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The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 102: Latrell Mitchell, Jordan Riki Set To Go To Market by The Cumberland Throw

There is no shying away from the burning question presently facing the Parramatta Eels...what do they do with Josh Addo-Carr? Reports broke on Friday that Addo-Carr had allegedly failed another random roadside alcohol/drug test. It comes almost two years following a similar incident that resulted in his parting of ways with the Canterbury Bulldogs. Sixties and Forty20 discuss where the situation currently sits, what sort of sanctions the NRL could impose on JAC independent of the Eels and of course ultimately what the club should do. As always, the show brings you all the latest happenings from Parradise and the wider NRL as the competition enters full sudden death mode following the first week exits from the finals of the Rabbitohs and Cowboys.

Brian Kelly and Jack Williams became the first joint winners of the Ken Thornett Medal in over 20 years - since Nathan Cayless and Timana Tahu couldn't be split back in 2005 while Abbi Church dominated the NRLW awards as expected. The 2026 Ken Thornett Medal is in the books and while The Tip Sheet ran live against the unfolding awards night yesterday, Sixties and Forty20 now get the chance to run it back and review the full list of award winners across the five grades. Elsewhere, there are fresh reports from the Daily Telegraph linking Roosters' firebrand Spencer Leniu to the Eels as the Blue & Gold look to be closing in on a key addition to their pack for 2027. There is always time to yap about potential signings to the squad so once more the boys dig into what Spencer can bring to Parramatta and some of the risks that come with his signature.

It is a wrap on a tough, disappointing season for the Parramatta Eels but before we fully close the chapter on season 2026 - the Ken Thornett Medal ceremony will celebrate the bright moments and talented individuals who shone in spite of the trials and tribulations this year. With Sixties in live attendance at the banner event, Forty20 will man the console for a fly-by-the seams live stream. Outside of the live winners from the KT Medal, The Tip Sheet will look at the weekend results and wrap up the small amount of news out of Parradise this week. The wheels are in motion across the wider NRL though as 8 teams gear up for the finals while the cold war between players and PVL gets a fair bit more intense as battle lines begin to be drawn over the controversial set restart era of the game.

We salute each and every fan that persevered through the painful conclusion to the 2026 season for the Parramatta Eels in a game where the Blue & Gold repeatedly and fundamentally showed a lack of Footy IQ. The Eels completely dropped their bundle in Round 27 as they let slip a 12-point lead in the second half to allow the Dragons to steal a victory in the final minutes despite having a man in the sin bin. The Tip Sheet is here for all to vent as the season wraps up on a particularly bitter note with the Eels serving up some of their worst footy in months.

The Parramatta Eels head into the final round of the 2026 NRL season dropping some hot retention news with the club confirming that Ronald Volkman has extended his stay with the Blue & Gold for another 2 years. The Tip Sheet breaks down Volkman's new deal as Sixties and Forty20 go over the rumoured details and where it places Ronnie in the big picture at the Eels. Of course the preview podcast has some games to discuss and with the lower grades wrapping up last week all that is now left are the NRLW and NRL. The ladies head to the nation's capital to tussle with the Raiders while the fellas are bound for the 'Gong as they gear up for a tilt with the Dragons. Will Tyrese Lokeni become the third straight Eel to debut in first grade on Sunday? The boys talk about what the versatile forward brings to the table for the Blue & Gold and the hard work he has put in across 2026 to potentially feature this week.

Parramatta's 'Elite 7' Hit List was revealed on the weekend and The Tip Sheet is ready to put bounties on each individual based on who is the biggest priority for the Blue & Gold. Sixties and Forty20 discuss the latest recruitment and retention news before reviewing the weekend's action and then turning their eyes to the Ken Thornett Medal and Team List Tuesday. Injuries and suspensions have wrought havoc in the NRL ahead of the finals...who emerged unscathed and who is panicking? PVL wants to bring back a midweek cup in an already jam packed schedule while the code celebrated a hugely emotional moment for Jai Arrow as he took to the field in the first leg of a two-game stretch that will see him notch 100 games as a Bunny.

There is still one more round of NRL to be played but the Parramatta Eels signed off from their home finale at CommBank Stadium in some style as they piled the points on against the Cronulla Sharks and in doing so, consigned their opponents to a finish outside the Top 4. The Eels bookended the outcome today with a rapid start and a flurry of a finish but had to see of a genuine fightback from the opposition in the second half as Sixties and Forty20 debrief on the big Round 26 victory.

It is the final week of regular season action in the lower grades while the NRL and NRLW are still rolling on into next week as The Tip Sheet previews the final 5-game docket of the year. Sixties and Forty20 run their eyes over some tough match-ups against the Cronulla Sharks for the lads while the ladies are looking to finish with a flourish in the NSWWP and spring a massive ambush in the NRLW. Of course, one of the major stories this week is the debut of Ryda Talagi as the Eels continue to build by way of blooding young talent at the end of 2026. The boys discuss what Ryda will bring to the team and what to expect from him in the limited minutes he projects to get against the Sharks on Sunday.

