New Parramatta coach Jason Ryles is on the verge of securing a significant signing after agreeing terms with Sharks forward Jack Williams from next season.
Ryles has been in negotiations with Williams for several weeks and on Tuesday managed to land his man, agreeing to a three-year deal that will see Williams join the Eels until at least the end of 2027.
Williams is expected to push for a starting position next year following the release of former prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard from the final year of his deal. His strengths suit the style of football Ryles wants the Eels to play in 2025.
The Sharks wanted to keep Williams but salary cap restraints, and a surfeit of forward talent at their disposal, restricted their spending capacity and limited his pathway.
The 28-year-old has played 124 games since debuting for the Sharks in 2018 and came off the bench in Cronulla’s preliminary final loss to Penrith last weekend.
The Eels have also signed South Sydney Dean Hawkins as a back-up play-making option and are in discussions with Bulldogs outside back Josh Papalii.
Replies
Really good signing. I would play him on an edge, defensively very strong and he is mobile.
My back row next year would be Williams, Matto and Hopgood. Three very mobile and defensively sound backrowers. Lane to transition into the front row.
I really think we need to shore up our edge defence. To many teams carved us up on the edges this season. Williams and Matto would be our two best edge defenders, plus very capable attacking threats.
For me moving Lane into the front row with Paulo, Joe O and possibly Hopgood ( if Gutho comes on and plays decent minutes at Lock, as Ryles has suggested ) I think the balance of the pack is better.
Cartwright could spend time at Lock if needed. Tuilagi to cover an edge.
We are fortunate that Matto, Williams, Hopgood and Carty can all play big minutes, which should give us a better rotation through the middle and keeping our middle forwards a bit fresher.
Kobe Hetherington in talks with the west tigers according to David Ricco
Kobe not going anywhere he is staying at the broncos,
Good signing all in keeping with Ryles plan to have leg speed in the middle and across the park really
This is the missing link, we have been crying out for a edge forward to play to this "game plan".
Another reason to get more speed into our backs, just imagine JAC looming up after he makes a break off the edge. I say JAC because I doubt any of our backs from last year would keep with him.....this is why you have finisher's like JAC and it becomes so important when playing against the lessor sides, who we traditionally have to grind against. These type of players put lessor teams to the sword. Something we have not been able to do in the BA era post Ramrada leaving.
Is anyone else loving the vibe from the club at present? Ryles has been such a good addition, completely changed the landscape. Under the BA regime we were bland and predictable and only a matter of months ago I had already written off 2025. Fast forward to now the right players are been recruited and our team is being transformed into what it should be. I know we haven't even finished with this year but I'm really looking forward to see what we've got next year. Jack Williams is an excellent signing.
Couldn't agree more, Adam. Really well said.
I think we all had some hesitations / fears with Ryles, and obviously it's very early days, but as you said one huge difference we can bank on for 2025 is it will be 'different', and that is genuinely exciting after so many years of being one dimensional (which at times worked, for sure, but ran it's course indefinitely).
Must admit, im 50/50 on Jack Williams, he makes a lot of errors & seems to do so at crucial times.
But, he is an excellent defender, pretty quick for his size & very agile, and absolutely love hearing that 'his strengths suit the style Ryles wants the Eels to play in 2025’.
Surely he can clean up the handling errors for JW & then he becomes an excellent signing?
Ryles clearly has a strategy around a more agile & quicker moving middle, it's so refreshing hearing comments like this, he has shown a propensity to being innovative & that is again, exciting.
Bring on 2025.
I think handling issues can definitely be worked on during the offseason. No one is too old to learn, and I am sure Ryles has exactly this in mind.
The changes at the club do all seem to point towards a positive, but this should only be the start. The club needs to have a vision of where they want to be in the near and mid term future. Ryles certainly seems to be on board with this, which is great to see. I'm excited at the possibilities for next season.
Yep, aboslutely, plus if you are going to try & improve a players weakness, handling is a far better area than say speed / agility or defence.
It certainly sounds like there is a decent plan for going forward Longfin, early days of course, but all signs are positive so far.
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