Eels can see Keilee now and the future looks brighter

The Eels were left heartbroken after a forward pass on the final play of the game cost them victory over the Warriors but a powerhouse return by dual premiership winner Keilee Joseph provided a silver lining.

After leading for much of the contest, the Eels fell behind when Tysha Ikenasio crossed with 15 minutes to play, setting up a grandstand finish at Eric Tweedale Stadium.

With the clock running down to zero, the Eels swung the ball to the left edge where Mahalia Murphy's pass to put Zali Fay over in the corner was ruled forward.

Despite her disappointment at the Eels slipping to 0-4, Joseph was pumped to be back from a knee injury and ripping in for new teammates.

“It felt really good. We really stuck to it in the first half,” Joseph told NRL.com.

“In the second half we were really good too, but we lost it in the last couple of seconds. It's unfortunate but I am so happy to be back playing with the girls."

The impact of the Jillaroos and Maroons forward was clear as the Eels went toe-to-toe with the highly fancied Warriors.

Joseph’s strong carries, defensive work and line breaks helped Parramatta dominate possession and maintain momentum for long periods.

The 24-year-old made 91 run metres, had four tackle breaks and topped Parra's tackle count with 32, despite spending 16 minutes on the sideline after a twinge to her right knee.

A premiership winner in her debut season with the Roosters in 2021 and again last year with the Broncos, Joseph's presence lifted an Eels forward pack missing Kennedy Cherrington (facial fracture) and Chloe Jackson (ribs).

The task gets no easier at Magic Round as the Eels come up against two-time premiers Newcastle in Wagga Wagga.

Gun centre Rory Owen is also set to be sidelined after failing a HIA on Sunday so the Eels will need to dig deep if they are to get on the board for 2026.

After helping the Broncos to a win over Cronulla in the inaugural Magic Round in 2025, Brisbane-born Joseph would love to go two-from-two at the showpiece event as she continues to find her feet at her new club.

“I am from Brisbane and made the journey down to Sydney to play Tarsha Gale (Under 19s)," she said.

"I did the pathway with Roosters and played Harvey Norman Women’s
Premiership before making my NRLW debut in 2021.

"I played three seasons at the Roosters and then went to Brisbane Broncos, which was home at the time, and played two seasons there. I am now back in Sydney because my partner’s here is and it’s home for us.

“But the Broncos was a fresh start. I won a premiership there and I am very happy and proud."