Even in victory, there’s more J’maine and suffering for Ryles and Eels

March 22, 2026 — 5:05pm

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Parramatta have taken a long sip from their “schooner of reality” and deserve credit for steadying their season, but if they dish up what they produced against St George Illawarra, Penrith will punish them in round four.

But Eels coach Jason Ryles might be searching for a few schooners after the win on Sunday afternoon was soured by confirmation J’maine Hopgood has ruptured his ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.

Ryles said he did not believe the tackle that led to the injury – which looked like a hip-drop and resulted in a 10-minute sin bin for Ryan Couchman – was deliberate.

But to lose a forward for the season to an illegal tackle – one likely to sideline Couchman for some time – was a bitter blow.

“It’s really disappointing,” Ryles said of Hopgood’s injury. “Those tackles, 99.9 per cent [of the time] the........

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