Parramatta Eels 16
South Sydney 32
The rain cleared up right as full time hit, meaning I had a dry walk back to my car. Oh, the game? My defining memory of the match was that goose step from Jake Tago, and much like you don’t realise how grey your hair is until you see a photo of yourself a few years younger, seeing the energy of Tago and Guymer out there made me realise just how grey and tired the elder Eels forwards are looking.
Putting it bluntly, some of this team needs to be put out to pasture. No amount of bakes from Brad Arthur, Mitchell Moses or the grades guy is going to draw decent football and first grade standard effort out of some of the men wearing Blue and Gold this year. Maybe a new coach and a revitalised off season could see a few of them pull out one more year, but at this point I’d rather just take the pain for a year, move those salaries along and start the rebuild, because this team isn’t building anything and right now it is largely the same guys going around in 2025.
Now that every NRL team uses basically the same defensive system, you’d think the elementary errors of rushing in and not following your inside man would be trained out of them, but no matter what some of these combinations are you can be guaranteed the winger will rush the centre while the centre sticks on his man, or the centre will rush the playmaker while the winger sticks to his line. Whoever drilled defence into these players should be ashamed of themselves.
Some of this must come from fatigue, because I can’t remember a Parramatta team that looks more busted than this one at about the 25th minute mark of a game. Thursday night was riddled with early errors and breaks in play, but some players were regularly finding their way back onside only by the third tackle, and some of the “efforts” in cover on that second Rabbitohs try would be complimented if you called them pedestrian.
I don’t know how a coach, Brad Arthur or now Trent Barrett, can look at Shaun Lane walking back onside on the fourth tackle in the 20th minute, watching Damien Cook eye him off and run at his back, and think “yeah, let’s keep him out there until halftime”. Poor old RCG is digging deep and pulled off a miracle try saver way after he should have been getting a rest, but given he’s one of our few forwards I’d feed for next year maybe he shouldn’t be driven into the ground for a hopeless cause?
This side is an absolute punishment to watch right now, and frankly on their defensive efforts the ‘99 Magpies would run up 30 points on them. I don’t know how the culture of the club got so bad, so quickly, but it clearly wasn’t just the coach. Some boofhead next to me spotted Mark O’Neill on the sidelines and gave him a solid five minute spray using language that would have me covering my kids ears if I didn’t think I’d get them taken away from me if it was found out I took them to an Eels game, and while I don’t agree with his methods, his sentiments were bang on.
While I had Jake Tago written down for this award after that goose step and almost-try (maybe if he scored it he gets this), I can’t go past the captain, the King, for another valiant effort as those around him drop their swords and surrender. You da MVP, King.
Clint Gutherson
1 – Fullback
Another casual 200 metres, 2 try assists game for the King, who remains criminally under-appreciated. Until he actually can’t run anymore, I don’t want to hear any talk of moving him somewhere else for Zac Lomax, Blaize Talagi or whoever else. Sitting close enough to the ground (in a dead enough atmosphere) to be able to hear Gutherson barking at his defensive line, I dread to think what this team would defend like if he wasn’t there.
Jake Tago
2 – Left Wing
Good, tough debut for Tago, who showed what a bit of desire and effort looks like and with that goosey immediately became my second favourite Eels outside back of 2024 (behind the injured Bailey Simonsson, who I feel too sorry for to bump from top spot). Let’s see what we’ve got with him for the rest of 2024, because frankly he doesn’t need to beat much to be worthy of a roster spot next year.
Will Penisini
3 – Right Centre
I don’t know what has happened to Will, but in just about every aspect of the game he has declined in season 2024.
Sean Russell
4 – Left Centre
It’s almost impressive how Sean Russell managed to make the wrong decision from pass or run almost every time he found some space on the edge in this game. It’s likely a confidence issue, but without the physical gifts of many outside backs, he needs to make up for it in effort areas and footy smarts. The effort is there, but he ices opportunities like a three year old helping make his mum’s birthday cake.
Blaize Talagi
5 – Right Wing
He’s a real try scorer our Blaize, but on both sides of the ball he’s got an error in him. I’m fairly forgiving of it all seeing he’s far from the only one and his mistakes are at least in the name of development, but he’s hardly arrived on the scene as the complete package.
Dylan Brown
6 – Five Eighth
Nothing wrong with his game, but given his place in what might be the most expensive halves combination in the league, we’re paying for more than “nothing wrong”.
Mitchell Moses
7 – Halfback
Mitch might be guilty of caring too much right now, and that serve that got him sat absolutely had a bit of last weeks’ sting in it as well. I don’t blame him for being angry with the efforts he’s seeing. First grade careers don’t last forever and this will be the second year of his prime pissed away around him, with a third looming on the horizon. He and Trent Barrett might want to reach for the carrot for the next motivations, as we’ve been belting them with the stick all year long for no result whatsoever.
RCG
8 – Front Row
Every week I come away thinking Reg isn’t quite right, and every week he still puts in a mammoth effort in minutes and on field energy. If we had four of him we’d be just fine.
Brendan Hands
9 – Hooker
He’s missing way too many tackles in the middle, and is often not getting back in the line as quickly as we need from the starting hooker. I don’t know why Trent Barrett went away from the rotation he used last week, but Hands needs a rest earlier in the game.
