favoured for the goal-kicking duties.

If he does retain them he’ll be a very viable option after a down Supercoach season that saw him average 64 points per game.

Seasons prior produced averages of 68 and 70 per game.

In eight NRL games last season he had low scores of 33, 36 and 28, so if you take the goal-kicking out his floor becomes very low.

I’ll reassess the star halfback if he gets confirmed to goal-kick.

Buy rating: 4/10 (based on no goal-kicking)

MID-RANGERS

Kelma Tuilagi I 2RF I $433,800

Tuilagi has had a few stop-start years with niggling injuries, fully fit for round 1 though I see value in the Eels edge man should he beat off the competition.

He’s priced on an average of 44 points from 51 minutes per game in 2024.

In six games of 70+ minutes last season he averaged 65.67 points per game.

If he locks down an 80 minute edge role there’s value to be had.

There’s a watch on a number of back-rowers at the Eels pending the round 1 team.

Ryan Matterson is value if he wins a big minute role, while Shaun Lane is similar if he can return to his best footy in 2025 after a few down seasons.

I wouldn’t touch either early, but they’ll be on the radar.

Buy rating: 7/10

CHEAPIES

Brendan Hands I HOK I $349,300

Yep, we’re here again…

While it’s unlikely he’ll be overly relevant, if Hands were to win the starting hooker role under Ryles there’s a genuine case to be made.

In six games of 80 minutes last season he averaged 52.2 points per game.

He’s priced on a 36 point average from 55 minutes per game last season.

Sandon Smith at hooker means we probably don’t need him, but don’t be surprised if he enters a few conversations should the round 1 team list fall in his favour.

Buy rating: 3/10

Buying a house? Wanting to save on your mortgage? Need a quick loan? Refinancing? Contact Mortgage Choice SCW

Isaiah Iongi I FLB I $232,600

Some are opting for three gun fullbacks to start the season, but I find it tough to avoid a near bottom dollar starting fullback.

Iongi will likely start at No.1 for Parramatta and should make some decent cash.

I’m hoping he’ll earn a relatively quickfire $200k, hopefully more, where he can then be upgraded to a gun fullback who drops in value after a slow start to the season.

In his NRL debut last season he scored 47 points with 31 in base.

In NSW Cup last year he played 22 games of 80 minutes, scoring six tries and assisting 9, with 110 tacklebreaks at five per game.

He’ll need to pass the pre-season eye test of course, but all signs are positive so far.

Buy rating: 8/10