Parramatta have launched discussions with the Gold Coast to sign strike centre Brian Kelly for the 2026 season.
In the wake of star winger Zac Lomax’s sudden exit from the NRL club’s roster after just 12-months at the club, the Eels are aiming to restock their stretched backline and it’s Kelly who has emerged as a genuine target.
The Eels, Titans and Kelly’s management are in the process of thrashing out the financial aspect of any potential release of the 29-year-old, who is contracted in 2026 to the Gold Coast.
Kelly and his management have been informed by the Titans that the Indigenous All Stars representative won’t be re-signed beyond 2026, prompting serious thought to prolonging his career for 2026 and 2027 at the Eels.
https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/eels-in-talks-with-gold-coast-titans-over-zac-lomax-replacement/news-story/2abfa2e37971b2db2b9db8d58b3e47b7?using_ew=false&using_ew_noesi=false&fbclid=IwY2xjawOfF7VleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFKc3RUTUFPeEpEZUxjN1A5c3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHgPwojjIGnzFPQQ99dpzxbCykc8wzAGNZxn2mAH5aVZ2m68OCVWrn02zTSDX_aem_dfGMxwaigU4dJ8dLNjWkAg
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lol, MON aiming for the stars. I'm sure the bookies have shut down the betting on the 2026 premiership until they know more about Brian's destination.
So, it is MON and Ryles has nothing to do?
To some yep. If we sign Koloamatangi it will be Ryles who did it.
What is your take on it Wild Eels.
Do you think Ryles is identifying talented 1st choice targets in the first place.
Who do you think is missing the "close the deal" aspect of recruitment.
I have to say that if the Eels as a club don't sign Ryles 1st choice or his second choice , 3rd and 4th etc at what point do we look at why and who is lacking in the negotiation process. Surely you can see there may be a problem in this area.
'How do we do better and actually sign Ryles first choice talent picks.
Bluey, you said not getting the big "Hollywood" names didn't worry you. It was more losing "first choices" or "second" etc. So, I'm trying to get a grasp of this idea. Is it anyone we are interested in? Talk to? Or specifically offer a contract to? Obviously, each step has increasing levels of time, cost and investment.
For example we talked to NAS, had genuine interest, along with six or seven clubs, but NAS was up in the air with his future, so we didn't write up a contract to nut out. Would NAS pass as "first choice"?
PS: It's a slogan Coryn is also big on. Very regularly. That is, Ryles is our second or third choice because as some point in time we were interested in Bennett or Bellamy (because who'd be interested, right?). I mean the Storm want to keep Bellamy as long as possible. So, following that logical any coach after him is their second choice at best. Mind you, when it was reported by media we "passed on Bennett" this site went into nuclear meltdown. Then, when it was known we went after him, we were still dopes. Not interested, dopes. Interested, dopes.
Very good question HOE.
It wasnt meant " as not getting Hollywood names didn't worry me. ". It was more that I'm not worried who Ryles first choice is, I trust that judgement in what he needs. Hollywood player type or not. My concern is foremost whomever Ryles first choice 2nd, 3rd etc is, we shouldn't be missing out on them continuously. What are we missing, what are we not addressing when closing a targeted player.
On whom qualifies as a first or second target is a great question. Is Nelson regarded a first choice target. mmmmmmm if we want to follow the news, scuttlebutt, mainstream media or ask Ai with whom we have made recent inquires, overtures or plays for.
The slogan part is a bit condescending and alarming a bit for me, when as a supporter you hold real genuine concerns over this aspect of the recruitment process and try continuosly to have that addressed and acknowledged by discussing it. I suppose by referring to it numerous times, to different people in blogs it may come accross as just a slogan. If that's the case then we probably have no hope of this area of concern being reviewed by the club, If my concern or message is being downgraded to just a slogan, then I feel we are missing our audience, if it's only seen as a slogan.