Junior Paulo
10 – Interchange
I was tempted to be a little kinder on this grade given his low minutes are likely explained by a foot injury that will end his season, but on his body of work in season 2024, as a captain who never leads and an impact forward who had about four games worth of decent impact this year, he can wear it. If I hear a peep about him wanting to box this off season I’ll, well, probably just bad mouth him from behind the safety of my keyboard, but they’ll be strong words.
Bryce Cartwright
12 – Second Row
Those handling errors were real killers from Carty, who might be guilty of trying too hard or it might be a sign he’s falling back into his old ways. Without the game breaking attacking moments he’s just a moderate metre maker with average defence, and we’ve got plenty of those already.
Shaun Lane
13 – Lock
Long time grades readers will remember when we had Bad Shaun Lane and Good Shaun Lane, and now the long awaited third installment of the trilogy can be delivered: Tired Shaun Lane. Lane plays first grade football like a parent of newborn twins, and by the 20th minute it is all just too much for him. Maybe he just needs a mental refresh and a good off season, but at this point I’d rather another club find out if he’s still got anything left in the tank.
Joe Ofahengaue
15 – Prop
Going by the old adage “How do you know the Eels won the spoon? The player of the year was a prop”, I reckon Joe O is a lock for the Ken Thornett this year. This got me looking up past Thornett Medal winners, and how in the world did Chris Sandow beat Jarryd Hayne for that award in 2014? I was drinking a lot to get through those years of Eels football so my memory is hazy, but that’s some Dally M level robbery.
Matt Arthur
14 – Interchange
Only 18 minutes for Arthur, who is purely on an experience mission in season 2024. He’s not looking out of place, and anybody expecting him to splash on the scene with attack like Harry Grant or Api Koroisau is expecting the wrong things. He’s tough and clever, and we’ll start to see more and more of that as he gets comfortable in grade.
Charlie Guymer
17 – Prop
This was my favourite debut in a while, as Charlie Guymer showed up his higher profile, higher paid teammates with high effort footy. He’s tough, he’s dogged, and he’s a bit raw, but I hold some hope that seeing a young buck throwing himself into battle like this might shame a few of his teammates into lifting their game.
Ryan Matterson
11 – Second Row
Another “body of work” grade for the “man with the body” who got through a heap of tackles and a lot of metres, but not for the first time my defining memory of a Ryan Matterson performance was his strolling along as the Rabbitohs made that break for their second try, not really covering anybody at any stage. It was a real “Super League retirement tour effort” from a guy we very recently paid elite forward money to. Running for 200 metres with the ball is one thing, but barely running at all when the opposition is making a break is unforgivable.
Matt Doorey
16 – Interchange
That steal was nice, but given 30 minutes on the field we need more than 6 runs and 11 tackles, especially given how tired everybody else is by the time he gets on the field.
Up to the Gold Coast next weekend for another one of those winnable games, but only a fool would tip us at this point. We won’t beat anybody giving up nearly 30 points per game, and do you see the defence getting any better? The only thing stopping Khan-Pereira scoring four tries will be his teammates getting over before the ball reaches him. Oh, and Moses will be on Origin duty. What a world.
Watching Penrith last night, three comps in a row, players missing, players leaving, yet they still play every minute of footy with a chip on their shoulder, it puts our club culture in stark contrast. How many times has an Eels side dug deep like that in your lifetime? I’m old enough to have seen Sterlo play and I’m not sure I would need a second hand to count them. Culturally, this club is a joke, soft and weak, and I hope the new coaching hire, whoever it is, is ready to put the gumboots on, wade through the crap, pull the plug and drain this joint.
Until then, stay slippery, Eels fans.
Gol
Stats and images provided by NRL / Eels media
We need a total rebuild, HOF, the board. We need people who know and feel rugby league. I remember Jack Gibson’s complaint about football naevity in judgement – “If he carries the ball for twenty yards they’ll forgive him anything.” We have had no understanding of the importance of gritty defenders. Two names, released for peanuts, keep coming back to me. Blaize Talagai? His closest comparison from the past is Steve Ella. He’s a centre, nothing else.
Noel, I think Steve was something more than a centre. And at centre he was something more again! If I’m Blaize I’m happy with that comparison, and remember that Blaize is a 19 year old rookie who missed over half of last season and he’s playing in an Eels team anchored to the bottom of the ladder. The way he broke the line and put Dylan away for the break that put Parra on the attack and then he ended up scoring himself – that said volumes about his attitude and talent.
I wholeheartedly agree!
Well done Gol. Excellent.
My only take was that I would have given Guymer an A, such was the difference between he and every other Eels forward on the field.
Whether it was tackling, taking the ball up or covering tackles, he was everywhere.
Who would have thought that an injection of youth could have made a difference ?? – well all of us !
Russell was an unmitigated disaster. Yes he does try and your analogy of a three year old helping bake a cake is spot on.
Surely there is a better centre somewhere in Cup or Flegg or RM ???
More than once, Moses expressed his displeasure.
I’m aware that we have nothing of note in Cup but if Barrett continues to reward Shaun Lane by giving him a NRL spot then why the hell would any forward in Cup even turn up ?
Boods arthur does look out of place I’m sorry to say. He has low leg speed, very small, and if fore example he puts 12 kgs on, he’ll be a lot slower.
