Eels Blogs

Replies

• 

  Axel September 27, 2026 at 1:55pm

  

  I think one the reasons for extending Ryles would be to provide more certainty to those looking at signing with the club come Nov 1st.
  Having Ryles signed long term, beyond '28, might give the club a better chance at securing a couple of major signings. 

  I am also hoping the club would have some performance reated clauses to ensure the coach is fulfilling his KPI's.
  • 

    Poppa > Axel September 27, 2026 at 2:09pm

    You people may find this extract from AI research as interesting;

    While the forum quote slightly conflates the details—the "Saints" in question refers to the St George Illawarra Dragons (commonly nicknamed the Saints in the NRL), rather than the English Super League club St Helens (where Mike Rush was actually the long-serving CEO)—the core of the story is widely documented: 

    • The 2023 Dragons Negotiations: In mid-2023, Jason Ryles was the absolute frontrunner to take over as the head coach of the St George Illawarra Dragons. He famously walked away from a lucrative five-year contract offer at the eleventh hour. 
    • The Mike Rush Demand: Reports and rugby league insider circles (such as discussions tracked on LeagueUnlimited and 1Eyed Eel) revealed that during intense negotiations, Ryles demanded significant control over the football department. His absolute top target to bring across to run the overarching football department/CEO role was Mike Rush, who was managing St Helens at the time. 
    • The Board's Refusal: The Dragons' board strictly pushed back against letting a incoming coach hand-pick his own administrative boss. When they refused to accommodate this demand, Ryles ultimately chose to decline the job and stay with the Melbourne Storm before eventually signing with the Parramatta Eels for 2025.

    With the Parramatta Eels recently holding high-level talks with Mike Rush following the departure of Jim Sarantinos, this historical relationship has resurfaced as the primary reason why Rush has become a leading contender for the executive opening at Parramatta

     

    My read on this is that the Rush situation had been arising since the group got together during the last English Tour and these things were talked about..... I beieve that Saratinos was heavily involved in the process and indicated he was in his last year, Saratinos always reckoned and understood that Parra was light in this area. 
    • 

      Axel > Poppa September 27, 2026 at 2:43pm

      The Mike Rush scenario might be real - I don't know, and neither do you. But if I'm a player looking at signing for the '28 season and beyond, I'd want to know that Ryles will be there for at least 2 years. 
      • 

        Poppa > Axel September 28, 2026 at 8:47am

        

        Agreed Axel, I had not even heard of Mike Rush before this/these discussions took place.

        LB Intimated the Mike Rush scenario and when I checked it through AI, it reinforced that story but it should be noted AI is just an information gatherer and as such has gathered from the same sources of social media which we read on here....i.e. no specific clarification from what I would regard as trustworthy or alternatively compelling sources.

        Interesting question arises, is it better to know something or nothing....fake news is unfortunately a day in our lives in todays society.
• 

  Bubba j September 27, 2026 at 4:44pm

  It makes sense if Rush is coming he would have more control than he does now do get players he wants and not the moneyball he has had to.put up with so far I think he can coach but the side we have is wooden spoon material with a decent roster I think he would go well