Ryles is doing fine with a half-priced roster

Ryles Winning with a $6 Million Roster

Jason Ryles is doing a phenomenal job at the helm of the Eels — and when you break it down, he’s doing it with a roster that’s worth just $6 million out of an $11.5 million salary cap.

That’s nearly half the value of many of our opponents.

Here’s a rough breakdown of the current squad he's working with

Iongi – $450k
Addo-Carr – $450k
Penasini – $550k
Russell – $280k
Lomax – $600k
Papalii – $180k
(Footy Dean) – $200k
Junior Paulo – $850k
Ryley – $170k
Williams – $460k
Kautoga – $200k
Tuilagi – $375k
Hopgood – $400k
Walker – $400k
Doorey – $300k
Lussick – $300k
Guymer – $300k

That’s approximately $6 million – and that might even be generous in a few cases.

Yet despite being undermanned on paper, Ryles' Eels have not only held their own, they've beaten the Dragons, Titans, Tigers, Manly, and Newcastle. They’ve also gone down narrowly to quality sides like the Sharks, Dolphins, Bulldogs, and Panthers — all in the last 10 rounds as the team adapts to Ryles' systems.

It’s clear: the coaching staff Ryles has assembled is doing a good job. With a full-strength roster and the cap space to build the squad he truly wants, look out. Parramatta is in seriously good hands.

Also, if we can get jag a win against the Dragons this Saturday then another 2 points with the bye up next, we'll have a host of players coming back from injury and suspension including

Moses, Sam Tuivaiti, Moretti, Bailey Simonsson, Ritchie penasini, Ryley Smith most of them due back after the bye.

A run for the 8 is not out of the question

I enjoy watching the eels again, as we can defend errors a lot better, and play an exciting style in attack so we need to celebrate the wins when they come, but I think many are getting carried away with the dreaded word potential. Yes there is young talent like Iongi and Smith along with others. There is also evidence of new attacking and defensive structures offering hope for the future but I think we are still a few years away from being a threat on consistent basis.

There has been plenty of years where we thought the future was bright only to be dealt the reality that we are Parra fans and footy doesn't have a happy ending as an eels fan.

The competition is very week this year but is starting to sort it self out and many teams in the 8 have more improvement in them as do the eels, but we are starting from a long way back. We are still a long way off being a top 8 side and salary cap space or not, it means nothing if we can't attract talent.

Just like many of our young players, Ryles is a coach with potential. We need quality players but what makes Ryles different to previous coaches and why will he succeed in attracting quality players who don't have injury worries or want well above market value.

"Ryles and his coaches are doing a great job with the players that have. Our attacking shapes are some of the best in the NRL and the defensive panic is gone, replaced by a fast line that pushes from the inside. Ryles has shown HOW he wants this side…"

"Great blog chief, agree Ryles managing the cap well but more importantly for me is the syle of play his exciting, great ball movement and the Ryles is hell bent on hurting on breaking down the opposition with our attack, hopefully Eels HQ land a…"

Ryles Winning with a $6 Million RosterJason Ryles is doing a phenomenal job at the helm of the Eels — and when you break it down, he’s doing it with a roster that’s worth just $6 million out of an $11.5 million salary cap.That’s nearly half the…

Replies

Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin June 23, 2025 at 8:41pm

One thing I wouldn't mind that we should be looking to extend Iongi past 2027. Id be hoping we start negotiations asap, and lock him in until 2030 at least

.
- Poppa > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin June 23, 2025 at 8:49pm
  
  Good luck trying to get the price right.
- Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin June 23, 2025 at 8:56pm
  
  I'd say that'd have to be on the cards . Another few months and we may very well be finding ourselves in another Galvin situation .
Aracom June 23, 2025 at 9:22pm

These low standards are the reason we will never will a premiership.
We are a C+ club at best. We do nothing but fill in the numbers
- Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him > Aracom June 23, 2025 at 9:33pm
  
  Agree.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin > Aracom June 23, 2025 at 9:47pm
  
  Yes and you wouldn't understand why we're in this position. and what's needed to get out of this rut. Nobody said the position the club is in at the moment is acceptable, it's the process that this blog is about
DDay June 23, 2025 at 9:49pm

Chief you are spot on, Ryles and his assistant coaches have changed the speed, the style and resilience with which we play.

It's a faster tempo, particularly in defence, fast moving defensive line, sliding defence and stronger kick chase. The style is almost the polar opposite to BA, rather than big forwards playing through the middle and wingers being found out of position, now the back 5 hit the ball up and the forwards are ready to set a fast defensive line. And resilient, we can actually defend our line for repeat sets now.

Interesting $ analysis on how much we're spending because Ryles seems more intent to select on attitude, mobility and hunger, compare Maddison's repeated non-selection with the relative success of Kitione.

Not sure what Ryles will want to do with the available cap $, he may have a bias for rookies rather than big name players...

Good blog.
- Bob Smith > DDay June 23, 2025 at 11:13pm
  
  The BA style was an embarrassment- outmoded, boring, predictable, slow, clueless in defence.
fake midget pseudoachondroplasia June 23, 2025 at 10:38pm

I enjoy watching the eels again, as we can defend errors a lot better, and play an exciting style in attack so we need to celebrate the wins when they come, but I think many are getting carried away with the dreaded word potential. Yes there is young talent like Iongi and Smith along with others. There is also evidence of new attacking and defensive structures offering hope for the future but I think we are still a few years away from being a threat on consistent basis.

There has been plenty of years where we thought the future was bright only to be dealt the reality that we are Parra fans and footy doesn't have a happy ending as an eels fan.

The competition is very week this year but is starting to sort it self out and many teams in the 8 have more improvement in them as do the eels, but we are starting from a long way back. We are still a long way off being a top 8 side and salary cap space or not, it means nothing if we can't attract talent.

Just like many of our young players, Ryles is a coach with potential. We need quality players but what makes Ryles different to previous coaches and why will he succeed in attracting quality players who don't have injury worries or want well above market value.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin > fake midget pseudoachondroplasia June 23, 2025 at 11:05pm
  
  Good post fm

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