Francis Molo: A Coup for Parramatta Eels
The Parramatta Eels have secured a major signing victory, beating three clubs—including rivals South Sydney Rabbitohs, Canterbury Bulldogs, and Brisbane Broncos—to land Redcliffe Dolphins prop Francis Molo on a four-year contract, a move hailed as transformative for their forward pack.
Molo joined the Dolphins in March 2025, securing an early release from the St. George Illawarra Dragons amid a contract dispute, and reunited with former coach Kristian Woolf. In his single season at Redcliffe, he made 16 appearances, scoring one try and delivering exceptional numbers: 364 tackles, 1,928 running metres, and 709.8 post-contact metres. His physicality, leadership, and veteran presence strengthened the Dolphins’ middle, earning admiration across the NRL. Eels recruitment manager Mark O’Neill emphasized Molo’s ability to “dominate the ruck and provide stability,” noting his Queensland Origin experience would elevate the team’s title aspirations.
The race for Molo was fierce, with the Rabbitohs particularly keen to bolster their forward stocks after losing key men to injury. However, the Eels’ vision for a dominant middle unit, paired with assurances of regular game time and a leadership role, swayed the 31-year-old. Coach Brad Arthur highlighted Molo’s compatibility with existing stars Wiremu Greig and Junior Paulo, stating their combined power would create space for halves Dylan Brown and Mitch Moses to thrive.
This signing comes as the Eels aim to build on recent momentum, having turned around their season with crucial wins. Molo’s arrival is expected to enhance their defensive resilience and attacking punch, providing the consistency needed to challenge for the premiership. As fans anticipate his debut, the Eels’ successful pursuit of Molo signals their ambition to compete at the highest level, solidifying a forward pack capable of matching any in the competition.
