Eels Blogs

The club’s “New Era” catchphrase marks New Hope.

Jason Ryles' appointment as the Eels' head coach and shop front symbolizes all that along with Youthful Ambition. 

Though he won the Eels’ Hitchcockian head coach race last week, this suspense thriller has barely begun. 

There are more questions ahead than answers.

What does this new era look like? What kind of head coach will Rookie Ryles end up being as he’s learning the ropes? Who stays? Who goes? Who comes in? What about Gutho? Talagi? Who plays fullback? Who plays where? Lomax? What will his coaching team look like? What does the coaching team look like? What will happen to the Gutho-Moses-Nathan-Cleary-player- loved Trent Barrett, Ryles’ long-time mate?  What experienced help will Ryles get? What changes will occur to the football programme and club hierarchy?

For the declining NRL team sitting equal-last, at the end of round nineteen, the only way is up. Eventually.

There are also plenty of Albatrosses hanging around the Club’s neck that Ryles will face. Eventually.

Albatrosses

The Eels have the longest title drought in NRL history fast approaching 40 years.

This is associated with other themes such as being “perennial losers” , "flat track bullies" and all that jazz. The guys who will crack under pressure. When, not if.

There is also the much-talked “Elite Pathways” transition problem where the Eels win about a third of silverware in the U19 juniors since 1987 for nada results at first grade. Losing Talagi (on top of Sanders) woud symbolically be yeet another body blow to this.

The Eels with their huge fanbase and optics, are media click bait in the Sydney fishbowl.

Plenty of Eels’ fans are ready to burn the club to the ground with flaming pitchforks; such is the tribal limbic force of losing.

Roosevelt: “Comparison is the thief of Joy”

Also, it's likely Ryles will face somewhat unfair comparison against the plethora of rookies at other clubs - in this popular NRL trend.

It's a trend the Eels club has followed, once more after Kearney (2011-12) and Arthur (2014-2024).

Initially, this trend may have helped Ryles. And most of the media have been very supportive of the Rookie Way.

“I like the way clubs are giving young guys a chance, and we’re recycling through this new talent that has been waiting in the wings for a while. That’s exciting," Ryan Girdler told MMM's Saturday Scrum.

My only concern about [Rookie Ryles] going to a club like Parramatta is everyone is going to compare it to Ciraldo going to the Bulldogs. But he had Gus in an administrative role.

And I just wonder whether or not he’s [Ryles] going to have the experience to have an impact on other parts of the club…

Ryan Girdler on the MMM Saturday Scrum,13 July 2024

“It feels to me there is some work to be done at Parramatta in mending some of the other roles on the other side of the business. And I’m not just not sure whether he’s going to have the connections and experience to deal with all that," Girdler added.

If things go pear shaped over the first year or two, the ghosts of Kearney or even Arthur may come to haunt us.

What's our true identity?

Wade Graham also weighed in on the debate.

“The only worry for me is… we’ve seen a coach come out of that Melbourne system before [Kearney] trying to implement that same system at Parramatta, and it was a disaster," Wade told Girdler on MMM's Saturday Scrum.

“You just can’t do a blueprint.”

“Yes, you can take the things you like you like [from the Storm and the Roosters]…But, you need to have your own philosophy. Your own ways of doing things."

"And you need to get in touch with the fabric of that club. You need to go down Church Street. Look back to the 80s. Look back to the Sterlos and the Kennys, the legends of that club, and somehow merge that all together. And find that identity. That will be his first port of call.”

“Yes, the playing roster is in good shape, and there is going to be some changes. But, the best thing they can do is get on board with what the coach wants to do. Where his vision is. What his philosophy is. Because he’s signed for four years. So, he’s the new top dog in town.”

“If you really love the club  and you want to put the club first and have success, you need to get on board with him and help drive this change and make it a success.”

As generally top two offloaders in the game over the Arthur era, it would easy to assign us as having an attacking DNA : a team that likes to throw the ball around. Sometimes, in dazzling fashion and other times for little results - especially in the red zone and despite high possession. 

