The Tip Sheet

Sixties declared he wanted as much of a Zac Lomax free zone as possible last week but a potentially shocking twist in the story has blown that wish away. Reports emerged yesterday that the NRL could possibly intervene in proceedings in order to force the Eels to release the contractually exiled star to the Melbourne Storm for amounts as a pittance in compensation. This would be a landmark action from the game's governing body and opens up the mother of all cans of worms as The Tip Sheet rip in with their thoughts on the impasse. Believe it or not, there are other things to take about as the boys review another round of Junior Representative trials including a stunning performance by the SG Ball. Sixties brings the latest from training - even with the squad up at Lennox Head - as the Eels continue their build towards the trials. Who is on a hot-seat and who is just dead meat? The boys review the Daily Telegraph's coach security ratings ahead of the 2026 season amongst an assortment of NRL sundry news to wrap up the show.

The preseason rolls on in the new year and the Parramatta Eels continue to ramp up. Sixties has been in his element out at Kellyville with his training reports and the show looks at how the Blue & Gold are shaping up as we begin the gradual turn towards the trial games. Parramatta have locked up another exciting prospect with young forward Max Popo committing to the club until the end of 2028. It marks another priority junior retention for the Eels and the boys review how the club now stands with its young prospects. Speaking of juniors, the pathways are just about in full stride now as they prepare for the launch of their competitions early in February. With trials against the Bulldogs set to solidify each squad, the boys forecast how the junior representatives are set to stack up. The Bears continue to build towards their 2027 debut with another pair of NRL additions. After raiding the Eels for Sean Russell, Mal Meninga then turned to Melbourne where he nabbed Nick Meaney and Tyran Wishart. It marks Perth's most successful recruitment drive to date - so how are they stacking up? NRL clubs are pushing back against constant rule changes as they present a unified front to the governing body. It feels like a similar sentiment to the majority of fans, so how will it all play out?

Brian Kelly finally links up with the Parramatta Eels on a 2-year deal but the news cycle has been dominated in the last 24 hours by news surrounding former Eel Zac Lomax. The Melbourne Storm have allegedly approached the Eels about signing the rogue winger. For his part, Lomax has allegedly engaged the services of lawyer Ramy Qutami who has previously represented Isaral Folau in his dispute with Rugby Australia. Can the Eels extract some value from the Storm in a player swap? Buzz Rothfield is certainly stirring the pot in that regard as the boys discuss everything from top to bottom in a rapidly developing situation. Is there anything remotely interesting happening across the code in comparison? The show scours the news channels to find the latest general news for the NRL including a contract extension for Payne Hass...but a very short term extension as he continues to ponder a change of codes.

Some girthy changes could be coming to the NRL in 2026. The rules and competition committee have slapped a quartet of proposed changes on the table and now handed it over to the clubs and RLPA to now come to a consensus. The Tip Sheet explores the four theoretical rules changes and how it could quite literally change the game for the Eels. Christmas has come and gone but it was the Dragons who played the role of Grinch after they snuck in and stole the signing of Keaon Koloamatangi away from the Rabbitohs and Eels. Sixties and Forty20 look at how Parra were pipped at the very end and what the club does now.

It wasn't quite the night before Christmas but The Tip Sheet is live on the eve of Christmas Eve as Sixties and Forty20 yap about the latest happenings in the NRL. Sean Russell is rumoured to be the next recruit to join the Perth Bears and the boys look at what details have leaked out into the media and what is means for Sean and the Eels heading to 2026. Sixties brings the latest from the preseason and another slate of junior representative trials. Who made Santa's naughty list in the NRL? The Roosters and Storm, alongside some player agents copped breach notices from the NRL for a variety of reasons. The boys look at the naughty list and figure out who deserves the biggest lump of coal. Speaking of the Storm, Davvy Moale has joined the Melbourne franchise for a bridging year not unlike Jonah Pezet. Josh Hannay has poached Maweni Hiroti from the Sharks to the Titans in a nifty pick up for the Gold Coast club.

It is back-to-back Special Episodes for The Tip Sheet as Sixties and Forty20 are joined by PLC Directors Richard Foda and Darren Adam to discuss a broad range of topics surrounding the club. The boys talk footy, of course, including the outlook for the Eels and PLC's involvement in the new Centre of Excellence. There has been some transition on the board with a new President in Mark Jenkins and another seat filled by newcomer Stephen Bull and the show discusses what the changes mean for the club. From there the discussion steers towards exciting expansion and growth with the Parramatta Live precinct and the potential acquisition of another club to the Parra Leagues Group before the boys sign off with well wishes for Richard, Darren and all the watchers and listeners!

