As we head into June and not far off the middle of the season, attentions really begin to look at 2027 rosters across the NRL.
So far the club has signed a very good talent in Jayd'n Sua. He has played 6 origin games for Queensland (last in 2024) and 10 internationals for Samoa. At 28 years of age he has the potential to continue his representative type form which no doubt we can benefit from. The club has done good here.
But from this signing it does appear from the outside looking in, this is where it stops. At this time, the Eels are losing the following at the end of this season and or these players have not been resigned yet.
Jonah Pezet, Sean Russell, Te Hurinui Twiddle, Toni Mataele, Ryan Matterson, Junior Paulo, Richard Penisni, Will Penisni, Jake Tago, Kelma Tuilagi, Ronald Volkman and Dylan Walker. We could possibly include the loss of Zac Lomax at the start of this year as well, and at a push Dylan Brown last year hasn't been replaced. (Money or talent wise).
So far, our signings have been very very slow almost non existant. Our next big name Junior to be talked about is 5/8 Lorenzo, even he hasn't scored a full time contract with the Eels yet. His contract is a development contract only till 2028.
Now I'm sure that the powers that be within the Eels R@R dept , that are so highly regarded by many 1EE'ers here know what they are doing, and some serious signings are just around the corner. But what corner and how long before we reach that corner is starting to take its toll on Members, Supporters and Fans alike. We here on this website are regularly told that there isn't much out there to be signed, we have to bide our time, we are going to rely on juniors. All very good arguments, that is until they are not.
Is it time to get concerned yet.
Lets try and put it into context and have a look at what is happening with other clubs, are there any players available , are we being mislead into thinking that there is no one available and we should we begin to wonder if the targets are not getting signed. I don't know the answer, but I am becoming a bit concerned about my club, It may very well just be that the club are keeping their secrets very close to their chest, that word isnt filtering out on targets or signings. Thats all possible. Is it reality though, I don't know, but the silence is making sceptics of a lot of people.
So let's compare, let's see what's moving within the NRL. Just in the last few weeks we have the following.
St George have signed Luke Metcalf, Keaon Koloamatangi, Scott Drinkwater and Phillip Sami
Cowboys have signed Jesse Ramien and Sione Katoa
Roosters are making serious offers for Cowboy International Winger Murray Tuilagi after the cowboys withdrew their offer. He is available to be signed right now. They have signed Ruben Garrick as well.
Papua New Guinea have signed Jerome Luai, Connor Watson and Alex Johnston
The Perth Bears have signed 19 players but let's cherry pick 2 in Tyrone Wishart and Toby Sexton
Now i could keep going, but there is some serious talent sitting there, if we go back just a couple of months we could throw in Mitch Barnett to Brisbane next year as well.
So when we consider the amount of players leaving the club or have not been resigned yet, surely that indicates we have a lot of wriggle room and some serious cap monies available, should we have been in the market for the players that have moved recently or is it possible we were in the mix but missed out on the signing. Either way, it's all hush hush, I don't know the answers, and I don't pretend to know. What I am asking is Should we be concerned, or is everything tip top and in shape, are we really progressing to the clubs plans, or is it going awry.
I have to admit, I'm getting very concerned! I don't know what is wrong, all indications are that there is something amiss with signing or resigning players.. ( attracting talented players). The club is closing ranks, shouldering arms, and going into protection modes if the recent Talking Parra Podcast blog is to be believed. I love this club, I've followed this club for close to 57 years and i really hope that they are working out what can be improved. I'm not sure that having a siege mentality against their own fans is the way the club should be going. It really raises this fans suspicions. I'd really hope that being open and transparent is just around the corner, so too the future talented signings. Until then their actions or lack of, are becoming more concerning by the week. Our 2027 roster does not look that flash on paper, does a spoon year beckon, or do the boys stand up, improve and march us into finals footy. I sincerly hope it's the latter, but I'm concerned.
Have your say, I'm sure the club are listening and monitoring social media, so be careful, be straight , but be respectful, That's how we generally get measured change for better.
