Injury carnage has made Parramatta the South Sydney of 2026, but the chance to hand another player his debut is giving coach Jason Ryles reason to stay positive.
Around $5 million worth of the Eels' salary cap will miss the King's Birthday clash against Canterbury through injury, including big names Mitch Moses (hamstring), Junior Paulo (knee), Will Penisini (groin), J'Maine Hopgood (knee) and Jonah Pezet (hamstring).
The situation has become so dire that the Eels lured Harrison Edwards from North Queensland mid-season, and rented a separate mini-bus to take all their injured players on the away trip to Newcastle last week.
With 10 players sidelined from Monday's game, Ryles likened Parramatta's situation to that facing the Rabbitohs last season.
Heavy hitters such as Latrell Mitchell, Campbell Graham, Brandon Smith, Cody Walker and Cam Murray all sat out extended periods through injury in 2025 as the Rabbitohs slumped to a 14th-placed finish.
