NRL legend Cooper Cronk shared his insights on the Parramatta Eels in The NRL Podcast (Episode 2, 19/11) alongside Blocker Roach, involving ample disagreement. The relevent sections are between the 19th to 26th minute.
On Ryles and Lomax
It wasn't so long ago the Eels were accused of nepotism, moving slower than icebergs and lacking balls. Now, some fans might criticise them for being too bold and too ballsy. Lomax’s immediate release was confirmed on Sunday (16 Nov), follows the huge caravan of players that have been shown the door since Ryles arrived at the club.
"You got to tip your cap to Jason Ryles" Cronk said.
"First year coach last year. Arrived at Paramata Eels. And when you're sort of making decisions based on your own career, you're probably going to keep some players and say I need to win some games."
"He got rid of Clint Gutherson, RCG (Sivo et al). Got smashed by Melbourne in the first round. You didn't win a couple for a while. Bought in some other players that it was his choosing. Started getting some consistency. Mitch Moses came back in the side."
"I feel like this [Lomax] is another call from Jason Ryles."
"Well, Zach, if you want to leave, if you're not buying into what we're doing, see you later."
"Because Jason Ryles has made some really strong decisions that you could argue have put Paramata a couple of steps backwards, but are definitely going in the right direction, particularly the way they played at the back end of last year."
"If anyone had have thought their start of the year would have been completely different at the back end of the year, you would have been hard to say that they would have improved after what they do at the start of the year."
The Eels and Ryles copped plenty of heavy criticism for letting go of the likes of Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard, despite clearing up a large portion of salary cap space. And it wasn't looking like it would pay off when the Eels were 16th (second last) mid-season at round 15 with bottom four defence and attack.
"He chose to set a culture with good characters, good leaders, and I think this is a decision around Zach as well because he's happy to let Zach move on and reshape their roster a little bit."
Why Culture Matters
No-one is sure of Lomax's next move. Perhaps not even Lomax or his agent, who now suggests Lomax needs to use another agent or lawyer if he goes to R360. But there are plenty of other options. French Rugby. Boxing. Wrestling. Probably dozens of other sports he could try.
"He could do [any sport he sets his mind to]." Cronk noted.
"That's the kind of guy Zach is. And maybe that's the type of guy that Jason Ryles doesn't want in his his team because every team rocks up in the first week of November prepare preparing for next year."
"The difference between the Broncos and the team that finishes last is how much you want it, how much performance you can give and what the culture is like. They are three key parts to a premiership winning team."
Ivan Cleary is another poster boy for culture with his "On The Bus" mantra and commitment to the cause: club, team and community. Panthers would not have achieved what they have without it. Systems and a champion team will more often than not trump talent and a team of champions.
And that's where Lomax's mindset doesn't align.
Lomax loved the fight game, boxing and wrestling. He trained with Volk (above).
Lomax's cross-sporting-hopping desires are not new.
“It’s like when people are a professional in one sport, then they go and do another one and love it because they feel themselves getting better," said Lomax back in May foreshadowing what was to come.
"That’s me."
Interestingly, his goal-kicking dropped off from 83% to 63% from mid-season, round 16 when R360 talks began. His goalkicking also dropped to its career lowest in 2023, along with his form then, when he was having off-field issues.
Separating off-field from the on-field is not completely possible. But maybe after being released from his last two contract in less than two years, he may find his true calling.
On Pezet: A point of difference, helping Moses
Cronk was for the Pezet signing seeing it a win-win for everyone, while Blocker was strongly against it.
“It’s a bit of a quick fix for them, coming in for a year... I don’t get it,” Roach said. Oddly enough, Blocker "loved" the Harry Grant one-year deal at his former club, the Tigers, describing Grant as a "unbelievable" addition and their "best player."
“I like it...through the Broncos lens, through Jonah’s lens, through Parramatta’s lens," Cronk said.
“Pezet is your five-eighth and through his development will learn a lot off Mitch."