It's that time of year! No, it isn't Christmas - well it almost is - but it is that time of year when Mark O'Neill joins The Tip Sheet to debrief on the season just put into the books as well as look into what the future holds for the Parramatta Eels. Sixties and Forty20 quiz the General Manager of Football for the Eels on a wide range of topics from how the Blue & Gold fared on the field this year, what the outstanding Centre of Excellence brings to the table for the club and what lies on the horizon for fans through recruitment and development. As always, TCT extends a massive and sincere thanks to Mark O'Neill and the club for providing not only the time but the access for both ourselves and fans as we look to keep connecting the greatest fan base in the code to our club.

The Eels secured a banner extension last week with Isaiah Iongi agreeing to a long term extension with the club that will see the star fullback in Blue & Gold until the end of 2030. The Tip Sheet revels in the early Christmas present for the Parramatta faithful as Sixties and Forty20 review the roster in the wake of the news. Training switched gears recently with a one-club session that brought the entirety of the pathways coming together with the senior squads to light up the Centre of Excellence. They'reeeeee back! Well most of them. The NRL has leaned on the Wests Tigers to reinstate Barry O'Farrell and the independent directors that were sensationally removed recently. Shane Richardson however has moved on while Charlie Viola, one of the aforementioned directors, has indicated he will not rejoin the board. Amidst all this Dennis Burgess has also stood down as chaos continues to reign in Tiger Town. That didn't stop them re-signing Benji Marshall for a whopping 5 years in a jaw dropping extension for the young coach.

Summer has arrived and so has the...cool weather? An unseasonably cool turn has not prevented the Parramatta Eels from heating up at Kellyville as The Tip Sheet explores the latest from the 2025/26 preseason. Sixties and Forty20 discuss who is building their cases in front of Jason Ryles and the coaching staff as preseason training gets proper serious. In spite of the cool start to Summer, the heat is coming later this week, can the rookies keep impressing as the mercury rises? The Wests Tigers continue to Wests Tiger as a fresh wave of board room beefing unfolds this week while Shane Richardson is reportedly close to resigning. More signing news in the NRL as the Bears land Toby Sexton while the Roosters prepare for life after Mark Nawaqanitawase with the acquisition of Reuben Garrick while they also lock up their young stare centre Robert Toia long term. The Cowboys make a murmur in the player market as they pick up Matthew Lodge

While the international representatives are still on enforced rest, the Parramatta Eels now have all their other first graders back on deck and the preseason intensity has risen up several notches as a result. The Tip Sheet breaks down all the latest happenings from Kellyville as Jason Ryles ramps his boys up with the turn to Summer around the corner. The Foxx officially recommits to the Blue & Gold while the NRLW add a pair of young talents. So what exactly is the deal with R360? With Roger Tuivasa-Sheck rumoured to be exploring a return to the New Zealand Warriors - is the rebel league dead in the water? What does that mean for the Eels and Zac Lomax? More player transactions dot the market as teams scramble to round out their Top 30s. The boys discuss all this and sundry as they go around the grounds in the NRL.

The Eels have a sudden cap surplus...so what can they do with it? The Tip Sheet looks at the continued fall out from Zac Lomax's departure and scheme and strategise best possible solutions for Jason Ryles and the Parramatta Eels. Sixties brings the latest from training as competition ramps up with the return of the non-International first graders. Who is making the early impressions? We know expansion is on the horizon for the NRL - so what does it mean for the structure of the competition? Will the NRL change kickoffs again? There has been speculation that the commission will push for the scoring team to kick off, bringing the 13-man code in line with the likes of Rugby Union and NFL. The boys look at the overall NRL draw while the Melbourne Storm have announced that Eli Katoa will miss the entirety of the 2026 season in a move that should be hailed far and wide.

It is official. Zac Lomax is gone. So where to now? Sixties and Forty20 share their immediate thoughts on the matter and where Jason Ryles and the Parramatta now need to pivot to for 2026.

The international representative season has concluded after the Kangaroos completed an ugly sweep of the Poms while New Zealand triumphed over Samoa in an exciting finale to the Pacific Championships. The Tip Sheet takes it from there as Sixties and Forty20 wrap up all of the representative action and also bring you the latest from Parradise. From rumours and player movements to the hot news from preseason training, The Tip Sheet breaks it all down live from 7:30PM.

The preseason has arrived! It is far from a full attendance of roll call for the Parramatta Eels but J'maine Hopgood heads a class of talented prospects at Kellyville as Jason Ryles spearheads his second preseason at the club. The Tip Sheet explores who is getting a chance to make their mark early on as Forty20 leads the discussion about the young players hand picked by Ryles. Jonah Pezet is finally an Eel, albeit for the single season, while Matt Doorey and Elsie Albert have extended their stay at Parra as the NRL and NRLW rosters continue to take shape. Abbi Church shone for Australia on debut and ended up bagging player of the match honours as Parramatta's fullback starred for the Jillaroos. There is almost too much NRL news to cover this week but the show powers through as much of it as possible headlined by the disgraceful Eli Katoa situation.

