RYLES’ PATH TO BLAIZE OF GLORY
The only thing which surprised me about Jason Ryles being appointed Parramatta coach, was how long the Eels board took to make the decision.
The fact the Melbourne Storm anointed Ryles as the person to succeed the iconic Craig Bellamy says everything about his credentials.
The Eels have lucked out with Bellamy deciding to coach on. As if he wasn’t going to continue. I can’t see Craig getting satisfaction from working the garden and collecting stamps.
Waiting for Bellamy and Bennett to retire is like leaving the porch light on for Harold Holt. You see what I did there?
That wonderful Jack Gibsonism deserves a new home after Cronulla turned off the light.
The Storm will release Ryles from his contract at the end of this week so he can begin preparations for his new role as Eels head coach.
ROSTER, ATTITUDE & STYLE PROBLEMS
For the Melbourne assistant it is a must – there’s a hell of a lot of planning to be done if the Eels are to re-establish themselves as a finals team.
The general belief is that Ryles is inheriting a strong roster. I’m not so sure.
It’s a good-looking roster on paper and in reputation, but there are several key players who have faded significantly this year.
Now, it’s a little difficult to work out exactly why, is it the date on the birth certificate? Or the fact they needed a change of coach and system of play? Maybe it’s both.
Parramatta’s middle defence is of primary concern. No team has been torn to shreds through the centre field more than the Eels.
The defensive performance against the Dolphins in round 7 is the clearest example.
The Eels led 8-4 at halftime, at fulltime it was 44-16 to the Redcliffe men.
In the first half, Parramatta had 52 per cent possession, completed 20 of 24 sets (83 per cent) and enjoyed 58 per cent of the territory.
In the second stanza, Parramatta had just 42 per cent possession, with just eight of their 11 sets completed and 44 per cent territory.
I’ve rarely seen a defensive collapse like it.
Fatigue? Attitude? Both.
Change is needed, a change of defensive system, a change of attitude and a change of personnel.
The problem for Ryles is the difficulty of turning over key parts of the roster. There’s not a lot of talent on the market to start with and they’re competing for signatures with powerhouse clubs such as the Sydney Roosters, who have a truckload of money freed up to spend, and Wayne Bennett’s South Sydney, who equally need changes in personnel to become a title contender.
BLAIZE A NEW ROLE FOR GUTHO
So, if there’s not going to be a solid roster turnover, there needs to be a change of system, a refreshing of style and some key positional switches.
Ryles needs to keep Blaize Talagi. He should pitch a tent outside Blaize’s house and refuse to move on until he pledges his future to the Eels.
He’s crucial because he’s central to the changes I would look to make.
Clint Gutherson has arrived at the junction that many fullbacks do, including Darren Lockyer. The physical demands of fullback take a heavy toll on players who’ve held the position over a long period of time.
Fullbacks are at the mercy of aggressive kick chases, no position endures as much high-speed collision like the No.1s. Lockyer shifted to five-eighth to prolong his career and I’d do the same with ‘Gutho’.
BIGGER SWITCH FOR DYLAN BROWN
At the very least, I would experiment with Talagi at fullback, Gutho at six, Mitchell Moses at seven and Dylan Brown at 13.
The obvious challenge for Brown would be the defensive toll of being a middle defender, but he doesn’t need to defend in the centre field.
In the 1990s, the lock was an edge defender. The 13 and the six would both defend third-man-in from the touchline, on either side of the field. That’s exactly how I would place Brown in the defensive line.
As far as attack, the No.13 role would completely free up Brown, not being nailed down to one side of the field, which most halves systems enforce.
I’d allow Brown to float around the field in a maverick role, picking and choosing his moments, with an onus on run-first, pass-second football. These changes would naturally bring a new formula, which is needed because the current one ain’t working.
For Ryles this is a dream job – the Eels are a huge club with a loyal supporter base desperate for title success.
On the flip side, that brings pressure. He knows he can’t waste time sitting behind a desk in Melbourne, he has to get to work.
Replies
I agree Guthos days at the back are over but if I was going to move a player to 13 it would probably be Gutho not Brown. Gutho is a slightly bigger body, he's actually a surprisingly big unit in person, and his middle carries and post contact metres are good when he does those middle runs on the 4th tackle that are in vogue for fullbacks these days. He's a good strong defender too. He could almost play a Isaah Yeo type role. Yeo started in the outside backs.
Sorry Michael, I know some experts have said the same, i just do not get the whole Gutho to Lock call. He's a solid defender for a Fullback but defending on the front line all game? He can barely move as it is and you want to slow down our middle with Gutho there?
Each to their own opinion, but defending at Lock is a lot different to Fullback, especially if you have never played there.
Brown on the other hand could handle the middle as he is used to making 20-30 tackles a game at times.
I'd sooner move Gutho there than our gun 6, I don't think that's a good idea. Although Johns is talking about him playing more like a second 6 rather than a traditional modern 13 role. In that sense it probably wouldn't matter what jersey number you put on Gutho and brown as they would be playing a very similar role.
