Disclaimer - I am trying to make this blog as little about R&R as possible, however that is impossible in parts. Of course, thats for the original blog & any posters should speak freely about whatever they please.
In a pre-game interview on Monday, Jason Ryles was asked about the 'lessons he’s learned' from this season.
His response was immediate ‘the importance of recruitment’.
Some believed this comment was a sign of ‘focus’, others felt it was sign of what potentially lies beneath - that leadership at the Eels isn’t as aligned as we are led to believe.
The reaction from Lara Pitt, Jasons expression, the verbal sidestep afterwards, and the fact this isn’t the first time Jason, or Moses, have made subtle comments around R&R, could also be telling factors.
FOUNDATIONS
For the majority of Eels fans, Ryles has shown coaching ability in the face of adversity during his time at Parra.
In 2025, JR turned the defence from league worst to top four for the final months of the season, defeating multiple top 8 teams in the process.
Despite the 2025 results, 2026 had an air of excitment amonst fans, due to the clear culture shift, defensive improvement, a more creative attack, and clear buy in from the spirited players who, for the first time in years, consistently played for 80mins per week.
This season has obviously been disappointing to say the least, but again, Ryles has shown on multiple occasions that he can lift this team despite being decimated by injury, consistently changing combinations, inexperience, and who arguably entered the season with a clear lack of quality in certain positions.
But, it always balanced precariously on a knifes edge.
HOUSE OF CARDS
We all understand the cut-throat profession that is coaching at elite levels of any sport. You are responsible for on-field success, regardless of any limitations you face off it.
Jason Ryles will wear our 2025, 2026 & 2027 results on his resume, his first 3 seasons as a 1st grade coach, whether that is fair, or not.
Forgetting the pre-game interview on Monday, Jason’s career & everything he has worked tirelessly for can hang in the balance of his results at the Eels.
He has proven potential as a coach, but multiple bottom 4 finishes and it will matter little. That is the brutal life of a first grade coach.
When a persons profession, their livelihood, their families livelihood, are all at stake, loyalty has a price for us all.
Would Jason risk all of it for a club he had no attachment too prior to this position?
Every positive Ryles has brought, is at risk, if he is at risk.
The 5/8th parallel
Months before Dylan Brown left this club (don’t worry this isn’t about Dylan himself), many of us warned that losing Dylan wasn’t about losing Dylan in isolation, that it would essentially void our investment in Mitch Moses, and end our chances of competing in the near term - unless adequately replaced.
Regardless of how you feel about Dylan, or Lachlan Galvin, the coach identified both players as players he wanted at the club - now, through 2025, 2026 & potentially 2027, we have still not replaced our 5/8th - limiting any chance of success next year for Ryles and the Eels (there is still time, I know).
Ryles has copped criticism for the Pezet deal, and perhaps fairly, but Pezet wasn’t Ryles first choice, or his 2nd, and thats just from what we know - perhaps there were others, perhaps in multiple positions?
Enough has been said about all three players, but, the issue in focus is JR wanted both those players before giving Pezet a deal.
Much like he wanted Kalooamantangi. Mitch Barnett.
It’s fair to say this has hampered his chances of success, and also likely fair to say Jason has noticed.
We’ve heard all the justifications, some fair, some ridiculous, but whats important now is the coach being provided his next signing identifications.
Because we have seen how hard a 5/8th can be to replace, what about a coach & everything he has implemented?
Moving Forward
Injuries aside, we all saw the results of our Cup team last week, while its hard to judge based purely on one season, it should still end the fantasy that we are on a similar path to the Panthers & their once in a generational, 4-peat premiers, squad.
We look a Nathan Cleary, 6/7 of his rep level mates, a dad who knows these kids personally & keep them together (and can coach), a Matt Cameron, and a lightning in a bottle moment, short.
Junior development is vital, and the positive signs are fantastic. But like the Storm, Roosters, Broncos, and even the Panthers themselves, success requires balance.
