Eels' head coach Jason Ryles gave his first press conference today, with broad brush strokes over a range of topics.
Round 1 Face-Off: Against The Master Mentor
We could not have scored a tougher round one opponent in 2025.
Bellamy, his former mentor, has never lost a round one at the Storm. History wasn't lost on Ryles.
“I’m looking forward to it. It’s a great challenge and no one has done it before, so we’ll go down there and have a free throw at the stumps and see how we go.”
24 years. That's how long Melbourne Storm have been winning round one games. They last lost a round one in 2001. The Eels have lost the last four-straight against the Storm, and haven't beaten them since 2022. Storm won the last round 1 game against the Eels in 2023 (16-12) in extra time.
The Reset: A "blank canvas" and the "buy in"
“I don’t have anything to go off in regards to my experiences with the day to day (at the club),” he said.
“The exciting part for me is that we’re resetting. We’re not starting again, but we’ve got a bit of a blank canvas to work with."
“The most impressive thing for me at the moment has been the buy in and the commitment of the players. They’re very compliant and they’ve got a work ethic about them before I got here.
“It’s about resetting that environment and making it one that they never want to leave and they can be the best they can be.”
Roster: One more spot to fill
Ryles told the media there was one more position to add in the top thirty, adding: "We're we're pretty happy with where the the roster sits right at the minute."
However, he also admitted", There's a couple of positions we need to strengthen up...that's a big job for our our list management team."
Moses has been called a "natural leader" by Ryles, and yet the team collective will have a final say.
Captaincy: Still Open
Ryles' is open on the next Eels' captain.
“That will be at the back end of January. There are some obvious candidates, but they might come in and not want to do it", Ryles said.
“I reckon we’ll be really clear on that, and the players will have a huge influence on who is the next captain. They’ll pretty much pick who that’ll be with a bit of help from me and the coaches,” he added.
He also noted Mitch is a "natural leader because of the position he plays" although Junior Paulo has been the co-captain in the past.
Let's Trot, Let's Go: The Fox was full of the enthusiasm on joining the Eels.
On the Fox: "I know what he can do for a footy team"
“There was an opportunity to speak to him. Had I not known him and had the relationship that I do have with him, I probably wouldn’t be talking about him now,” he said.
“Because I’ve had that experience and had quite a bit of time with him, I know him really well and know what he can do for a footy team.
“He’s made a mistake and paid a price for it, but now it’s all about what we can do going forward.
“I’ve been really clear with Josh. There are no guarantees that he’ll be playing in the first 13 in our team. He’s got a lot of work to do.”
Isaiah Iongi, the former Panther and QLD U19 Fullback (left); the talented Joash Papalii, former Dog (right)
Fullback
On fullback, "It will be Isaiah, Josh [or] any number of guys there at the moment."
"It's up to those guys to fight it out over the preseason. The opportunity is theirs."
The Lomax Question: Still Open
"On my conversations with Zac, I'm really open to where he plays." Ryles explained keeping his options open.
"The main point in our conversations has been 'let's get back to training', work on our combinations, and do what's best for the team. And he's really receptive of that so we'll just wait and see when he gets back."
Source: https://youtu.be/qYF70iJkRrY?si=mG4fgZaEy5hJ8yIq
Replies
I just watched Ryles interview and he said we have 1 spot left. I only calculated a top 30 of 26 players. Wonder if its because players got promoted or just signing are about to be announced.
I think Riley smith might get upgraded and like a couple of more signings will come
That would make sense if they can't get brailey
Well if we get a 2nd Hooker talk is Lussick goes so it is a swap. Plus we went off TCT who said 26 spots. Samrani was not accounted for. I reckon Guymer is top 30 too.
So maybe we have another signing or two set to be announced and just accounting for them already or some are top 30 and we didn't know like Samrani and Guymer.
TCT has confirmed it with the club.
Confirmed which part though? 26 or 29 players signed?
The players and the contracts they were on
Oh so like Samrani is not on top 30 etc?
Then surely it is new signings?
Tago they reported is development also so not sure where the extra 3 players came from.
Yea when I asked them they said that about Tago and Samarani and that they asked the club to confirm it before posting. So TCT did have the facts right I assume.
It would not surprise me if Latu and Smith get a top 30 contract. If we get Brailey than Lussick probably gone so that would be a top 27. But media report that Brailey deal is getting cold. Still think we need a quality back up 5/8.
Though would surprise me if Latu got a deal over Guymer but then again so be it. Latu could be that come out of nowhere player.
EA is he real deal?
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