Look, I like to think of myself as an optimistic Eels fan, someone who wants them to do well but going into next season I see so many problems with our roster. Problems I hope Jason Ryles and his new team can address before the start of the 2025 season. I'm going to go through some of the major issues I see heading into next season and would love some ideas on what you think the club might do to address these?
Problem 1 - The Back 3 - Let me suggest Zac Lomax plays on the wing, he's been the games best winger this season and our back 3 without him doesn't look great. But as it stands at this point in time we'd have:
1. Isaiah Iongi - 1 game of NRL experience to date, for him to come in straight away and set the world on fire will be a task. Not saying he can't, by all reports a future star of the game but he doesn't have a lot of strike/stars to help him out.
2. Maika Sivo - Let me get the very little positive out of the way first, his try scoring record speaks for itself, when close to the line he does a decent job. However Sivo's games are often errors a plenty, he makes comically bad defensive errors, will drop it in a standard hit up coming out of our end or knock it on in the play the ball. Also his ability to make consistent big meters in the past couple of years has sucked, with his size he should be doing a lot better. I would not want Sivo starting round 1 if I could help it.
5. Zac Lomax - He's brilliant, exactly what we needed. He just needs better company than the likes of Sivo, Russell and Jake Tago.
Depth - Bailey Simonsson (injured, won't make round 1), Sean Russell, Jake Tago, Richard Penisini
If im being honest the depth concerns me most. Does anyone remember that really good Sean Russell game? Cause I don't.
Verdict - We need to sign a winger like Josh Addo Carr or if not him another starting 13 quality winger. Sivo can't do the job going into next season and I'd love to see the club do everything in their power to get rid of him. Additionally we need another depth winger or back, the likes of Sean Russell and Jake Tago aren't gonna cut it in our already unimpressive backline. Speed is a huge issue in our backline.
Problem 2 - Who plays props? - This is another issue that concerns me. At this point in time we're paying almost 1 million a season for Junior Paulo... and he's not a regular starter. This either needs to change and he needs to start and show impact from there or we need to consider renegotiating that contract. I'm going to suggest Junior Paulo starts and needs to get as fit as he's ever gotten for 2025. We need bigger minutes and big plays from Junior as we've seen he can do at times. At this point in time I also think it's likely Ryan Matterson or J'maine Hopgood (I'd go J'maine) moves into the front row.
Verdict - We need a bench a prop who can effectively relieve a starter and play as a starter if need be. I'm not sure who Ryles signs here or if he fills this role before 2025, not the end of the world if he's doesn't.
Problem 3 - Who plays 9? - As it stands for 2025 Brendan Hands would be the logical choice to play hooker. If we go with Hands I think he'll struggle and I don't think there is anything outstanding about him right now. At best I see him as a good option for 14. Joey Lussick is the other option and that fills me with utter dread, I can't see Ryles doing anything with Joey Lussick. The 9 is one of the most important positions on the park and we simply don't have one after Brad Arthur's horrid decision to replace Reed Mahoney with Josh Hodgson and then effectively nobody.
Verdict - We need to sign a 9 here that's obvious. Jayden Brailey has been floated about as an option and I wouldnt be opposed to that. I'd love to get Blake Mozer but I think that's unlikely with Maguire signing on as the new Broncos coach.
Problem 4 - The Back-Row/Lock - Usually lock wouldn't be an issue as a position to fill but if J'maine Hopgood plays front row that creates an opening. Does Ofahengaue slot in there or do we look to go to the market and sign a Kobe Hetherington? As I've seen people suggest. One would think Shaun Lane fills one position on an edge. The other one could be filled by Cartwright or Matterson (please god not Tuilagi he's nothing more than a bench player at best!) but even still I'm interested to see if we go to market for a back row or a middle.
Verdict - If we're moving either Hopgood or Matterson to the front row and not planning on signing another prop I'd like to see us sign someone like a Kobe Hetherington/Klese Haas to sure up the middle with Hopgood likely to play in the middle.
What Id like to see Ryles do 1-18 round 1:
1. Isaiah Iongi
2. Suliasi Vunivalu* (not saying we can get him but I'd try)
3. Will Penisini
4. Clint Gutherson (has to play in the backline with Simonsson hurt in my opinion, Gutho may even be a better option here)
5. Zac Lomax
6. Dylan Brown
7. Mitchell Moses (C)
8. Junior Paulo
9. Jayden Brailey* (hypothically)
10. J'maine Hopgood
11. Shaun Lane
12. Ryan Matterson (hope Moa/JR can get a Angus Crichton like resurgence from him, he's definitely got something)
13. Kobe Hetherington* (hypothetically)
14. Brendan Hands
15. Joe Ofahengaue
16. Bryce Cartwright
17. Luca Moretti/Charlie Guymer
18. Bailey Simonsson (injured)
Thoughts on my 1-18. Yours truly, a very concerned Eels fan.
Replies
We need a lot of things, but step by step.
One more winger instead of Sivo would be welcome, but at least our backs now have more dynamics and some top class talent in Lomax. Lomax, Iongi, an inform Penisini, Simonsson, Sivo and Gutherson are good optinos.
Prop wise we need to evolve there. At the moment Lane, Matterson, Paulo, MOretti, Mataele and the like are good enough. We can aim to get a top level prop for 2026.
Hooker and back row might need more immediate attention, you're right, but I do not think they'd be consitricting for us next year. Tuilagi, Guymer, Cartwright, Doorey can make do.
We need to realise, especially with our youngsters and those in the "inbetween" like Greig, Doorey, Mataele...
...that Ryles needs the 2025 season to separate the wheat from the chaff in his vision. That does not mean writing the season off, but that it might be messy and with players coming in and out. As long as we start establishing a clear and resilient system that we don't give up on at the slightest sight of struggle, it is a good start to the Ryles reign.
We finished 15th. We obviously have problems. While I believe things can be solved very quickly with the right mindset, All of it solved in 1 off-season is hard.
Vunivalu
Hetherington
Brailey
K Haas
Are all players we could sign for 2025 if we wish. If you're suggesting we just sign a 9 for next season and then sit on our hands, I just don't see the good in that.
I'd love that collection of players. Fan of all of them esp Haas and Vunivalu.
We are gonna still sign more players. THere is rumours of Jack Williams now and I'm certain we'll sign another forward. Also media hasn't stopped linking us with more wingers.
I'm just saying I'm not too fussed with problems going into next season. We'll go into next season with some problems remining no matter what.
Nice post Yehez
A smaller and more mobile pack would be good in the modern era. The speed and 6 again rule doesn't work in the old BA world of big packs.
If we land a decent hooker in Brailey, the team is well balanced. I have no issue with our outside backs, with new recruits in Iongi and Lomax. If Sivo is still around, Ryles needs to make sure he becomes a big part of bringing the ball back from the backfield.
Clearly our attack (points for) isn't too bad given Mosses was out for a good chunk of the year.
The biggest change Ryles needs to bring is the players conditioning and defence. We get those two right and I think top 4 in 2025 isn't out of reach.
I actually agree about the conditioning/fitness and defence. Most of our second half collapses have a lot to do with fitness. Especially you see it in players like Penisini where he suddenly forgets he is an NRL player.
The signings have not finished yet. November will be a busy month for ryles. There will be plenty of movement come nov/dec
I bloody hope so.
Don't panic mate we will be back in 25
Hooker, 2nd row and a quick winger that's what we are missing imo
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