The problem is largely when we don't have the ball - all the off-the-ball work: the effort and effort on effort areas.

Right now, we lack confidence, belief, smarts, speed, and are blooding juniors partly out of necessity.

Healing Any Fractures

The Disunity Theme, hinted at by Girdler and much of the media is another potential challenge facing Ryles.

 “I think it’s crazy how … the football program is almost separated from the rest of the club. Because … the people who work on the other side, they still wear the same badge; the same branding. The Parramatta Eels is the Parramatta Eels. They have to find a way how to mend that fracture and bring them together. Jason is going to be a big part of that," Wade Graham told MM's Saturday Scrum.

“Hopefully, the Jason Ryles appointment quells all the rumours [who will go and who will stay], and that they find some unity and they find their best form, and give the Parramatta fans something to cheer for," Gus noted on Six Tackles (10/7/2024).

Mitchell Moses, however, denied such claims, saying there was no disconnect in the club.

“I don’t know where this disconnect thing has come from. It’s a bit weird," Moses told the media.

"There is no disconnect with the playing group. We’re not winning games so the media is going to come at us and everyone is going to have these stories and start these stories. All we can control is to win games, so that’s all we can try and do. We’re a close-knit group at Parra, there is no disconnect at all. The club has got our full support as a playing group, and they support us as well. There is no disconnect.”

Moses' "no one outside these four walls [players' dressing room] will help us" statement could suggest some frustration at the club.

Also, the club's statement on Ryles' appointment the club's powerbrokers seek more connection between the playing group and club and fans was high on their priorities.

"We believe Jason is the ideal person to build a strong connection within the playing group, across the Club and with the passionate Parramatta Eels fanbase," McElduff said.

A familiar sight for Eels fans in 2023-24.Winners are grinners. Losers, not so much.

The Big Questions: The Whos?

Who stays, who’s out, who’s comes in, who plays where? The first major urgent decisions will be around the coaching team, not just Baz, and the roster. All potentially make or break decisions. The club assures us that Ryles has the strongest voice, or opinion, on the R&R committee of Five.

There is uncertainty among the playing group. Last week, Gutherson admitted there could be a few taps on the shoulders, while RCG admitted he wasn’t sure if Ryles wanted him or not. If a Senior player like him doesn't know, how many in the squad would know?

Gutho has started to look older.

Next year, Paolo, RCG, Matterson, Sivo, Gutherson, Cartwright, Moses, Makatoa and Lane hit circa 31-32. Joe Ofahengaue and Joey Lussick hit circa 30. That's up to 11 from the regular starting 17, although Lussick and Makatoa seem on the outer. Moses is a given, but who else?

The last major overhaul happened after the 2018 wooden spoon from 2019 which set the foundation of the finals cycle of 2019-2022. However, practically all of that 2019 team was helped shaped, signed and delivered, by the then-CEO-GM Bernie Gurr who left in late 2018. That was right before Mark O'Neill was appointed as General Manager of Football and Sarantinos as the next CEO - to take over from Gurr.

Here's a roster summary from nrl.com signings' tracker - pending updates.

No contract for next year (10)

Charlie Guymer*, Blaize Talagi (2025 PO not taken up), Bailey Simonsson, Daejarn Asi, Makahesi Makatoa, Morgan Harper, Ofahiki Ogden, Tevita Taumoepenu, Jock Brazel, Zac Cini (potentially Castleford Tigers SL bound).

*Guymer allegedly has a development deal, so may be untouchable until next year.

Free Agent November 1st (14)

Clint Gutherson, J’maine Hopgood, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Joe Ofahengaue, Bryce Cartwright, Brendan Hands,  Joey Lussick, Kelma Tuilagi, Luca Moretti, Sean Russell, Matt Doorey, Wiremu Greig, Toni Mataele, Sam Tuivaiti

Signed longer-Term (8)

Zac Lomax (2025-2028), Mitchell Moses (2026, 2027-2028 PO), Dylan Brown (2025, 2026-2031 PO), Ryan Matterson (2025, 2026 PO), Will Penisini (2025, 2026 PO), Maika Sivo (2025, 2026 MO,2027 CO), Shaun Lane (2025, 2026 MO), Junior Paulo 2025-2026

Gone (2): Ky Rodwell, Ethan Sanders

TBC: Haze Dunster (2025 MO)

Gus talks about the Eels (from the 25:28 minute mark)

Gus: The Age Debate is Bollocks

Gus doesn’t agree with the ageing arguments put forward by Thomson on Six Tackles, Wednesday 10 July 2024.

“You're only saying that because it's sitting in 17th [equal last on points].”

“Our better players today are older. Our better players are all over 30. Thirty years ago when you reached 30 they were pensioning you off. You were gone. Now the best players in the key positions right across the game are all over 30 years of age.”

When asked, by Mathew Thompson, whether the ageing squad in particular the top-heavy pack needed an overhaul, Gus didn’t agree.

“So, no I don't think so. It's a good pack. I think it's a good pack. I think those two boys [RCG and Paolo] should be playing Origin. They're origin class players," Gus replied.

“We can all see that [they’re not playing like Origin standard] but there is no reason for them not to be playing at that level.”

 “There is something else going on or has gone on.”

 “There's plenty of talent in that club. They should not be running last.”

“But they're they're much, much better than their position on the ladder; much better. They should not be where they are.”

“People will start to pick away at them and find fault and find this and find that.”

“There's no excuse for them being where they are.”

I don't think it'll be a very difficult job to improve the performances of this group of players right now.

But it's what the next group of players and what their future looks like that's going to be the job of the club as a whole - not so much the job of the head coach.

Gus Gould, SIx Tackles (Wednesday 10/7/2024)

Blaize Talagi?

“That's going to be a difficult one for them - in retaining him. I hope they do." Gus said.

“I'd hate to see him leave the club, but it's going to be difficult for them [to retain him].”

“If he was going to stay, he would have stayed by now.”

Most of the purported clubs after Blaze are part of Issaac Moses McFranchises: Kristian Woolf at Redcliffe, Adam O’Brien at Merewether, Newcastle, and Shane Flanagan at McDonalds Wollongong.

“I'm sure there's plenty of them [clubs after Blaize], but you know I'm looking at him and saying well in what position would you buy?”

“I don't think I'd buy him as a fullback, right at the moment, with the sort of money he's going to command.”

“You buy him as a an outside back. And he's still in the development phase of his career.”

 “I know he's come on the scene very, very quickly but young fellas do that.”

“He's playing playing outside Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown. I mean it doesn't get much better than that at Club level.”

“How long they’re going to be with the club you don't know. I know they've all signed contracts but they've all got options to get out, and you hear all sorts of rumours.” 

There have been suggestions that Gutherson will step aside as fullback to accommodate Talagi as fullback.

“I don't think Blaze Talagi is a fullback...right at the moment," Gus admitted.

“He has shown he can play there on a couple of one-off appearances. But there were also some parts of that game too where he was obviously not a trained fullback.”

“He came through the junior rep football as a centre. A dynamic centre and a little bit of five-eight. He can obviously play anywhere. He's played on the wing, and did that with a distinction.”

“He's still only very young. Parramatta getting out of the cellar doesn't depend on Blaze Talagi.”

A big piece of the jig-saw puzzle will be the coaching team and the “Experienced” people with footy nous to help Ryles.

Who are the Experienced Helping Hands?

Gus was one of the few in the media who pre-warned about going down the rookie path as the Eels' head coach - due to a lack of experience in the club behind them. His only suggestion was the largely unknown, Super League Super Coach, Brian McDermott. 

“We need to set him up [Ryles] for success. That’s what will be critical for us.” Sean McElduff said on 8 July 2024 at Ryles' appointment.

“So we’ll set it up for success, and make sure he’s got experienced people around him and he’s [Ryles] happy about that." McElduff told reporters.

Is someone new coming in? 

“I could still see a place for Brian Smith at Parramatta," Gus noted on last Wednesday's Six Tackles.

“Brian Smith has a great history with the club".

"Brian Smith was a great coach...a development coach."

"I think Brian Smith can see what the club needs and knows that he could provide it.”

“He certainly got a lot to offer any football club on the score of experience and development and pathways.”

“With coaching the way it is today, a  head coaching is very different. It's the quality of your staff that makes a big difference. They do a lot of the Hands-on stuff. Your squads are so big and your staff is so big.”

“A rookie like Jason Ryles would benefit from having Brian Smith in there somewhere.”

“I think he would benefit from having Brian Smith oversee the future of of the club the development of the club into the future.”

The Club has a job to do from the ground up; looking into the future.

Gus Gould, SIx Tackles (Wednesday 10/7/2024), something he has reiterated on many occasions

Reputation: Optics

One thing in Jason Ryles’ favour is his reputation precedes him. 

The likes of Craig Bellamy, Ponisini and the Melbourne Storm CEO highly value him as an assistant. He’s had over ten years learning “his craft” with three of the most intense cultures and head coaches in the game: Craig Bellamy, Trent Robinson and Eddie Jones. And with that comes four grand finals and two titles at the Storm. He’s also had varied experience at the Storm in pathways. And he seems to be a man without pretences who can build good relationships with players; at least as an assistant he did. 

“He [Ryles] has a really good relationship with players and this time around he has been working with the leadership group here and they have only had great things to say," noted Storm GM Frank Ponissi.

That player relationship is a strength, as is his calm temperament, but his new job could test that out.

Frank Ponissi on Ryles

That could yet prove a double-edged sword - and another albatross - if people start to wonder if he’s living up to the Top Dog title by making decisions independent of Storm-Roosters systems.

Cameron Smith is yet another singing his praises.

"I am very happy for Jason...I have spent a lot of time with him as the Melbourne forward coach and the main assistant to Craig Bellamy,"  Cameron Smith   told SEN Radio.

“He has such a passion for the game and I love his commitment towards working with younger players.”

"He loves developing their skills to become consistent first graders (and) what stands out is that he is always looking at ways to improve himself.”

 "He has had quality time with quality organisations and quality people. He has taken those skills and made his own fist of coaching."

Ryles celebrating a series win in 2003 with Andrew Johns | Getty.

"People also forget about what he has achieved in the game as a player," Smith said.

"He has played State of Origin and at international level. He knows what it takes to be a consistent footballer. I think that's what gave him a head start.

"Jason is more than ready and he's now got to take on the challenge of being the head coach over being an assistant. He's done his apprenticeship and he's ready to do it.”

"I'm excited to see what is to come for the Eels and Ryles' coaching in the future."

Eddie Jones (right) is another who is close to Jason Ryles (left).

Veteran former Wallabies and England Rugby Union coach Eddie Jones is another close to Ryles.

"He's done his time as an assistant coach," Jones told the SMH.

"He's always been diligent and been quite adventurous. For an out-and-out league player to be involved in rugby, it's not an easy task.”

"They both have the same principles of play in getting the ball forward, but the intricacies of it are completely different.”

“When he came over and helped with England, he was a bit of a character who knows his stuff really well.”

“He develops good rapport with the players and is good with the coaches.”

“He's got all the attributes of a successful coach. He's done a lot of time with Craig [Bellamy]. He couldn't be better prepared."

"I remember speaking to him after St George [Illawarra] and, without going through all the details, he was very intelligent about how he made the decision," Jones said.

"Parramatta has obviously got the right ingredients, it's going to be a bit of a different mix, and he understands that and will get the mix right for them. "

“He's always been really good with the players.”

I'd describe him as a players' coach.

Eddie Jones on Ryles

This echoes what others such as Frank Ponisini and Storm CEO gave started publicly.

"He engages the players, he spends time with them and Rylesy was a bit of a larrikin. But he always knew how to draw the line Sport between being a coach and too close to the players," Jones added.

James Graham, on MMM, described Jason Ryles as a “leader-of-men” type coach rather than the more technically minded Hannay who he pipped in the race.

But soon the Reputation and Optics game will end.

It will be time to see what he and the club are really made of.

The thing is, even if Ryles manages to be successful in the short term, his long term success will depend on bigger wheels behind the scenes. And a head coach can't ride two horses well.

For us Eels fans much like many players and Baz, amid all the uncertainty, hope is all we have.

Jason Ryles

Born: 17 January 1979 (45 years old)

Player career

• 14 May 2000: First Grade Debut against the Eels: Round 15, George Illawarra v Parramatta, Parramatta Stadium, 14 May 2000
• 2000-2008: 249 NRL games (Saints 156, Roosters 46, Storm 47);
• 2001-2009: 15 Tests Australia (2001-05); 8 NSW Origin caps (2002-05); 22 Super League games (Catalans, 2009).

Coaching Career

• 2012-2013:   NSW State of Origin under 20s assistant coach. Both years were successful in defeating Queensland's under 20s team.
• 2014-2015:   Western Suburbs Red Devils, Illawarra, head-coach
• 2016–2020:  Melbourne Storm, NRL assistant coach (under Craig Bellamy includes 4 grand finals and 2 premierships)
• 2016–2020:  English Rugby Union. part-time assistant roles (missed going to Six Nations due to COVID restrictions)
• 2016- 2017:  Junior Kangaroos assistant coach
• 2020-2021:   England Rugby Union, skills coach (full-time)
• 2022-2023:   Sydney Roosters, NRL assistant coach
• 2023:             Australia National Rugby Union team, assistant coach to Eddie Jones (for disastrous 2023 Rugby World Cup)
• 2023-2024:   Melbourne Storm, assistant coach, pathways, and junior rep programs 
• 8 July 2024  Appointed Eels’ NRL head coach from 2025-28 (four years, George Mimis agent)

The Rise and Fall of the Eels (2018-R19, 2024)

• Defence : 13th (2018), 7th (2019), 3rd (2020), 4th (2021), 8th (2022), 11th (2023),16th (R19, 2024).
• Attack: 15th (2018) , 3rd (2019), 9th (2020), 7th (2021), 6th (2022),5th (2023), 14th (R19, 2024)
• Possession: 48.1% (last, 2018), 50.8% (3rd, 2019), 51.4% (3rd, 2020),52.3% (3rd, 2021),52% (3rd, 2022), 50.7% (2nd, 2023), 51.3% (3rd, R19, 2024)
• Run metres (power game, off nrl.com): 11th (2018), 2nd (2019), 1st (2020), 3rd (2021), 2nd (2022), 4th (2023), 10th (R19,2024) PS: back five yardage lowest percentiles

Pathways Since 1987

• The Eels have won 13 of 36 Harold Matthews Titles (U17) and 8 of 36 SG Ball Titles (U19) since 1987.
• That is almost 30 percent of silverware U17-U19 age groups, yet none of that has translated into NRL or first grade premierships.We have the most dominance here. The next best is the Panthers.  
• There is often a strong correlation of NRL / first grade premierships and elite pathways. We’ve seen that with the Panthers (2021-23), the Storm’s elite and the Roosters pathways inter alia.  Since 1987:

• Eels           21 U17-19 titles   0 NRL titles
• Panthers  10 U17-19 titles   5 NRL first-grade titles
• Knights     9  U17-19 titles   2 NRL first grade titles
• Bulldogs   5  U17-19 titles   3 NRL first-grade titles
• Roosters  4  U19 titles         4 NRL first-grade titles
• Sharks      3  U17-19 titles  1 NRL title
• Raiders    2  U17 titles        3 NRL titles
• Manly       2  U17 titles        4 NRL titles
• Dragons   2  U19 titles       1 NRL title