No matter where you play Gutho now if it's not fullback he's defending in the front line mate
Defending at Lock is way different then defending at Centre or Five-Eighth. Would you put Penisini at Lock? No. I understand playing like a second Five-Eighth but he is still defending in the middle. Bigger bodies targeting him non stop where at Fullback he can stop them but what 2-3 times a game? Would he be able to stop Payne Haas for 15-20 straight? It is similar to when people just say put a player at Fullback or Hooker cause they can run, but there is more to it than that, same with Lock it can be a simple position but that bridge Lock, like Hayward or McInnes plays at Dogs and Sharks can work with Gutho in attack, but those players are betting in defence for longer periods
Gutho's body is deteriorating at our solution is to move him to the middle of the field? Not about the front line, its middle of the field. Gutho as a 14 playing Lock for 10-15? Maybe but I do not want to pay $950k for a 10-15min player most weeks. Yeah $950k too much for a Centre too but at least he's on the field for full 80.
As for Brown, I would move him either, just saying that call makes a little more sense, since he is a good defender and can transition quicker.
If it's mobility you are concerned about trust me last place you want him defending is at centre. Gutho is the fittest bloke at the club he's played plenty of 6 for us.
He's definitely still effected by the knee but he's only 30 - not 35. He may lack that sharpness to play fullback but he's mobility wouldn't be an issue at 13
Defence Michael, in general you honestly think Gutho would be able to make 30-35 tackles in the middle? I do not want him at Centre either for that reason. I did not say to put him at Centre, used the price tag as an example. Ok played plenty of 6, how does that show he would be able to defend in the middle? Added to that he has not played 6 since 2018, defending at 6 is not as physically taxing since you are not defending against the bigger Prop and Lock forwards of the game. He is the fittest, does not mean he can defend in the middle. You do not only need to be fit, you need to be stronger too. Gutho's body would not be able to stand playing in the middle. How many Fullbacks in the past have gone onto being a Lock? Not talking Centres or Five-Eighths, im talking Fullbacks? Hardly any if any, none that i can think of. You may have the odd player that is a Utility that plays Fullback and in the middle but not a full-timer. Now i did say Brown moving to Lock, which i also do not condone so do not use that against me, makes more sense because he is a better defender. Now you will say he is a Five-Eighth you said doesn't mean he can move to Lock, but his defence effort is above and beyond to the point where he is making up to 25-30 tackles at 6 which is not very common. It will take time for him to be a proper comfortable Lock but it would take long with his defence being that good. Gutho was fine at 6 but was not as good as a defender as Brown, not many are in the comp at the position.
He is 30 but his body is like that of a 35 year old it seems. Mobility in attack i think he will be ok at, it is defence in the middle that is an issue, has been all year and you are going to put someone who not only has never played there for long periods of games before but at the back end of their career also? I understand the point of say Ponga in Origin coming on as that roving player in the middle but that is for short stints. Gutho on the bench at all is a waste as most want him for his leadership, but sitting on the bench for pretty much 3/4 of the game ain't going to do anything.
We need to fix our defence and a suggestion is to put someone there who has never played there before nor defended in the middle before? If they have it is for short periods of the game. Honestly with the likes of Leniu, Haas, AFB, JFH and the likes running at him, do you honestly feel he will last? His limited mobility as it is makes it worse.
I just feel this shoe horning Gutho in for the sake of it is not a good thing at all. I understand he is a great leader and defensively at Fullback he has saved us a lot. But his days at Fullback are more likely done unless he gets a second wind in his knees. But Centre is tough since both Lomax and Penisini will be the Centres, cannot put him at Wing due to him not being fast enough or big really to make an impact. Cannot put him at 6 as we have Brown. Bench can work but do you want a $950k bench player? And if his leadership is the main reason for keeping him around, what is the point if most of the game he is not on the field? The best option to be fair is possibly leaving him at Fullback for the year, really it is. That could be more ideal with putting Talagi in Cup at 1 and have him ready for 2026.
Gutho out of every single player at Parramatta is the hardest decision for Ryles since there does not seem to be much upside, but has a massive price tag and is massively respected by fans and players so you are walking on egg shells if a tough decision is to be made.
You make fair points but I think he could handle it. He's a competitor and he's handled any position he's been asked to play. Won't know until it's tried I guess. I don't think he's totally busted, I'm saying he is probably done at fullback but hes still been probably our best player over the past month
Everyone who wants Gutho, Talagi, or Dylan at 13, where's Hopgood going? Prop? Second-row? Bench? I would've thought Hopgood was the least of our troubles and one of our best. Middle-trench warfare is hard business, long-term, week in, week out.
I don't think he is totally busted yet either, he still has something to offer and if we didn't have Brown I would think 6 is perfect for him right now.
You are right in that no harm in trying, he would give it a red hot crack as that's the player he is. If only we had 17 players with Gutho's heart.
As a utility back? Maybe, not to fill in at Lock or Hooker really as if a Hooker goes down early i do not trust him there for most of the game. He makes good runs in the middle but that is due to not doing work in defence that gets him fatigued quicker. Put him at Hooker or Lock that fatigue sets in quicker.
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