The Eels currently have somewhat of a good dilemma. Who is the future? Is it Ryley Smith or Tallyn Da Silva. Both very different style of Hookers with different paths to first grade. Da Silva was a prodigy from Western Suburbs, playing SG Ball to FG in the space of a few months, only 18 when debuting. Smith was a cricket prodigy while grinding his way through the Penrith system, he impressed so much so quickly he made his NRL debut and stayed in the team ever since, despite only playing 4 NSW Cup games prior.
Now falls the conumdrum, both want to start, both want to be 80 min Hookers. One is signed til 2029, the other signed til 2027. Both are quite young, 20 and 22 respectfully. Where does the future lie? Now this year it is not too big a deal, we can go through the year with Smith and Da Silva as 9 & 14 and be fine. But come 2027, Smith is off-contract with Perth and PNG now in the market. How do you sell an extension if Da Silva is locked up til 2029? Added to that how do you sell it to Da Silva that Smith is staying longer and he is still starting, again with PNG and Perth hanging around extra on market.
I wrote a blog mid last year saying how we went for Starling and Brailey looking for another Hooker, therefore what is up with Smith. I also mentioned that i felt Smith was a good Hooker but did not offer more in attack and that is what Ryles is looking for. I did not jump on the Smith fan club as high as many, well i am getting there. I also defended Da Silva to the hills last year, preaching to give him a pre-season then comment. Well he's had a pre-season and he looks exactly the same. Now granted he has a whole year to prove his worth but he still has not formed combinations, he seems to have not improved the basics of his game. Smith on the other hand i feel is exactly the same too, but has tuned up the basic areas even more. His passing is better, his defence technique is better, he has a go at kicking and can shank one but also put in a beautiful kick. Da Silva showed some terrific running, but his pass are still wayward and defensive reads and technique still need a lot of work. Could it be a case he is still super raw? Of course. This this is where the call for him to go back to Cup and be an 80 min Hooker has merits.
Plus, Moses works better with a somewhat one dimensional Hooker. Mahoney was a Hooker who got him to his best footy, also Brendan Hands for some portion. Both Hookers were just workers with a good pass, Mahoney a world class pass. Coryn said it and he is spot on, Smith is the Hooker we need right now,
Ryles is a coach that will play the best team possible, if he agrees to a signing that doesn't work out he wont be afraid to admit the mistake and move on. Da Silva could be that if Smith continues to perform. That is the problem facing Da Silva at the moment. His role is clear, being that ad lib Hooker that plays eyes up and offers a point of difference in attack. Though Smith has played 22 NRL games, not one of them has he been bad. Maybe one or two where he was 6/10 there abouts but he is minimum 7/10 every week. He is that consistent that Da Silva might not be able to find an opening unless injury. Even then Smith played a lot of junior football, missing hardly any. Da Silva has had some average performances in his limited minutes.
The thing in our favour is if we decide to cut bait with Da Silva should he not work out or want out, he would have suitors to take most of his deal, then we move forward with Smith. Now both players could be open to their roles. Smith playing 50-60mins and plays that link Lock role when Da Silva is on and Da Silva being that 20-25min impact player.
This 6 man bench will help the decision as we can name Da Silva and another forward, but in some games Smith might need to stay in there for what is better for the team. I am not a fan of the 2 Hooker system but Ryles seems to favour it. Brisbane use it, Canberra use it, Penrith sort of use it as do Roosters. Melbourne use a Utility along with Dogs and Warriors. Cronulla are the only top 8 team to go with one Hooker. But will one or the other eventually want to be a starter elsewhere.
Yes, nothing to worry about now, or to worry about at all. But i am curious to see if Da Silva is the one moving forward or Smith just holds his consistency and see Da Silva at a point where he might look to start elsewhere. The latter is more likely.
Replies
How long will we be patient and does he need the game time to develop?
Good points Michael. Starling made sense as he is an attacking Hooker, yet the link to Jayden Brailey made no sense as he is what Smith is in terms of style.
Keep both, eventually Ryles will figure out a way to get both on the field as the game is transitioning to faster smaller lineups. It's always good having 2 9s who can start at a pinch
I think 80 mins is pushing the limits for a young hooker. Riley can do it, but probaby shouldn't do it too often, especially the way he plays. He's got that Gutho energy that won't stop. I get the feeling he'd happily run himself into the ground if he was asked, to his own detriment.
At this stage, Da Silva just looks unfit and pedestrian compared to Smith. Even though I don't rate him highly, and you can easily see the difference in the momentum when they swap, a two hooker rotation makes the most sense right now.
I feel that TDS is looking to establish himself as a genuine FG Hooker and will look to take opportunities elsewhere eventully. Our key is to make sure we have another one or two coming through the system to replace TDS on a positive basis. Letting him go on a positive trade is the smart way of doing things. WE cannot stay still in the development process and if the right youngsters start seeing the type of develoment we can offer, we won't have the problem of them leaving in JF and Ball because they can see what we are doing and therefore offering, In BA's day it was a stagnant pool.......
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