Cricket
Racing
Rugby
League
Motorsport
Football
Golf
Combat Sports
Basketball
Tennis
Other Sports
Sport Nation
Electric Iongi stars in glimpse at Parramatta's long-term future
SEN • June 22nd, 2025 10:51 pm
Parramatta fans got their best look at their future spine as the Eels’ young guns stepped up to defeat the Gold Coast Titans 36-20 in the absence of key senior figures.
Fullback Isaiah Iongi was a standout for Parramatta with three try assists and a line break; his form in his early first grade career giving credence to coach Jason Ryles’ decision to move on Clint Gutherson in favour of the young fullback.
Missing captain Mitchell Moses due to a calf strain he suffered during Origin camp and Dylan Brown to a one-match suspension, the Eels gave young gun Joash Papalii his first audition to be Brown’s replacement next season, combining with former Rabbitoh Dean Hawkins in the halves.
Along with hooker Ryley Smith, who was left hobbling after a right knee injury and controversially not sin binned for a dangerous tackle, the Eels’ spine shared an average age of 22 years old, holding their own against a Titans’ line-up that featured all their Origin stars.
NSW Origin winger Zac Lomax told SEN League post-game that he’s been impressed with Iongi’s development.
“He's been unbelievable for us, and I think his effort areas is what sets him up to have a really good performance each week,” Lomax said.
“He's so diligent with his prep through the week, and that's what I admire about him and he's definitely young into his first great career, but he's got a real bright future ahead.
“We knew we had a couple of halves out as well but I thought the boys who came in… played unbelievable and, mate, we needed that performance, that's really good for our confidence.”
The game’s momentum seesawed tens of times throughout the match, with both teams combining for ten tries scored in the game and almost double the amount of errors.
The Gold Coast’s defensive woes were once on display in their strongest sense, having a whopping 62 missing or ineffective tackles as they conceded six tries.
Titans’ halfback Jayden Campbell was ruled out under concussion protocols in the 27th minute, forcing Chris Randall into the halves for the Gold Coast.
Campbell was assessed as having Category 1 symptoms, meaning he’ll miss their Round 17 match against the North Queensland Cowboys, who lost 42-8 to the Sydney Roosters earlier today.