Entering 2027 pre-season, not mid year when injuries strike, if the Eels haven’t signed another 3/4 genuine first graders, do we as fans believe Ryles will continue to fight it out at the Eels? Risking his career in the process?
Bellamy’s career is coming to an end, the Dragons are currently coach-less, both clubs have a far deeper connection with Ryles than the Eels.
EELS FIRST
This is potentially a ticking time bomb, and like our 5/8th situation, if that bomb goes off, it could take years to re-build.
Despite 2026 having the worst Eels defence on record and sitting 3rd last, this isn’t rock bottom, it can get a whole lot worse.
The ball is still in the clubs court, the Eels future is still up to them…. for now.
But at what point, do we risk a future without Jason Ryles holding up the house of cards?
A hypothetical question…. For now.
As fans, we all want to believe & want whats best for the club. We get a lot wrong, we get some things right.
We’ve been asked to align, to commit to the badge - we can all respect that sentiment, but if fans were 100% aligned right now despite where we sit, despite all the contradictory evidence to the narrative, thats a cult, not a fan base. Too much negativity, and too much blind faith, can both cause damage, and the noise is all fans really have.
Thankfully, we still have some time, and there are plenty of aspects to be positive & hopeful about, but every month, week, that clock is ticking… The next 3-6 months can define the Eels next 3-6 years, lets hope its positve.
Replies
4 players I'd buy that would change us
Burton
Spencer
Xerri
Jenkins
these 4 will help massively and maybe by 2028 look into recruiting a world class star to boost our chances for a premiership. By the time in 28 our juniors they have raved on about should be close to 100 games and a bit more experience. Ryles is a brilliant coach but it just comes down with the front office. If the front office is doing well it rubs off on everyone if it's doing bad it just creates tension and now we are seeing a bit of tension atm.
The way the Eels are at the moment, their position on the ladder and performance this year ( even though they have toughed it through despite many injuries) will mean very little as it is a 'results' sporting business. This is why good quality players aren't attracted to playing for Parra and even though Ryles definitely wants to change this perception. Unfortunately if the people responsible for recruiting players don't get on board and support Ryles then very little will change until changes happen in the front office but as long as they're not challenged they will remain in the front office making a good salary in the process
Great blog nos.
Not only losing ryles is a possibility, so is losing moses.
Moses is a top 3 half-back who is running our of time to win that so desired premiership, it's a very real possibility he asks for a release at some point to go chase that premiership.
I won't go into the recent(4-5 years) performance of our R&R team as to not upset the minority but I will suggest that if we don't sign a few quality players between now and the start of next season then I can't see the club improving results wise any time soon.
If it's true that Ryles identified multiple players that he wanted - and that the club couldn't get over the line, next year could very well be make or break for him. As you rightly say, he needs a season of success, not another one with a cobbled together NSW Cup side playing NRL. If that comes to pass and he leaves, Parra is in a massive world of pain for the foreseeable future.
Longfin Eel Finny, whilst Ryles may have identified multiple players that we couldn't get over the line, there has to be a reason for that.
1. Is that they were restricted by their own fiduciary requirements.
2. They did not have the experience of a negotiator
3. He was to inexperienced to identify those issues and argue against them.
If blame was apparent and lets for the sake of argument say we were overly conscious of our past mistakes in making offerings to players with incentives that may have included inducements that Parra saw as unethical.
I think now and with the Lomax experience in dealing with such matters that you may find (lets hope so) a much more ruthless approach from who ever is driving R&R.
Nos, great blog mate, I can feel your pain as you write it.
First of all it would seem that I am in a different camp,as I am seen as an apologist for the current regime. But I am not really as I accept something needs to happen.
Its a bit like 2 cancer patients in a ward and we are being treated for the same illness only with two different doctors consulting each other but not being able to come up with a mutual remedy.
First you and me and others are suffering because we know whats wrong, but not how to fix it. Maybe in another way one wants an holistic approach and the other wants an amputation.
