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Nah that's not what i'm saying at all Dynasty. I am saying that we should find the best talent no matter where it may be, recruit the best to our pathways, recruit the best from around the world. I'm saying don't pigeon hole ourselves into only one way, that being from within our own juniors. I'm also concerned that if we only go down that path, then something has to change in identifying the best juniors for 1 and 2,not letting them leave like Sanders, Talagi, Twiddle, Arthurs and Galvin etc.
The concern isn't not looking within, it's that we have no repuatation for being able to keep what we produce. So many things must change obviously to correct that.
I have no idea if they are capable of changing, have changed, are changing etc. For that reason, i lean to buying the best we can fromwhere ever they come from. Its worked for Melbourne and the Roosters.
Im not so sure our Junior identification , scouting and recruitment is equal to that of the Penrith system.
But ill take your point on board Dynasty. I'm starting to understand that it dosnt matter what we say here, the club is going to do what the club is going to do. I've tried not being negative. But to think our club in the development areas is anywhere near Penriths junior scouts and junior coaches is a pipe dream. We keep shooting ourselves in the foot and when we do get a good one we can't sign them to first grade, they leave. That's disheartening .
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Dragons on a roll and the Titans winning. Spoon could be on the cards for us.
Hoe, have you had a look at the dragons lately. Its not all panic buying. They're doing much better than Parramatta in development. Most of their pack are young guns and they've unearthed a couple of good outside backs.
Sure, they may have over spent on a few signings but that's the market at thr moment. The top players can nam their price
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"Nah that's not what i'm saying at all Dynasty. I am saying that we should find the best talent no matter where it may be, recruit the best to our pathways, recruit the best from around the world. I'm saying don't pigeon hole ourselves into only one…"
"Though you said you are confident we have Jenkins and Burton? Why change so quick?"
"It's just baffling that people like you and Coryn still won't back down from this stance. The greatest NRL team of all time has made a joke out of the competition for years by promoting from within and developing talent, yet here you are trying to…"
"Sorry CP, all sweet. My apologies for jumping the gun."
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?