In his brief first grade coaching career, Jason Ryles has made a habit of making the tough calls while backing his troops to get the job done.
He kicked off his stint by allowing club captain and NRL veterans Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard to sign longer deals elsewhere, putting his faith in the next generation.
In round one he looked to rookies in Ryley Smith and Sam Tuivaiti, calling them off the bench for their debuts. As soon as Smith showed he was up to the rigours of the NRL, he was handed the starting job.
His faith in Kitione Kautoga was repaid as the rough and raw Fijian backrower began developing into a threatening edge forward before an untimley (and illegal) injury, while Charlie Guymer has gone from bench forward to staking his own claim in the back row.
Likewise Luca Moretti has put his own case forward to be a regular in the forward pack.
But perhaps the best example of Ryles backing his instincts and his players has been the selection of Joash Papalii. The livewire fullback received his debut off the bench to slot into the backline after a mid-game concussion for Will Penisini.
Since then Ryles hasn't shied away from picking the youngster on the bench, at five-eighth and now at fullback.
Throughout the season Ryles has repeated the need for patience as the young Eels get used to the rigours of week-to-week NRL, but has also clearly set standards and a need for every player to "play for the badge".
This has been no more demonstrated than his handling of Dylan Brown's decision to join Newcastle. Relegated from the side when Ryles deemed it time to assess his longer term 5/8 options, injuries have again hit the Eels back line. Brown maintained he wanted to finish the season with the Eels and has played at hooker and now at centre without complaint. At the basis of those decisions were Brown's willingness to change positions and continue to represent the club that give him a chance as a teenager.
Contrasting that was the reported decision from Bailey Simonsson to request a release when selection decisions went against him. It's hard to see a way back for him when his conduct has been in direct contradiction to the "playing for the badge" ethos Ryles is looking for.
Ryles has constantly backed his decisions and by extension his players to rise to the occasion and perform when called upon.
At the centre of this change in attitude or the "Kaizen" as HoE has mentioned previously, is the buy in from the senior players, particularly Mitchell Moses, who extended his contract to virtually the end of his career in early 2025 and whose presence on the field lifts his teammates while he demands a higher level of play.
We've seen more experienced coaches hesitant to truly commit to a new generation of player, preferring to stick with what they know.
But what is known in rugby league is that if you're standing still, you're going backwards fast.
Ryles wants players that are on the bus. No, not Ivan Cleary's Tigers bus, but Jack Gibson's bus.
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Those young players you mentioned have come on in leaps and bounds this season, and it's clear that this has Ryles fingerprints all over it. Moretti was probably our best forward last night, and if his development continues to improve he can be anything he wants. These blokes will have the confidence of an NRL season behind them for next year, and already they have taken the game to top teams. There are still a lot of issues to sort out, but judging by the speed of change this season, I have confidence that Ryles will have the team ready to compete as a genuine top 8 team next year.
At the start of the season people were questioning us release Gutho and backing Iongi. By the mid-year point Iongi was shortlisted for rookie of the year and being spoken about as a possible Queensland fullback in the future.
As long as we continue to see progression specially round the errors and middle defense contact mainly less bodies lying in the ruck and winning contact.I think we are a chance.
What the roster really needs is a running 6 a strike centre and mongrel in the foward pack we got JDB coming he'll help but I'd love to see a Jayden Sua Cory Horsborough type just a guy with some edge to them.Then I'd throw us right in the mix with anyone.
Really want to see if we are good enough to finish the season on a run.
We desperately need need some mongrel.
EA what do we have coming through aggression wise, do we have anyone in the lower grades that levels the opposition, someone prepared to take on a pack alone.
Aggression is the missing ingredient in alot of our young forwards coming through , it'd be great to have a young bull come into grade ready to take on the big dogs.
From what I saw of Moretti last night, he could potentially offer some of that Mongrel. He's still young, but I like what I saw.
If Moses stays fit, otherwise it'll be another long and painful year.
Hey Super, do you have a side hustle as JRs publicist? 😂🤣
Agree with what you have written though. Happy with the attitude displayed by the team on most occasions this year. Effort is definitely there, now we just need some results.
I should send him an invoice.
Honestly though, I'm just glad we have a coach right now prepared to take risks to win games. Sometimes that will back fire. But playing it safe ultimately led to the end of Brad Arthur.
Great read, Super. Ryles has impressed. Credit to the Club too. We’re likely the most internally aligned since the Smith era. But it’s still early, and results will tell the final story.
Paulo unfortunately seems to be past his good times. If we can get another (a couple maybe) big and strong forward that can really bend the line and gain valuable metres, then we will be a very good team.
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