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
Mate everyone wants the best outcome for our team, its not defeatist or doom and gloom to expect a team as big and proud as ours to be regularly being in the top 8. It should be expected, to be not only fighting for it but having a team capable of it. Its 40 years mate
Good to see you posting, Bear.
HOE, at what point does the club actually need to start holding people accountable, or playing the blame game as you call it?. How many more seasons of poor to bad R&R before the club needs to take action, is it 1, 2, 3 or more or is there even a time frame at all?. Genuine question, i really would like to know what you consider would be the point of no return for thr current set up.
JC, appreciate the question mate. You’re not really asking about accountability, change or improvement: ongoing things I fully support.
You’re asking about sackings.
There are already more than enough people talking about that and bagging the club, either directly or indirectly. As long as it’s done respectfully, it's all okay.
So no offence, mate, but I don’t need to get involved in those discussions about employees of the club. I’m not inside the four walls nor privy to reviews.
No I'm not, I'm asking you how long does the club accept poor performance before doing something decisive. It's a simple question.
For me that time has already come but there has been no action from the club at this point, surely another poor performance in regards to R&R this off-season is the final straw.
If you don't want to give your opinion that's fine but at least stop knocking those that are prepared.
JC, If I misunderstood your "simple question" and it's not about "sackings" you say, its unclear to me what you mean by "do something decisive"?
Some examples would help.
Sure, the club will be under immense pressure to make decisive changes (some people could even get moved on or we could see a restructuring or change in recruitment strategy hinted by Ryles weeks ago) if we have another poor season or don't get some recruitment results in the near future. Results must improve. The club knows that. They're hurting too.
It ultimately does lead to sackings eventually if results continue to not be good enough, well it should anyway.
My question to you, as you are opposed to sackings at this point, when is the right time to make changes, sackings, demotions, replacing, what ever.
You're approach seems to be, let's just keep giving them another go as we believe in them.
You are heavily defending the club, and that's fine, I have done it myself in the past, but it comes across from you that the people calling for changes are out of line and unreasonable, like there has only been 1 poor season of R&R.
I know you would like us to stop complaining about it but I'm sorry I won't unless there is a turnaround in the performance of the R&R team. Whether i like it or not they appear to be getting another go at it so I will have my fingers crossed they manage to land 3-4 good players between now and next season, Sua is a good start and counts as 1, 2-3 more and I'll shut up about it.
JC,
Thanks for the response and sharing your thoughts.
If you listen to a recent podcast from Peter O’Sullivan (uploaded last night), he talks about how clubs are structured very differently when it comes to R&R.
Unless we're in the inner sanctum and privy to what actually goes on, we don’t really know.
So, ultimately we’re both speculating to some degree, and I’m not really interested in doing it much.
As you’ve now conceded, you really are asking me about sackings.
As I’ve conceded, there will likely be pressure on the club to make changes if results don’t improve in the foreseeable future.
You don’t need to shut up. You’re as entitled to your view as me or anyone. I also won't apologise for holding our CEO in high regard (even Adam from Talking Parra, who has dealt with Jim, does) even if I cop more flak for it.
Plenty of others have expressed a similar view to you many, many times. I can’t recall us deleting comments or suspending anyone for that. If discussions in either camp become too personal or crosses the line, then that’s a different matter. Sometimes we start by closing blogs that risk escalation. I featured this blog so members could have an opportunity to share their views and it was visible.
I don’t really have much more to say on this at this stage.
Hey HOE,
Thanks for your contribution & your disagreement given respectfully - as always you make good points, and for what it's worth, I'm sure we all love hearing Ryles mention a change in recruitment strategy.
One thing we can probably all agree on is the next steps in recruitment are absolutely vital for the next few seasons.
So, in your opinion, the most important thing is that we are all moving in One Direction?
NOS, Thanks. Appreciate the wisdom and kindness in you. Love the pic lol. Reminds me of my youth.
Nahhh. I don't think the most important thing is "we" all move in the One Direction. Not at all.
Fans will never all move in the same direction. They don't have to. And maybe it wouldn't be a good thing if we all did.
But the club must move in One Direction. Committed to the cause regardless of disagreements, challenges, failures, mistakes or external noise. You can't have different parties pulling in different directions. Adapt, change, get up when you fall, and improve. All musts along the journey and to the ultimate goal. Internal blame games are poison. And the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.
What is more important though? The journey or each destination along the journey? Dunno. Maybe both. Either way, they both need each other.
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