At his weight and height he should be lightning quick atm but he’s nowhere near quick
Sorry but I’d rather let the incoming coach make a decision on boids rather that everyone panicking asking for him to be extended beyond 2026 which is a long contract anyway.
Why are people jumping up and down when he has signed until 2026? Unbelievable crazy stuff
Charlie Guymer, now that’s someone who hit the ground running, that’s who we should be re signing and on zero tackle it’s saying he hasn’t even got a contract beyond this year, although some have said he has.
Guymer is a player
Totally agree
Good write up
Agree completely on Paulo, been very disappointing this year
Agree completely on Russell. Tries hard but looks like a foal in a paddock full of thoroughbreds.
Agree completely on RCG. That guy is trying. Is he being used in the best way, not sure but he is our best forward.
Partial agree on Penisini. His form slump started around the middle of last year.
Where I disagree. I can’t give Brown a higher grade than Moses. Check out the second try the bunnies scored (Gagai break and pass inside to Wighton). Brown is just trotting back as Gagai makes the breaks and by the time he realises Wighton is flying past him, it is too late. That’s not Dylan brown.
As for Gutho. 100%, without him in defence, we are getting 40 and 50 posted on us routinely. But thinking ahead to 25, Blaze needs to be the fullback and we deal with him learning the positional play. Gutho as a centre creating space for Lomax is quite appealing.
Terrific write up and an overall description of where we are as a club. understand the spray given to ONeil, what is more of a concern is that Talagi is currently unsigned for 2025 , so any suggestion that he should be playing fullback is ahead of the curve so to speak
So many comments on what we can do into future years, but there is plenty of talk that we are hamstrung by the cap next year, and won’t have room to move until 2026 when contracts are up.
What is concerning is as a club we move at a glacial speed compared to our peers, there is obviously a need to ensure the coach and staff for 2025 are exactly what is needed, but feels like the delay is counterproductive with the fan base wanting something to look forward to. Anyway, let’s hope there is a reset across the club, as it’s obviously needed and maybe a new coach will start the resurgence.
Trying not to be an apologist for the board as they have done heaps wrong but I would say there is lots happening in the background.
I would assume that there will be a total clearout of coaches and strength and conditioning personnel with the incoming coach.
Just thinking that the board would have to sit down and not only negotiate the contract of the HC but also his assistants and depending on the contracts of the incumbents, pay out those.
I feel that they always wanted a coaching director so there is another that has to be engaged and green lighted by the HC.
Ive heard a couple of media asking the players if the delay in the HC announcement is affecting them and they deny this and why should it ?
We have a professional NRL coach in Trent Barrett running the show at the moment and blaming the machinations behind the scenes for next year for the lack of desire on the field is an easy out but one that seems to be ingrained in our culture at the moment.
Mitch Moses going off in the dressing room has nothing to do with the club not having a HC for next year but everything to do with their roster and the pumpkins he’s playing with.
The only thing that a decision on the HC should do is effect future recruitment.
Personally, Im thankful that the media are tying themselves up in knots trying to find out who the next HC is and absolutely amazed that there hasn’t been one leak, not one picture of an interviewee attending the club.
Ive listened to numbskulls like Crawley and Hooper calling it a shitshow and maybe they are right but that’s their opinion.
They just have the shits that they have nothing to fill their columns.
Spark the fact that board has anything to do with the football department is of real concern. The powers that rule Parra have been shown to be totally inept in matters NRL.
The only good thing about Fridays game is I was on a plane to Vietnam and it was the first game I have not watched this year. Oh the ignorant bliss. I won’t be watching another capitulation this year and next.
Gutho is an absolute gem.
If all the players had just half of his desire and professionalism ……
Totally agree Spark..He busts his gut every week for the Club.
Another casual 200 metres, 2 try assists game for the King, who remains criminally under-appreciated. Until he actually can’t run anymore, I don’t want to hear any talk of moving him somewhere else for Zac Lomax, Blaize Talagi or whoever else. Sitting close enough to the ground (in a dead enough atmosphere) to be able to hear Gutherson barking at his defensive line, I dread to think what this team would defend like if he wasn’t there…….. love it and feel strongly about it!
This your best work ever Gol and to Brett A, what makes you think Blaize needs to be a fullback…. Guth is still there and Blaize is well suited in his apprenticeship on the wing where he can learn positional play and catching high balls, but most importantly, learn to tackle as well
Great read Gol. Craig Bellamy would have called everyone in early Friday and had a highlights reel of our non-effort plays, Gol mentioned a couple, but there were a number of classics. Brett A mentioned the Dylan Brown one, spot on, I first thought Brown had hung back a bit to be level with the ball carrier to cover the inside pass, but no he jogged first then had the ‘oh s..t’ moment far too late. Souths half time try needs to be shown every week, but with Barrett screaming like Bellamy, spraying the room with words and whatever else comes out of his mouth.
Penisini needed a Cronin type player to nurture him, but in stead had to be Cronin with a revolvng door of ordinary players in a floundering system. We’ve dragged him back to our standard. I am glad Hopgood gets to hang around with elite players at Origin, he will be a great player when we fix our mess.
Is it wrong that I thought MON getting roasted game side by fans seemed hilarious to me at first read? 💀
FYI Ba might of dodged a bullet getting out when he did
I’m sure MON understands that by his position, he will be under fire.
