The Eels will play their final home game of the 2026 season against the Sharks. After an up-and-down campaign, they will be looking to send their fans off on a high, but they won’t find it easy against a Cronulla side still pushing for a top-four finish.

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Matchday Details

Sunday, 30 August 2026 – 4:05pm AEST – CommBank Stadium, Sydney
📺 Nine Network / Nine Now / Kayo / Foxtel
Referee: Ashley Klein | Senior Review Official: Liam Kennedy

Parramatta Eels: 1. Apa Twidle, 2. Brian Kelly, 3. Will Penisini, 4. Sean Russell, 5. Josh Addo-Carr, 6. Ronald Volkman, 7. Mitchell Moses (c), 8. Luca Moretti, 9. Tallyn Da Silva, 10. Junior Paulo, 11. Jack Williams, 12. Kitione Kautoga, 13. Saxon Pryke, 14. Harrison Edwards, 15. Ryda Talagi, 16. Teancum Brown, 17. Dylan Walker, 18. Jack De Belin, 19. Bailey Simonsson, 20. Kelma Tuilagi, 21. Jonah Pezet, 22. Ryley Smith

Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks: 1. William Kennedy, 2. Sione Katoa, 3. Mawene Hiroti, 4. KL Iro, 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo, 6. Niwhai Puru, 7. Nicho Hynes, 8. Addin Fonua-Blake, 9. Blayke Brailey (c), 10. Jesse Colquhoun, 11. Briton Nikora, 12. Teig Wilton, 13. Cameron McInnes, 14. Siosifa Talakai, 15. Billy Burns, 16. Oregon Kaufusi, 17. Thomas Hazelton, 18. Hohepa Puru, 19. Braden Uele, 20. Riley Jones, 21. Riley Pollard, 22. Toby Rudolf

Match Preview

With the Eels’ tumultuous 2026 season coming to an end, they have one last opportunity to give their home fans something to cheer about in their penultimate game of the year. Though the result won’t mean much for their season, the younger players in the side — including one on debut — will continue to benefit from valuable time on the field. Meanwhile, the Sharks have everything to play for. As long as they keep winning, they’re still in with a shot at a top-four finish. They arrive on Sunday with plenty on the line in a game they’re expected to win.

Last week, the Eels played admirably but were ultimately outclassed by a far better Dolphins side. There were moments fans might lament as costly, but they were up against a Dolphins team primed to potentially finish in the top four, and were simply second best on the day. The Sharks, meanwhile, snapped a two-game losing streak with an unconvincing win over the lowly Titans. It did little to silence questions about what exactly is happening to a side that, only weeks ago, appeared ready to finally make a deep finals run.

The Eels lose Jordan Samrani, who was cruelly injured during the warm-up last week before kick-off. His absence brings Sean Russell into the centres, while Ryda Talagi will make his debut off the bench. Bailey Simonsson has been named among the reserves and could be a late inclusion for one of the outside backs. There are no major changes for the Sharks, with Craig Fitzgibbon sticking with the same team that got the job done last week.

Mitch Moses will be looking to out-manage his opposition, particularly given the Sharks’ struggles since losing Braydon Trindall. Though Nicho Hynes is unquestionably an elite half, his best work tends to come when he has a partner helping him steer the ship. It’s no coincidence that Cronulla’s dip in form has coincided with Trindall’s absence. If Moses can keep things simple and control the game with his long and short kicking, he is a far superior game-managing half to either of those lining up for the Sharks on Sunday.

Where the Eels will find things tough is through the middle. Addin Fonua-Blake shapes as their biggest hurdle, with his powerful carries likely to bend the defensive line and bump off defenders. Parramatta have struggled for size in the middle all year, and though Junior Paulo’s presence remains as intimidating as ever, the likes of Luca Moretti and debutant Talagi will find it difficult to impose themselves against Cronulla’s pack.

The Sharks’ outside backs are another area where they should find plenty of opportunities. With strike power across the back five, Cronulla have the weapons to exploit an Eels defence that struggled to contain the Dolphins’ outside backs last week. Though the likes of Brian Kelly toil hard, Parramatta simply don’t possess the same attacking spark out wide.

Historically, there has been little between these two sides, with the Sharks holding a slight edge, having won 50 of their 93 meetings. At CommBank Stadium, however, the Eels have won two of their three encounters.

Ultimately, Parramatta should be competitive, as they so often are, particularly in front of their home crowd. But with the Sharks having far more to play for and possessing a clear advantage through the middle and out wide, Cronulla should have enough to get the job done.

Prediction

RLZ Tip: Sharks by 10.
Full Round 26 tips → /nrl-round-26-predictions-2026/
Bold call: Nicho Hynes to score the first try.

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Nathan Smith
Eels tragic.
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