Eels Rocked as Will Penisini and Ryley Smith Cop Bans in Costly Victory

Parramatta Eels’ finals push has taken a dramatic hit after star centre Will Penisini and promising hooker Ryley Smith were both slapped with suspensions following Sunday night’s fiery 36-20 win over the Gold Coast Titans at CommBank Stadium.

The NRL’s Match Review Committee delivered a harsh reality check for the Eels on Monday morning, issuing a three-match ban for Penisini and a two-game suspension for Smith, stemming from two separate incidents in the closing stages of what had been a gutsy victory.

 Penisini Facing Four-Game Ban If He Fights Charge

The most significant blow comes with Will Penisini’s lifting tackle on Titans forward Beau Fermor, which saw the 21-year-old centre sent to the sin bin in the 77th minute. The tackle was deemed dangerous enough to warrant immediate judicial action, and the NRL has offered a three-game suspension with an early guilty plea.

However, should Penisini opt to contest the charge and fail, the ban would stretch to four matches, a punishment that would all but rule him out of the remainder of the regular season depending on the Eels’ standing.

The suspension is a massive setback for Parramatta, with Penisini being one of the team’s most reliable attacking and defensive options in the backline. His absence will leave a glaring hole as the Eels look to claw their way into the top eight.

 Smith Also Stood Down After Dangerous Contact

Adding to Parramatta’s woes, hooker Ryley Smith was cited for a separate dangerous tackle and handed a two-match ban. The 22-year-old, who has been showing promise as part of the Eels’ rotation, is now unavailable during a critical run of matches.

Smith’s growing presence in the middle third has been seen as vital for coach Jason Ryles, who is now faced with the challenge of reshuffling his spine while balancing experience and youth.

 Discipline Concerns Grow at Crunch Time

While the Eels celebrated the final scoreline against the Titans, their victory now feels bittersweet. With finals aspirations hanging in the balance, the lack of on-field discipline in the final minutes of the game has potentially dealt a costly blow to their campaign.

The loss of two key players at once, particularly for actions that could have been avoided, has sparked concern among fans and commentators about Parramatta’s composure under pressure.

“Winning the game is one thing, but losing key players because of reckless decisions is another. That can derail a season,” said one former NRL great on Monday’s Fox League panel.

 Next Steps

The Eels are yet to confirm whether either player will contest the charges, but club officials are believed to be carefully weighing their options with legal counsel. With just a handful of games left before finals, every decision could prove pivotal.

Parramatta’s next fixture comes against a red-hot Melbourne Storm side—now without their starting centre and backup hooker.

What was supposed to be a triumphant night has turned into a week of damage control. For the Eels, the countdown to September just became a whole lot tougher.