The opinions coming forward are the players we want and need, I think that is now universally agreed. We may differ with the individuals but we need to get 3/4 high level players, marquee's are subjective and down to a realism of "availability".
So where I differ from many is not apologising for MON, I think (said it previously) that from a perspective of credability he needs to move on. One trouble with that is he is still here and if he achieves what we require the "rock'" is back in a hard place.
The coach I am very comfortable with and as a generalisation I think either the antagonists are not arguing with that, its not universal just the same. His staff well they fit under him and I can not be judgemental from where I sit.
What makes this process so difficult is the injuries this year have made it so, and the way they have occurred means they can repeat just as easily......now that would be a "coach killer". I don't accept the garbage about conditioning, they get tired by making mistakes, not by lack of fitness.
I will switch back to MON for a minute while talking staff i.e. I have never considered MON a true General Manager Football, that title rose from what others do and others have.
Reinforcing that is the way we lost Reserve Grade last week, yes they were ravaged with most of the FG team from the Reserves but that was not good enough, the spirit the ones showed I expect to see in all grades if we are fair dinkum about the badge.....this is MONS job, FG is owned by Ryles and that includes R&R but the rest is owned by MON and he has to look very hard at the Reserve Graders and their performances down to the juniors. We should be able to put 2 decent Reserve Grade Teams on the field with the natural resources we have.
I could go on and say a lot more but would only be repeating myself, so I will come back in once seeing where the discussion goes.
One final thing I agree with Bluey (he shares your pain as well) is that we need a professional negotiator, the incumbents are not built on those lines......its not a Richardson either, he is just a taker, it could be anyone that knows how to sell or take someone with them to give credbility to the badge, it could be Cronin, Kenny, Sterling or Price.....just being the guys walking in with the negotiator! Anyone watching "The Vautin" in recent days, would note how he was influenced at Manly by past greats, when he came to the club. Jack Gibson offered him 40k and Manly 15k after Freddy Jones convinced him the Parramatta River was toxic......he took the Manly deal, whatever is being regarded as toxic now, need to be addressed and eliminated.
I reckon ryles will jump ship if he's offered storm or saints. We simply can't enter 2027 with this roster and no decent recruits.
Yes we are precariously tilted at present, we can either slingshot forward, or just as easily fall further( if possible) down the long deep pit of failure, I do believe we as a club are at a pivotal moment, not only in ladder position but in business and fan base satisfaction/gratification. Our fans are far from happy and our corporate partners, surely cannot be happy with our current status. Quickly and off topic, I don't get the whole Burton love, I don't think hes what we need and Leniu is a 1 trick pony ( as his season with the feather dusters) proves.
What it proves is that footballers, are not ponies.....you might not get the individuals you want but sometimes you have to take something lessor, Burton is an elite player, if you have watched enough of him since he came to grade through Penrith, you would realise that. Spencer offers something we haven't got! Presumably something the Roosters didn't need!
You can't sit out on a branch and hope to catch a butterfly, you need a net and you never know what you may scoop up!
PS what did you think of Pezit before he arrived, I always thought he was shit, but respected the coach coming through with him. Shit happens in that case ! I stood up and argued for Dyllan Brown on so many occasions when people had no appreciation of what he offered, I also stood up with JAC coming when people were worried about his image......what does that mean, I will tell you, sometimes you get it right and sometimes wrong.
Great Blog HOE
All I ask is that we make some effort in the recuitiment space by June 30 and November 1. Ive got no comeback if we at least try and have a crack at Burton, Spencer,Jenkins and Harnsworth. IF we fail then at the very least we had a crack.
We are second last and in our 40th Anniversary of no Premiership. Soon there will be no Old Boys to bring back to celerate at least something positive with the club. I agree Ryles is on Borrowed time...and all things point to it not being his fault....
The last I will speak on RnR. Will we be making the same comments at 50 years without success ???