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Well we probably paid way overs for Su'a, otherwise he'd have hung around with his bestie Kolomatangi. He didn't jump ship for a few bucks.
Totally agree that we need a balance of both good recruitment/retention in key identified positions and successful development of these so called gun juniors. For the last decade or so, that development has been shyte.
Relying on one or the other may get you a hit here and there but will not work long term.
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Badger,
On Su'a.
Yep, probably overs. Market realities. But I seriously doubt it would be anywhere near Keaon who would be up there as one of the highest paid in the game.
The thing is with the overheated market you probably need to pay overs for your best juniors too. Gus has lamented on that point numerous times.
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I'm Bluey and it's my third day of no negativity. We must be on a winning formulae. Kudos to R&R. In the spirit of no negativity and unity, I have to say what an outstanding job the R&R dept are doing in attempting to sign the right players. They are identifying and targeting some very very skilled operators that must meet their initial requirements.
If we trust Ryles, which I do. Then the players he has wanted shows they are leaving no stone unturned. Our pathways is booming, Just in the last 12 months or so, they targeted Blaize Talangi, Ethan Sanders, Apa Twiddle. Youngsters that have shown exceptional ability and represented Australian Junior teams or State of Origin teams. These types of youngsters would surely die for the club, and meet Masons and Horo's Eels Pathway graduates.
Then you have those representative players that just put in no matter how bad the game is going , real leaders, The R&R identified Koloamatangi, Mitch Barnett, Dylan Brown, Big Nelson Asofa Solomona even Isaiah Papalii. We need these types to lead the way in a balanced team, And i'm over the moon that R&R could see their value to our club and chased them. They even tried everything to keep Sean Russell our own homegrown chip and regather try scoring machine. I was pissed when Old Mal pinched him from right under our nose for next year. But we tried and there should always be in my assessment a participation medal in trying. Its all about the fight and fight we have in bucketloads.
Our pathways identification has improved a lot as well, since the days of letting say Galvin walk after playing for the Eels Harold Matt's, they were even so much on the ball that they put a $5000 transfer fee on him which the Wests Tigers paid. I mean to have that sort of gumption to put a transfer fee onto the kid was 1st rate stuff. I'm not sure what the $5000 went to, but that sort of cash could feed a family of 7 for 12 months in Africa. Kudos and massive strategic thinking there. R&R even identified him a second time and chased him so pats on the back all round, I think.
The R&R are getting a raw deal, they are doing a fantastic job at identifying the right players they need to build a team of experience , youth, and leaders across the park. They are identifying pathways players with regularity these days and they know the type of player they need to play semi finals. The players they have identified and attempted to sign would have made us a better team no doubt.
There are 6 or 7 youngsters that Mason and Horo have identified that are currently rep players. The club dosnt get enough applause and support in my opinion, these players that are growing up together and back each other, are our absolute future that we are depending upon if we are to follow the Penrith Way, the Penrith Mantra. With these 6 or 7 our future is assured I have no doubt. I'm so excited by this and a couple are even tied up with a development contract but they run out this year and any team can negotiate with them right now. They have excelled in other areas as welll , our best young 5/8 to come through the system for a while Lorenzo Talatania has been signed on a development contract to 2027. I hope he is happy with that come November when teams may come sniffing around him offering top 30 money like Twiddle, but as i trust R&R, I don't see that as much of a problem. There are no top 30 contracts as yet for these 6 or 7 but that must be in the plan at some point, for our future champions.
All in all let's all get on board, let's get united and for the love of the Eels let's stay positive. This is the way to a grandfinal, and is going to help us this weekend against a depleted Dogs outfit. Go the Eels.
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I admire your commitment to the bit Bluey. 😂 This is satire mastery and I'm completely onboard the positivity train.
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Captain and Bluey, thanks for sharing.
The only downside to being aboard that train is some false advertisement for the passangers e.g. Lorenzo being available Nov 1st.
I'll leave it at that as Bluey said he had the withdrawal shakes yesterday.
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Have i stuffed something Hoe. Lorenzo has a development deal for 2027, am i wrong in believing come Nov.1 he can talk to other clubs.
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Bluey, I think Lorenzo is tied to 2028: a development contract for 2026-27 and NRL contract for 2028.
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Not gonna lie BE, the over positivity is freaking me out haha, I read that like you had a gun to your head haha. Well done my man, don't relasp haha.
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More stuff to read
"Bluey, I think Lorenzo is tied to 2028: a development contract for 2026-27 and NRL contract for 2028.
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"Fully understand LB, what I am saying is by signing another preferred left sided player in my mind it doesn't make sense. It would make more sense to go for a right sided player and let JAC continue to perform at his ceiling rather than dropping.…"
"It would be actually interesting to see what a change of scenery would do for him, he's definetly a rocks and diamond player. If we targeted anyone you'd have to look at Luciano Leluia, change would do him good also"
"I'm trying to stay strong. It's a good cause."
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?