Sarantinos and O’Neill have to be held accountable for where this club currently sits. This isn’t about emotion—it’s about sustained poor decision-making in roster construction and contract management.
Over multiple seasons, the club has misallocated cap space, overcommitted to the wrong players, and failed to identify or secure genuine NRL-calibre talent. The volume of questionable contracts alone points to a deeper issue in recruitment strategy and long-term planning. When you consistently fill your top 30 with players who project as depth rather than difference-makers, the outcome we’re seeing now becomes inevitable.
What makes this more concerning is the advantage this club should have. With one of the strongest junior pathways in the competition and significant resources at its disposal, there is no structural reason to be in this position. Yet the roster Jason Ryles has inherited lacks balance, impact, and forward dominance. To his credit, there were signs of improvement late in 2025, but no coach can consistently succeed when the forward pack is being beaten week after week. Performance starts in the middle, and right now, that platform simply isn’t there.
The contrast with the work of Shane Richardson is stark. At the Tigers, there has been a clear strategy: identify emerging talent, recruit with intent, and add experienced leaders to stabilise the squad. The result is a roster that is trending upward and competing regularly. That’s what decisive and competent football management looks like.
By comparison, O’Neill’s tenure has been defined by costly missteps. The handling of the Dylan Brown contract, the three-year commitment to Ryan Matterson despite known durability and consistency concerns, and the failure to lock in key performers before they hit the open market all reflect a lack of foresight. These are not isolated errors—they indicate systemic issues in how the roster has been managed.
Now, as the CEO, Sarantinos carries the responsibility of setting standards and correcting course. However, the reality is he has inherited—and contributed to—a roster that lacks depth, has limited development pressure from below, and is overly reliant on players who would struggle to command spots in stronger systems.
At some point, accountability has to translate into action. This club should be operating with best-in-class recruitment, retention, and development. Right now, it isn’t. Until that changes at an administrative level, expecting Jason Ryles to turn this around on coaching alone is unrealistic.
Its time for Sarantinos to front the media and face the tough questions. Are they going to make Ryles the next scapegoat for their inept management? Im betting they will, whilst they keep their high paying jobs. Both can f off now
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This needs to be pushed everyday every week till it happens. I'm over it, I don't even care if we win 3 games. SACK O'Neill.
Chief, one of your best blogs ever.
I must absolutely say though that Ryles is the right choice as coach. The club and by extension the players must support him. I was impressed with some things from Ryles presser this afternoon, stating the fans well within their right to Boo, we got 50 put on us at our home.
I did not see spirit or fight. I'm not going to blame injuries.
When asked if we are in a position to recruit someone this year, Ryles said yes we are but the recruitment team would have to have look at that. mmmmmmmm
What I would like to hear in all this talk of sacking board members is a clear exposition of:
a) what measures will be put in place to ensure any changes at the Board level do not spiral into a repetition of the off field instability that harmed the club on and off the field a decade or so ago?
b) in calls for change, what protections will there be to continue the current isolation of football operations from internal leagues club matters?
c) assuming critique of football operations is NOT doing covert work to critique leagues club matters or achieve change in leagues club management, what specific changes in football operations are being demanded? Personnel? Processes?
I think few want a return to off field instability, which for about a decade dominated the Eels-related media cycle, and contributed to poor on field performance. So any inferences from "they're shit on field" (which is true) to change in "the club" should be very specific about leagues club, football operations, who, process?
Petition needs to be done this is embarrassing
Ben Rogers is head of recruitment, his name should be front and centre more than anyone.
Recruitment is definitely the issue. Lot of buying to be done
Ben Rogers is a dud
We do have a lot of injuries but even healthy we are still an average nrl side. Especially in the outside backs
YES. He needs to be punted. Peformance driven he has not delivered in his tenure. If we had 1.5M I would be chasing Panthers CEO Matt CAMERON. Onld Parramatta coach with Brian SMITH. He is top of the tree.
Sing it from the rooftops.
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