While they now wait pensively to see if the $100,000 preseason bounty will be theirs to claim pending the result between the Storm and Gold Coast, more importantly the Parramatta Eels got the final hit out they would have been aiming for. The Sydney Roosters gave them a terrific battle throughout leaving Jason Ryles with plenty of tape - both positive and negative - to work with ahead of Round 1.

Sixties and Forty20 debrief on the Gosford trial. What did they like? Where do the Eels need to sharpen up? Was there any late movement in the positional charts? The boys also go around the grounds for the Harold Matthews and SG Ball where the Eels prevailed against the Tigers in both grades.

It is just the Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cups in action this weekend as they travel to Leichardt to tussle with the Tigers in Round 3. Both grades are seeking to maintain their perfect starts to 2026 but with Balmain coming out of a bye in both grades - what should the Eels be wary of ahead of their third straight road trip?

The NRL preseason hits its frenzied zenith this weekend and Parramatta find themselves right in the mix to claim the $100,000 prize. Jason Ryles has named a full-strength outfit as the Eels head to Gosford to face the Sydney Roosters. What do the boys think of the team? Who has a chance to make the most important final impressions? Which rookies are edging closer to a potential debut?

We have arrived at the final week of preseason trials as Jason Ryles and the Parramatta Eels prepare a full strength outfit for the Sydney Roosters in Gosford. The Tip Sheet looks at the ins and outs of the team list this week, who has stolen a march in the battle for positions and which rookies look to have the early running.

Sixties and Forty20 recap the week that was for the Eels including final thoughts on their trial against the Sharks before touching on the latest media comments on the Zac Lomax saga.

One Bulldogs has escaped serious injury but another wasn't as lucky. While Matt Burton will be on the plane to Vegas, Leo Thompson is set to miss up to 10 weeks for the Bulldogs with a calf strain. The luckless Te Maire Martin is looking at 3 months on the sideline after breaking his leg as the toll of the trials hits teams.

State of Origin has been changed forever. After years of discussion over eligibility rules the NRL has blown selection protocols wide open by removing the requirement to declare for Australia to the formula. Henceforth, as long you meet the other key criteria (Born in NSW/QLD, resided in NSW/QLD by 13, father player for NSW/QLD) you can be selected for the relevant side regardless of your national allegiance. What does this mean for the game's showpiece series?

Ah, that time of year when trials mean nothing or everything! Where do Sixties and Forty20 fall on that famous preseason spectrum after the Parramatta Eels annihilated the Cronulla Sharks 40-6 on Sunday night? The Tip Sheet delves into the opening hitout of the year as Jason Ryles made full use of a 28-man roster. What areas impressed the boys the most? Who enhanced their stock? Did we see enough from the young outside backs to move the needle on depth in the unit?

The Lomax Saga has taken a wild twist today with evidence presented by Parramatta Eels in court alleging the Melbourne Storm attempted to leverage NRL CEO Andrew Abdo to "apply the blow torch on parramatta to get this done" while also allegedly coercing the Eels with the threat of punitive means being enacted against Parramatta's salary cap.

The Tip Sheet reacts to the sensational claims, brought on by legal discovery, and how they threaten to blow the lid on the code in this landmark case. Sixties and Forty20 discuss the implications brought on by today's revelations including some extremely uncomfortable questions raised around neutrality and the balance of power in the code. How can this be resolved and how concerned should fans - not just of the Blue & Gold - be moving forwards?

The Eels are on the road again in Round 2 of the Junior Representatives with all four grades facing the Cronulla Sharks. The Tip Sheet analyses how the Lisa Fiaola, Harold Matthews and SG Ball can build on impressive opening round victories and what the Tarsha Gale need to do to get themselves on the board against the competitors from the Shire.

Sixties and Forty20 even throw in a cheeky bonus preview this week with the NRL trial capping off a monster stretch of games at Henson Park on Sunday. Who stands to gain the most this week in the eyes of the coaches? What do we want to see out of the Eels in their first hit out of the year? Is there such a thing as too much footy!?

Jason Ryles is going to be a busy man on Sunday night after naming a gargantuan 28-man team list for Parramatta's opening trial against the Cronulla Sharks. Sixties and Forty20 finally shake off the preseason rust as they rip into one of the signpost podcasts of the season because ladies and gentlemen - Team List Tuesday is back!

As always, The Tip Sheet goes far and wide across Parradise to look at the latest news including the most recent Lomax developments and the results from the first week of the Junior Representatives.

South Sydney blindsided the entire NRL when news emerged on Sunday that they had secured the signature of Payne Haas from 2027 to the end of 2029. How did the Rabbitohs slip under the guard of the Broncos? Is there another twist to this tale? With the contract still in the cooling-off window, the Broncos have a right of reply - can they salvage this situation?

The Junior Representatives kick off this weekend with all four grades in action against the Wests Tigers (or their variant Western Suburbs Magpies) and The Tip Sheet launches the season in grand fashion with a monster podcast that features in-depth breakdowns with special guests Steve Georgallis and AJ Lucantonio.

A long overdue catch-up with Steve Georgallis sets the scene as the boys reflect on 2025 results with the Elite Pathways Coaching Director and where the club is positioned across the Lisa Fiaola, Harold Matthews, Tarsha Gale and SG Ball Cups heading into the upcoming season. Steve breaks down the new coaching appointments and the challenges and opportunities facing each squad before providing some NRLW updates to round out the interview.

The Tip Sheets goes beyond its regular Blue & Gold boundaries in Junior Reps as AJ Lucantonio (of the sensational League Scene fame) joins the show. AJ, quite literally one of the rising voices in junior pathways, walks the boys through the ever-changing landscape of the junior reps and which squads are set to improve in 2026 as well as who is expected to duke it out for each of the four titles. AJ then helps preview all of the Round 1 action for the Parramatta Eels as they make the trek out to Camden to tackle the Wests Tigers/Magpies in what is set to be a sweltering day of footy.

A media blitz today has seen some startling developments in the Parramatta Eels vs Zac Lomax saga as Melbourne CEO Matt Tripp looked to get ahead of incoming bombshell news surrounding subpoenaed emails in a bold interview with the Herald Sun. The Tip Sheet looks at Tripp's sensational claims and stack it up against the opening arguments put forth by the Eels via

Arthur Moses as well as the counterpoints laid down by the Lomax camp. The boys take a very quick peek at the first Team List Tuesday of the season with the Junior Reps kicking off this weekend...but save the good stuff for a special preview podcast that will feature Steve Georgallis and AJ Lucantonio!

We get our first NRL action of the year as well with the Bulldogs, Cowboys, Dragons and Knights naming their trials squads ahead of their trip to Las Vegas. Who's in, who's out and what can we gleam from the four playing lists?

The Eels are back from their Lennox Head Camp as the club makes the turn towards preseason trials. The Tip Sheet brings you all the news from the camp and more - including the latest on the Zac Lomax saga and some key preseason dates for keen fans of the Blue & Gold. The NRLW gets a massive shot in the arm with a crucial addition to its roster in Layne Morgan. A representative scrum half in union - does Layne project to dummy half for the Eels?

In a relatively quiet week for the NRL, the boys look at latest stadia news as WIN Stadium gets in queue for a touch up while over yonder in England they are looking for a new head coach for their international team...and there is a familiar name among the candidates.