"Remember, he was only available [at six] for the 12 month period. Maybe Ryles has a trick up his sleeve after Jonah Pezet."
"There’s one thing I think that this combination can bring, and I think Moses and Pezet work well."
“I think Mitch needs a point of difference, because at the moment wherever the ball goes, Mitch goes and he can be shut down. He’ll [Pezet] call the ball on the other side of the ruck."
“I like it, I like this deal.”
Recruitment: They Need Middles
Cronk and Blocker were split on Nelson Asofa-Solomona. Roach thought he was perfect, while Cronk expressed doubts.
“Obviously, Nelson is one of the names he’s going after, Koloamatangi..." Cronk said.
"I think one of the things Parramatta needed to fix, particularly at the back of Arthur [era] is they needed some mobile leg speed middle forwards."
“Junior Paulo had a really good year (2025), to drop some weight, get fit and played really well for Samoa."
"Dylan Walker was also a point of difference when he came across from the Warriors."
“Nelson is a big body. He's an intimidating person in our game. But I think there needs to be a good balance in their forward pack."
"Yes, you're probably going to find some athetic outside backs that can fill Zac's spot."
"But I think they just need some physicality and leg speed to compliment whatever you’ve got there in the middle of the field.”
On making the top-eight
Cronk was on the fence: "I think they're on the edge. I think they may sit around that eight to ten mark, seven to ten mark."
"The biggest key to whether they finish in the top eight or not is Mitch Moses' health."
The bookies agree with Cooper Cronk. Despite losing Lomax the bookies odds keep shortening slowly.
Sportsbet has them currently at $21 (8th). After Pezet signed they paid $21 (10th). Mid-October, before Pezet signed they were $26 (11th-12th).
Replies
I'm here nor there with the Pezet signing if we go good with him it's like getting knifed in the back he's off regardless and we have to start again at the spot in 27.If he doesn't and he gets hurt whatever the same as above applies we start again at the spot in 27.
We are relying so heavily on our juniors here so for me we are still influx at the position and our back up plan is the open market which will be flooded with expansion teams.For me it's not a good spot to be in leaving a hole like we have in our spine.
The only way out for our squad is who we promote and we 💯 % need to be developing at the upper levels in the development stakes finding a Casey Maclean types would be great at the moment we are relying on the Russell Guymer Penisini types not bad mind you but not great either middling.We really need the guys given a shot last year to step up again if we are really to be a threat in the 26 season.
Gus has been sorting his spine since 21'. Five years. We've almost sorted ours in a year or so. JR isn't blind: he's looking for a long-term six. Right now.
Who? Lorenzo, Pap, Risati, a recruit. Not sure. I love Paps. Hope he stays. But Risati seems to have the most upside of everyone if he lives up to his potential: size, ok running game, kicking game, footy nous, goal-kicking. Could be a unique combo with Moses/Fletcher.
Pezet gives us depth we need after Hawkins found his top-tier opportunity to become more than "depth". At 26-27 can't blame him. Look at the Panthers: their depth options are a revolving door. Just not sure what we expect. Pity we weren't quite a fit with Pezet but Broncos are his best option of any club.
Gus knows what and how to build a club and win premierships our lot don't.Sure Gus has been sorting his spine out but ever since Gus has been onboard he's rejuvenated and turned them round when the last muppet show they had running it didn't have a clue.
Look at how he handled there head coaching search one shot one kill precise no mucking around no palava in the media.Nailed his man .Galvin while the media tell you how serious we were our crew looking confident nek minute long term deal with the Dogs.
Gus is a really bad comparison when comparing situations he's light years ahead of us when it comes to building a club from the bottom up across the board.
Whose our Matt Cameron see this is what we haven't got we can throw whatever strategy we like at how we go about it you need someone credible who knows every part of the business of winning a comp.I disagree riff are coach centric.Jobs to big for a head coach to run what's below him the FG side is his job I'd very much doubt Cleary has much to do with that bar popping his head in the door.
