There has been a lot of talk about a clean out of Parramatta Eels from the coaching staff to the back room staff and to the players. Now I know when a new coach comes in this is inevitable to a point. The coach brings in somenew staff with him and lines up some players he believes will add something to the side. So change naturally happens and in our case, is needed.
But the assumption that no one who has been part of the old regime is of any value is a dangerous one. Now much of it may be paper talk but totally cleaning out the place will not benefit our club in anyway. We have some key pieces of a very good team abd no doubt some excellent staff. A clean up and some new pieces coming to the club will bring success in a quicker time than a total clean out. For example Gutho should remain as captain, at least for next year. Getting rid of Lane, Matto and Carty etc should be done with caution or even not at all? Who will replace them? Is there a back rower out there more talented then Carty and Matto and I if so would he come any cheaper? Could a new coach get a couple of good years out of Matto, Paulo and Lane. They still are potentially front line and even rep quality forwards. How about RCG? Is he done or just playing out of contention for finals and has lost some interest. Could Rykes rejuvenate the ageing forward group and get some young blood pushing the older guys for spots? I would have kept Barrett to coach our halves. After all they both credit him as helping them significantly. Having a guy who knows how they tick would surely benefit Ryles. So far just talk of who is leaving including 3 of our best juniors, but nothing else.
And why hasn't Ryles called Brown and co. He is off the books at the storm, surely chatting with senior players is beneficial for him and the team. But perhaps he has a 'cunning plan' and is working hard behind the scenes to revive this team in 25.
The word clean out has dangerous implications and whilst it sounds like bringing in a new shop is the answer, unless the new parts are improvements we will only go downhill. I wish Ryles all the best and my hope is that he keeps the best parts of the house but does some renovations around the place. To bash the whole thing down could mean a long, slow rebuild. All I can see so far is walls getting bashed down. I hope he has sone ideas to replace them.
Here's hoping
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Agree with rcg , carty and matto . I really want to see them get a " second wind " under ryles
Lane should go , it's attitude with him and passion and that won't be fixed I don't think w ryles . He needs to go off and do his psychology that's where his interest lies these days
I agree with most of what you are saying but the big exception is gutho remaining as captain. I don't think he is a good captain, he doesn't remain calm and in control when things are going bad, this has a flow on effect with the rest of the team. Also he has a tendency to berate his players when they make errors, loses his cool when talking to the ref's and has been the leader whilst the team has consistently not turned up when player lower ranked teams. It's time for a fresh start in that regard.
From the information being reported, the large amount of get-out clauses at the Eels is a huge problem. The NRL should limit the amount of these clauses to protect the poorly run clubs. I struggle to understand 1 advantage the club has with these player options in contracts. If a player with an option is playing well he can leave for more money. If a player is unhappy with the coach or coaching staff he can leave. If the club is struggling he can leave. What would be the chances of a player signing a long-term deal with the option for the club to review and revalue the contract every year or 2?
The biggest difference between successful and struggling clubs is simple. Players want to play with successful clubs and they are happy to take less money to do so. Struggling clubs are forced to pay more money to attract new players as well as paying top dollar for players they want to retain. The best way for struggling clubs to fix these problems is by signing a successful head coach that players want to be coached by. The other way is by producing a strong junior system that provide several first-graders on bargain deals.
Good post, Slippery. The quantity of our POs is a problem. We're PO Kings. But, would we retain those players without them?
Even the Storm has a PO for Harry Grant, and they don't get much better run or led than them.
Or should we just bit the bullet and accept losing some players if we don't budge?
It kind of looks like we're used them to counter the attractiveness of other clubs who could offer more - a point of difference, say.
PS: I despite POs (not as much as Player Agents). They're one-sided negotiations. Zero sum.
Not disputing any points on that.
Do you think that eventually things would balance out over time? Higher paid talent would then attract players who want to play for less?
Tigers for example, paid a lot for Api and Luai, for up and coming players, the chance to play alongside would be a draw card, no?
No doubt, quality players become an attraction. The problem is, the inflated price paid to attract the quality players causes salary cap pressure. It only takes 4 or 5 highly paid players on deals 10% or more above their real value and your salary cap / roster becomes unbalanced and lacking depth. For example. Lets say you have 2 players worth between $900,000 and $1,000,000 per season, plus 4 players worth around $700,000 per season but these 6 players are being payed 15% overs, these 6 players valued at $4,700,000 are costing nearly $5,500,000 per season.
The biggest problem regarding player agents occurs when 1 player agent has several clients at one club. There is 1 player agent who is totally ruthless, and he is highly represented at the Eels. There is nothing stopping this player agent (whom M Moses is a client of) saying to the Eels, when M Moses has his get-out clause available, unless you sign another player for a higher amount, he will recommend M Moses explore his options elsewhere.
There is a clear clean out in the forwards. Club will be trying to invest into their forwards.
Middles:
Edge:
There is a few more decent forwards coming through the flegg and SG ball side. Will keep an eye on them net year.
The game has changed so much since our current forward pack was put together. The power game with big bodies is finished. These days, forward packs need to be faster and have a motor to play long minutes, ideally in more than 1 position. Quality utility players have become a must. The speed of the game due to rule changes on top of the HIA situation are the main reasons the game has changed so much.
I think the above should all be getting significant game time next year. We just need to keep enough experience to guide them.
Ofahengaue, Hopgood are for sure. I'd keep 2 of RCG, Paulo, Matto, Cartwright. Maybe 3.
Lane is off in my books.
A lot more forwards will leave us end of 2025 anyway, and we can prepare a signing for then of a proper top mobile forward that can carry the middle alongside the youngsters.
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