Hand on heart today's, the round five press conference was easily the best one we've had in 11 years, I have to admire Jason' openness, positive demeanor and honesty when responding and answering questions. Although we've had a rough month of footy, I confident lots of work behind the scenes has been done to improve our culture on and off the field.
I'm impressed with Jason backing Iongi and giving him the self belief to realise his potential - the young gun will prove to be prove to be our most important signing weve made in years. The team is gutsy, amongst the defeats we've had really solid periods in all games played minus the storm game.
Dylan Walker is a great signing, I'm totally surprised with his ball playing - he will be a thorn in the opposition side especially in the redzone, another weapon and point of attack. I thought Junior was also impressive, the energy between coach and captain was noticeably different and more connected .
Lomax after game interview was raw, emotional and gave us a glimpse into what's happening, we have a group of players that care about the fans and the club- in terms of coaching, there are really positive signs - less side to side attack and ball movement, straight and square running with ball in hand - we are attacking with more depth, finally we showed we can apply scoreboard pressure. Lots work and improvement left, all I see is a really well coached team eagar to learn, be courageous and work hard! We dug in and and got deserved! A hard fought win.
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Great post, Mick. Really well said, nailed it.
Agree Ryles presser was ultra impressive, he is an intelligent footy mind undoubtedly, and loved hearing about some actual strategies (Walker, Brown, Hopgood): he deserved that one, the players deserved that one & man, we deserved that one.
Iongi - he's going brilliantly & the mistakes / decisions will only improve. It's a tough position & a bit of a baptism of fire, but he's facing that challenge head on, putting himself into games at tough moments. Was stoked with his signing but even then was underestimating his passing ability.
He forces defences out of their structure with the way he moves & his ability to create space. His work rate is fantastic also as we saw with the second effort after a try saver on Gutho. Big future if he can stick to it.
Walker - I'll admit I wasn't sold, but, after watching that I get it 100%. He straightened the attack & did so at speed & gave DB so much more room to move. Been saying it for 2 years, but just telling Dylan to run isn't the answer, he did that in 24. He needs space and Walker provided a real change there. We also seemed to attack with depth & great shape, and most importantly, at speed?
That was the first time I felt there is some serious work being done in attacking shapes? Players getting more comfortable?
Defence - the big one. It's improving without a doubt. The Eels haven't held a team tryless for the last 33 minutes and won that game (ie - other team have out cue in the rack a few times) since 2023.
Mick, obviously a LONG way to go & we need some troops in specific positions, but we also have to enjoy the small wins right now & there was nothing small about how the Eels players earned that win.
When was the last time the Eels came back from 12 points down and won? I don't know but assume it's been a while. Speaks to mindset & resilience.
Great stuff, Mick. Onto the Raiders.
Cheers NOS ",team tryless for the last 33 minutes" nailed it what a telling abservation! Also, I forgot to mention Dylan Brown! I've been ruthless on him and deservedly so BUT yesterday has one of best individual performance is a long time and credit to him. I'm under illusions were still anchored to the bottom of the table - there' are positives to me and they are abvious, we have a great coaching set up, we can't understestmate Ryles and the squad ability to turn our fortunes around in less than 7 days! Speaks volumes are about the changing culture and what we are witnessing.
For sure, Micky.
Yours & many others criticism's of DB in 2025 have been more than fair imo also, but he was great yesterday, not only in his running & attack but his defence on Suli & Sua stopped a lot of Dragons shifts. That was the Dylan Brown some of us still see as a really, really big loss - I know yourself & many others will disagree & can respect that.
The concern being a lot of the work done over the next 3-4 months might have to start again next year on that edge, dependant on who wears the 6 jersey? I still don't believe we can enter 2026 with a rookie 5/8th, not with Iongi & Smith already learning their trade. Just opinion though.
Dylan is an Eel for 2025 & if we need him to put in that kind of effort & performance for the rest of the year. The young guys need that right now from him.
Just my opinion & love the blog mate, nice & positive, but also realistic, we all understand this is a long road ahead.
Thanks again NOS your a gentleman and know you know your footy!! I guess it depends on who's off contract and what available in our lower grades - if we can't recruit a suitable replacement then why not put Dean Hawkins at 7 and Moses back to 5/8? Sometimes the answers ly within our own ranks
Thanks & likewise, Mick. You have been unwaivering in your support of Ryles & this transition & it's great to see some genuine signs of what is being attempted.
Someone from within might be the go for 2026, Hawkins could even go to 6? But geez Mick, I am hoping Galvin is the one for 2027. I know it will be decent money, but what he brings is very rare imo. By then, honestly believe he will be a top 3/4 5/8th comfortably, and he, Iongi & Smith will all be over 50 games in & considering what they are showing in glimpses now, could be very good players by then.
1. Iongi. 6. Galvin. 7. Moses. 9. Smith - that spine has a lot of potential, imo.
NOS, good points mate. Six has a lot of balls in the air. Iongi is another potential six with even more potential than Brown imo.
Over the next 3-5 years or so, if he sticks at it, mid-20s and over his IQ playmaking will get even better. A one-to-six switch could be possible.
It could be a good move in his later 20s as his body matures and his congitive abilities speed up and mature, but his fast-twitch slow.
Agree NOS but there are things to consider - are the tigers on the improve or not? My gut feeling is not yet so that may play into our hands . I seriously don't see the tigers letting Galvin walk without an almighty fight, so prizing him off the tigers is a big task.The question about value is interesting and debatable, Moses has spent a lot time playing 5/8 and rate his running game , Hawko is a traditional half so something tells me it could work
HOE & Mick.
Fair points. Iongi looks like he could play 5/8th, but to me is just a very natural (modern day) fullback & like that he is getting this time (although hard no doubt) there now? Just my opinion though HOE, and as you say, could be a move for the future as he definitely looks to have the passing game for it.
Mick - fair mate, yep. Tigers might push that price too high.
As we chatted about the other day, the reason i'd be more inclined to pay for Galvin would be that I really see a potential halfback in him, moreso than DB & moreso than I ever saw in Jahrome Hughes, yet, he's killing it.
Just speculation though, could be wrong.
We definitely have options NOS, but the ultimate question is who is available? Hypothetically, we can go for an elite Fullback and slot Iongi into 5/8 - that potentially could a great combo Moses/Iongi - which player on the market that could unseat Iongi from his current position? I can't think of any at this point
The only ace up the sleeve is he was an Eels junior & big Eels fan growing up, Frankie.
And, to learn from Moses & become his heir.
It's weak, I know, but there is something to pitch to a kid who would've dreamt of leading the Eels to a Premiership.
But, im not as sold on the Tigers direction (yet) as yourself & many others on here seem to be, Luai as a halfback a reason for that.
Other option is to go into a bidding war & push the Tigers to pay as much as possible for Galvin, then take the Fainu brothers.
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