150 Parramatta Eels players gather for whole club pre-season training session

Parramatta’s potential 2026 starting side is beginning to take shape, with a clear replacement for Zac Lomax emerging, as 150 Eels from across five grades took part in a whole club training session. WATCH the video.

Parramatta have got their first serious look at life with Jonah Pezet after the star signing took the field in Saturday’s all-club training session.

A day after pulling on Eels colours for the first time, Pezet looked slick combining alongside halves partner and captain Mitchell Moses at their Kellyville headquarters.

And the former Melbourne – and Brisbane playmaker – had an audience.

Every single Eels player from Harold Matthews (under-16s), SG Ball (u-17s), Jersey Flegg (u-19s) and NSW Cup participating in the three-hour long run.

All eyes though were on the 22-year-old signed as a one-year rental coach Jason Ryles can help steer the side back into the finals.

And if you couldn’t catch him with his fluoro pink boots, then you couldn’t definitely hear him, with Pezet clearly calling the shots on the Eels’ left edge.

“He’s been doing really well in our team. He’s a loud talker, which, you know, we all like. So yeah, he’s fitting really well,” fullback Isaiah Iongi said.

“It’ll be good I reckon, both of them talking off the back of each other.

“They’ve got a good system over there (in Melbourne), so obviously he’s got a good connection with Rylesy. If he gets the opportunity to be part of the team, he’ll do a good job.”

With just one week left before the team breaks Christmas, Ryles ensured there’d be no let up with a marathon session that included drills, cardio and then a light scrimmage.

Pezet camped on the left alongside Kitione Kautoga, while Moses paired with Kelma Tuilagi on the right, with Dylan Walker, Sam Tuivaiti and new face Jack de Belin in the middle.

Sean Russell appears the frontrunner to take over from Zac Lomax on the right wing.

Junior Paulo, Jack Williams and J’maine Hopgood sat out the session.

“For us this season, it’s just the start, getting to know each other’s connections and strengths. For this upcoming season, we’ll start strong,” Iongi said.

Ryles and the Eels have shown supreme confidence in Iongi, having last week re-signed the 22-year-old to a mammoth five-year extension after just one season.

He is just one of 10 players in the league to have their secured until the end of the 2030.

“It was obviously a good year for myself,” Iongi said.

“I thought the conversation (Ryles and I) had was pretty clear. I wanted to make Paramatta my home and obviously try and extend.

“It does give me a bit of confidence to go out there, improve on my game.

“I was pretty stoked. So it was a good achievement, and to be part of a great club, I’m very fortunate enough to get that contract deal.”