TK's simple guide to the Parramatta Eels fantasy prospects for 2025.
New Year and a new coach in Jason Ryles for the forever under performing Parramatta Eels. Last year the injuries to Mitchell Moses and an aging forward pack did contribute to a lean year. Some good signings with some sharp back line stars in Addo - Carr, Lomax and Iongi added to the books. With only Jack Williams added to the forwards though I can still see this being an issue competing with the top 4 teams as well as the obvious issues in the dummy half department.
Prediction - If Moses plays close to 20 games they will be slip into the 8
Eels 2025 Player Movements
2025 Gains |
Josh Addo-Carr (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2026), Dean Hawkins (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2026), Isaiah Iongi (Penrith Panthers, 2027), Zac Lomax (St George Illawarra Dragons, 2028), Joash Papalii (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2026), Jordan Samrani (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, 2026), Jack Williams (Cronulla Sharks, 2027) |
2025 Loses |
Matt Arthur (Newcastle Knights), Daejarn Asi (Castleford Tigers), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Gold Coast Titans), Zac Cini (Castleford Tigers), Clinton Gutherson (St George Illawarra Dragons), Morgan Harper (North Sydney Bears), Jirah Momoisea (released), Lorenzo Mulitalo (Burleigh Bears), Ky Rodwell (Wakefield Trinity), Ethan Sanders (Canberra Raiders), Maika Sivo (Leeds Rhinos), Blaize Talagi (Penrith Panthers) |
Plenty of debate over several positions. Iongi would be fav to start at fullback but is being pushed by Papalii. Will Lomax start in the centres or wing would be another question. A starting prop role and the two edges are unanswered questions as is will Ryles carry a second hooker on the bench. I think we will see plenty of fantasy value in the Eels. The Draw and Game Day Squad
Byes - round 8, 15, 18
Game Day Squad allows a true focus on weekly match ups. Outside backs like Penisini, Lomax and Addo - Carr should be considered in good match ups like the following:
NRL Fantasy perspective
Have a strange draw with an early bye in round 8, missing two major bye rounds in 15 and 18 but then finish their byes early. Given they play 13 of the first 14 games there is scope to take multiple Eels early.
Fantasy relevant players for round 1 - Isaiah Iongi, Kelma Tuilagi, Joe Ofahengaue, Brendan Hands, Joash Papalii
2025 NRL Fantasy Fortunes (scroll across for full notes)
Player | Price | NRL Fantasy Av | GameDay Squad Av | Notes |
J'Maine Hopgood | $743K | 55.7 | 51.24 | Missed the entire back end of the season. Did not play 80 minutes once in 2024. Not for me but not the worst buy given the dual. |
Zac Lomax | $668K | 50 | 53.39 | Positional uncertainity is the risk as well as what side of the field he will play. CTR av in 2 games was 44.5 vs 50.6 (WING 19 games). Avoid |
Mitch Moses | $700K | 48.9 | 48.55 | Only 8 games in 2024 and was about 8 fantasy points lower then the 57.5 best av he achieved in 2023. Likely to loose the goal kicking to Lomax so even a return to his best and his likely fully priced. Better options at his position. |
Dylan Brown | $651K | 48.8 | 48.29 | A rollercoaster year. Made the most of no Moses and a swtich to halfback saw a 58.5 av in 8 games till round 12. 16 games at five-eighth saw a 43.9 av. Too volatile to start with. |
Bryce Cartwright | $590K | 44.2 | 37.55 | He had moments again in 2024 with two 70+ point games showing his potential. Fantasy relevant game with the offloads and tacklebreaks its just the errors that lets him down. Not for me |
Isaiah Iongi | $350K | 43 | 52.6 | Fav to take Gutho's full back jersey and was impressive on debut. NSW Cup had 24 games for a 36.5 average (6T, 9TA, 112 TB, 11 LB). BUY buy won't be a pod. |
Ryan Matterson | $567K | 42.4 | 38.67 | At his best you'd say his well under priced. The issues is the mounting injuries and uncertainty on how Ryles will play him. Watchlist only |
Will Penisini | $535K | 40.1 | 38.62 | Fantasy relevant style of play but you would say is priced at his potential. Positional uncertainty on what side he will play is also off putting. Avoid |