Is it wrong that an official from our club is accosted by some bogan?
Probably but hey that’s his right I suppose.
As an old bloke, I’m not great with bogans and one of the reasons I stopped going to many games.
Mate better days are on the horizon.
Unfortunately I have to agree with everything here. I do hold a brighter hope for ’25 with Lomax and a healthy Simonsen and the 2 young guns making our backline a bit more potent. They need to work on their finishing. Most wingers are doing a triple summersault with a half pike balancing the ball with their pinky placing the ball down on the last blade of grass whilst their body is in row 10 after evading 3 defenders. Our wingers are lucky to settle ball down with an open passage.
Hopgood, Guymer, Tualagi,Cartwright,RCG and Big O are the only forwards worth keeping. Arthur’s looks pretty solid.
A Roster overhaul is needed.
Where to start ?
1) Gutho … his days at the back are done. I said in the preseason that Blaize Talagi had to be in our round 1 team, now I’m saying he has to be in the FB jersey as of next week. He is our future, and he needs to learn his position.
2) Tago … was OK, but there’s a reason why the Panthers didn’t keep him with his brother, however, youthful exuberance is something we desperately need right now.
3) Russell … I had such high hopes for him, but he’s just a hair short of real NRL talent in virtually every area. Worth keeping as a backup, but if he’s a starter next year we’re in trouble.
4) Will Penisini …. Has flatlined very badly the last 18 months. I honestly don’t know what the answer is here. Unlike Russell, he has genuine ability to break tackles, however his defensive decision making remains a crap shoot at best. A stint in NSW Cup might be in order.
5) Talagi … see point one.
6) Dylan Brown … Dyl, you’re on big money buddy, it’s gotta be real for ya. The next 18 months are basically make or break. Will he progress to the elite game breaking five eight we need, or the unfulfilled talent who just seems to glide to just being good. It’s up to Dylan.
7) Mitch … clearly frustrated and rightly so. The one thing that can’t be questioned is how much Mitch loves being an Eel. And thank God for that, otherwise it wouldn’t shock me if he wanted out, hell, he still might.
8) RCG … one of a group of big, attacking minded but ageing forwards whose time as a group surely has come to an end. Individually they still have value, but as a group they simply cannot play a full 80 anymore. Some, not all, simply have to go. Is Reg one of them ? His criminal lack of effort on Wighton’s 2nd try was simply inexcusable.
9) Hands … still better than Lussick, but a backup utility in reality.
10) Junior … see point 8.
11) Matterson … see point 10
12) Carty … was last year a fluke ? The jury is open.
13) Lane … see point 11
14) Joe O … is it any coincidence that our only forward who thinks run has been our must consistent ? Kind of like Dan Alvaro in 2018, sadly.
15) Guymer … if he’s not our starting 13 for the rest of the season there should be an investigation into Baz’s SportsBet account !!!! When was the last time the Eels had a forward with his energy, raw toughness & classical technique ?
16) Doorey …. Still gets hurt too easily imo, but he’s our only true hole running edge forward and needs to get an extended run, even if just to find out if he can be extended.
17) Matt Arthur … I had hoped for a more crisp delivery from Boods, not sure he’s close to being NRL ready, but we really don’t have a choice.
Mark O’Neill has done work to do, start dialing Mark.
I’d be happy to see Gutho moved to centre and the young bloke given time at 1. I think Tago offers more hope than Sivo or Russell. Bailey is the other winger with Lomax for next year. Hopefully Brown comes good.
I’d actually move Gutho to a bench middle role, ala Cam McInness. Tago is more rounded than Sivo, but Sivo would’ve scored at least one of the opportunities that Tago couldn’t have.
Agree with most. Totally agree with point 14. I thought Joe showed a lot at the back end of 2023. I think he has been a good pickup.
But you’re on the money. MON start dialling.
Does Anyone think we can turn it around like south’s with a new coach?
A lot of struggling clubs this last few years have turned their fortunes around quickly with a new head coach,
I’m not saying it’s a magic pill – but sufficient evidence provided from recent head coach sackings over the last 3 years indicate it can be a sometimes lead to a dramatic improvement.
(Warriors, south’s, dragons, bulldogs) obviously roster change is more important tho you would suspect for us? ….
No I do not. Souths roster is still better balanced than ours. We’ve probably got more raw talent, but it’s not other old or overlapping skill sets. I think we’re gonna finish last, so we need to make it worthwhile.
I think our bench rotation is a big issue and could be fixed immediately. Often our middle forwards are left on too long. I’m not sure what metric the coaching staff use but it has to change.
The bench is an issue but not THE issue imo. The bench problem is merely an extension of the bigger problem of a roster that is constructed to play an outdated style of play, and whilst Mark O’Neill has plenty to answer for, in the end he can only build the roster to suit what the coach wants to do. We can blame all and sundry, but in the end it ultimately falls at the head coaches feet. BA refused to adjust his preferred style of play even when it became frighteningly obvious it wasn’t in tune with the current trends in the game.
Agree but a roster takes time to rebuild. Rotation can be fixed next week.
Yeah, if you have the cattle. I don’t think it really matters given the players we have.
