The Eels have reportedly snared Cowboys forward Harrison Edwards with immediate affect amid the club’s increasing injury crisis. Parramatta are without seven regular first-graders in Round 10, with Isaiah Iongi, Kitione Kautoga, Ryley Smith, Will Penisini, Sam Tuivaiti, Bailey Simonsson, Matt Doorey and J’Maine Hopgood all sidelined.
Hopgood and Doorey are both out for the season with ACL injuries, while Simonsson is sidelined long term with a leg fracture. Iongi, Kautoga and Tuivaiti aren’t back until Round 13, while Penisini is missing this week due to osteitis pubis.
Harrison Edwards (third from left) will join Parramatta from the Cowboys with immediate effect. Image: Getty
To make matters worse, Jonah Pezet is serving a one-game suspension for an incident while playing NSW Cup last week. The Eels have been forced to use the second-most players of any club so far this season with 28. Only the injury-ravaged Broncos have used more with 29.
But reinforcements are coming, with leading Parramatta podcast ‘The Cumberland Throw’ reporting on Wednesday that Edwards has signed from the Cowboys with immediate effect. The forward has played 54 NRL games across stints with the Bulldogs and Cowboys.
Harrison Edwards in action for the Cowboys in 2025.
(Getty Images)
The 25-year-old played 17 games for Canterbury from 2022 to 2024, and 37 since moving to North Queensland. He’s only played one game at first-grade level in 2026 and had struggled to crack Todd Payten’s team.
Craig of ‘The Cumberland Throw’ wrote on Wednesday: “It’s an immediate roster need and depth signing. A middle forward who can cover dummy half if required – similar to Hopgood. He is also a noted defender.”
Eels want Jaydn Su’A from Dragons immediately
The Eels are also said to be chasing Dragons forward Jaydn Su’A for an immediate move. Su’A will join Parramatta in 2027 after opting out of the final year of his contract with the Dragons, but the Eels have reportedly enquired about getting him from St George Illawarra immediately.
The Eels take on the Cowboys on Friday night, although it remains to be seen whether Edwards will be allowed to play considering the teams have already been named. Ryles has named a severely depleted bench featuring the likes of Saxon Pryke, Toni Mataele, Charlie Guymer, Apa Twidle and Teancum Brown.
Jordan Samrani returns in the centres to replace Penisini, while Ronald Volkman retains his spot at five-eighth with Pezet still missing.