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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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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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shhhhhh, that's not the Narrative. lol. Melbourne Storm won the grandfinal before Penriths 4 peat run they had zero Melbourne juniors , all were scouted from other junior systems or from other clubs. Not one local kid.
It appears there may be many ways to skin a cat or win a grandfinal. It dosnt have to be pigeon holed into one way. To me it's all about spotting, scouting and signing talent no matter where it hails from is the key.
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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 convince the whole world otherwise.
Parra is onto a good thing with this current set up. But in MON is at the Helm our recruitment will always hamper our potential.
If we sign Moses Suli it's game set and match for the recruitment team.
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More stuff to read
"It's a good signing if he's on 50 bucks a week"
"Herbie
Bostock here
Parra Suli if rumours are true this is how high we regard the importance of back 5 talent."
Bostock here
Parra Suli if rumours are true this is how high we regard the importance of back 5 talent."
"Don't compare us to a generational juggernaut like that.We aren't Penrith and out of what we have juniors wise how many stsrt in that side outside of Talagi who lucked into it because Luai went to the Tigers.
Thats the real issue here while it's all…"
Thats the real issue here while it's all…"
"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…"
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?