Eels Blogs

Replies

• 

  LB May 27, 2025 at 11:37am

  I mean it is a decent start. Iongi and Kautoga get better every week. Smith was already here but is being developed and shown to be NRL standard. Hawkins can be a decent back-up. Walker was an out of nowhere great move. Jack Williams is steady. JAC has stepped up too. 

  Even steadily improving players that were already here. Moretti is playing career best footy. I feel Sean Russell is playing some of his best footy, Paulo is better than previous two seasons. 

  It is slowly moving but at least there are signs of improvement. How we finish the season is crucial to setting up our 2026 season.
  • Eli Stephens > LB May 27, 2025 at 11:39am

    The Samrani move very underrated his versatility is impressive. Makes you wonder what the team would have looked like if Lomax Moses Bailey are mostly healthy 
    • 

      LB > Eli Stephens May 27, 2025 at 12:12pm

      

      Samrani was a move we all sort of saw coming, him moving to back-row. It happened and has worked out. He could be a Niukore type bench player for us.
  • 

    Longfin Eel > LB May 27, 2025 at 11:57am

    I have said a while ago that we have similarities to Brisbane during their rebuild a few years ago. They had a team full of rookies with just a sprinkling of senior playes to help their development. These players were eager to improve week to week, and have built confidence and experience in doing so. Brisbane are now at a stage where they attract good players, but strugled in this area during the early stages of the rebuild.

    Parra can do the same here. This season will give vital experience to our young players, and hopefully they also develop confidence in their own abilities. Over the coming years the club should be in a great position to attract key players to boost the squad into a premiership threat. I also think that with the likes of Moses, Paulo, Lomax and Ado Carr, we are moving faster than Brisbane did.
• 

  Gucci May 27, 2025 at 1:27pm

  I think Kautoga has worked out he is a lot stronger than a lot of other first graders and is going to start running over them. He is still in his cup body. Wait until he grows into his NRL body like Sivo did. This guy can be anything. And I finally got a chance to hear him talk to Joey on Channel 9 post game. He may aswell have the smarts to excel if he puts his nose down and does the hard work next pre season. Keen to follow him more on this journey.
  • Eli Stephens > Gucci May 27, 2025 at 1:29pm

    He had a lot of errors in his game early but seems like he's put the silly passes and drops away lately and just running hard. Taking on Hamoule and getting the better of him was a great step forward. 
• 

  Clintorian May 27, 2025 at 4:49pm

  

  Let's take a look at the rookies he's brought in so far;

  1. Isaiah Iongi: Absolutely crushing it and probably the form Fullback alongside Papenhazen so far. He is a future Rep player, boy.. did we do a number on the Panthers by stealing this guy and offloading Blaize!
     = 9/10
  2. Ryley Smith: Has been playing the full 80mins at hooker since the 3rd or 4th round. Already better than Reed imo and will get better. His defence, crispy passing and kick pressure a standout.
     = 7/10
  3. Sam Tuivaiti: Instant impact at prop which is the hardest position to debut in. Huge body and will immediately join our bench
     = 6/10
  4. Jordan Samrani: Turning into a hugely valuble bench player that covers 2nd row, centre and wing when you need to. I expect Samrami to cover our backline from the bench and give us a true utility for injuries. He could even move into 2nd row permanantly when bulking up a bit and growing into his body.
     = 6/10
  5. Gideon Katoga: Started slow and was admittedly a potential liability, but has started to turn his raw physicality into impact. Nowhere finished yet, but has a lot of potential.
     = 5/10
  6. Joash Papalii: This kid could be anything and showed his potential in his first game. I will contain my excitement as he's only played one game, but if he's named again i'll be in 3rd gear all week.
     = 4/10

  Now the other established recruits;

  1. Jack Williams: I am absolutely loving this guy. He works hard, can play front row and an edge, he's fast, has a awesome step and gives his absolute best. When I look at what he's doing vs who we gave up in RCG or Ofa, it's a significant improvement.
     = 9/10
  2. Dylan Walker: I can't remember having a mid-season recruit having such a positive impact to our attack so quickly. The way he has been able to unlock Iongi and our halves has been super impressive. It's clear he's a smart play maker with a sharp footy IQ. He has been a surprisingly incredible buy that took me by surprise.
     = 9/10
  3. Dean Hawkins: How good is it having a decent backup half for once??!! His last game was supurb, give him more time in the jersey and he coud be the one partnering Mitch or even taking over him when he retires. He's played less than 5 games and outplayed Luke Brooks 😂 I don't think I even noticed Jake Arthur out there last week. Massive difference.
     = 6/10
  4. JAC: Icing off our left-hand attacks really well, could be doing a lot better if he had a decent centre inside him that can pass quickly. Russell is blowing a few chances by not getting it to him. His dickhead factor is actually low too.
     = 7/10

  Honestly, when we were looking at a new coach all I wanted was to see some exciting juniors come back in through the pipeline like we had in the early and mid 2000's. It was exciting and made me even more engaged as a fan, and it's happening again.

  All in all Ryles is making some great calls where it counts. As it stands, him and the coaching staff are nailing it, I can't wait to see who else they bring in.

   
  • Eli Stephens > Clintorian May 27, 2025 at 5:07pm

    

    Great breakdown, agree with all. Just a general improvement in the other players as well 
    • 

      Clintorian > Eli Stephens May 27, 2025 at 9:27pm

      

      Yeah agree, we're on the right path.
  • 

    paul taylor > Clintorian May 27, 2025 at 5:49pm

    

    Great reply Clintorian.  Agree with it all.  The rookies are improving game by game. Loving the way our attack is headed. Fast play the balls, Going through the front door then wide on shape.  Having LONGI at fullback is exactly what we needed. GUTHO was and is still a top class fullback but he wasnt going to improve over the next few years. Our ability as a team has improved with back 3 all being class players.  All having speed and all a threat with and without the ball. 

    A great result for our club to achieve in 2025 is a top 8 finish.  WE have LONGI who hopefully becomes a 25 gamer NRL fullback. SAMRANI - transitions into a mobile edge player and KATOGI keeps improving into a ball playing edge runner who creates opportunities  for his supports.  

     If these rookies become bona fide NRL players, we have more than enough scope in salary cap to grab a marque player.