Guys since we lost Reed we haven’t had any top quality hookers
Hands is ok but can’t defend great
Our club and old coach I believe just dramatically underestimated how important players like Reed Or Papali’i were
Imagine the panthers or roosters letting go of their star hookers & second rowers and trying to replace them with much worst players ?
Only our club is stupid enough to do that
Honestly, can you think of any time a club replaces good players with worst players
And actually improves?
I also can’t stand how on fox they make out we (parra) have a great roster
No, we actually don’t
We have some really good players
But a good roster?
I disagree
A rookie forward came on and tackled and ran harder than every single senior player has done all year
Imagine a rookie forward coming into the Penrith panthers or the roosters and on his first game showing up all the middle & edge forwards ?
This is simply shameful if you put it into that context
Imagine if moses was a gun hack like he is
And a kid without 1 NRL game partnered him the halves
And absolutely showed him up on his first NRL game?
It’s not the perfect comparison
But to give you perspective
How ridiculous is it?
When was the last time you seen a first NRL game rookie come on look better than an entire NRL teams forward pack has been over the whole season ?
Yes sure, we knew Guymer was and is good
But common
Did BA burn JNR & RCG out by giving them too many minutes and not enough rest all those times we didn’t use our bench rotation up properly ?
Did the extra work load shorten their careers at a faster speed than other props ?
I’m trying to understand how Jnr & RCG can go from origin Props to Eels flops in 1 year ?
I’m Not saying they aren’t trying
But the significance of their impact against other teams defensives has changed dramatically for the worst
I haven’t seen our forwards truly dominate any team this year
Or if we do – we gain good meters
Then cannot defend sufficiently up the middle because they gas out
The eels are in a major crisis most people even us fans may not comprehend the extent of shit they are in
Not only from pressure for being bottom on the ladder
Most Sponsors do not want to sponsor a losing wooden team side
The fans do not want to buy merch or buy game tickets like before
The board will have pressure now on each individual in the organisation – lots of people thinking they might be losing their jobs
This week administration for the large part might be on the chopping block if the new coach can’t magically swing it around (south’s style)
I have word from people who work in a company that Sponsors the eels and the leaders of the company hold relationships with our clubs leaders
Sponsors themselves are not happy and some of them are proud supporters of our club themselves
They too let their voices be known
This club is the type of place they don’t do anything until shit hits the fan
They wait and react to chaos only after it’s already happened and too late
But from what I’ve heard not only are individuals inside the organisation under pressure
The clubs leaders are under massive pressure from all angles and cannot provide sufficient answers
This is why we probably saw BA cop the scapegoat treatment
And the complete denial by the CEO about the roster being a issue
There’s apparently a law suit going against the board
And the board themselves are furious allegedly at the ceo and company
For allowing such bad decisions to go on for so long and they themselves are too part of this mess
The CEO and other leaders are under scrutiny from our board – and apparently some may lose their jobs
I’ve heard from 2 people (one on here, one through a person I know individually)
Mcelduf may be on the chopping bloke and losing his job.
The head of football apparently hasn’t been under as much fire so far – because he more or less works like a puppet for the parra eels head masters to make sure he keeps signing cheap players and increase profits
His job may go too – but so far he’s avoided scrutiny or sacking from the club for this reason
Apparently the whole ideal of the CEO etc blaming BA at the press conference
Was because with the head of football and what not – they couldn’t directly blame him because he works closely & on behalf of the eels higher ups
They aren’t going to through their own puppet type individual under the spot light
There’s a shit storm at the eels
And the CEO and co it sounds like aren’t taking responsibility for the bad roster
Because then it shifts the blame off BA back on to themselves who ultimately use HOF as a puppet for them more or less
The head of football used the same tactics in hiring rejects that the parra big heads also encouraged and have used now for years
This is not a new philosophy of recruitment
Apparently a lot of peoples are under pressure from the board
And there’s internal fighting and politics
Some didn’t want BA to go and apparently even some trainers left our club due to BA’s sacking
Interested to see how it plays out
My prediction is that if they don’t change the roster fast the new coach will fail
They apparently aren’t making a huge deal over the roster yet
Because this then indicates it was their own fault and not BA’s
This is why obviously the CEO was in denial over the roster being an issue
I’ve heard some information and it sounds like the club is not making a huge deal yet over the roster
They are for the most part at the moment ignoring it just like they have the last two years
They (our CEO & execs) apparently believe it’s going to be mostly fixed and it was a coaching problem
This is apparently going to be the focus
And it looks like once again we are going to be stuck with mostly a dead roster
And then they’ll have to react (like they normally do)
To try to fix it when it’s too late and the new coaches performances aren’t dramatically better
And keep in mind this would probably be next year
The clubs apparently going to see what the new coach can offer before focusing on drastic changes on the roster 🙄
I’m hoping this isn’t true and won’t be the case
But this is word I’ve heard from people who are close to people who work at the actual club
They don’t let our info on coach info etc from inside the club
But obviously people in and around the club all talk about different dramas and what not
Just like every other work place
Apparently the eels are being pig headed
They are going to see how the new coach goes before making any massive roster changes
This is what I believe to be true as well
Just going by their pattern of past decision making
So guys, we can hope for the best
But word is – the club still doesn’t get it yet how bad their roster situation is
They believe it isn’t the main problem
And the new appointed head coach will fix it 😅
This is exactly what I’ve heard
And I bet this is what we will see
But I hope we are all wrong
Sometimes when peoples jobs are on the line – they will make fast decisions to try salvage their livelihood $
Muz, we make the right decision and we will be fine.
