With the sky apparently falling in as Mitchell Moses is ruled out for up to 6 weeks due to a foot injury, much doom and gloom has descended on Parramatta's 2025 season before a ball has been kicked.
Moses is undoubtedly the talisman and leader of the side as halfback and captain, with an impressive resume to his name and one of the best kicking games in the competition.
His loss will be felt.
However the stats being thrown around about how the Eels struggle to win without their halfback lack the context of those losses.
Under Parramatta's previous coaching regime, the Eels over-relied on the brilliance of Moses and former fullback Clint Gutherson. It was reliant on Moses booting the ball down field to give his side breathing room, and then almost all the attack had to run through the Blues number 7. His ability to count numbers and spot mis-matches is the best in the game.
Watching the Eels' 2 trial matches this year not much was given away, other than the fact Isaiah Iongi possesses the physicality, footwork, speed and passing game needed by a modern fullback. That will be key in Parramatta's attack.
Perhaps most importantly though was Parramatta's commitment in defence. Yes, they were playing the Tigers, however Parramatta's defensive line in the first half was more resilient than it has been in recent years and it wasn't until personnel had well and truly changed did the points start to flow.
Ryles has repeatedly spoken about pride in the badge, pride in their work and commitment to work hard for each other.
The side has taken on a leaner and fitter look than previous years.
And here is where the loss of Moses, while a big hit, shouldn't initially be seen as season over.
Ryles comes from an apprenticeship under 2 of the greatest "systems" coaches in the game.
Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson know how to embed a system and style of play that is more than the sum of its parts. Sure we've all spoken about the salary sombrero at Bondi, but you still need to form a style of play that suits.
Bellamy is the most impressive coach of the modern era. He's onto his 4th generation of Storm players and each time he's had to adapt and develop attack and defence systems that deliver the Storm results season after season.
What does a system mean in a rugby league context?
It means a style of play that doesn't rely on individual brilliance to produce points. Take Penrith without Nathan Cleary. Their game plan remains very similar. Compress the middle of the field, use Isaah Yeo to distribute to the edges, play fast and direct against the opposition outside backs to create space on the wings. In defence, get numbers into tackles, slow the ruck, fast line speed and reduce time for the opposing halves.
Once you plug Cleary into it they go to another level because of his kicking game and his ability to make those gamebreaking plays.
But it's not a zero sum game for Penrith. They still win without Cleary.
This is where the Ryles era needs to head if Parramatta wants to experience sustained success and go deep into finals campaigns. Relying on a couple of players for moments of genius should be the icing on the cake, not the way you look to win games.
Parramatta will be underdogs to start the season, but they have the opportunity to show this is a new club with a new approach to a game that left them behind in 2023 and 2024.
Replies
Well put Super, but you are talking to the converted in my case.
There are a number of posts on here since Moses went down that need to be recorded and rehashed in a new context if what we say stays true.
Whilist I agree with the need to focus on systems, losing a key player definitely hurts. Even the Storm got hammered without Cameron Smith, such was his dominance in that side. The Roosters' system seemed to evaporate last night when they got pumped with 50 points put on them at home in Round 1 (so good). Losing Moses will hurt no doubt. I think the best we can hope for is to show grit and desperation for the full 80. Results will be what they'll be.
Nice post Super. I joined in the hysteria but want to reserve judgement til Sunday at least. If we can lose respectfully and hold our own for most of the game, that can be a confidence boost. Yes saying that in the past is loser mentality but in these circumstances it is applicable.
We need to get to a point where Moses out for a short time is ok, not detrimental. The top teams can lose a player and still win half of the games they would have with the star player.
Souths tonight are favourites without Latrell and Murray. Had we played the Dolphins at CommBank this week we are $3.00 minimum.
Poppa said it is a challenge Ryles wouldn't want, but it could be one he needs. He was going to have a challenge at some point and would continue to, why not now.
A good read, Super.
