The Parramatta Eels' rebuild is well and truly underway, with Jason Ryles' side looking to climb back into the top eight in 2026.
In truth, the Eels were closer than you might expect looking at the ladder from 2025, but the issue was Mitchell Moses spending far too long on the sidelines injured.
Moses may well be the most important individual player to any team anywhere in the competition, and if he stays fit, combined with a handful of new signings for the blue and gold, then there is a very real chance the Eels climb the ladder in 2026.
Selection questions remain for the blue and gold though, particularly in the outside backs and forward pack, with Ryles already creating a reputation for not holding back if he believes change is needed.
The squad already looks very different from the one that started 2025 with a number of players not making the cut in Ryles' future vision for the Eels.
Here are the key questions for the Eels heading into 2026.
Can Joash Papalii find a spot?
The dramatic turnaround in the prospects of Joash Papalii for 2026 over the off-season will be one of the big talking points surrounding the early going of 2026 for the Eels.
Jason Ryles made the call to axe Dylan Brown after he confirmed his departure at the end of 2025 to the Newcastle Knights, instead choosing to focus on the club's future.
That meant Papalii played at number six for much of the second half of 2025, and it was widely tipped he'd be the player to run straight into that spot on a fulltime basis this year.
But that has now been blown to smithereens by the off-season signing of Jonah Pezet, who joins the club for 12 months before heading to Brisbane and likely being replaced by young gun Lorenzo Talataina, who is seen as the club's future.
What that means for Papalii though is not good.
Instead of a ready-made starting role, he will likely have to bide his time and search for opportunities on the bench.
If the bench goes to six, then he probably gets a run on a consistent basis. If not, then he may well spend 2026 playing reserve grade.
“What will now be intriguing is whether he or Dylan Brown starts at lock, with the other to come from the bench.”
Can’t see Brown suiting up at lock for the Eels.