The preseason hurtles towards us with the first action arriving with the turn to Summer in less than a week. The Tip Sheet rumbles on in the wake of it all as Sixties and Forty20 gas bag on about the latest from Parradise and the NRL. Speaking of, the Eels have launched a new institute focused on aligning the club with an educational pathway that runs parallel to the code. What does it all mean for the club and the community? Sixties brings the latest mail from recruitment and retention while Junior Paulo terrorised Tonga on the weekend. PVL has hinted at ambitious global plans for the code - how far does he plan to spread rugby league? The prelude to a potential market frenzy took place today with South Sydney, Manly and the Wests Tigers all involved in a complicated multi-player transaction. Finally, the boys review the weekend representative action including Australia's victory over the Poms.

Rarely does a week in the off-season demand a second a second podcast later in the week but we live in interesting times and the Parramatta Eels are making all sorts of roster moves ahead of the commencement of the preseason. Sixties and Forty20 try to keep up with it all in a bonus edition of The Tip Sheet. From the latest on Jonah Pezet, including comments made by Braith Anasta during the week, to the Daily Telegraph article today purporting that the Eels are ready to throw Nelson Asofa-Solomona a lifeline in the NRL - there is plenty to try and breakdown. Join the boys as they try to make sense of it all on a Friday night!

It turns out there was another twist in the Jonah Pezet situation and it has resulted in a truly bizarre outcome with the Parramatta Eels set to house the Melbourne halfback for a sole season before he joins the Brisbane Broncos on a long term deal. It is...a singularly odd scenario and The Tip Sheet tries to rationalise it for the Blue & Gold as Sixties and Forty20 both give their honest thoughts on the topic. Week 1 of the Pacific Championships dominates the NRL news cycle with a host of exciting games kicking off the tournament in style. New Zealand and Samoa played a classic while there upsets and hard fought games elsewhere. The boys break down how all the representative Eels fared and what their thoughts are of the upcoming match-ups in Week 2.

It feels odd to say we have reached a lull in off-season because well...it is the off-season but with the announcement of the PNG Chiefs and the Prime Minister's XIII games behind us we do have something of a down week in an otherwise frenetic off-season. The Tip Sheet still rattles on without any brakes to cover the latest from Parramatta and the wider NRL. How did the representative Eels fare on the weekend? With junior and senior talent in action across both Australian and Papua New Guinean squads. Was Mitchell Moses able to navigate a shock late call up (down?) onto the PM XIII bench? Jonah Pezet is the hottest name on the player market right now after activating a clause that makes him a free agent. Where exactly do Parramatta fit into the frame with the Melbourne playmaker? The action does ramp up on the weekend thankfully with the first round of the Pacific Championships. How does each side shape up? Meanwhile there have been some player and coaching transactions across the NRL as teams look to rebuild, reshape or reload ahead of the 2026 season.

The Tip Sheet is ready to close the books on the 2025 NRL & NRLW seasons after the Brisbane Broncos secured the premiership in both competitions. Sixties and Forty20 farewell another crazy year of domestic footy but there is still a veritable smorgasbord of representative footy ahead with an Ashes Tour and a monster Pacific Championships to come. Which Eels are set to feature in international footy? The boys run through the Blue & Gold honour roll including a twist for the Kangaroos as one Eel bows out for another. The club announced a massive signing for the NRLW as multi-premiership winner and incumbent Jillaroo Keilee Joseph joins the Eels on a 2-year deal. How much closer does Joseph push Parramatta towards the Roosters and Broncos? Speaking of the Broncos, they prevailed in both the NRL and NRLW grand finals and the show rates how both games stacked up. Did the Roosters and Broncos live up to the obvious grand final match-up from day one of the 2025 NRLW premiership? Was Melbourne and Brisbane a worthy capstone clash to an electric final series in the NRL?

The final week of NRL & NRLW action has arrived. Come the end of Sunday we will have champions crowned between the Storm and Broncos in the NRL and the Broncos and Roosters in the NRLW. The Tip Sheet looks at both match-ups and the big story lines heading into each decider as the season reaches its frenzied zenith. Sixties and Forty20 also recap a quiet week out of Parramatta with the 2026 coaching staff for the elite junior pathways locked in. The NRLW also announced its departures and the boys look at what it means for the composition of the squad heading into next year.