In the round 23 pre-game pressor, Jason Ryles has addressed Bailey Simonsson’s current absence from the Eels, confirming the club has granted the outside back a short leave. Simonsson, contracted until the end of 2027, has been dealing with a difficult run of injuries and is now the subject of release rumours.
“Bailey is being really well supported by the club and we will make sure he is OK,” Ryles said.
“Bailey made that decision to stay away for a couple of days, which we fully supported. He’ll get himself sorted and back into training as soon as he can. [But] I’m not going to elaborate on anything I speak with the players about.”
Ryles stressed the Eels are not pushing Simonsson out and that he could return as early as next week."
“(Wanting him here has) been communicated."
"It’s been a little bit of a shock, but it’s all footy and we have to manage players as best we can."
Injury Frustrations
Simonsson has endured a brutal injury toll. An ACL tear, a foot injury, and a shoulder problem suffered in the 2022 grand final (above, Getty Images).
Since Round 14 last year, he has missed 25 of the Eels last 31 games, appearing in just six over the past fifteen months.
He returned from his ACL in Round 6 this year and played some outstanding games. But injured his foot four games later. After recovering, he was dropped following the Round 20 loss to the Raiders.
That appears to have triggered frustrations along with whatever his personal reasons or agendas and has come with alleged multiple release requests according to media reports such as News Corp.
Simonsson has spoken of his preference to play on the wing (21 of his 101 NRL games) rather than centre, but was allegedly angered when departing utility Dylan Brown was picked ahead of him in the centres.
Brown's Team-First Mentality
Ryles heaped praise on Dylan's behind the scenes attitude:
“It’s exciting for him [the recall into the starting team]. He has been training hard. He has maintained a good attitude in and around the place."
“I said if circumstances and anything like that changed we would more than happily bring Dylan in. Things changed and an opportunity came up We found a spot for him"
“He has been really good in and around the group the whole time. He has a great attitude and team first mentality.”
Brown, who had the option to leave mid-season chose to stay. And he has willingly filled multiple roles for Ryles. Hooker, five-eighth, and now likely centre. All without complaint.
That's in stark contrast to Simonsson. And it's a sharp turn from what Simonsson said after signing a contract extension in August last year:
“I love this club and everybody involved in it. I feel at home here, so it was an easy decision for me to stay… I’m very grateful to the club for sticking by me through my injury and I’m keen to give back to them and our fans with my performances over the next three years.”
Ironic. One signed to leave but stayed. The other signed to stay, but now appears to want out. One taking the harder road, despite appearing all-out. The other the easier road, despite appearing all-in. For Dylan, the road ahead is clear. Not so for Simonsson. But Ryles, Jim and the club aren't afraid of letting players go of anyone not fully on the bus. Stay tuned.
Replies
Bailey won't play another game for this club. I think Ryles will welcome another spot being created and Bailey is just a fringe player imo. His ceiling was reached at Canberra
I reckon he could've gone on to be a Lomax style player if he wasn't always injured. Can't see that situation changing, his best is behind him.
Alot were saying pretty much the same about DB also so you never no.
Who knows Chiefy. Rylesy and Jim are down to earth and won't make rash decisions.
I like Simo, but not sure what happened to him. He acted very impulsively with a quasi-entitlement syndrome. He's not a teen. He's 28 around the corner.
Was there something in his waterbottle? Or personal reasons which have nothing to do with the club? Don't know. He's still managed by Orr, isn't he? Same as Brown, Lane, Greig, Matto, and Russell (gulp).
In how many other sports are player managers names generally known? How many of these manipulative media whore fief-lords do we have to deal with for our current team? I wonder if some clubs pay these fucking parasites on the side to whisper calming words to their fringe players, telling them to stay for less/bide their time.
Randy — good questions. A tough one. Darker forces are inescapable realities. It's a human thing. And player managers and the RLPA are here to stay.
Fortunately, us punters don't need to play ball nor get our hands dirty. But we expect results. And ironically, the way to get results is to get in bed with the Devil.
For example, say you wanted to get a player manager to push a few marquees your way (yippee). You need to scratch his and his kin's back (even get your club to hire a few), orchestrate a few funny buggeries, and perhaps even accept a few bad eggs of his. Based on a true story.
The PAs are no doubt following trends in other sports you see it as an example with Rich Paul LBJ and the Lakers up until this year because of the control LBJ has everything the club does went through his agent and the mentioned before any trigger was pulled.
LBJ even controlled the narrative around his salary how much he was willing to take or give up all dependent on the players they could put around him.
So I have no doubt outside of having rock solid hierarchy PAs wield power over clubs and with out the mentioned the clubs basically can't do much.They hold alot of leverage around the nrl make no mistake.
It seems a lot of the stories you read or hear in the media are 99.9% false and misleading regarding Eels players
There's zero consequences for making up a story with half or any facts.
There job is to keep the nrl current so you can mislead or flat out make shit up as much as you like and they get paid for it too.
Cumberland Eels — Spot on. Whatever is in the media is very hit and miss. Social media (gulp) is probably worse. Bwhaahaha.
Coryn — we'll need to partially disagree. Sure, negative stories true or not get the clicks, but I reckon there are real consequences if you tangle with the wrong people. Our game has hidden, higher forces with big sticks and deep pockets.
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