Eels youngster's setback opens door for Dylan Brown as Mitchell Moses set for return
The side sitting second-last has lost three games in a row, but 22-year-old Iongi has been a standout star amid the form slump. Although Jason Ryles and the team have been delivered a huge blow with Iongi ruled out for up to four weeks due to a hand injury, according to .
Iongi suffered the broken hand in the defeat to the Canberra Raiders last Saturday, but played close to 60 minutes with the injury. Iongi will now sit out for around a month as he recovers. Iongi was brought into the side with former captain Clint Gutherson moving on after reports he was going to lose his No.1 jersey to the youngster.
In a tough year where Ryles has implemented change throughout the squad, Iongi has been a star with his work ethic a highlight at the back. While the Eels will be welcoming back their chief playmaker in Moses, they will be losing one of their best attacking weapons in the same week.
Mitchell Moses set for Parramatta Eels return
The Eels struggled without Moses in the side for the start of the year, before the halfback returned. He then injured himself ahead of State of Origin Game 2 for NSW and hasn't played since round 14. His expected return this weekend against the Broncos will boost the Eels who have shown promising signs in recent weeks, despite going down to the Dragons, Panthers and Raiders. His combination with Zax Lomax was a real highlight for Eels fans, before Moses' injury and the club will be hoping the duo can link up again on the right side.
Dylan Brown faces potential Eels recall
Iongi's injury paves the way for Dylan Brown to make a return to the XIII. The five-eighth was dropped from the side to play the Raiders with Ryles planning for the future with the side out of finals set to miss out on finals footy. Brown is on his way out the door to join the Knights at the end of the season.
Ryles opted to play Brown at No.9 against the Panthers in week 19, before leaving him out against the Raiders last weekend. Questions were asked if Brown had played his final game for the club. Although Ryles shut down this suggestion last week.
"No, he hasn't, I don't think, but I don't have a crystal ball," Ryles said on Friday. "The option to use him again is certainly there. If that does come up and we get an injury or two and he fits into that picture, then we'll do that, definitely."
And it appears there is a chance he could slot into the halves, alongside Moses, with Joash Papalii the back-up fullback in the squad. Although Ryles could use Lomax in the No.1 jersey if he feels he wants a different line-up.
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