EELS FANS STOP WHINGING

Bup, Brilliant response, as always.

It's really harsh to conflate Bennett's personal story with Ryles though. I'm assuming you aren't, right? Ryles appears to be a devoted husband, and family man with kids. Legendary barbecues and all.

I’m not convinced, unlike many fans, Ryles is betraying the badge here. He’s fighting to keep the club moving forward to improve. Even if the steps aren’t perfect.

Playing for the badge has never just been about where a bloke comes from or how long he’s with the club. It’s about how he shows up when it matters. It’s heart and character. More than tenure or postcode.

Every new face this season — Fox, Walker, Lomax, Papali’i, Kautoga, Williams, Samrani, Hawkins, Volkman — had to pass Ryles’ character test, fit and earn that trust over twelve months. Assuming the deal doesn't fall over, Pezet will have to as well, even if it’s only for a year. Ryles has shown he has no fear to drop players regardless of name, rank, contract length, reputation. He's not compromising the badge. But, he's also not rigidly fixated on an ideology beyond essential principles.

Dylan Brown earned Ryles’ respect despite having nine or ten months left at the Eels. For all the noise, he stayed when he could’ve walked mid-year and was willing to play wherever Ryles wanted. He wasn’t benched for most of the year as claimed. He played 19 of 24 games. That’s more game time than 2019, 2020, 2023.

Let’s be frank. Fans will always be miffed. Fans were miffed about those signings, R&R, and still are. Mainly because there wasn’t a “big name” apart from Lomax. It’s just that Pezet has miffed them more than usual, especially after missing out on Galvin whom the Dogs had planned out for close to two years. Pezet is not the same.

Pezet is not a missed long-term recruit. He was a short-term opportunity seized upon. Walker and Fox were to. To fill weak-links as a stop-gap.

Despite what fans assume (and what I thought initially too), we knew Pezet was never going to be a long-term signing. Not with us, not with the Storm. His path to the seven jersey is blocked. How the heck is he going to sign long-term sitting behing Moses or Hughes when he can find plenty of other options to play seven at NRL level? That’s why he activated his get-out clause at the Storm. Ryles’ close relationship with Pezet was a factor in this deal. We got him at a good price, and the likes of Joash and other upcoming juniors in our pathways remain very much in the club’s future plans.

The other part of this is that the tail can’t wag the dog. You can’t have players or fans dictating what the club does, even though both are vital parts of its identity. You wouldn’t let clients or employees dictate your company’s ethos and run your organisation, would you?

Every key stakeholder inside the walls seems to be pulling the same way now after the BA era. Ryles, the CEO, the GM, the board. Ryles has said it himself. It’s not tokenism. As long as that continues, I have hope. If that erodes, it's game over. That's why noise can't be allowed to sway them.

Rylesy will make mistakes. Guaranteed. Maybe Pezet will be one. But I’d rather a coach who’s bold and passionate. The way Ryles bangs the coaching box window speaks to that. R&R decisions speak to that. His down-to-earth openness reflects that.

Give me a coach who adapts, learns, and fights for the club’s future, who seizes opportunities, over one who hides behind ideals and slogans. One who is bold and adapts, even when it’s wildly unpopular with fans.

Don't worry about miffed fans. If we start winning and playing well fans will come around. Temporarily. Until the next loss, big-name not signed, missed recruit or drama. Life and human nature.

"Doorey is not going to be a starter for us or even on the bench when are at full strength. He knows that too. So of course he will test the market to see if he can get a spot in a teams first choice nrl side. We got plenty of junior forwards coming…"

Replies

- - - Randy Handlinger > Bup October 24, 2025 at 12:50pm
      
      Insightful comment Bup.I hadn't properly connected those dots
      
      I have some first-person stories re wayne's family that would utterly prevent me buying into Wayne's "ethos"
    - Hell On Eels > Bup October 24, 2025 at 2:16pm
      
      Bup, Brilliant response, as always.
      
      It's really harsh to conflate Bennett's personal story with Ryles though. I'm assuming you aren't, right? Ryles appears to be a devoted husband, and family man with kids. Legendary barbecues and all.
      
      I’m not convinced, unlike many fans, Ryles is betraying the badge here. He’s fighting to keep the club moving forward to improve. Even if the steps aren’t perfect.
      
