Jason Ryles takes on the most challenging job in the NRL with the rookie coach assuming the mantle after the dismissal of Brad Arthur.
Within the walls of Parramatta itself and the fan base, optimism is spreading due to a mix of both freshness with the club's first new coach in 10 years, and some of the visible moves and changes that have occurred since Ryles was appointed in mid-2024.
Expectations of fans will be high, especially given the presence of high quality halves in Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown, the recruitment of Australian outside back Zac Lomax and the return of J'maine Hopgood from injury.
But outside Parramatta, expectations will likely be low. New head coaches, especially rookies, are often given a pass during their first season in charge.
Case in point, Benji Marshall overseeing a 3rd consecutive wooden spoon for the Tigers with barely a whisper about the security of his position.
While the club itself won't be taking note of noise from the outside, it does provide an opportunity for Ryles and his team to surprise.
No doubt plenty will be made and has been made regarding his recruitment and retention decisions.
But ultimately this is Ryles' chance to really show the way forward with the pressure effectively off.
He walks into a club at an interesting point in time. They boast some bona fide elite players who have been to the top of the game, an exciting crop of young recruits and juniors, while still having some experienced heads.
He's not quite walking into what Craig Fitzgibbon did at Cronulla, but he's also not walking into a dumpster fire.
From everything Ryles has said and done, he's clearly looking for a lift in performance and change in culture.
But with the outside pressure off, does 2025 serve as a chance for Ryles to hone his side, or will he be able to surprise the competition and catapult the Eels back into the finals?
Replies
I disagree about the outside pressure being off just because he's in his 1st year as coach. I doubt he'll be thinking that anyway.
I guarantee you the knives will be out if after 10 weeks we have less than 40% winning ratio. The die hards on this site will be getting anxious.
I think Ryles has done a great job in trying to tweak the roster in order to firstly bring it up to modern standards, but also an attempt to instil some pride n the club. Will this be enough to get us back into finals? Only time will tell, but if we stay relatively injury free and maintain focus, there is no reason we can't be a top 4 team.
Can I ask, how does telling your most passionate player that he is free to join a rival in 2025 (and for which we'll likely have to pay a huge chunk of his salary) do anyting for 'instilling pride' in the club?
If the club doesn't want to extend Gutho's contract post 2025, there's no need to broadcast it to the world, and if his manager is running around spreading rumours that the club are allowing him to "explore other options", you come out and say, "Gutherson is a contracted and required player for 2025". As it stands, if we offload him now, St George get the benefit of his talents for half price (and we pay the other half) and with the money we save, we get nobody of any use because nobody's of any use is available.
It's just fucking dumb!
It's the right move for both Gutho and the club.
Bourbon man, it was Gutherson who asked for the opportunity to search elsewhere, and if the club aren't looking to sign him beyond 2025, why should they stand in the way.
Can you really see the dragons offering Gutherson a 3 year deal
And another thing, Parramatta will be paying zero towards Gutherson signing elsewhere
Absolutely right BM, instills zero pride and loyalty in current players and instills zero pride in me (and over a span of many many years of support by myself through shit years I've never felt that way before) This is a horrible decision by the club. Does nothing but show poor class! The club should come out with some spiel to rectify how this looks tbh.
reckon it's gonna have an effect on us being able to sign established players and when our new crop want to sign elsewhere no one should complain!
if it's ok for us to get rid of our most passionate and willing player we've had in years (everyone knows this) we have to expect to be treated the same.
no one would expect a huge contract for further two years fr Guts but it's a shit way to let him go when he is still needed. If his injuries take a toll on him having to retire there's always players insurance. We frighin did that with useless watmough haha
fucking dumb !
What has the club done. Why should we be pressured into signing Gutherson for 26 and 27 right away?
From reports all we have done is told him that we aren't offering a contract for 2026 (yet). Ryles wants to see what kind of role he can play moving forward, so any future contract offer will depend on that. If Gutho and his manager want to explore their options now instead, that is their right. The club has done nothing wrong here as far as I can see.
Correct.
Chief, the Club can keep Gutho and take a look during 2025 and then make a decision moving forward.
Nothing needs to happen now, at least publicly, and if Gutho wants to leave, that's a matter for him.
As it stands, the optics of treating a club warrior is poor. And if we pay a cent for him to play for a rival next year, it will be a grave error.
I think with the roster we have (not taking into account any new signings not announced) and a 1st year rookie coach, next season is a bit of a write off.
Unfortunately, we won't be a force until 2026 when a lot of quality players become available.
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