Eels Blogs

What Wins Premierships? Talent, culture, systems, pathways, or belonging and connectedness?

For some, the answer is simpler. Who cares about the why? Sack as many as possible. Sign sexy names. Job done.

One thing is for sure: premierships rarely happen overnight. Clubs need patience: the exact opposite of what many fans need.

The theme of recruitment, usually strong criticism of Parramatta's recruitment and retention, has been a constant topic among Eels fans as we've struggled this season. After forty years without a premiership, and struggling this season unfolding, it's understandable why many are frustrated and crave a few sugar hits. Now. 

In this week's Levels podcast, Willie Mason and Justin Horo discuss the Eels "tricky predicament" when it comes to recruitment and competing in that space. And what really matters in the end.

 Many look enviously at the Dragons' buying spree. Yet so far it has produced not much beyond a last-placed finish and one win.

"You can't just go buy, buy, buy because have a look what St. George did in the last couple of years," Mason argues.

"They don't love St. George."

"I'm not saying that they're not putting in, but you have to have a pathway... and Penrith hit the jackpot," Mason says.

"You need that half a dozen that have a genuine love for the club."

"Everything else is manufactured," Mason concludes.

"Here's now where it [Dragons' huge recruitment spree] can become problematic in two years' time," Scope adds.

"Is it going to improve their play next year? Yeah."

"But could they potentially lose some good homegrown talent because of it? Yeah."

So, that's the balance. The Faustian Deal. The short-term sugar hit versus the long term. Building a team of champions and marquees versus building a champion team.

"Most clubs are manufactured trying to buy, buy, buy and thinking that you're going to win a comp because you don't have these kids who would genuinely die for that club."

Scope and Mason point to Penrith. They point to Brisbane's homegrown core. Mason points to what the Dogs are building. Even Melbourne, despite being different, have long recruited players into their pathways and culture from a young age.

Mason and Scope's common thread isn't just home-grown talent.

It's growing up together. Playing together. Connection.

Even the Panthers recruit despite losing a galaxy of stars that could fill a stadium. The difference is that they tend to do it selectively rather than chasing the biggest or sexiest names. They can afford not to.

Jason Ryles has overseen one of the biggest roster turnovers in the competition over the past season and a half. The club knows there are gaps to fill and I expect Parramatta will continue targeting quality signings for 2027 and 2028, with Jaydn Su'A likely only the beginning.

But if Mason and Horo are right, we're still only at the earliest stages, even if we recruit well.

If Parramatta had paid enormous overs to secure Keaon Koloamatangi, many fans may have celebrated the recruitment victory. But would it necessarily have been the right long-term decision? Apparently not according to Souths or Wayne Bennett. Like us, they weren't prepared to pay through the roof for him.

Interestingly, despite some of the fan pessimism surrounding Parramatta, Mason sees hope.

"I've seen their reserve grade. I've seen their 21s. I've seen their Flegg and SG Ball."

"They've got about six, seven of the best Australian school boys in the country. They're coming through. They're like 18. So, give them two years."

"They're the ones that you think can make the difference to the club."

Their argument is that the Eels' future may depend less on winning recruitment battles, cautioning against the Dragons approach, and more on developing the next generation already inside the system over the next few years.

The Broncos are evidence of a mystery beyond that.

Elite talent. Enormous resources. Strong pathways. A two-time premiership-winning coach. A roster packed with Origin and representative players. Recruitment comes easy. The result? Only one more win than us at this point of the season.

What do you think ultimately turns a club into a contender and then a premiership winner? And do you agree or disagree with Mason and Scope, and why or why not?