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

The reason I gave you this hypothetical was to point out that we are only 3 good signings away from a top 4 side pushing for a premiership. If you look at Payne Haas 1st, it's ridiculous to suggest we should sign him. Too much to get him here, too risky (props longevity is scarce look at Daniel Safiti, 3 years ago probably best prop in the game now busted) and it throws our cap out of whack for a guy that's not a playmaker. Now what we can do is try and replicate his output in 1.5 player in the forward rotation and this is where the money ball comes in eg. JP 120 metres plus Kamikamika (replace Kamikamika with any potential signing just an example) 130 metres = 250 metres job done. We need to make sure our forward pack can benchmark against the best packs on the ladder. The best hope for a top shelf prop is to develop one like a Tuivati

Katoa, this is where I spend my money, he is so talented and constantly menaces defensive lines. Throw the kitchen sink at him. Great prospect for long term life after Moses and can easily take the lead when Moses is injured. Priority for me. Not impossible just gotta try

As for centre, Ryles and the coaching staff have shown what they can do with a bloke with limitations in Russell. One thing is for sure Ryles can coach. Obviously Russell is no world beater, but damn he's been pretty darn good defensively this year. Imagine what they good do with someone with real talent. Whether that's the guys coming through in R Penisini or a Cobbo/Jojo Fifita or Iro or whoever else out there that might be available. I do think MON and Ryles need to be a little more active in trying to upgrade our squad with a couple more quality 1st graders rather than relying solely on developing players.

"Awesome... love to see them operate like Drew and PJ used to. 20 min stints, always a fresh DH on the field and one can go longer if we get an injury in the forwards while the other covers the injury. A middle, an edge and ideally someone who can…"

Replies

- - - - Angry Eel > Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him June 25, 2025 at 7:32am
        
        The reason I gave you this hypothetical was to point out that we are only 3 good signings away from a top 4 side pushing for a premiership. If you look at Payne Haas 1st, it's ridiculous to suggest we should sign him. Too much to get him here, too risky (props longevity is scarce look at Daniel Safiti, 3 years ago probably best prop in the game now busted) and it throws our cap out of whack for a guy that's not a playmaker. Now what we can do is try and replicate his output in 1.5 player in the forward rotation and this is where the money ball comes in eg. JP 120 metres plus Kamikamika (replace Kamikamika with any potential signing just an example) 130 metres = 250 metres job done. We need to make sure our forward pack can benchmark against the best packs on the ladder. The best hope for a top shelf prop is to develop one like a Tuivati
        
        Katoa, this is where I spend my money, he is so talented and constantly menaces defensive lines. Throw the kitchen sink at him. Great prospect for long term life after Moses and can easily take the lead when Moses is injured. Priority for me. Not impossible just gotta try
        
        As for centre, Ryles and the coaching staff have shown what they can do with a bloke with limitations in Russell. One thing is for sure Ryles can coach. Obviously Russell is no world beater, but damn he's been pretty darn good defensively this year. Imagine what they good do with someone with real talent. Whether that's the guys coming through in R Penisini or a Cobbo/Jojo Fifita or Iro or whoever else out there that might be available. I do think MON and Ryles need to be a little more active in trying to upgrade our squad with a couple more quality 1st graders rather than relying solely on developing players.
    - Mick aka Supreme Leader > Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him June 24, 2025 at 12:20am
      
      The premiership ladder doesn't lie BUT we well ahead of schedule imo - like I said in another the systems and style of play is the priority, in saying that Ryles and Eels HQ must land a few big signings if not then our reality will be the bottom half of the 8.
  - Hector > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin June 24, 2025 at 9:06am
    
    Agree
- Bob Smith > Uncle Wizardssleeve- Indigenous Elder-Freemason Hunter -He/Him June 23, 2025 at 11:04pm
  
  BA had about another $5 million worth of players and we were playing for the spoon. 3/4 of the current team are Neville Nobodies, yet are more consistent.
  - Mick aka Supreme Leader > Bob Smith June 24, 2025 at 5:54am
    
    BA was an average coach, one dimensional and was more interested in keeping players loyal to him instead of the club - that's why clowns like Gutho, RCG, Cartwright, Brown couldn't to wait to accept other offers BA is so average he'd struggle to coach the harlem Globetrotters...11 seasons was a total waste of time, money and he created no legacy...glad the dope left our club.
    - Bob Smith > Mick aka Supreme Leader June 24, 2025 at 11:07pm
      
      Yep
  - Mick aka Supreme Leader > Bob Smith June 24, 2025 at 5:55am
    
    BA was an average coach, one dimensional and was more interested in keeping players loyal to him instead of the club - that's why clowns like Gutho, RCG, Cartwright, Brown couldn't to wait to accept other offers BA is so average he'd struggle to coach the harlem Globetrotters...11 seasons was a total waste of time, money and he created no legacy...glad the dope left our club.
    - Poppa > Mick aka Supreme Leader June 24, 2025 at 8:38am
      
      Say it again Mickey, I am very happy about Ryles and the job he is doing and what he has achieved so far.
      
      To say BA was a waste for 11 seasons is unfair. He came in and did a very necessary job, ideally he would have finished around the 2020 mark but covid and then the fluke of making the GF in 22 caused the unpleasant memories combined with the nepotism situation. I believe that BA lost the room in 22 and only got it back because the players realised they were damaging themselves.
      
      I will always think fondly of what BA achieved in that 6/7 year period.
      
      With regard to this blog, it is pertinent and worth saying but I cannot help myself to say that the author most certainly is bi-polar.....his hatred of BA is only matched for his love affair with JR.
      
      What a shame Chiefy that you cannot me more balanced when you express your love and hate for all things coachy. LOL
      - Mick aka Supreme Leader > Poppa June 24, 2025 at 9:13pm
        
        Why is it unfair? Good coaches don't leave a club in a hot mess..BA was given a lot of time to develop a system, culture over many years but was exposed badly is finals game - the GF against the panthers was over before it began.BA struggling for an NRL role doesn't surprise me
        
        Coryn Hughes > Mick aka Supreme Leader June 25, 2025 at 1:35am
        
        DEs Hasler disagrees he doesn't leave one club in a mess he's upto his third and the GC are still a hot mess.
        
        Yes Des was a premiership winning coach.
        
        Anthony Seibold here's another one whose seemingly leaving cow pooh every step he's taking.
        
        Justin Holbrook good coach again what's he done here his coaching credentials must have been left in ESL.
        
        Theres limited jobs in the NRL so when you say the last coach is struggling for a role so was our own JR it's not as though the club beat the door down for this guy not only did McEldope come on TV and tell the world we wanted Bennett we then tried to make Bellamy the richest coach in nrl history and got denied and then settled for JR hardly a compliment to the last mentioned.