Eels Blogs

‘I needed it’: Arthur reflects on Eels sacking

Leeds: Former Parramatta coach Brad Arthur says he’s a better coach now than the one who was sacked by the Eels last year, admitting it was time for both him and the club to go their separate ways.

Poppa's Corner: The Conundrum of Holding Players Back in Reserve Grade

This blog expands on some pathways and development issues raised in Hoe's Pezet blog through a brief dialogue between Angry, HOE and NOS.

In principle, it revolves around holding juniors back from first grade, which, in essence, is what the Pezet dea

The Jonah Pezet Deal: An Optical Illusion?

The deal is done. At first glance, it seems to be a bad idea. Real bad. Weird too. Like we’ve betrayed the Future Is Now mantra and sold out the Parra Badge for a short-term fling with the future Broncos bride walking down the aisle in 2027. How cou

RYLES REVEALS WHY HE SIGNED PEZET FOR ONE YEAR

Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has described the signing of Jonah Pezet on a one-year deal as the “perfect storm”, an arrangement he believes will benefit all parties. The Eels on Wednesday officially announced they had secured Pezet for 2026, before h

Jonah Pezet Joins Parramatta Eels - OFFICIAL

The Parramatta Eels are pleased to announce the signing of Jonah Pezet on a one-year deal for the 2026 NRL season.
 
Parramatta Eels General Manager of Football, Mark O’Neill, welcomed Pezet to the club.
 
“Jonah is one of the most exciting young talents

Poppa's Corner: Junior, Moses, and Lomax: What Goes on Tour, Stays on Tour.

Just some observations.

Junior was inspiring for Samoa yesterday. Have you ever seen him so fit? Of note, was he was also wearing the 13, presumably playing lock. The last time he wore a 13 in the NRL was...never. Not that long ago there was much not

How the Bailey Simonsson Rift Was Healed: Looking in the Mirror

Bailey Simonsson was lost. For a while. He had to look in the mirror and have a heart to heart with Jason Ryles who understood exactly where he was coming from — as reported by Foxsport who quoted an Simonsson interview with the SMH.

Bailey Simons

Jason Ryles named on Storm hit list to replace Bellamy

Parramatta Eels head coach Jason Ryles has been placed on the hit list of the Melbourne Storm who look to replace Craig Bellamy. With talk of Bellamy set to coach is last year in Melbourne in 2026, he will move to role with the Storm remotely or coac

NRL THREATEN 10-YEAR BAN FOR R360 DEFECTORS

Bailey Simonsson To Remain At The Eels

TCT posted that a source has told them Simmo will stay with the eels.

Simmo commented on the post essentially confirming that it is true.

Anasta: Zac Lomax to sign with R360? Rumoured $3m pa

Braith Anasta said on NRL360 that Zac Lomax may have played his last game for Parramatta,  and is very close to signing a deal with R360 worth around $3m a season to jump ship.

Braith said he heard a rumour from someone close to R360 and it's seriou

The Dawn of a New Era or a Flash in the Pan?

Gus Gould warned all season that this year’s premier was “well hidden.” Michael Maguire knew exactly where to look. Under his relentless standards, Reece Walsh a “real footy head” who’s always last off the field has driven Brisbane’s rise from nearl

Luke Burt leads Burleigh Bears to Q Cup title

Former Eels winger Luke Burt has collected the first premiership of his coaching career, leading the Burleigh Bears to the Queensland Cup title.

Burt took over as Bears head coach at the start of 2023, with the club collecting the minor premiership b

Poppa's Corner: A Good discussion from Hoe, Pou and Coryn

A good discussion took place between Hoe, Pou and Coryn on defensive and management issues in Reversing Four Years of Regression.

I found credit in the discussion from all sides and a worthwhile read. Originally, I was replying on that post/blog but

Green shoots turn into a Parramatta forest

Early in the 2025 season, with the Eels fighting tooth and nail to drag themselves off the bottom of the table, Jason Ryles spoke about seeing “green shoots” in their performances.

By the end of the 2025 season, the Eels have finished with 10 wins, i

Departures

Records Tumble in The Kaizen Revolution

The Commbank crowd, the second-largest of the season, rose as one, applauding. Ryley Smith’s passion-drenched face said it all as the Eels closed the year winning five of their last seven.

It summed up how Eels fans felt watching the 66–10 annihilati

Game Day Blog R27 v Knights: Momentum Matters (Knights Demolished 66-10)

UPDATE: The Eels 66-10 anniliation of the Knights is the highest score posted in 18 years (since 2007, 68-22 vs Broncos). It is the fourth highest in the Eels' history. It matches the highest score produced by the record-breaking 2001 team (R11, 66-

Team first: Who put their money where their mouth was

Clint Gutherson and Dylan Brown. Two of the stars of the Eels over the Brad Arthur era.

Gutherson, a talented Manly junior who was recruited by Arthur and Brown, an Eels project developed from a teenager.

Plenty has been written about both players' c

Punched in the Face, Still Standing: Inside Ryles' Revolution of the Parramatta Eels

Here is a summary of a Foxsport article dated today. A recommended read.

It's not unusual to see Jason Ryles passionately banging on the windows of the coaching box during a game open-palmed. 

Ryles’ first season at Parramatta has been anything bu