Parramatta Eels’ Strategic Moves for 2026
Parramatta Eels entered the 2026 season with one of the thinnest rosters in the competition, despite adding players like Jack de Belin and Jonah Pezet. With Jason Ryles coaching the team for his second season, there was a clear goal to prove that the retooling period was effective and that the club was ready to compete after finishing 11th last season.
The Eels have 26 players in their top-30 squad, but their forward pack has struggled to match the competition’s elite. This has led the club into a difficult position where they are mid-season scrambling to find solutions. With twelve players injured for a significant portion of the season, including two who are out for the rest of the season due to ACL injuries, the market offers several options. These include expiring contracts, players who have been frozen out, and those seeking new opportunities.
Here are six players the Eels should target for the remainder of this season, either for a loan or long-term security:
Jaydn Su’A (St George Illawarra Dragons)
Despite the Dragons being winless and having their own struggles, Su’A has already made his decision about leaving the club after this season. Reports suggest he has signed with the Parramatta Eels. The Dragons officially announced Su’A’s decision of leaving the club after this season. At 28 years old, the back-rower has plenty left in the tank and could slot next to Mitchell Moses, addressing the lack of experience in the back-row position. The Eels are eyeing the arrival of Su’A to the club as soon as possible, with the Dragons expected to make major decisions around their club after the ANZAC Day clash against the Sydney Roosters. His performances this season have made him a standout, and getting arguably the Dragons’ best player earlier than expected could help the Blue and Gold address squad depth and injury issues, while also benefiting from bringing a State of Origin calibre forward to their team. So far in the first six games of the season, Su’A averages almost 15 runs for 110 running metres per game, makes 30 tackles per game and 2 tackle busts per game.Jake Clysdale (Canberra Raiders)
At 200cm and 117kg, Clysdale is the biggest forward on the market (literally). The 21-year-old prop is on the final year of his Raiders deal and pushing hard for an NRL debut. If Parramatta go for size and youth in the front-row, it would be worth a look to see if there’s an opportunity to sign him for the future. Canberra would most likely want to retain Jake Clysdale given his age and Josh Papalii being near the end of his career, but the Eels have money to spend and more opportunities up for grabs that could potentially entice the Raiders forward.Tom Ale (Penrith Panthers)
The New Zealand-born forward joined Penrith on a one-year deal for 2026 after being a massive contributor in the Warriors’ NSW Cup success last season. Currently, Ale has been one of the best forwards in the NSW Cup and has been one of the biggest reasons why the Penrith side is sitting fourth in the competition so far this year. Ale is a 27-year-old mobile forward who generates a lot of physicality and post-contact success in his running game, and Parramatta could use his production and his ability to draw in multiple defenders either starting or coming off the bench. In the NSW Cup, he is averaging 133 running metres per match, 54.4 post contact metres a game and over 3 tackle breaks per game in almost 48 minutes per game, while having a 90.8% tackle efficiency.Loko Pasifiki Tonga (St George Illawarra Dragons)
The almost 21-year-old front rower has formally requested to leave the St George Illawarra Dragons and is looking for a new team. Having impressive performances in the NSW Cup, particularly against the Sea Eagles in round 6, with Tonga running 252 metres, 75 post-contact metres, 1 try, 2 line breaks, 4 tackle breaks while not missing a single tackle. Lots of teams will be interested in his services and for the Eels with an ageing Junior Paulo, they could use an alpha forward for the foreseeable future. The Dragons have not been selecting him in their first grade lineup, and with the talented forward wanting a consistent opportunity in first grade, the Eels could be the place where he gets playing time and a chance to develop into a star player.Jesse McLean (Penrith Panthers)
Like his younger brother Casey, Jesse McLean had huge wraps when he was coming through the Penrith pathways and if the Eels wanted to bring in a talented outside back that in their minds should be playing NRL but is on a very good roster, then Jesse should be considered. The Eels have struggled with yardage from their back three getting out of their own end and Penrith have thrived in getting backs with the ability to generate a running game that builds over the course of the game. McLean against the Bulldogs in NSW Cup last weekend had 18 runs for 166 running metres with 51 post contact metres. He leads the NSW Cup in tackle breaks in the first six weeks of the season with 29, offloads with 17 and has the most runs of every player in the competition. In the off-season, Jesse was open to leaving if there were opportunities to get more first-grade playing time, with Josh Hannay interested in his services. The Eels could potentially look at McLean as a team he would have all the opportunity in the world to succeed and have a spot in first-grade. Both McLean brothers are signed until the end of the 2028 season, and with Penrith needing cap space to extend Thomas Jenkins, as well as have Brian To’o and Paul Alamoti on their books, it could benefit both teams with different goals.Matthew Timoko (Canberra Raiders)
One of the surprise storylines is Matt Timoko, who was part of the Raiders’ success last season, is now playing NSW Cup and has been frozen out at Canberra after Simi Sasagi seized his spot. Timoko has a mutual option for 2027, but he could be on his way out of the club if there isn’t long-term interest to keep him in Canberra. The Eels have been desperately wanting a high-ceiling talented centre for years, and this could be their chance to land a talented player in Timoko, a New Zealand international representative centre. Although he plays right centre, his game could easily shift to the left side and with JAC outside him, the creativeness and the freedom to set up that side of their attack would free some workload off Moses, who is currently relying a lot on his right edge to execute their plays.
