Eels Blogs

Let's not kid ourselves, Brown is a loss. Is he top 5? No, potential he is but he is better with a capable 7. Brown is a good footballer, he is talented. Moses is a better player with him too. Difference is Moses can do it without Brown, not vice versa. Though the offer was so absurd that he had to take it, we all would have let's be fair. But now let's have a look at some options Ryles and co. could look into for 2026 onwards.

Market:

Adam Doueihi: The mixture of both affordable and somewhat experienced. Doueihi is a fearless player though comes with a past of injuries, to the point of one more serious injury could end his career. Would Doueihi be a bad play for Parramatta? Depends. If Parramatta have a player in lower grades that is not quite ready, Doueihi can be a nice placeholder for time being. I am not sure Ryles is that patient as he would want to see the team get to 2026 to 2027 ready to compete. Doueihi has a boot on him and can play Halfback as well, he is not one dimensional as a Half. Not a bad signing but club should strive higher.

Te Maire Martin: At this stage is not getting a look in at the Warriors. He is 30 this year, just shy of 100 NRL games. Similar to Doueihi in that could be a nice bridge Five-Eighth, but i feel a better option for Moses as he is a bit more conservative. Martin has played in a GF and played for NZ. He has big game experience. Should we strive higher if going to market? Sure, but Martin is a nice 1-2 year option.

Sean O'Sullivan: Definition of journeyman. O'Sullivan has never been able to find a home, could it be time now? He can play both 6 & 7, has some NRL experience and has talent. But consistentcy is his issue. Could be an alright cheap option but if we go O'Sullivan better off going with an internal option.

Jake Clifford: More of a 7, lost the Halfback role to rookie Tom Duffy and is at a crossroads after an unsuccessful stint in NQ at first, then Newcastle and was fine in SL. Was seen as the replacement for Townsend and lost the role. He is a better back-up option than starter. 

Blake Taaffe: More of a Fullback, young and could be a 6. Size could be an issue. Better options but he is available.

Brad Schneider: Was on the bench for the GF, didn't get on though. He is a systematic Halfback, could play 6 with a great Halfback. Though, as seen with Cogger, is it the player or the system that makes these players look half decent? Schneider is worth while more as a 7 though.

Bevan French: I mean a simple call of homesickness can get him back, but is it what we should do? SL is perfect for him, where speed triumphs. In NRL you need more than just speed. French in front line of defence i am not sure about either. Honestly, i feel the time for him to return has sailed and seeing out his days earning good coin in SL would be better for him, he is more suited to the SL.

Lachlan Galvin: The most popular name, not only here but in the media. More so due to being a Parramatta junior. The old regime who cut him are not gone, could that mean forgiveness from a boy with a broken heart of how he his dream club shafted him? That was my belief he wouldn't but he could. If he does and we snag him could be one of the biggest signings this club made since Kieran Foran. Galvin would be the perfect foil for Ryles and his young Eels that he is building. He is a star in the making and is worth the plunge. The kid will play Origin, he is unfazed by pressure and loves football.

Internal Options: 

Dean Hawkins: Could he play 6 full-time? He played a bit in lower grades. But he is another example of a player that will be a stop gap. Hawkins is a decent stop gap, he can organise but he is not flash. Could a steady 6 be all Moses needs? Unlikely, he is better off being the back-up in 2026.

Ronald Volkman: He is raw, as apparent to Round 1. His skill sets also are more friendly to being a 6 more than a 7. Could Volkman be the future 6 for Parramatta? I think he is an option, give him a full year in Cup and can get ready for 2026. His erraticness needs to calm but Moses can help that. Volkman has a nice skill set, nice pass and can run, fine tuning his kicking is needed. But Volkman is still young enough to get better and fulfill his potential. He will be cheap also.

Joash Papali'i: Could Ryles make him into a Five-Eighth? He could get by with his running and passing. One issue is his size. I am not sure he will last in the front line of defence, he is a Fullback by trade and would need a full season in Cup to last in NRL. Ryles would like to find a spot for Papali'i, but with Iongi showing he could be the real deal and Smith being 14, his chances are limited at this stage. Could Five-Eighth be his chance?

Apa Twidle: Got a taste in pre-season and showed his class. He is playing Fullback in Flegg and reckon he will get a Cup debut soon. But i hope he plays 6 in Flegg and Cup as i see him as a real option to replace Brown. Twidle if anything is more suited to the 14 spot than Papali'i would be. He can play Fullback, Centre, Five-Eighth and is a big enough body to fill in at Lock. He has a nice touch on his passes and nice timing, his time as a Fullback has assisted his skills but he was scouted as a Five-Eighth, should be one that is considered Brown's replacement.

Josh Lynn: Bit of a forgotten man but a man of talent. Lynn was always behind the scenes of the likes of Sanders and Talagi, then Twidle but when he got his chance in preseason against a 2nd string Newcastle outfit, Lynn held his own very well. He looked very comfortable and that is a positive to show he could do ok with a step up.

Lincoln Fletcher: He is nowhere near ready and wont be ready in 2026. Not until 2027 to 2028 at least before he is comfortable in the NRL. But could he be one to bridge towards? Maybe. But he is more a Moses replacement than anything. We haven't got time to bridge for 2-3 years. 

Overall, i am not as hurt with Brown decision as i was say Mahoney when he signed with Dogs. I am more so happy to move on. We know now Ryles is willing to go through the ringa to develop a team based around junior talent. Brown now allows him to move things around, use the coin to improve our forwards. Brown could have never truly gotten over BA leaving and being at Parramatta. I mean we are human and people can hold that close to them. Many have reacted saying now Moses will leave, i highly doubt that now. Some even saying we are getting numerous spoons. Again we have what Tigers didn't, Moses. Yes they had Koroisau but Moses is more impactful. 

Would Ryles want to keep Brown? Of course, but asking for a mil or more Ryles would have said no way. Particularly for a 6 that is nowhere near as thretening as Munster, Luai, Dearden and even Galvin. He is a great player, but he would have been perfect for the Roosters alongside Walker, he had a 7 who can run things and he plays what he sees. I do not blame him for taking the coin, but i am not to disheartened as he has frustrated me a lot over the years and Ryles would be ok too as he can choose his new 6 to develop.