The support network behind the scenes is key it doesn't get spoken highly enough about I have zero idea how good at these departments we are but I'm going out on a limb and say we are years behind the mentioned.Chipping a way is a good analogy though but it does put into context the hill we have to climb.
Would you be surprised in 5 years time if we are having a similar conversation.
I'll find the Matt Cameron quote where he admits they rely on Ivan Cleary's footy strategies as the foundation. It was a while ago. You probably forgot.
Many HCs are becoming more like PL head managers (Pep or Ferguson) than pure coaches. The assistant coaches probably spend more time on pure coaching, while head coaches do a lot more management stuff and involvement with the powerbrockers at the club which encroaches on their time. They only have 24/7.
The head coach has a pretty big say in a lot of matters for a lot of clubs. It's not just ours. Until they get sacked.
Do you honestly think Matt Cameron or Shane Elford (is he still their GM?) tell Ivan Cleary what kind of team he wants or is going to drive the footy strategy? Or Darren Mooney (GM) with Craig Fitgibbon? I doubt even Matt Ellison (HOF) at the Bunnies will tell Bennett what kind of team Bennett should have. The reason MON cops flake from us (less so from the RL community who respect him more) is because people know him and he's been here since late 18' Gurr hired.
Don't forget Fitzy didn't even want Jack Gibson at the club. He was outvoted. It was Jack Gibson, not the boss, that gave the Eels' squad the edge and belief to win. To realize the potential from the mid-70s.
The clubs bigger than a first grade side I think that's the difference here there are many steps to building a club the FG side is at the end of it.
What I'm getting at here are we deep enough as a club to compete with the best across the board.I'll say it now from what I've heard Parra are at least 4-5 years away purely because of that.
CEO DoF experience is that important them and the HC like you've mentioned are important to this thing the fact none of the mentioned have any experience building or knowing how to win a comp is the clubs issue there's no hiding that hence why I wholeheartedly agree with your chipping a way comment as because in the short term here as currently constructed we aren't winning a comp.
Short of teams falling off the cliff hows JR doing this all by himself with people above him who've got No Idea.Bottom line here we aren't strong enough as a club to end this drought anytime soon.
So I'll ask again would it surprise you if in 5 years time we are having the same discussion.Does the club have the guile to stick with JR like they did BA is what interests me success regardless.If you ask me from what I've heard JR is expected to do too much by himself.
"The vision, ‘Project 2015’, was designed to future-proof the club for long-term success...the single biggest thing ... was alignment and that was talking to Ivan [Cleary] and understanding what he looks for in a player and aligning our recruitment strategies with what the head coach was looking for; aligning our developing programs with what the head coach was looking for,” Cameron told the Western Weekender, October 2024.
Mmm. That's pretty much what we do. Mmmm.
He might be heralded as the club saviour now, and I love Matt Cameron, but have a read of what our site said about Matt Cameron when he left the Eels in 2012. We were hardly in mourning. Some here called him responsible for the loss of many of our juniors and why our lower grades weren’t going so well in lower grades. Interesting how the more things change, the more they stay the same. It's like a vicious poo-party cycle. Not unlike the blame games and self-canablization we saw during the Fitzy-Spags-Sharp Dark Ages. All well-intentioned no doubt: aiming for the sky somewhere in orbit.
Of course the club is bigger than the first grade team. Ultimately, what matters now is what the club is doing right now. They're gaining traction off-field, spending the most they've ever on pathways and development, and seem to have made the right call on Ryles, fingers crossed. They're aligned up top where it matters and trust and respect each other. Even in disagreement there is a commitment to the cause. There is probably a few hidden weeds that need to be taken out of some who aren't quite on the bus. But they just need to keep going, and improve. There will be challenges ahead, and they need to remain united. If they thought like us, the club would be finished, done and dusted.
I have been highly critical of the decision and have copped a little blow back for it, let's see in 12 months time with the eels heading into the 2027 season if they don't have a definitive answer on who will be our long term 6 if the people supporting this decision will still be so positive about it.
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
-
6
of 9 Next