Eels Blogs

Replies

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          MeelK > Anguillidae March 12, 2026 at 4:09pm

          Sorry, I meant talent wise, not geographically lol
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        LB > MeelK March 12, 2026 at 1:04pm

        If Brisbane matched it, he goes to Brisbane as that's his preference all along. Play with Madge and win a comp.
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    Mallee57 > Muttman March 12, 2026 at 5:12pm

    It might be the fact that some people don't like the idea of living in Sydney and has nothing to do with the Eels recruitment. I mean seriously who really wants to live in Sydney? I left the place in the 80's and never went back. 
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      LB > Mallee57 March 12, 2026 at 5:49pm

      He went to Brisbane due to Madge relationship and they are in a prem window. He didn't go there to live somewhere amazing. That would be a bonus.

      He wants a chance to win a comp.
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        Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > LB March 12, 2026 at 6:06pm

        Plus the eels just go their asses kicked so that would have tipped the odds in broncos favour 
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  Snottie Pimpin March 12, 2026 at 12:18pm

  

  Its up to the club to turn itself around on the field. We were heading in the right direction with a blip last week.

  If you want in demand players when you havent proven youre a compeitiive side week to week you have to pay huge overs. Simple as that.  If we get into bidding wars with top 6 teams we have to blow them out of the water which we're not prepared to do. If you want to go about it the way we are which is not blowing the budget or comprisiming the future then the signings have to be really smart to get us into the top 6 or so where sides are more attractive.  I heard Ryles and the crew speaking about how theyd be willing to pay up for a marquee player who is a player who can come in and influence results straight away... Parra isn't getting one of them without breaking the bank.  Its so important the on field upward trend continues this year with good coaching and development.   Top 8 is a must with this recruitment strategy imo. 
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    iamnot > Snottie Pimpin March 12, 2026 at 12:48pm

    

    Snottie, you've hit the nail on the head. 

    Barnett is probably signing the last contract of his career, and he's never won a comp. His choices are the defending premiers, who get all the advantages in the world to stay successful, or Parramatta. 

    We've got to do what Penrith did from 2018 and keep investing massively into local talent and retain the crop of them. 

    Also, there is something seriously wrong with Mark O'Neill. Let's break the bank and prize Frank Ponissi out of Melbourne, or someone like him. O'Neill has too many failures on his report card to continue in the role and there doesn't appear to be any strategic direction when it comes to signing stablished players from elsewhere, other than, as others havbe pointed out, going for the ones no other clubs want or have had issues in the past.  
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  Prof. Daz March 12, 2026 at 12:33pm

  So the Eels missed out on Barnett, and Keon K and Haas before him. Just how much of a tragedy those missed opportunities will be might be determined by what happens with the Eels' current prop protégés Tuivati and T. Brown? 
  Even though the Eels were rolled through the middle vs Storm, I still think the Eels' big hole in R&R is the threadbare nature of their outside back threats. 
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  Joel K March 12, 2026 at 12:38pm

  It would've been a poor signing but the fact Mark O'Neil couldn't get another signing over the line is poor

  When is he going to get sacked?
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    LB > Joel K March 12, 2026 at 12:47pm

    Yep Joel, I agree that the signing was a big risk, 3 years showed our desperation and he didn't even entertain it, it was always Brisbane.

    There is something happening from beginning negotiations to signing on dotted line that players do not like. If it is performance, well Keaon didn't think so. Ryles? Galvin loved him. Facilities? Voted 2nd best in comp by players. 
    
    

    MON and Rogers need to be looked at. Knowing our luck they sack MON and hire Rogers.