Eels Blogs

Jason Ryles was on the record saying that recruitment will happen but they are waiting to see how the market turns out. So what does he mean by that. Well look back no further than late 2019. Both RCG and Matterson were contracted with Penrith and Wests Tigers respectively long term. Things led to another and we were able to get both. RCG was signed til 2024 with Penrith and they didn't want a deal that long with new coaches in the joint. Matto had a deal til 2021 but hated Madge and wanted out, hell Terrell May came available out of nowhere this year. Things like this happen every year in some way. This is where Ryles i believe is coming from in that there could be better players coming available.

Many here are complaining about lack of signings or talk of signings and it is fair, i am frustrated myself. But at the same time, i mentioned this before the end of 2024, there is absolutely nothing in the market. But also lets be fair here, the club as all the other clubs have an idea of who could be available, hell would not be surprised if there are a list of a few they know that could be available. Agents talk, i had a TAFE lecturer, while doing Sports Management, that worked for an agency the dealt with NRL clients. He said clubs and agents find ways around the rules all the time. Can be as simple as ringing up about a client at a club and another player can sort of be mentioned, there are ways around it all the time. Same when journo's said nobody could talk to Galvin before he is released or given permission when Stevie Wonder himself could see he had discussions well before that situation with Wests Tigers happened. So i do think Parra would have an understanding of a few players that could be available. Look at a team like Cronulla, no money for Kennedy could look to free up cap. Teams like Gold Coast or even teams like Brisbane or Manly could have disgruntled players or looking for a cleanout.

Now Ryles has also hinted at youth, wanting to prioritise bringing juniors through the club to NRL. One thing i will say that goes against that is how much money we are saving up so fast. Not like we are getting rid of players over the space of 2-3 years and money comes up to make a big signing a year or so. We could have let Matto and Lane see out their deals, same with RCG and Gutho. Ofahengaue and Cartwright were off-contract anyway. But Ryles has decided to try and get cap space quickly, only reason i would suggest that is to make moves. NRL rules state a team must spend up to 97.7% of the cap for that year. What Parra can do if nothing happens on the market is make a host of one year deals with ok money, front end a few deals or upgrade contract for future and throw in an extra couple hundred thousand on the deal for 2026. So let's say we want to extend Kautoga on a 3 year deal til 2029 for an extra say $250k, we could do that and give him more money for 2026 as well. Then have similar amount available for 2027 to go again. Issue is Perth Bears coming in with PNG then able to make signings in November of 2026 makes it more difficult as talent begins to stretch. If we were going full blown junior route Ryles keeps the veteran players and they all leave after contract expiry. But pushing for it so fast indicates need. He also would have played juniors over veterans and let them see out their deals. Cartwright and Matto on about over $1.1mil together playing Cup.

Having that mixture of juniors and buying talent is key. The one thing we should not do and Ryles i believe knows this is just not spending for the sake of it. Look at the Wests Tigers, they for years bought poorly, flavour of the months, has beens and rookies who never lived up to potential. Then they work it out getting Luai, Turuva and May. But now could have undone it with Taylan May signing. But that is an example of waiting for what appears. We need a 6, don't just go and get Sandon Smith and say he will do when Jayden Campbell could be available. 

Though this process is also a risk as you could wait for teams to offload talent or talent wants to leave and no guarentees of getting them, then you are stuck with what you have for 2026 as we could go for Campbell, miss out and Smith is gone too. The one thing on our side in that situation is money, we have a lot of it. Most teams now would have majority of their top 30 sorted for 2026, with the money and spots left for fringe players. If a team wants to bring in someone who all of a sudden is available they would need to offload a player or two, again we can benefit as we could go for those offloaded as well. This process also is ballsy for Ryles as if he feels we need to wait for 2027 and we have a bad 2026 his head on the block. 

What Parramatta will try to do with the money is manipulate the market. What i mean by that is use our cap space to our advantage in a few way. Can offer a player more money than what they are currently on including starting spot. Can take a big contract off a club, like we did with RCG. Like if i was to provide a hypothetical scenario NAS in Melbourne is on $900k. Melbourne want to keep Papenhuyzen, Katoa, Coates, Blore, Meaney, Hughes, Wishart etc. That $900k can come in handy to re-sign a few of those off the bat. They also signed Josiah Pahulu as depth in the middle. Parra can take a portion of that deal off Melbourne, we get an enforcer and Melbourne get cap space. Just an example of what we can do with the money at our disposal.

If we can do any of those we are dictating the market to our advantage. We can be a scary proposition as the end of the season teams do not have a lot of money, except us. If Paulo does retire as rumours state then we have even more money. 

Parramatta will make at least 2-3 signings. The question is what type are they. Are they depth? Rookies? Or big names? Some of the names of late are Jayden Campbell (Not officially) and Tallyn Da Silva (who Parra have been mentioned as a suitor).