“We’ve got a great group of staff to work out what’s wrong with him,” recruit Zac Lomax told media on Wednesday.

“It’s been a bit of an ongoing thing, he had it last year … we’ll get to the bottom of it. He’s disappointed, he wanted to hit the ground running, because he missed a heap of footy.”

The 30-year-old’s injury has opened the door for Ronald Volkman to start the year in the playmaking role, just a year after his NRL career appeared to be in limbo.

Volkman signed with the Dragons last year but after the club’s medical staff discovered a shoulder injury, the young Kiwi’s deal didn’t up getting registered.

“A lot of players come across adversity like that and it’s pretty easy to throw the game away, but Ronnie has just persevered,” Hopgood said.

“He’s got big shoes to fill, but he doesn’t need to do anything but his job.”

Volkman will be tasked with taking on a Storm outfit who look primed for another title tilt and will also be searching for a 23rd consecutive victory to begin a season.

But ending that streak is something the Eels are facing head-on.

“We’re the luckiest team in the comp, because we’re the ones who’ve got a chance to try and end it,” Hopgood said.

“It’s a bit of David vs Goliath there, but we’re gonna go down there and hopefully come away with a win.”

Ryles era begins: Eels coach backs rookie to take centre stage

“One of Issy’s strengths is that he goes to the game.”

The Parramatta Eels will officially enter a new chapter in the club’s 78-year history on Sunday afternoon as they unveil a new-look team in Jason Ryles’ first match as head coach.

Following a challenging off-season that saw them lose several players – Blaize Talagi, Clinton Gutherson, Maika Sivo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and eight others – the Eels couldn’t face a more daunting start than facing premiership favourites Melbourne Storm in the opening round away from home.

Having failed to reach the NRL Finals in back-to-back years after making the 2022 NRL Grand Final, all eyes will be on the No.1 jersey on Sunday and if Isaiah Iongi can successfully fill the void left by Gutherson at the back of the field, a position the former Eels captain has held in Round 1 for the past seven season.

Surprisingly, Wigan Warriors star Bevan French was the last to wear the jersey before Gutherson.

Although he didn’t live up to his potential at the club, French has gone on to become one of the top players in the Super League competition, defeating the Panthers in the 2024 World Club Challenge, winning the Man of Steel award and claiming the quadruple last year.