Bailey Simmonson requests release

Replies

- - - - LB > SuperEel 22 August 6, 2025 at 3:25pm
        
        Yes, his staff seem on the ride with him. Brown doesn't want another Head coach job. Wisemantal has not held a HC job really anywhere in his resume. Moa maybe would want one but not anytime soon. All good coaches that want to help and answer to Ryles.
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.
- Hell On Eels > Nightmare Off-Season August 6, 2025 at 11:08am
  
  X 3, Very well said, NOS.
  
  On face value, this is a head scratcher.
  
  The way Simo played with gutso returning from injury & said "I love the club and everyone in it" committing long-term seems to align with everything Ryles is doing.
  
  I love Ryles' Club-Culture-First ethos — you're either on the bus on not — and am behind him and the club. Also, I understood the ease the door was shown for Gutho, RCG, Sivo, Lane, Cartwright, Matto, Krakatoa. Brown being dropped. And getting rid of all the attitude-and-cap-choas a few of them caused. All of them. Except this one.
  
  The change seems to co-incide with the R20 heavy loss to the Raiders.
  
  Sure, it wasn't Simo's best game, but he didn't cost us the game. He didn't have a R19 Brown stinker. Did Ryles see something when scrawling through ten hours of that video? Did Simmo not meet a challenge Ryles set?
  
  Ryles even played Brown for a significant portion — for months after Brown decided to leave. Right until his short-lived hooker R19 distaster. So what's doing with Simo?
  
  The fact Simo was been dropped over Russell suggests Ryles isn't happy with something. To To be fair, Russell has stepped up, especially defensively.
  
  But now rookie Samrani over Simo? It suggests Ryles really isn't happy with him. Or perhaps he doesn't see him as part of the Eels' future? But then why resign him for three few years and make it out he's a big part of the future?
  
  Guymer missed 12 tackles last week. Junior made 3 critical errors in the Storm's red zone and missed 3 tackles. Russell missed 3/14 tackles (worse than Simo's 2/20 missed tackles in R20). Hopgood also hasn't been at his best. Bar Russell due to injury, they're all playing this week in firsts.
  
  Something has happened behind the scenes. Or worse.
  
  Who knows what. Perhaps, it's his agent playing games? Spitting the dummy. I want to assume it's nothing "personal" or attitude-related... But if he gets released on on some "family" compassionate grounds or something Shaun-Lane-ish-ness, I feel that's likely to be a pretense hiding something else. All things considered.
  
  If Ryles and the club agree to the alleged release, it'd be telling. But let's see how it plays out. It's not over, yet.
  
  Footnote: Simo signs for 3-years (Aug 24)
  
  Bailey said he is very excited to lock in his future over the next three years at Parramatta.
  
  "I love this Club and everybody involved in it. I feel at home here, so it was an easy decision for me to stay and work towards where I want to be and where the Club deserves to be.
  
  "I'm very grateful to the Club for sticking by me through my injury and I'm keen to give back to them and our fans with my performances over the next three years."
  
  Parramatta Eels General Manager of Football Mark O’Neill said, “Bailey is a big part of our future and we are delighted he has extended his time with the Eels.
  
  “Not only is he a valued member of the team, he has also been one of our most consistent and reliable players since he debuted for the club in 2022. He is approaching 100 NRL games and we look forward to seeing him back on the field when he recovers from his injury next season.”
  - Longfin Eel > Hell On Eels August 6, 2025 at 12:21pm
    
    His resigning last could have been the club, without much input from Ryles. Maybe Ryles is now stamping his authority, and the club has no option but to back him.
    - Hell On Eels > Longfin Eel August 6, 2025 at 12:52pm
      
      Longfin, perhaps. But Ryles has the loudest voice of anyone in the club re R&R & he was still working behind the scenes in August 2024 when Bailey was resigned for 3 years. He would've had a say. I'm almost certain of that.
  - Hugh > Hell On Eels August 6, 2025 at 3:05pm
    
    Bailey was leading the competiton in post contract meters pre injury also right?
  - LB > Hell On Eels August 6, 2025 at 3:21pm
    
    You say see if Ryles agrees to the release. They will as Ryles won't want to have to convince anyone being here.