The Tip Sheet

Round 15 sees the Parramatta Eels trading blows with the Sydney Roosters across the Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and NRL. Sixties and Forty20 are back in action as they preview each grade in a Saturday triplet out games. The Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup both lodged important wins last week and now have serious opportunities to close the gap on the Top 6 in their respective competitions. Both squads have been impacted by the NSW 19s squad, so how do they shape up and how can they knock over the Chooks? A bounceback win is needed for the NRL squad but a talented Tri-colours line-up stands between them and that goal. The boys look at how the two steam stack up and what the Blue & Gold need to do in order to contain a fearsome backline featuring Manu, Young and Tupou.

A quickfire turnaround from Round 14 sees Forty20 and Clint spring into action for the News and NRL podcast. The Tip Sheet takes a final once over at the loss to the Bulldogs before looking at the headlines for the Eels this week. Junior representatives are the big ticket news piece with NSW schoolboy and a schoolgirl squads picked cross the Combined Catholic Colleges, Combined High Schools and Combined Independant Schools. Parramatta are well represented across the board and it doesn't end there with Matt Arthur, Sam Tuivaiti, Lindsay Tui and Ryvvr-Lee Alo all earning selection for NSW in Under 19s Origin across both the male and female games. The NRL Round recap reviews some big blowouts before a serious development surrounding the future of Tom Flegler dominates discussions. Brandon Smith and Lachlan Galvin could both be leaving their current clubs but for very different reasons as the show looks at the stories swirling around bouth players.

Sixties and Forty20 get into the minutiae of a frustrating loss to a supremely gritty Canterbury Bulldogs' outfit on the King's Birthday public holiday in this Instant Reaction podcast. The Tip Sheet looks at how the Eels bottled numerous opportunities to seal an important back-to-back win and how roster construction continues to hamstring the Blue & Gold in the backline. Victories in the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg see the Eels continue a midseason resurgence in both grades. The boys breakdown both wins and how each side performed as they swept the Dragons.

It is the King's Birthday Long Weekend and Clinton Gutherson is hosting a huge bash on Monday to celebrate his 200th NRL game. With the Eels and Bulldogs both looking to build on big wins in Round 13, who prevails on Monday? Sixties and Forty20 run through the Flegg, Cup and NRL matches as the Eels take on the Dragons in the lower grades. The Flegg are looking to kindle midseason form into a blazing fire while the Cup need to bounce back from a loss to the Jets.

The King's Birthday Long Weekend brings mixed news for the Blue & Gold. Just as the King himself, Clinton Gutherson, hits the double ton milestone the team is hit by a huge injury blow as Bailey Simonsson bows out of 2024 due to a torn ACL. Sixties, Forty20 and Clint get stuck into another busy week in the NRL as they cover all things Parramatta as well as State of Origin 1. From the latest on Parramatta's search for a new coach to the last minute fullback reshuffle for the Blues as well as the latest market moves, The Tip Sheet is all over this week.

You got a halfback, you got a fullback and suddenly we're putting the band back together. The Blues (& Gold) brothers made all the difference for the Parramatta Eels in Round 13 as they emerged victorious from a high scoring shoot out against the Cronulla Sharks with a 34-22 win to their names. Sixties and Forty20 look at the immense efforts of Mitchell Moses and Clinton Gutherson as Parra snapped a 5-game losing streak. There were plenty of other tremendous efforts across the park as the Eels finally overcame a series of second half fades against the competition leaders of all teams. The boys were also joined by the wonderful Steve Ella for the Pre-Game Show live from the Bistro. Steve is a favourite of the show for good reason and he shares some great insight on the current attacking emphasis in the code, stories from State of Origin and how the Eels could engineer an upset against the Sharks.

Can the Eels snap a 5-game losing streak with Clinton Gutherson and Mitchell Moses back in the fold for Round 13? Sixties and Forty20 discuss the Thursday night match-up against the Cronulla Sharks and why there could be reason for actual optimism this week. The preview starts with the Jersey Flegg though as the Eels look to build on a rousing victory against the Rabbitohs. Josh Lynn is back at the helm for the U21s as the Blue & Gold look to mount a charge up the ladder. Speaking of charges, the NSW Cup squad are eyeing a 5th straight victory as they host the Newtown Jets on Thursday. The Jets are always a fearsome proposition in reserve grade but Parra are rolling. The NRL preview looks at the immediate impact of Gutherson and Moses on the team and how both the Eels and Sharks could react to big Round 12 losses. Sixties details the voice that Moses added to training and the energy both the senior stars brought to the mix.

Clinton Gutherson and Mitchell Moses are back! The Tip Sheet gets a slight Lord of the Rings theme this week as the boys sound the horn for the return of the King (mixing up movies but who is counting?). How does the team shape up now that the star fullback and halfback have returned? Team List Tuesday yields some surprises as Trent Barrett starts to shape the squad in his image. The club announced the community focused Eels Foundation while the search for a new head coach continues. Round 12 saw some blow out scores and some gritty wins against the odds, which teams found themselves on right side of that ledger? The boys take a first look at the State of Origin squads while the Integrity Unit has made its moves regarding Braydon Trindall and Taylan May.