Im not sure i have ever used the word dope or dopes to describe someone here either. I can't talk for what everyone says that has similar ideas. I understand it's easy to throw them all into one basket and think they are all the same. I'm not sure if that's the real case though. We may all have similar concerns and express them differently or our concerns may be slightly different to each other with a common theme. Either way it is what it is.
Which ever way we want to quantify 1st or second,3rd choice etc. From the group above we have signed none of them, after allegedly attempting to. Now times that by how ever many other players in other positions and a trend develops that i feel needs to be reviewed at Eels Management.
Just how I feel as an absolute nobody, that supports the Eels.
Your intentions are noble, Bluey, yet I'm not sure about it all. Is having a chat or coffee with NAS (like 6–7 clubs) to get an idea of where he's at a failure worthy of making that Black-List? Could we hypnotize NAS into the NRL?
It's also slippery slope to draw concrete conclusions and make a Black-List off media allegations, which are often hit-and-miss. I'm not even 100% sure Ryles or the club are all that keen to spend almost $1m on Keon that the media are reporting we are hot for.
Galvin should make it on your Black-List. Although he was more of an "opportunity" that arose than a premediated "first choice" hitlist. We obviously went hard for him, and the Dogs were caught by surprise when he paused for some time to think and consider it. If we were in a premiership window, we probably would've nabbed him. It is what it is.
I suspect the club is focusing and investing more on realistic targets and smart buys; and leaving the powder dry for mid-season opportunities. Pretending we are the sugar-daddied Broncos, Roosters, Dogs, or Souths is a bit of wishful thinking. And even they lose out sometimes. All clubs do. Like the Panthers, who lose star after star, despite all their success, we need to be cap-diligent and do it the hard way; inside out. Reality.
PS: I've got no issues with people continually using the same ... ahhh... words... phrases. I like to question ideas though; apologies for any offence. Personally, I think slogans, mantras, catchphrases or buzzwords or whatever semantics we want to use are quite powerful weapons. Nothing wrong with wanting to improve the quality of recruitment, and that would be an continual objective of the club. I feel it's improved in the Ryles era. But also what's your suggestion actually? Just venting problems? Mass Sackings, Tigers style? Matt Cameron? Richo, the -crocodile roll? Or just "there needs to be an investigation?"
Wonder who that rep quality Back-Rower that journo said we had signed or were close to signing.
If I'm honest I've almost given up on the club landing the elite talent mentioned especially your Tino Keon types.
Sugar coat the Galvin and Bennett chases all you like that's a telling sign when a club the size of Parra can't attract that 1st tierd guys like this available.Sure we took a swing and came up short but for me there warning signs.
In saying this I can get onboard with a Kelly type I think we are that desperate for outside back talent and experience defending on the edge anything looks better than what we are doing now.I almost find this as funny actually as I've mentioned this about 3 years ago targeting GC as they were deep depth wise in back 5 talent.Maybe now Kelly is older on the outer they'll happily release him now.Kelly's no star more so a journeyman looking for an opportunity but I think he's about what we are capable of landing and is a good fit.
Me I've said this for many a year get out of Sydney and start looking further afield.There's a shitload of talent coming through first 15 rugby in NZ and if Im struggling to recruit and with expansion upon us that's where Im targeting going all in and just continue to get the 2nd and 3rd tierd guys potentially available to us.
This rebuild is going to be a slow burn we really need to be winning in every area off the park that's even more key and like upgrading talent on the field if anyone off the field with premiership building experience we should be looking to upgrade there too.IMO recruitment is all encompassing we are looking for best in class across the board.
Umm I've always said it's primarily the recruiting teams job , even when Arthur had the reigns. Yeah you have the examples where coach will pursue players , but ultimately the coach advises , maybe through existing relationships or in our case the coach losing confidence in the recruitment team , but the coach will advise the position , style and attribute of a player needed and the recruitment teams job is to find someone they think fits the bill with the money they wish to ( or in our case seemingly afford to ) chase .
otherwise why have a recruiting team ? Seems odd to have a mechanic and the driver builds the engine ....
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