Our roster isnt that bad and we have some really good kids coming through.
Im hoping that Jason Ryles gets the gig.
He didn’t take the Saints job because the club wouldn’t give him the independence to do his job. If he’s still in the running, then perhaps the Eels may do so.
Ryles knows what a good system looks like and all he has to do is replicate that at the Eels.
The players we have haven’t just suddenly lost their ability but IMO they have just been coasting since the GF , Ryles will fix that.
I’m really excited about the future and if Ryles gets the gig I’m betting that we will be flying next year.
I believe we have a lot of good players on our roster just to clarify spark mate
But I believe the balance of it (old forwards & no backs depth)
Means our overall roster has been horrible
I believe our halves and gutho for example are absolutely gun players on our roster
We have a team who cannot win a single game or gutho or moses for example isnt on the field
This is a strong indicator our roster and systems are extremely average
Melbourne, roosters, panthers can have their best players out and still look solid and win games
I do not believe we have won 1 game in something like 10 games with gutho out
The record is also shocking if moses is out
This is a indication our roster stinks and is too far unbalanced- relying on this two key individuals too heavily
I 100% agree with you mate a lot of them are still good players
Just seemingly coasting or got too comfortable or something
There’s genuine young Talent we have just seen on display
But the teams roster is slim (27 officially)
And so many out injured
And even at full strength we could barely win
A new coach should definitely help like you said
But I’m almost certain a good 4 or 5 players in the roster need to be cleaned out
Either they are past it due to age or simply not hungry and fast enough in 24 and beyond to make those 1% efforts for a full 80 mins and keep our team competitive
Apparently in the last 10 games it’s the worst defensive record in eels history
That to me shows that we do have a major roster issue
And obviously extremely average defence from our backs at the minute
Hannay is apparently going to be coach
But who knows ..!
I too think Ryles could be a good candidate if selected 👍
Do u have any info if Jason is confirmed coach ?
From what I have heard going around it’s likely Hannay .. but who knows the eels are good at keeping these decisions secret
All I heard was that they were impressed by Hannay but were desperately worried that he will be too soft. When players like Hopgood come out and say things like – “he’s really laid back” , thats probably NOT what the board want to hear but that’s only my guess.
The board apparently think that discipline was/is the main problem with the players and really, one can’t argue with that. That’s why they wanted to appoint a coaching director over BA.
Mate that’s all I’ve got. It’s like the CIA in there now, no info gets out and I made a few calls to try and find out.
I reckon Sixties and Forty would know more than me but they probably don’t want to say anything.
Yeah true a laid back type coach probably isn’t ideal
And discipline like you just said and what they apparently believe too is definitely it
They got all buddy buddy with each other and the coach
Folks have got to remember for years they would turn up occasionally and win a game Oreo then slack off dramatically and lose to a bottom 4 team or something
They were known as inconsistent by everyone even when we somehow made the gf
They pick & choose when to fully turn up lol
The eels might go with a fully left field coach here and have the media talking out their asses
The eels are not a high performance team, and let’s be fair
They are in dire need for a leadership overhaul
Ba did some good things but one thing he could never do was make them consistent or defend well out wide
Which is where all teams scores against us with ease every time
It’s gonna be interesting to see who the new head coach is
Muz what makes you think that BA sold Mahoney and Papali’i short. They were both offered big contracts to leave.
I think you will find that BA’s hands were tied. I don’t think he wanted to see them walk out the door. He did not see a place for his son until 25 or 26 he believed he had some growing still to do.
The problem with Reed going was the replacement was a huge gamble and it didn’t pay off. Furthermore JA was not replaced after he went to Manly. Leaving us without a backup half.
We never recruited outside backs . There was a shortage of quality outside backs since Ferguson left.
I can’t see how BA was happy with his roster. Not having backup to cover injury. I also can’t imagine that BA wasn’t calling for replacements in these areas.
They didn’t arrive.
Russell is not a centre. Has no idea.
Blaize is not a fullback (yet). We saw how slow he actually is last week chasing Best.
He has a step and ok strength for a young guy but I was shocked by his lack of pace.
Ive watched it several times to be sure. Blaize is slower than Russell.
Charlie was the silver lining. We need to lock him up long term.
I was initially a Joe O. detractor, but he is now showing his worth.
Dylby on the other hand is not giving us value. would not be disappointed if he left.
New coach has to be ruthless especially towards those on big money and not giving us value.
If we can offload some deadweight, some of the juniors step up and Lomax retains form we could be ok next year.
Agree, Joe O has been good, his smaller and more agile seems to be more effective with the faster game now with less breaks.
Guymer is a good player we do develop good forwards, rarely every does a good back come from our parra system because we do not promote small fast backs mate. Only other clubs buy, develop or promote those types of players.
I mean look at every parra jnr back who’s in the first grade team, even russel who was a lean fast high try scoring back for years got bulked up and now is slow. Will p is also a proper player.
