A Rising Star in the Eels’ Squad
Parramatta Eels have faced a challenging season in 2026, with wins proving elusive for most of the team. However, one player who has managed to maintain an unbeaten record is Jordan Samrani. In all three of his starts this season, despite missing five rounds due to a knee injury, Samrani has been instrumental in securing victories for the Eels.
His return to the field came in a thrilling golden-point win over North Queensland last Friday, which injected much-needed momentum into the Eels’ campaign, bringing their record to 4-6. Samrani’s contribution was significant as he made a crucial break down the sideline and scored a try that helped secure the win.
“I don’t want to call myself a lucky charm but maybe if we keep winning we can say that,” Samrani said in an interview with AAP. “We completed at 94 per cent last week, and that’s why we won the game. If you’re completing well then you have every chance to win the game.”
Samrani also highlighted the importance of effort and determination, noting that head coach Brad Ryles often emphasizes the need for the team to ‘scrap and fight’ in every game. “He always talks about scrap and fight – that’s all he cares about, just scrapping and fighting and giving 100 per cent in every game. If we do what we did against North Queensland for the rest of the year, then we’re going to have a good shot of having a great season.”
Facing New Challenges
Samrani’s impressive record could soon be tested when the Eels face Melbourne at the Magic Round. The Storm have a strong history against the Eels, having won their last seven meetings. Despite this, Samrani remains confident in his team’s ability to perform well.
“The Storm showed signs of revival in a big win over Wests Tigers last week and thumped the Eels 52-4 in round one,” Samrani acknowledged. “It’ll be my first game against Melbourne but as a team we’ve come so far from when we played them last time. We don’t worry about past performances, we just worry about this week and try and build on that.”
A Dream to Represent Lebanon
In addition to his club commitments, Samrani is also looking forward to representing Lebanon at the Rugby League World Cup later this year. He has been in regular contact with Cedars head coach Michael Cheika, who has shown a lot of interest in his development.
“I didn’t play at the last World Cup because I did my ACL,” Samrani explained. “We had a little Lebanon catch-up last month and Cheik always checks in with you, he’s an amazing guy and so invested in the team.”
For Samrani, playing for Lebanon is more than just a professional goal. It’s a personal connection that stems from his family history. “My grandparents were born there and moved over here in the late 1960s. Just what goes over, they go through a fair bit so it would be nice to bring them some joy because that’s who we’re playing for.”