The Instant Reaction podcast goes up-tempo this week as Sixties and Forty20 do a rapid fire breakdown of Parramatta's 42-26 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in Round 12. It was a case of the same issues cripply the Blue & Gold with errors and sloppy ruck defence elevating their opposition. Parramatta fought back to make the game somewhat interesting but the Bunnies were never seriously threatened. The biggest question to come out of this game only tangentially involved Parramatta as confusion over what kind of hip drop tackles warrant sin-binning continues to reign. There was good news in the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg with both teams securing important wins. The Cup continued their huge midseason resurgence with an 8-point win this evening while the Flegg secured a huge Top 4 scalp with their commanding 26-8 victory earlier today.

A week of turmoil culminates in the Parramatta Eels clashing with the team that beat team for the services of Wayne Bennett in the South Sydney Rabbitohs. With Indigenous Round as the backdrop for the Round 12 meeting, can Trent Barrett guide the Eels to a bounceback win? Before that though there are two other games of footy to play with the Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup also in action on Saturday. The Flegg are coming off a global bye and need to find a way to upset the 4th placed Rabbitohs while the Cup are flying high and starting to make some legitimate noise in the upper bracket of the ladder.

The Tip Sheet continues to explore a critical juncture for the Parramatta Eels in the week they sacked head coach Brad Arthur. Forty20 and Clint examine the latest developments on that front and beyond in another busy episode. Wayne Bennett has rejeceted the Eels, choosing to stick with South Sydney...so where does that leave our club? Who sticks out as the prime candidates to helm Parramatta and which ones fit the criteria laid out in the club's press conference on Tuesday? For his part, Brad Arthur continues to be nothing but class after speaking to a host of media outlets on his 50th birthday. Team List Tuesday yielded almost nothing new for fans in a surprising twist. Trent Barrett hasn't rocked the boat in his first week in charge and the boys try to puzzle out the why of it all. The Magic Round debrief covers a hugely successful weekend for the NRL as the boys look at a spread of closely fought games and terrific attendence. The pre-Origin carnage continues with Cameron Munsters and Kotoni Staggs now joining a galaxy of other stars on the sidelines. Another negative news story is circling involving Taylan May and the show addresses the alleged situation before closing out on a positive note with a celebration of the upcoming Indigenous Round.

Brad Arthur has been sacked, effective immediately, by the Parramatta Eels and The Tip Sheet looks at the immediate fallout for the club. Sixties, Forty20 and Clint convene for an unscheduled podcast as they look at the events that led to today and breaking down the developing story of the club chasing and allegedly getting rebuffed by Wayne Bennett. The boys discuss what direction the club could head towards now, is it Wayne Bennett or bust? Are there other options for the Eels? What else needs to change for the Blue & Gold to move forwards?

A pathetic second half fade from the Parramatta Eels has seen them fall 48-16 to the Melbourne Storm in Magic Round. Sixties and Forty20 attempt to debrief the horrific second half effort as coaches, players and trainers come into the firing line for the wholesale collapse. What changes should be made and what can be salvaged for the Blue & Gold as they move forward to next week? Thankfully, an in-form NSW Cup squad has now given them options that simply weren't there earlier this season but will Brad Arthur's loyalty hold him back from making necessary changes? As always, we understand that emotions are running hot right now. Fans justifiably want - and deserve - better on the field and you can express that here on TCT. Just please don't make it personal with ad hominem attacks on coaches, players, staff and your fellow members of this community.

The Eels face down a magical Storm in Round 11 as they travel to Suncorp Stadium as underdogs to take on Craig Bellamy and his troops. The Tip Sheet previews the big game as Sixties and Forty20 breakdown the danger men as well as the opportunities for the Eels this week. Suncorp isn't the only host of a festival of footy this weekend. North Sydney Oval is putting on a show in the NSW Cup and the Eels are looking to continue their midseason surge as they face the Magpies. What does Parramatta need to go in order to continue their climb up the ladder this week?

Sixties has jam packed the docket for this week's news edition of The Tip Sheet...and that doesn't even manage to cover everything as Magic Round mania sets in across the code. The boys cover a busy week in Parradise with the latest on Blaize Talagi, the weekend results and hot news from Team List Tuesday. Who has made the cut against the Storm on Sunday and did 'BA' get it right across the board? Another weekend of close results in the NRL means a spicy Round 10 wrap up and the boys look at all the controversial calls and tight finishes. Controversy found its way to the officials once again on the back of the questionable Harry Grant sin-bin - where exactly is the game trending? David Fifita has backflipped and Forty jumps in from the editing floor to quickly comment on the crazy turn of events while once again there are ugly claims of racist fans abusing Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker. The show closes out with a temperature gauge on Magic Round and whether the boys are still feeling the magic.

