Keary: Su'a signing won't help Eels "trainwreck" amid injury crisis

The Parramatta Eels are prepared to sign players effective immediately as the club battles through an early-season injury crisis.

The Eels are currently without Jonah Pezet, Isaiah Iongi, J’Maine Hopgood, Bailey Simonsson, and Matt Doorey, amongst others, with the club reportedly searching the NRL for players they can sign to cover their depth problem.

The club have signed Dragons’ forward Jaydn Su’a for 2027, but would take the second rower immediately if he could secure a release. There is no indication Su’a has requested an early release.

The desperate search comes on the heels of a heavy 52-10 loss to the Gold Coast Titans at home.

Journalist David Riccio told SEN that Parramatta officials are currently searching for any avenues to bolster their current roster.

“It's pretty dire at the moment for the Parramatta Eels on a number of levels, not only their current casualty award, but their performances,” Riccio said on SEN 1170 Mornings.

“I can tell you that Sean Russell, he will be named to return this weekend for Parramatta, so that's one positive.

“I know management at Parramatta were desperately scouring the NRL just to see if they can make an immediate buy.

“Can they recruit immediately? Can they loan a player? These are all the options that they're going through.

“They're looking across the game at the rosters from their rival clubs (for) players that aren't getting a genuine crack at their current NRL club.

“That was the process, even to the point of, if they could, in the last 24 hours, get this done before 4pm teams this Tuesday, they will do it.”

However, despite their injury crisis, former half Luke Keary believes the problems at the Eels extend beyond their casualty ward.

The loss to the Titans marks the third time this season the Eels have conceded 48 points or more in a game.

Additionally, they are the only club to concede more than 200 points across the season at 37.6 points a game on average.

Speaking on Channel 7’s The Agenda Setters: Rugby League, Keary believes the signing of Su’a, an Origin forward, will not solve their “cultural issues”.

“Let's be honest, Su’a's moving from one train wreck to another at the moment,” Keary said.

“Honestly, he's not going to help them at the moment.

“This seems like an attitude thing.

“I hate to say it, but it seems like a cultural thing to have 50 put on you… twice in six weeks at your home stadium.

“There's obviously something wrong inside to concede that many points.”

The Eels take on the Bulldogs on Sunday at Commbank Stadium.