Replies
Ok few things. I do not really agree the defence as a whole is better than BA's at this stage. I mean this year we are setting records. Before you say injuries we conceded 86 points in first fortnight. Also, saying the roster that MON has given him is the failure for Ryles, i think that should mean BA gets a pass as MON set up rosters for BA as wel.
Your first paragraph though is saying an example of the roster producing what many consider a gem, a gem that this squad is lacking for Ryles but yet he refuses to play them. Now the reasoning could be simple that Ryles wants to preserve this talent for a better time when the squad is not in a worse state, but to give examples of how the roster is in a poor state where Ryles has to pick certain average players is the fault of MON and co. yet Ryles himself refuses to pick a talent like Brown? Well i isn't that a Ryles thing?
Your part of Ryles can do wonders with a lowly rated squad. BA proved that too, if anything proved his ability to turn around the fortunes of players teams had forgotten. RCG, Papali'i and Cartwright the main examples.
I mean it seems contradictory to me as i wanted BA gone and i really like Ryles and am on board with him. But at the same time i can call it like it is. Ryles has made some mistakes this year and that is ok. BA made plenty and rebounded massively. But after one and a half seasons, i am not ready to say Ryles is miles better than BA. Not yet.
However, your last paragraph i will 100% agree with as a flaw to BA. He kept friends too close to himself. Kept people around him that would not undermine and by the end the feel of the club was not good under him. How the players walked around the joint was embarrassing is what i was told. He always had a "Me against them" mentality to the NRL media and fans and at times. Also, he even admits this, he trusted players too much. That is the one area i feel Ryles works a little better is he is not afraid to drop you if you are not working. Out of all of it, that is where Ryles stands out the most at the moment.
I'm hoping Chiefy that some of the suggestions can hit the mark. For one the club must return to being open and transparent. Admit failings and improve them on the same token Celebrate the wins in recruitment and shout them loud and proud. Including fans and showing them respect gives them an ownership and a stake in the club, fans that are included will always pay the club back in faith and support. To dismiss fans and keep them in the dark, always leads to dissent, bad blood and calls for change. They have done well with Sua. Now time for more.
We'll see if they can get more signings over the line. In just going off what's happened previously.
BE, you wanting the club to be open and transparent is really for self satisfaction. Everyone would love to know who we are chasing, it's only natural. The club has stated, many times, that they will not be broadcasting who they are chasing, or currently in talks with, and it all comes back to the old saying "loose lips, sink ships". We could be in talks with someone like Burton and Xerri, who are both contracted to the dogs for '27, technically we can't talk to them, unless their club agrees to let them negotiate early. Don't worry, if we don't sign either of them, it will be MON's fault.
Well said Michael. We have no clue who we are chasing and should be the case. We are in market with 17 other teams why be out and open with that. If their management do so, then what can you do but other than that we shouldn't be showing our hand.
If they let fans know hush hush about recruitment, some idiot (like podcasters, not just talkin Parra) will go onto their platform and tell everybody who we are chasing. I feel that would be more guaranteed then Penrith winning the minor premiership this year.
Micheal I see your point. The open transparency i'm looking for is an after the fact reflection. If they miss a target, fans , members are surely allowed to understand who was missed and why they were missed. Thats to me a stepping stone to understanding if there are issues that need fixing within my club. You may see it as self satisfaction, in some way i guess it could be, but the real motive is to understand if the people we elect are doing their jobs properly. To take it a step further how do we as members judge and react when voting time comes if we are not informed. That's really going off half cocked and in no one's interests.I think that, that is just good governance and allows your members and by extension supporters and fans to have genuine knowledge on the club they support and back and pour their hard earned into supporting.
2018- spoon
2019-2022 finals plus 1 gf
2023-2026 will be 4 straight no finals. Big turnover of plsyers stuff all replacements. Be very worried this club recruits the trainer of the wooden spooner knights ffs. This front office doesn't care about premierships just making money.
Right, so Jason Ryles doesn't care either since he hired the trainer?
Jason Ryles hired the strength and conditioning staff!, really?.
Well yes, he is in charge of staff. Ryles brought Blair Mills in, did the same with the new bloke.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 6 Next