If blaize was super quick and a build like Tommy Turbo young, or the hammer when he debuted, the eels would not have recruited or promoted him at lower grades or cup. We simply do not recognise or develop players with speed. Only 2 truly fast players between our cup roster and first grade (Bailey S and Miller Stephenson)
I also agree mate, Dylan brown is not putting in close to the efforts he used to put in.
He barely ran the ball and not scrambling in defence any more. He needs new coaching, discipline, and an attitude shift.
Lomax hopefully is awesome for us, him and Bailey if both can stay healthy are actually quality centres or wingers for us.
Tago also played well.
Our forwards are mostly toast, too big old and slow to keep up with the Ruck now and limited speed.
Hopgood, Joe o, and Guymer will probably be our best forwards next year, Imo.
All lighter, more mobile, better leg speed in A & D in and around the Ruck.
The old big bopper style of player we had like a paulo or wireumu doesn’t appear to be as effective anymore.
The games speed has surpassed them.
That’s a bit harsh, a players top speed doesn’t mean much in rugby league, it’s off the mark pace that you want and Talagi leaves Russell for dead in that. We don’t need them to win a 100m race, we need them to break the line. Talagi has done that more in his handful of games than Russell in his whole career.
I agree talagi is not slow off the mark and he’s proven dangerous and effective especially near the try like he has scored every game which is an impressive record so far.
In regards to speed Gol, our main problem is that if an opposition winger or centre breaks our line, it’s curtains, lights out, we just don’t have a player that can catch up.
You just can’t play with that sort of disadvantage these days.
Spark remember brown used to be fast and sun back and catch people who broke through the line often, or his mad scramble
He doesn’t look to have done that often recently
Remember a year or two ago brown used to save tries and clean up regularly
He’s probably had it with the team at present
And I don’t blame him
Why give it your 110% if your team stinks
“It’s hard to to soar like a eagle 🦅 when you are surrounded by pigeons” 😅
Brown and penisini are looking like victims of a poor environment surrounding them
Couldn’t agree more
“Whoever drilled defence into these players should be ashamed of themselves”
Fix one thing and you win 90% of games.
“I don’t know how a coach, Brad Arthur or now Trent Barrett, can look at Shaun Lane walking back onside on the fourth tackle in the 20th minute”
Back turned to the play, and he wasn’t the only one.
I poured another glass of bleach at that point.
The only good thing about being a shit team is the glimmer of hope that comes from throwing in rookies.
Blaize shows a bit of something
Guymar that was a debut that says he has a bit to offer.
I’m dissapointed in Matt Arthur so far his passing is slow and defensive side he’s not bad or better but I’m willing to persist with him.
Tags showed enough to say he will play more.
I was and repeat the word Was a Russell supporter but he seems to of found a way to go from average to terrible
In fairness his centre partner has gone from good to Average so maybe it’s a reflection on our system but either Rusty needs to be be dropped and hopefully no new contract in his future.
Junior getting injured is a blessing in disguise because he would be one of the first senior players to be dropped he offers nothing
Apparently Saxon Pryke has been upgraded to a Development contract with the eels for the remainder of 2024.
This could mean we see satcom debut for our first grade team this coming week or sometime shortly!
Very exciting, 60’s mentioned previously how Saxon was a very good quality player and that he looks ready to debut this season.
Honestly, if the eels wasn’t in a shit show we probably would have not seen these young quality players get debuts anytime soon.
Things work in funny ways.
I’m happy as an eels fan for our club being forced to blood these young gentlemen!
Im not afraid to see us losing if these young men are making our proud with effort and earning their debuts.
We may not get the wins on the score card.
But if you ask me this could be a blessing in disguise for us.
I would rather see us running a younger 17 and gaining experience.
Then an old 17 each week and fighting just outside the top 8.
Guymer may not have even got a debut this year under BA if our roster was healthy.
Not bashing him or baz.
But that’s been the trend for too long previously at our club.
Old men past their prime with minimal further upside potential blocking our quality pathways players from contracts and gaining playing time.
We must remain patient!
The experience these young men get this year for us will pay significant dividends over the coming 25’ – 26’ seasons.
This year is already a basket case.
The only thing we gain from here is building up our players for the next seasons!
Better times ahead if we keep seeing these youthful players wearing the blue & gold!
Guymer and co are our future
Taking about coaching…
When Demetriou was at Souths they were a rabble. Since he left, they have been in a rich vein of form.
What happened?
They haven’t changed personnel.
Is Ben Hornby a better coach than Jason Demetriou???
And why havent we seen a similar turnaround at the Eels..
Thoughts ?
Hey mate south’s definitely changed things fast
Also got Murray back and a few others from injury
The players might not of followed the old coach or believed in what he told them to do
They also got a fire lit under them with Bennet coming
He will simply cut dead weight for anyone who isn’t pulling weight
Hornby used to be a high quality player and may even be a good coach?
Wayne thinks Hornby is a smart guy and very detailed
I think our club will swing a corner so to speak a bit with even a new coach announcement
Ppl got to remember baz has been at the club as a co coach for a while
It’s not like a new coach recently came in
We probably need a full shake up
Filter reckons the eels players look like doing minimal effort
He said Guymer showed up the eels snr forwards
And those eels forwards are rep players 😅
From filters mouth
There must be something seriously wrong
I hope like you mentioned a new coach of announcement can swing their performances
a LOT of them think they are probably safe due to their contracts length
But a new coach may be more aggressive
I hope they force the eels to get rid of them
Other coaches can move on players early
Bulldogs do it every year
I don’t see why we can’t offload most of our forwards
Bulldogs would flog 90% of them off if it was their roster
If we keep them all next year it’s a joke
A NSW NRL rookie on debut showed up a while forward pack
When Barrett took over I wrote that he had the opportunity to do something different.
