Eels Blogs

Replies

• • • 

      Mitchy > LB August 6, 2025 at 9:21am

      And LB, that is spot on. Ryles pretty much said those words at the member forum pre-season; it should have been said years ago.
      • 

        LB > Mitchy August 6, 2025 at 9:43am

        It's Parramatta club, not the players that run it. I do not want to go down the bashing BA route as this was not all his fault, but that was the feel for a long time that the players walked around as if they owned the joint, all about the boys and doing it for them.

        I have said a lot over the years but will say it again, when they lost that GF i believe most would have felt bad they let the boys down not the club and fans. 

        Ryles from his first interview used the catchphrase "Parramatta people" which thankfully he has not overused as i feared he would but that is the approach we want to see. People who are here to play for Parramatta and love playing for Parramatta. Yes some will play here regardless for an opportunity but look at Joash, you can tell how much he loves playing for the club. Iongi has expressed how much he loves it here.

        Ryles has installed that and though it doesn't guarentee comps, it helps. It starts with him who you can tell loves coaching Parramatta.
        • 

          Mitchy > LB August 6, 2025 at 9:58am

          Yes, it should always be about the club first. Melbourne instilled that back in 1999. Ryles started with a clean slate at pre-season and you can who stepped up.

          The perception was the players (NRL) owned the joint as you said, and that should never be; but it also goes deeper in terms of recruitment etc. and ensuring we have youth coming through.

          The MON and co situation also appeared from the outside to be out of step with BA; all perception but that is how it appeared. Following the 22 loss we failed to recruit well.

          Some teams who lose the GF often lose it for a few years - Canberra particuraly but Ricky has them using youth now; Brisbane also appear to be still with a players approach / ex players having some influence.
• 

  Nightmare Off-Season August 6, 2025 at 9:59am

  It’s been pretty clear Ryles identified cultural, attitude, or in some cases physical (age) concerns, and the speed in which he is acting is refreshing.

   

  Every player that has been released, dropped, loaned out, you could argue has wavered in their commitment & attitude at times.

   

  Bailey Simonsson doesn’t sit in that group, however.

   

  When this team was at its worst over the past few years, when they couldn’t be bothered defending or taking hit ups, chasing line breaks, Bailey was often one of the highlights. His effort & commitment never wavered.

   

  Regardless of the scoreline, and regardless of it being the 1st or 79th minute.

   

  When a player tops run metres in his first game back from an ACL, that speaks volumes. These are the players who help build culture, ones who fight on knowing they have already lost, we didn’t have many of them in 2023 / 2024.

   

  If Simo has asked for a release for personal reasons, fair enough, if its a mutual agreement as a player swap, fair enough.

   

  However, if Simo has asked for a release because he’s fallen behind Russell & now Samrani, then that’s understandable, imo. I’d be doing the same thing. Its disrespectful to what Simo has given over years, not over a matter of 2-3 weeks.

   

  A lot posting that Simo is not elite, no great loss, can someone point me towards the elite centre at the club? Personally feel centre continues to be a massive achilles heel for this team, and our depth isn’t great in that position.

   

  Improving defensively is great & it’s another area that Ryles has identified and acted on. 

   

  But, you also need to score points to win games. Centre is vital in defensive structures but its also vital in producing points from space & opportunities created. 

   

  Obviously we need more information, and not questioning Ryles who obviously knows what he is doing, but on face value, don’t really like this one at all.

   

  Lets hope an actual signing to replace Bailey is imminent & this all makes a little more sense.

   

   
  • 

    HH - Love You Iongi Time! > Nightmare Off-Season August 6, 2025 at 10:17am

    Everything you have said I wholeheartedly agree with NOS.

    It's sad to see him go, and yes, let's hope something is in the pipeline to soften his departure. 
    • 

      Nightmare Off-Season > HH - Love You Iongi Time! August 6, 2025 at 10:48am

      Likewise, HH.

      Great posts on this blog - including the one swallow summer haha...

      Like you, I'm disappointed by this one.
  • 

    christeel > Nightmare Off-Season August 6, 2025 at 10:54am

    x 2  nos , par from  injuries  imo , simmo  was about to hit peak form , one could  also  see his efforts  from throwing gym   weights  to bolster  his role and  commitments.  Just got to hope samrani  takes the opportunity with both hands  ,  especially in defence.