It’s been some time since the last Bumpers Up.
To be honest, I’ve started this column a number of times over the past couple of weeks, but it just hasn’t come together.
Mind you, life as Parra supporter has kept me very busy. In fact, there’s been enough going on that I’ll actually blame the Eels for distracting me from this content.
Enough of the excuses. The Eels NRL season has been completed, awards handed out, farewells extended, and I’ve finally finished the post and expressed my opinion on a number of topics. I invite you to do the same.
Bumpers Up.
Season Review
There’s plenty that Forty and I plan to talk about in our review of the Eels in 2024, so the podcast is probably the best platform to do that.
Gol has already provided his unique take on this year with his Grades making a return to our pages. Forty and I will be looking to add an expert opinion to our assessments, so we’ll be calling on Bernie Gurr to provide the insights that come from a lifetime in the game.
What we do want to explore is not just 2024, but also where the Eels are currently at for 2025. This season is over, so the next has to be the main focus.
Expect that podcast to land later next week.
Farewell, Congratulations, And Thank You Reg
The departure of Reagan Campbell-Gillard has now been officially confirmed by both Reg and the club. In what feels like the ultimate Bizarro World moment, this announcement was immediately followed by the big prop winning the coveted Ken Thornett Medal as the Eels best NRL player for 2024.
Winning the KTM means that RCG departs on a personal high. He has been a standout in a tough season. Reg’s form and durability (playing all 24 games) deserved to be appreciated in a season that most supporters would prefer to forget.
Reg with his medal
The release of Campbell-Gillard is an outcome to the Eels current circumstance that supporters have universally found difficult to accept. They understandably feel that he still has value and don’t understand why the club would make such a call.
However, the fact that RCG still has significant value is exactly the reason why this has occurred.
In a recent edition of The Spotlight, I forewarned that fans would have to expect that there would be players who would part ways with the club that they didn’t agree should be let go. This was because releasing some high value players would provide the cap space to re-shape the roster.
Beyond needing the space to enter the player market, the Eels have an imbalance in the roster which I highlighted in that same Spotlight post. Including Reg, thirteen of the 24 “top 30” players contracted for next season were forwards.
Furthermore, ten of those players will be 30 years of age or older in 2025. There’s nothing wrong with being that age as an individual, but having so many in a list of 24 players is definitely an issue.
I completely understand the logic about keeping RCG. His KTM award should make him a “must keep” proposition.
But the Eels face the reality of unavoidable pain to find a gain. And losing RCG is part of that.
For now, I want to pay tribute to a man who I rank as one of the Eels best all-time recruits. Reg was already a good player when he arrived at Parra, but in his 107 games in the Blue and Gold, he became the best version of himself. He left nothing in the tank every time he took the field.
I’m forever grateful that he was Eels player number 804.
Other Eels Farewells
There were no surprises on the departing players list.
At the final home game, and at the KTMs, official farewells were extended to those leaving the club.
From the top 30, that was headed by Reagan Campbell-Gillard and the list also included Blaize Talagi, Daejarn Asi, Makahesi Makatoa, Morgan Harper, Ofahiki Ogden and Zac Cini.
Eels media graphics on the departing players – credit to Jane Mortimer
Other departures from outside the top 30 were Ethan Sanders, Matt Arthur, Isaac Lumelume and Lorenzo Mulitalo.
A sincere thank you to all of those players for being Eels. We wish you all the best moving forward.
I’d also like to extend a farewell and thanks to the staff who are headed to other clubs. Trent Barrett, Steve Antonelli, Trent Elkin and Steve Murphy all have new gigs because they are well respected in the NRL. Fellas, we appreciate everything that you’ve done over your years at the club, and I’m especially grateful for the time that you afforded me at your workplace at Kellyville. And for Murf, that’s eleven years. Good luck at Manly mate, but never when you play Parra.
Finally, Brad Arthur. I’ve written my thanks earlier this season. TCT readers know how I rate BA. I didn’t get the chance to say farewell in person, but I’m forever grateful that Brad was the Parramatta coach during the toughest of times. