A good listen if you get a chance. Both Jim Sarantinos and Mark O'Neill talk about everything from the new coach, a new direction, new players, our top 28 players, player options and what they are doing about them.
Goes for roughly 30minutes.
At the 19 minute Mark O'Neill talks about the dreaded player options and how they are attempting to have them removed ASAP, I enjoyed listening to this part.
Here's the link.
And a brief rundown via the NRL Eels website.
00:00: Introduction to CEO Jim Sarantinos and General Manager of Football Mark O'Neill.
00:23: Jim gives his assessment of recent changes around the Club.
01:15: Mark talks through the Club's expectations for 2025, and some of the recent changes made in the Football department.
01:59: Jim gives his perspective on what excites him most about the 2025 season, including the opening of the Club's new training facility.
02:55: Jim talks about the opening of the Eels new training facility.
03:56: Jim talks about the return of Principal Partner, James Hardie.
04:40: Jim addresses the possibility of the Eels heading to Vegas in 2026.
05:42: Jim talks about the Eels ongoing partnership with the Northern Territory Government, and heading to Darwin for the last time in 2025.
07:05: Jim discusses how the Club is tackling challenges and obstacles that arise as a result of change.
08:05: Mark speaks about cultural changes that have come about under new Head Coach, Jason Ryles.
10:00: Mark shares why he believes connection to past players is so important.
11:25: Jim talks about visits to the Club from recent Eels legends, including Nathan Hindmarsh, Peter Sterling, Ray Price and Luke Burt.
12:30: Mark talks about some of the changes Jason Ryles has brought to the Club's style of football and training regime.
14:41: Mark runs through some of the Club's new NRL recruits and how they're tracking so far.
15:58: Jim talks about changes to the NRL roster and what that means for the Club.
16:44: Mark talks about the vacant spots left in the NRL Top 30.
18:11: Mark addresses previous roster depth issues and coverage across key positions.
18:53: Adam asks Jim and Mark to speak to the inclusion of player options in contracts and whether or not they're a 'necessary evil'.
20:00: Mark gives an update on the current negotiation process around Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses' contracts.
20:30: Jim talks about recent RLPA survey results that highlighted the positive culture of the Club's NRLW program, and the importance of building a connection between NRL & NRLW programs once the Club's new facility opens.
22:16: Mark talks about key NRLW signings and re-signings, including Elsie Albert, Paige Travis and the Cherrington Sisters.
23:55: Mark talks about the Club's Junior League catchment and Elite Pathways program, including resourcing of the Pathways program to help achieve the overall objective of producing NRL and NRLW players.
26:25: Mark speaks about the process involved with identifying Mitchell Moses as Captain and Junior Paulo, J'maine Hopgood and Jack Williams as the other members of the NRL Leadership Group.
28:38: Mark touches on the high-level expectations of the NRL team in the 2025 season.
29:18: Jim talks about what Eels Members can expect this season in terms of Member events and connection to the Club for Members that live interstate and in regional areas.
30:17: Mark and Jim talk about the vibe around the Club at the moment in the lead up to the start of season.
32:00: Jim talks about the revival of Active Supporter Bays at CommBank Stadium.
32:48: Mark shares his thoughts on what Members and fans can look forward to most in 2025.
Replies
Cheers, definitely be listening. I'd like to know Mark has to say about why there's so many player options. Is squarely on him and brad
hahaha Mark "ummmmmm there are a couple of player options in our roster. mmmmmmmmmm That we are trying to remove prior to the season."
At least he may have learnt from the mistake. Jury is still out.
I was at the member's forum last night and a question was asked regarding player options. The club hasn't signed a player with a player option since 2023. Since then we've signed/re-signed something like 24 players. There are 3 players on our roster at the moment with player options and they are trying to remove them. The new chairman added that the club has a no player option policy and will not entertain it for any player whether a potential signing or re-signing.
Alrighty then....the Eels are growing a Proto-spine., Good to hear
I was there also super . Really enjoyed the night especially the party pies and sausage rolls. I thought they allspoke well especially the new chairman Was talking to him before it started . You could tell he's a real parra fan through and through also thought Mon spoke very well . Especially regarding loosing sanders and the kid to Panthers as he said . They tried to hang on to them but sanders his a dead set halfback and could not see himself playing first grade with mitch being here for the long term and the other young bloke seeing himself as a 6 with Brown in that position (the way now thats up in the air) but the one I enjoyed was Jason Ryles . He was outstanding as i said really enjoyed the evening
I dont agree with everything, however some of the things dicussed are well and truely going in the right direction. I also respect that they are listening to fans enough to engage and talk about some of the issues, and letting us in,on some of their thoughts. It does come accross as a very sterile environment "the podcast"with no hard questions thrown at them, but its a start and one that myself appreciates. A good stepping stone to begin. Kudos for that.
Onwards and upwards, thats what we all want at the end of the day. Hope there efforts bring the wins with it.
They're a Fan Podcast, not the media mate, you can't expect them to just drop a few heavy questions in there, or they'll never speak to them again. Let the Journo's ask the big ones.
hahahah, spot on Clint. Can you imagine a world where they fronted 1EE'ers questions. I find our crew here always asking the hard questions and rightly so.
Feed them to Frankie and Wiz 😂
MON!! Lol what can one say...the details of DB contract is public knowledge, maybe the finer details see details are not but all have a fair idea of the structure of the deal - why is it disrespectful to discuss the details?? Orr sent an email to 17 clubs...that's what I call disrespect... Jim was also conveniently silent during this discussion which was noticeable. Both are lucky to have Jason as the head coach, if they are unable to deliver what Ryles wants both should be shown the door.
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