Eels, Titans concede 50 in Round 1 but who is the result worse for?

The Parramatta Eels and Gold Coast Titans both conceded over 50 points in the first round of the 2026 season, but the result says different things about where each side is placed.

Parramatta looked up for the fight in the opening stages of Thursday night's clash against the Melbourne Storm.

Despite J'maine Hopgood being sent to the sin bin in the first minute of the game over a dubious high shot on Alec MacDonald, the Eels laid on the first try of the match offering a glimpse at the promising new Moses-Pezet halves pairing.

Although MacDonald would not return to the field due to concussion, Andrew Johns argued in commentary that it was more of a head clash than shoulder to the head contact that caused the concussion.

"He was out before he hit the ground, MacDonald," Johns said on Channel 9. "It's a head clash... I think first contact is head on head. It's accidental."

After an uncharacteristically slow first ten minutes, Melbourne clicked into gear were clinical for the remaining 70, scoring nine unanswered tries and breezing to a 52 points to four win.

Doubles from Harry Grant and rising star Sualauvi Fa'alogo and a near perfect eight from nine conversions for Nick Meaney left Bellamy and Storm fans with plenty to be happy about.

After winning the pre-season challenge and showing lots of promise ahead throughout the summer period, Jason Ryles and the Eels will return to the drawing board ahead of a Thursday night's match against 2025 premiers Brisbane.

While it took a brave tipster to give the Eels the edge in Round 1, few would have foreseen a 52-4 drubbing.

"We got what we deserved there!," Parramatta Eels Coach Jason Ryles said in the the post-match press conference.

"After half time we just fell away and basically spent the whole half camped down our end on the back of our errors. They've got three of the test spine there and if you giuve them that much opportunity and don't tackle well, you get what you deserve. "

I've obviously got to go and reflect on our preperation and what went well and what we need to work on.

"Bottom line us we just didn't give ourselves a chance tonight."

Titans mauled by Sharks on Hannay's return to the Shire

When the Cronulla Sharks get on a roll they can be one of the hardest sides in the competition to reign in.

No one knows this better than new Titans Coach Josh Hannay who had been a part of the Sharks coaching staff since 2021.

"I just thought we got a lesson straight out of the gates about physicality," Hannay said speaking in the post match media conference.

"They ran harder, our opponent, line speed, I just thought physically we were beaten to the punch.

"I know all too well the capabilities of our opponent when they're on the front foot, really hard to handle."

Although he conceded it was a disappointing way to start the season, Hannay said the Titans outlook doesn't change.

"I'm not discouraged at all after one performance," Hannay continued.

Despite the score line, the fact that the Titans had 50 put on them doesn't hold as much weight it did for the Eels two nights earlier.

"Win or lose tonight, tonight wasn't going to define this year," Hannay continued. "I'm disappointed for the club because I think there's been a lot of hope built over the last four months.

"I know this group are capable of better, but I've also said to them there's going to be pain."

The Gold Coast does show promise that it can make it's way up the ladder in 2026.

Kiwi young gun Siale Faeamani scored on debut and, with only ten days to prepare for the the absence of Jayden Campbell, Hannay was pleased with new recruit Lachlan Illias who stepped into the halfback role.

"I thought Lachie tried really hard tonight, it didn't all go his way. I

"I don't want the narrative to be around what went wrong for Lachie.

Both teams are now out of  2026 premiership contention, if you abide by the age old law that says any side who concedes 50 points can not go on to win the competition, although feelings are likely vastly different between the Gold Coast and Parramatta camps.