Parramatta are stuck in the hardest spot in footy: not bad enough to blow it up… not good enough to scare anyone in September. They finished 12th in 2025 (10–14, -76) and the vibe was basically “transition year, identity pending.”

In this episode of our 17-part 2026 NRL mini-series, we break down what actually went wrong, what the roster reset means, and why the Eels’ season could get decided before winter. They’ve lost serious leadership and yardage (Gutho/RCG/Sivo) and now they’re asking a new spine to find chemistry fast.

We get into:

• 2025 snapshot + why it felt like no-man’s land
• The roster shift: de Belin + Pezet + Brian Kelly in, big culture change out
• The early-season danger zone: 11 straight games before the first bye, with Storm/Broncos/Panthers early
• Projected Round 1 look: Iongi, Moses + Pezet, and the selection headaches around the pack/bench
• Ryan’s ladder call: 16th (and why the margin between 10th and cooked is tiny)

Cap or Fact: the Eels are “not bad, not good… just Parramatta”?

Eels fans — where have you got Parra finishing in 2026 in the comments below. 👇