Steve Georgallis joins The Tip Sheet once again to chat to Sixties and Forty20 about the conclusion of the Junior Representatives as well as the NRLW as they approach their 2024 preseason. With three teams bowing out of the first week of the finals, the show looks at what lessons were learned including the difference in nature between the regular season and the finals. The Tarsha Gale missed the postseason but will have a number of player progressing through the development pipeline as Steve reveals who will be making the jump this year. Abbi Church is the latest core retention for the NRLW and Steve discusses what she brings to the team before providing a small update to how the squad is travelling as they prepare to enter the preseason in the coming weeks.

For the second game running the Parramatta Eels rattled the cages of their highly touted opposition. Brad Arthur and his troops had the Broncos well and truly on the backfoot with an aggressive game plan that picked apart Brisbane's edges. Alas, as with the loss to Manly...a string of individual lapses proved costly as the Broncos ran out 30-14 victors. Sixties and Forty20 put on the snorkels and dive into the breakdown of a thoroughly entertaining, if frustrating, result that saw plenty of players deliver positive performances. Dylan Brown, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and J'maine Hopgood stood up among the senior players while all eyes were glued on rookie sensation Blaize Talagi as he put an early error behind him to electrify the crowd.

Can Blaize Talagi and Ethan Sanders guide the Eels to an improbable victory over the Brisbane Broncos? Sixties and Forty20 put their rainjackets on as they preview what looks to be a wet and wild weekend for the Parramatta Eels. The preview starts with the Jersey Flegg on Saturday as they travel to AAMI Park to take on the Melbourne Storm. Parramatta blew a chance to topple the Storm a month ago but now enter Round 10 with consecutive victories under their belt. They are on the hunt for a third straight win and the boys are tipping them to get it done. It is much the same in the NSW Cup where the Eels look to continue a midseason build after a tumultuous start to the year. They face the Bears, the team they broke their winless drought against four weeks ago on Sunday afternoon at North Sydney Oval. Friday night sees the odds stacked against the Eels as they host the Brisbane Broncos. With no Clinton Gutherson and no Mitchell Moses the Eels are without their heart and soul but will have to battle on regardless. Can Dylan Brown steer the Blue & Gold to an almighty upset with aid from young guns Talagi and Sanders?

Clint is back for this week's news podcast as The Tip Sheet jumps into a massive Team List Tuesday that is missing both Clinton Gutherson and Mitchell Moses. Blaize Talagi has been named to the coveted #1 jersey but the news comes at the same time as a breaking story that the young Eel will go to the open market. What does this mean for the club and who are the real threats to Parramatta when it comes to keeping their young star? The club debuted its 2024 indigenous jersey, styled around the rugby league story of J'maine Hopgood. The boys share their thoughts and look at the unofficial alternate strip. The rest of the Eels' news focuses on a new corporate partner, the Flegg getting a win in Fiji, new female pathways and a change to the NRL board of directors. The Round 9 NRL wrap yielded some close games and very controversial calls as the show breaks down all of the action. Aidan Sezer wasn't sinbinned but is copping a 4-week ban for a hip-drop-adjacent tackle. Was it the right call or is the NRL back to its inconsistent worst? The biggest flow on from the wrap up is the criticism leveled at officials following a dreadful round of calls. Kasey Badger has been the primary target of abuse and The Tip Sheet breaks down what is fair game and where lines have been crossed. There is a massive player transaction on the horizon as both the Penrith Panthers and Sydney Roosters hunt the signature of David Fifita. The Titans' backrower has a clause in his contract to void the next two years of his deal if he opts out by Round 10 and the two Sydney powerhouses are hungry to boost their stocks with the game breaker.

Clinton Gutherson is out for 5 weeks but Mitchell Moses could be back for Magic Round. Mixed tidings dominate the headlines for the Blue & Gold this week as Sixties and Forty20 get to work on the bye week. We all knew it was coming but the Eels have finally shutdown their courageous captain and fullback as 'Gutho' is put on ice to manage an unspecified knee injury. Parramatta is already struggling on the field with him so where to now without their talismanic fullback? Does Brad Arthur turn to Blaize Talagi or is there another option on the cards? The Rugby League Eye Test has delivered a damning verdict on the state of the team - all backed by data. The boys discuss the findings, how the club arrived here and what can be done moving forwards. Abbi Church has re-signed with the club as the NRLW continue to build with the preseason on the horizon. What is best position in 2024? The NRL wrap covers a breakthrough win for the Titans amidst some massive blowouts across ANZAC round. South Sydney have fired Jason Demetriou effective immediately after months of headlines and drama. Wayne Bennett is firmly in their sights but the boys argue whether he is indeed the right man for them. Lachlan Illias, Jackson Topine and the Wests Tigers round out the show with Sixties and Forty20 looking at the future of the Souths' half, Topine's law suit and the alledged new home for the Tigers.