BA, love him or hate him had a style with a group of players that he was loyal to.
Obviously, the board wanted to go in another direction and gave the keys to Barrett to finish the year.
What an opportunity for Trent Barrett !
You know the players, you know the systems and now you have the opportunity to steal a march on the other applicants.
The board wanted something different and what did Trent do ?
He basically replicated BA quoting that the main thing the team needed was ‘stability’
Oh Trent !!
What a home goal !
He just had to do something different to stand out as an alternative.
Drop Lane.
Move Gutho to the Centres etc etc etc .
Anything.
He finally relented and ONLY due to injury picked Guymer and Tago and look what happened.
Talk about closing the gate after the horses have bolted !
I’ve never met Trent but he seems like a bloody good bloke and I believe that he’s a really good coach but damn … What a wasted opportunity for him !
Where is Barrett now on the totem pole of coaches ?
Nowhere.
Fortune favours the brave Trent and unfortunately if you are going to be a grey man, you are nowhere.
Hey mate I agree baz really should of flipped the coin earlier maybe
Like you said, really try something different, what him and ba we’re doing already wasn’t working
Wasn’t much to lose so to speak
I’ve met him and had a beer with him before, I can tell you from personal experience Trent is a top quality bloke and very down to earth and authentic, very classy, and you could tell why the players like him so much
He is probably the only proper former or current star footballer I’ve seen and spoken to who genuinely seems like a good bloke – not saying there isn’t more of them, but a lot of footy players and coaches couldn’t care less about you if you spoke to them outside of a work environment
Yeah he really could of flipped our luck possibly by really changing things up
Look at the impact of the rookies?
I know it’s easier in hindsight
But like you said – what did he have to lose
A damn zero game NRL rookie on debut made out forwards almost on a million a year some (paulo)
Look like average footballers
Trent Barret probably isn’t a bad coach with some time behind the wheel
He simply came into a shit fight of a time to be at our club as a head coach
My one knock on Trent is the bloke is so chilled and likeable
He’s a complete 180 of say Craig Bellamy who’s a notoriously difficult coach to keep happy
That guy is like a drill Sargent and demand’s extremely high standards
Trent probably doesn’t have the same personality to be like that
He definitely doesn’t come across that way when you speak to him
And everyone seems to like him
I’m afraid the ships sailed on baz
Parra won’t use him now I believe
They do in my opinion even tho I do like baz
Is we need new thinking and new ideas
A fresh start
A coach who isn’t already emotionally invested in the current roster
We need hardcore decisions being made
Not the same old Eels decision making
Where we keep players until they are so bad no club is interested in them
The eels also have said apparently they don’t want a coach who’s buddy buddy with the players
It’s definitely been a wasted opportunity for baz
I just don’t think people realise how dramatically poor most of our roster are playing this year
RCG and paulo are origin level props only last year
Matto was a origin player 2 years ago
There’s no chance in anyone’s mind are any of those guys even close to being considered for origin
That’s a indication of how much less impactful they are compared to previously
They used to be gun players
The biggest difference from us and south’s is Pride.
The players let the coach down and the position they were in is not where they should be they responded
They know who and what the coaching structure will be next year they responded
They found pride in the jersey
All of those things we do not have
Our group continues to be spoilt brats even the leadership group having the audacity to support the interim coach as if players who have won nothing and are producing shite week in week out deserved a voice honestly the culture in the place is its biggest problem
The players all seem to have gotten comfortable and lost their desire and hunger, it shows up at parts of our game there’s low urgency – which could be down to self belief and confidence lacking …
Or genuinely not happy and hungry anymore.
Not all, but clearly for a few.
Lane looks like his nrl days of being a decent player could be numbered.
The evidence is that no other nrl clubs would be interested in sivo or lane for example if we tried to shop them off..
My preferred head coach of Jason Ryles has been confirmed
Finally hopefully a strong disciplined HC who hopefully doesn’t let the eels bullshit us with soft rosters & low standards
Let’s get behind our new coach even if things aren’t perfect to begin !!
This will take time 💙💛
This is a man who will hire and fire and make hard decisions as a business first approach not mates club loyalty.
Million dollar question:
– Will some Eels players lift?
– Knowing our new head coach Ryles isn’t a softy and will drop them or remove them without loyalty getting in the way?
– Will we see more players start to scramble in desperation knowing their time playing for the eels might be numbered otherwise?
Good news Muz.
Ryles is a defensive minded coach.
Being an ex prop he’ll have a great influence on our forward pack. I think he’ll get the best out of Junior and Reg and bring in the youth that will replace them.
Hannay is more attack minded with Fitzgibbon the defensive mind at Sharks.
I see this appointment as a distinctive nod to a defensive era. I hope so anyway.
Onwards and upwards
Good points and I agree Ryles is the better decision. We need defensive minds in charge, and Ryles was a hard player and disciplined man. Good news for us fans.