      Playing for the badge has never just been about where a bloke comes from or how long he’s with the club. It’s about how he shows up when it matters. It’s heart and character. More than tenure or postcode.
      
      Every new face this season — Fox, Walker, Lomax, Papali’i, Kautoga, Williams, Samrani, Hawkins, Volkman — had to pass Ryles’ character test, fit and earn that trust over twelve months. Assuming the deal doesn't fall over, Pezet will have to as well, even if it’s only for a year. Ryles has shown he has no fear to drop players regardless of name, rank, contract length, reputation. He's not compromising the badge. But, he's also not rigidly fixated on an ideology beyond essential principles.
      
      Dylan Brown earned Ryles’ respect despite having nine or ten months left at the Eels. For all the noise, he stayed when he could’ve walked mid-year and was willing to play wherever Ryles wanted. He wasn’t benched for most of the year as claimed. He played 19 of 24 games. That’s more game time than 2019, 2020, 2023.
      
      Let’s be frank. Fans will always be miffed. Fans were miffed about those signings, R&R, and still are. Mainly because there wasn’t a “big name” apart from Lomax. It’s just that Pezet has miffed them more than usual, especially after missing out on Galvin whom the Dogs had planned out for close to two years. Pezet is not the same.
      
      Pezet is not a missed long-term recruit. He was a short-term opportunity seized upon. Walker and Fox were to. To fill weak-links as a stop-gap.
      
      Despite what fans assume (and what I thought initially too), we knew Pezet was never going to be a long-term signing. Not with us, not with the Storm. His path to the seven jersey is blocked. How the heck is he going to sign long-term sitting behing Moses or Hughes when he can find plenty of other options to play seven at NRL level? That’s why he activated his get-out clause at the Storm. Ryles’ close relationship with Pezet was a factor in this deal. We got him at a good price, and the likes of Joash and other upcoming juniors in our pathways remain very much in the club’s future plans.
      
      The other part of this is that the tail can’t wag the dog. You can’t have players or fans dictating what the club does, even though both are vital parts of its identity. You wouldn’t let clients or employees dictate your company’s ethos and run your organisation, would you?
      
      Every key stakeholder inside the walls seems to be pulling the same way now after the BA era. Ryles, the CEO, the GM, the board. Ryles has said it himself. It’s not tokenism. As long as that continues, I have hope. If that erodes, it's game over. That's why noise can't be allowed to sway them.
      
      Rylesy will make mistakes. Guaranteed. Maybe Pezet will be one. But I’d rather a coach who’s bold and passionate. The way Ryles bangs the coaching box window speaks to that. R&R decisions speak to that. His down-to-earth openness reflects that.
      
      Give me a coach who adapts, learns, and fights for the club’s future, who seizes opportunities, over one who hides behind ideals and slogans. One who is bold and adapts, even when it’s wildly unpopular with fans.
      
      Don't worry about miffed fans. If we start winning and playing well fans will come around. Temporarily. Until the next loss, big-name not signed, missed recruit or drama. Life and human nature.
macybrown October 24, 2025 at 11:32am

Parra fans have every right to be pissed over this actual deal no matter how much Braiths mates try tell us otherwise!
Any case, hope he fits straight into his 6 role and Moses and him gel and that he can sit back and let Moses be the boss. Hope this doesn't work out as wrong as dogs Galvin buy did , a dead set 6 trying hard to be a leading 7 viseversa ha! funny that master coach Bellamy never thought of slipping him in at 6...

🤞Parra have got this right and the deal very much to suit the player was very very cheap!

Pezet don't let our JR down ! Lots of pressure on all in this deal, Im sure crowd will come after you if you do 🫤
Cumberland Eel October 24, 2025 at 11:43am

They can say all they want but in my opinion it's a really dumb idea. Actually stupid idea. I don't see the point in having a player on a 'speed bump' contract! It's not going to benefit Joash Papali or the Eels team as a whole. They get used to playing together with Pezet for a season then he's off to the broncos
- BEM > Cumberland Eel October 24, 2025 at 2:20pm
  
  100% correct.
  
  If anything, this sets us back another year but as it's been 40 years already, I guess another year won't hurt.
  
  There's always the year after or the year after that or the year after that.....................etc

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