Parramatta fall to third-straight loss but Jason Ryles says improved ‘fight’ puts Eels on right track

The Eels crashed to a third-straight defeat but there were positive signs for new coach Jason Ryles as he searches for his first win with Parramatta.

Not even the return of Josh Addo-Carr could inspire the Parramatta Eels who remain winless from three starts after falling 16-8 to local rivals Canterbury-Bankstown at CommBank Stadium.

All eyes were on the former Test winger who made his debut for Parramatta afternoon after serving a four-match suspension for failing a roadside drug test last year, an incident that also prompted the Belmore-based club to tear up his multi-year contract.

Relentlessly booed by his former fans throughout the afternoon, Addo-Carr had a shaky start to the game with his dropped ball giving the Dogs the field position needed to open the scoring in the fifth minute via Daniel Suluka-Fifita.

However, ‘The Foxx’ recovered well, scoring the sole try of the second half as the Eels pushed their more fancied opponents to the limit during the closing stages.

“It was probably what you’d expect from his first game of the year,” Parramatta coach Jason Ryles said of Addo-Carr’s performance.

“He had some good parts, [but] he had some little parts that no one would have seen that we need to tidy up for next week, but overall, he did his job and he’ll improve from here.”

Despite a marked improvement from last weekend’s debacle against the Tigers, Parramatta was ultimately undone by a mediocre opening half, during which their repeated errors gifted the Bulldogs vital possession deep in Eels territory.

“[We were] much better in regards to our fight and our effort and what serving the badge looks like ... [but] there was not enough polish at certain times,” Ryles said.

“Unfortunately, we didn’t get the result that we wanted but the fight and the effort we showed today … if we are able to reproduce that more often than not, we’re going to stand ourselves in good stead for the future.”

Tries to Bronson Xerri and Blake Wilson saw the visitors lead 14-4 at the break, and while the Addo-Carr managed to get the Eels within six points with half an hour remaining, they ultimately couldn’t reel in the Bulldogs, who sealed the game with a final-minute penalty goal to skipper Stephen Crichton.

“It was exactly the sort of game we thought we were going to get,” Bulldogs coach Cameron Ciraldo said post-match.

“They were really desperate and it was important that we matched that desperation.

“Over the first two rounds, I was really disappointed in some of the tries we let in.

“I thought there was a definite attitude adjustment to our defence … It was all about our defence this week.”

The result sees Ryles’ charges rooted to the bottom of the ladder, while Ciraldo’s Bulldogs now sit second after maintaining their perfect start to 2025.

CURRAN’S JUST JOSHING

Referee Wyatt Raymond awarded one of the more bizarre penalties in recent memory when he pinged Canterbury’s Josh Curran for not playing in the spirit of the game. Curran earned Raymond’s ire after he channelled his inner match official and called opposing forward Matt Doorey offside so he would not attempt to tackle a Bulldogs attacker.

AIR WILSON

It’s fitting that Blake Wilson is studying to be a pilot because his try was the dictionary definition of an ‘aerial effort.’ Receiving the ball 15 metres out from the line, the underrated winger outpaced two desperate Eels defenders before leaping into the air, contorting his body, and placing the ball down one-handed just inside the touch in-goal line.

Originally published as Parramatta fall to third-straight loss but Jason Ryles says improved ‘fight’ puts Eels on right track