Losing Moses undoubtedly hurts our chances of winning, you'd hope so for a 1.25m player, but, with Moses over the past two seasons the Eels have won:
2023 - Eels won 10 of 19 games WITH Moses = 52%
2024 - Eels won 3 of 8 games WITH Moses = 37.5%.
They're not exactly impressive numbers with Mitch playing, and points to systematic issues as you are stating.
Losing Moses sucks, but it is a great opportunity for the Eels, especially those who were part of the 2024 campaign, to show they are a different monster mentally in 2025.
They don’t have to go to Melbourne and pull off the greatest upset in years with a fullback who has played 2 games, a halfback 2 games, one of their hookers 39 games in & the other a debutant.
For me, they do have to go to Melbourne and fight for 80minutes, to show attention to detail & effort on effort that was seldom seen in the past two seasons, and have it from 17 players, not 2 or 3.
Dylan Brown doesn’t have to pull off a miracle without Mitch because he’s paid well, if so, someone forgot to inform James Tedesco of how money = teams performance.
All the usual Brigade are going to blame Dylan Brown if we lose unless he scores 3 tries and sets 5 up- actually probably even if he does - so we should all brace ourselves for that.
Haha... It's the highlight of my week on here, ME.
Well I mean put it this way, we get 50 out on, how can Moses help that? He causes us to forget how to defend?
That should be main cause of blame if to happen. Brown is the best defender in the comp and a great runner, all he needs is Volkman doing his job which should be quite simple.
Hmmm under that premise we should be unbeatable when Moses comes back haha
reminds me of the poor old haynsey days where he copped the lot tbh same logic
its always about a combined team effort not sure why that's so hard to understand really
I'm sort of sick of losing guys. I understand where your coming from, but except for a few years here and there, our club has basically grown up on losing. We've made it a real art form for the better part of 60 odd years. I think we should know by now, and should have learnt all the lessons that come from losing. I don't think another loss helps our cause, in fact i think it's time to learn how to win and the lessons need to be learnt on how to win, with or without our stars.
I'm hoping Ryles and his staff can instill those traits. Just as losing is a habit so is winning, when players find ways to stay in the contest no matter what is thrown at them. I'm still not convinced we have a side that can play finals footy. Sure at our best with all the stars and everything going according to the game plan we certainly can play finals. But over a full season with the injuries, suspensions, origins, misconduct etc, I don't think we have the resilience in a lot of our starting side to put in the place a winning habit, a winning culture. It does take time, I get that, but we have been doing the same thing for 60 out of our 80 odd years as a club, trying to learn from our losses.
Really time to start learning from winning. Just what I want, I guess.
Im looking for players like Pensini to get back and help out after a break, not head down walking back.
Im looking for Russell to be in position to hold a ball passed to him and find a way to the tryline.
Im looking for Junior to a bend them back not turn his back.
Im looking for cover defenders
Im looking for bodies around the ball on our line, that desperation to be part of preventing a try. Not hands on hips - ball has passed me so time for a break attitude.
'I'm looking for Ofa to not make a tackle and then roll over and lie down thinking his job is done as they play the ball
Its time to find ways to want to win when the going gets tough and fatigue creeps in. A lot of our guys could really benefit from some SAS training. To give up can mean serious injury or death. Time for an Eels Team motto to go with a new thought process.
Mottos like :
The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday
Not Self But Team
Always Courageous
Ready to Lead, Ready to Follow, Never Quit.
Be Bold Be Brave
ForgeYour Legacy
Battles Won, Legends Born
These types of team belief systems are shown to work, but it must be ingrained and it must be taught and bought into. We've tried just about everything over the years, and to date our culture has very rarely reached those heights.
Im hoping Ryles is the man to finally put the electricity into all our Electric Eels, all 17 on the park. Its been missing for way to long.
💯 this is the only way forward and the key to future long term sustained success, missing key players will happen and injuries strike at any moment - better system withstand adversity.
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