Jonah Pezet & The Eels’ Halves Dilemma: Will It Work?

Welcome back to The Kennel! In this episode, we continue our 2026 NRL season preview series by turning our attention to our rivals, the Parramatta Eels.

Join me, Dibbo, and Zaatar as we break down Jason Ryles' first full season in charge. We discuss the ruthless roster cleanup, the ongoing Zac Lomax contract saga, and whether the new halves pairing of Mitchell Moses and Jonah Pezet can actually work. Plus, we debate if the Eels are destined for the Top 8 or another bottom-four finish.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The Zac Lomax "Rugby 360" drama and his eventual exit.
• Jason Ryles' impact: Cutting "dead weight" like Matterson and Lane.
• The new signings: Jonah Pezet, Jack de Belin, and Brian Kelly.
• Junior Paulo's incredible weight loss and form for Samoa.
• Our predictions for the Eels' 2026 ladder finish (Spoon or Finals?).

🔵⚪️ SUPPORT THE KENNEL ⚪️🔵
If you enjoyed this honest (and slightly biased) review, make sure to SUBSCRIBE and hit the LIKE button!

🔗 STAY CONNECTED:
Website & Forum: http://www.thekennel.net.au
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kennelpodcast/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheKennelForums
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thekennelpodcast
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thekennelpodcast

#NRL2026 #ParramattaEels #TheKennel #NRLPreview #JasonRyles #MitchellMoses #Bulldogs #NRL

TIMESTAMPS:
00:00 - Intro: Roasting the Parramatta Eels & The Centers Debate
01:36 - The Zac Lomax Saga: Rugby 360 & Contract Drama
06:33 - Jason Ryles’ Era Begins: Cleaning Up The Culture
08:11 - The Cleanout: Cutting Matterson, Lane & Cartwright
09:54 - The Mitchell Moses Factor: Can He Carry The Team?
13:09 - The "Weak" Backline & Center Pairings
14:07 - The New Halves Experiment: Moses & "Peasant" (Pezet)
17:50 - Junior Paulo’s Weight Loss & "Kung Fu Panda" Energy
20:25 - Breakout Players: Isaiah Iongi & Kitione Kautoga
23:34 - Predictions: Spoon, 12th, or Finals?
27:04 - The Pass Mark: Top 8 or Failure?