Junior Paulo | $550K | 39.4 | 38.02 | Aging player who also played most of 2024 from the bench. Departure of RCG makes the role Ryles plays him an interesting watch. 2023 he av 46.9 from 55.8 mins, so could have some value. Watchlist |
Shaun Lane | $523K | 39.2 | 36.43 | Disappointing season where he let down a lot of fantasy coaches. His future may lie in the middle rotation off the bench. Avoid |
Jack Williams | $505K | 37.8 | 35.05 | Track his role as he has some relevance if he can start and get 60 mins. 7 games in 2024 in games over 60 mins he averaged 48.6 in 61 mins. Watchlist as the coach is putting time into him. |
Joe Ofahengaue | $490K | 36.7 | 35.8 | If he starts and gets 50 minutes this guy becomes very interesting. 6 games over 50 mins in 2024 where he had a 50.3 av in 56.8 mins. We know what he did in big minutes at the Tigers also. Consider if he starts |
Josh Addo Carr | $468K | 35.1 | 39.3 | Had a couple of huge scores to even out his two injury games, even at his best would likely only be a high 30's average. Avoid |
Dean Hawkins | $444K | 33.3 | 33.12 | Back up to Moses and Brown. Some handy games for Souths buth nothing to want to invest even if he did fill in for a while. 4 games NSW cup for only a 29 av. Avooid |
Bailey Simonsson | $431K | 32.3 | 35.33 | Coming off a very injury pleagued season. More fantasy relevant at CTR and given the uncertainty of how they will line up, best to let this one go through to the keeper. |
Kelma Tuilagi | $420K | 31.4 | 28.15 | Could have some upside if he gets a start on an edge. 7 games starting on an edge saw a 42.9av in 74.7 mins (2024). Consider if he starts as he has fantasy relevance particuarly on a right edge with Moses. BUY |
Luca Moretti | $392K | 29.4 | 39.62 | Bench specalist and can't see that changing. Avoid |
Brendan Hands | $389K | 29.1 | 24.9 | Will some how work his way into all our teams LOL Has a 36.7 av when starting at hooker. If they don't carry Lussick on the bench, he may be a BUY. There he goes back into the team for some trap city. |
Charlie Guymer | $300K | 28.5 | 26 | Stood out on the eye test in his 2 games. Only young so will improve his defencies however unlikely to get the minutes to be relevant. NSW Cup 16 games for 37.9 av. Another with a push from the coach so monitor. |
Joey Lussick | $357K | 26.7 | 25.6 | Was my most unfortunate buy of 2024. 35.6 average when starting, so like Hands I have no doubt he will snake his way into our team at some point if I'm drunk. Avoid |
Sean Russell | $350K | 26.2 | 28.3 | Just doesn't have the fantasy relevant game to be relevant. Doesn't score many tries, break loads of tackles or huge metre carries. Avoid |
Jake Tago | TBA | 19.7 | 19.6 | A lot of coaches cashed out to him back end of the year. No real fantasy relevance in the NRL. 14 games in NSW Cup for 36 average. Avoid |
Dan Keir | TBA | 18.8 | 17.2 | Limited opportunities in the NRL and would be on the back end of the depth chart. 19 NSW Cup games for a 38 av. |
Makahesi Makatoa | TBA | 18.7 | 17.9 | Benchy at best and can't see him getting a starting role or minutes. Avoid |
Wiremu Greig | $250K | 17 | 14.61 | Could be under threat to lose his spot in the 17 but does appear to be the big body they need from the bench. Avoid. |
Ofahiki Ogden | TBA | 15 | 14.4 | Not relevant. Avoid. 11 NSW Cup games for 28.9 fantasy av |
Matt Doorey | $250K | 14 | 14.2 | Not relevant. Avoid. 16 NSW Cup games for 36.9 fantasy av |
Joash Papalii | $230K | 0 | 0 | Neck and neck with Iongi for the FB role. Yet to debut but highly regarded. NSW Cup 20 games for 32.1 av (3T, 15TA, 39TB, 7 LB). Likely running second in the FB race but if he starts then consider. |
Jordan Samrani | $230K | 0 | 0 | Young centre yet to debut at NRL Level. NSW Cup he had 16 games for a 33.1 av (6T, 1TA, 50TB, 6LB). Watchlist |
Haze Dunster | $250k | 0 | 0 | Not relevant. Avoid. 6 NSW Cup games for 20.7 fantasy av |
Ky Rodwell | TBA | 0 | 0 | Not relevant. Avoid |
Toni Mataele | $230k | 0 | 0 | Not relevant. Avoid. 9 NSW Cup games for 21.1 fantasy av |
Isaac Lumelume | TBA | 0 | 0 | Not relevant. Avoid. 21 NSW Cup games for 27.4 fantasy av |
Sam Tuivaiti | $230K | 0 | 0 | 19 year old giant who is yet to debut at NSW Cup. Would be a while off NRL |
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