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That's great mate. Instead of discussing our development position let's just trade stupid cartoons. Seemes like you have no answers
Im not against what Horo and Mason are saying, just saying those in certain positions haven't the capacity to carry it out. The proof is in the pudding
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Popa they talk about my memes signifying me turning 37, but you're memes are honestly from the 1920s haha
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What about these guys.
9 players from the Penrith Panthers' starting 17 in their June 7, 2026 match against the Wests Tigers who did not progress through the Penrith junior system include:- Paul Alamoti (Junior Club: Milperra Colts / Canterbury Bulldogs junior)
- Blaize Talagi (Junior Club: Baulkham Hills Brumbies / Parramatta Eels junior)
- Isaiah Papali'i (Junior Club: Te Atatu Roosters, NZ / Warriors junior)
- Liam Martin (Junior Club: Temora Dragons)
- Thomas Jenkins (Junior Club: Young Cherrypickers)
- Casey McLean (Junior Club: Blacktown Bears / Wests Tigers junior pathways)
- Freddy Lussick (Junior Club: Beacon Hill Bears / Sydney Roosters junior)
- Jack Cogger (Junior Club: Toukley Hawks / Newcastle Knights junior)
- Scott Sorensen (Junior Club: Cronulla Caringbah Sharks)
So Penrith had 8 Juniors and The Tigers had 6. I'm not sure that a difference of 2 genuine juniors from your own pathways leads to score like that. I think it has to be the quality of those juniors. The Penrith Juniors have been exceptional no matter where they are playing. The Eels Juniors that are making first grades don't seem to stay around the club. Tomorrow we will have 2 local juniors playing for the Eels. Thats such a shame when the club are doing so many other things right.
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Bluey,
Liam Martin may not have played for Penrith as a toddler or through early puberty blues, but he's been at the Panthers for what 12 years or so. Came as an teenager and went through their pathways. The McLean Brothers also have come through the Panthers pathways from their teens. Even Jenkins who came a bit later, spend four years in reggies and coming through their systems. Melbourne do something similar.
No-one is saying don't recruit. It's not either/or absolutism.
It's the right balance.
Actually, we've recruited far more than the Panthers since Ryles came on board. I think we will need to recruit for 2027-28. Even if we have some of the best junior talent as Mason reckons, we're years from seeing that come to fruition at NRL level. Don't forget it takes around 50 NRL games to find your feet and prove to yourself you belong, or so they say.
Penrith (external recruits 2025–26):
Blaize Talagi | Isaiah Papali'i | Austin Dias | Kalani Going | Freddy LussickParramatta (external recruits 2025–26):
Isaiah Iongi | Josh Addo-Carr | Zac Lomax (Brad Arthur recruit) | Jack Williams | Talyn da Silva | Joash Papalii | Jordan Samrani | Kitione Kautoga | Dean Hawkins | Ronald Volkman | Dylan Walker | Harrison EdwardsPS: Apologies if I missed someone. Am in a rush a bit.
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Can't argue with that on the surface, but from the stats I think it was more prolonged death zones (or whatever you call them) against Tigers.
36% of ball at 77% completions and 55 missed tackles. We've had worse completions and MTs and only just lost.
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Badger, yep. You're right.
Panthers had all the momentum. They're so well connected. For all the Tigers' impressive recruitment, many here would sacrifice half a dozen small animal farms for (or more), they looked impotent against the Panthers' machine.
It was something like 22 v 0 minutes of death zones.
I don't think the Tigers got more than 2 successive sets.
Watching it I thought the Tigers made more than 10-7 errors (75% v 87% completions updated nrl.com). We've made almost 30 errors in the last two weeks.
When Penrith faced 19 minutes they leaked 34 points against the Dogs. That's the best defence. So it's about a try for every 3-minutes (3-consecutive sets). The best the Panthers have defended all year was 13 sets (3/4 consequetive sets).
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This reply was deleted.
More stuff to read
"Hoe, the club wanted to keep Talagi, they wanted to keep Sanders, they even come out and said they tried to keep Russell and they tried to keep Twiddle.
'Surely you can see the irony here. My issue isn't who the club target for first grade, it's…"
'Surely you can see the irony here. My issue isn't who the club target for first grade, it's…"
"Mosses is fit to play and wanted to play club ruled him out . Been told there is some interesting selections in regards to who plays because of injuries. Trying to protect who they have until a couple of players return from injuries. "
"Coryn, Bluey and Chiefy,
You guys are now heads of R&R.
Re Talagi and Sanders: the two on the Greatest Stuff Up List.
If they stay Nov 1st guys, would you sign them and move on Moses and Lorenzo or Iongi for them? Or convince Talagi to play…"
You guys are now heads of R&R.
Re Talagi and Sanders: the two on the Greatest Stuff Up List.
If they stay Nov 1st guys, would you sign them and move on Moses and Lorenzo or Iongi for them? Or convince Talagi to play…"
" Badger, yep. You're right.
Panthers had all the momentum. They're so well connected. For all the Tigers' impressive recruitment, many here would sacrifice half a dozen small animal farms for (or more), they looked impotent against the Panthers'…"
Panthers had all the momentum. They're so well connected. For all the Tigers' impressive recruitment, many here would sacrifice half a dozen small animal farms for (or more), they looked impotent against the Panthers'…"
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?