The penultimate round of the regular season of the NRL is here and it feels like there is more news than ever to discuss. The Tip Sheet is set to power through a massive Parra docket headed by the news that Ryda Talagi will debut against the Sharks on Sunday. There is plenty more though from Jason Ryles unloading on the Bunker to the potential retentions of Junior Paulo and Ronald Volkman as Sixties and Forty20 break it all down. The NRL section is headlined by some genuinely heart warming news as the code is set to make special provisions to allow Jai Arrow to take the field in South Sydney's final two games of the year to reach his ton as a Bunny. There is some big time signings news with Joey Manu joining the Chiefs while Jacob Preston and the Bulldogs finally reached an accord for a 4-year extension at Belmore.

Effort marred by errors...and some crumby calls - it sure sounds like the themes of 2026 as the Parramatta Eels fell to the Dolphins in Round 25. As they have for some time now, the Eels showed plenty of ticker against their far more favoured opposition but it wasn't enough to overcome defensive lapses, sloppy errors and yes some dubious calls. Sixties and Forty20 break down the Round 25 result as always in the Instant Reaction Podcast.

The Eels walked away winners from a gunfight with the Cowboys last week but are they are the ready for one of the most high powered offences in the NRL? Sixties and Forty20 discuss the Round 25 match up with the Dolphins and how Parramatta can look to put a put a dent in perhaps the most electric back line in the competition. The NRLW have the chance to consolidate on a breakthrough win as they travel to the Shire where they face the Sharks. Cronulla have been struggling much like the Eels and the the Round 8 clash will go a long way towards deciding who will finish last this season. The NSWWP make the same trip as they play in a double header at Ocean Protect Stadium and will bolstered by an injection of surplus NRLW talent this week. It is a road trip to the capital for the NSW Cup and Jersey Flegg Cup as the Eels meet the Raiders in both grades in the penultimate week of the regular season. Bailey Simonsson's return is the big ticket story here as the boys preview two pretty evenly split matches.

It is a crazy week for back rowers in all aspects of the game as The Tip Sheet gives you a front row seat to all of the action. Starting with a serious note, Ryan Matterson is walking away from the great game of rugby league after a long battle with concussions. While the news as expected, Sixties and Forty20 look back on Matterson's two stints as an Eel and what he brought to the club. Jezaiah Funa is set to debut. No it isn't deja vu - but hopefully this time the young forward gets to see the field as the Eels travel to Brisbane to face the high flying Dolphins. On the outgoing players front, the Melbourne Storm have signed Kelma Tuilagi for 2027 as both the Eels and the Storm continue to hone their rosters for next year. In the wider NRL there could be a November 1 frenzy for star backrowers as Jacob Preston, Tallis Duncan, Liam Martin, Hudson Young and Xavier Willison all inch towards testing the market. The show makes the usual stops around Parradise and the Greater NRL as the boys recap the week that was and look at all the top news and story lines heading into Round 25!

If anyone ever tells you that the Parramatta Eels are a boring team then make sure to bring the receipts from the last months of footy. It continued into Round 24 in the most dramatic fashion as the Eels, on the back of a clutch Captain's Challenge from Mitchell Moses, kicked themselves to victory from the boot of the very same man to claim an insane 32-30 victory. In a game that featured some mind blowing tries from both sides - including a legendary try assist to Junior Paulo - Parramatta did just enough to secure the season sweep on the men from North Queensland. Sixties and Forty20 try to settle the adrenaline levels as they debrief on a legitimately absurd game that featured oodles of offence and the scantest semblance of defence.

This week's preview podcast comes with an extra dose of reaction as the boys offer their thoughts on the announcement that Jim Sarantinos will stand down from his position as CEO of the Parramatta Eels at the end of year. On the actual preview front, the show dives into a diverse docket this week with the Eels taking on a different opponent in every grade. In the NSWWP, Parramatta host the table-topping Knights while the Jersey Flegg are jetting off to Sigatoka to face the Silktails. The NSW Cup are looking to avenge a heavy loss to the Bears from earlier this season as Lincoln Fletcher is called back into the grade to partner fellow young gun playmaker Lorenzo Talataina. The NRLW are still hunting for the first win of the year in a tough campaign as they host the Bulldogs. They thumped their Western Sydney rivals in the preseason but have since struggled mightily to find any semblance of form. Can they spring the upset on Saturday? The podcast wraps up with the NRL as the Eels and Cowboys get ready for a shoot out. Parramatta prevailed in a bizarre 3-point golden point upset earlier this year...what awaits the teams and fans on Saturday night?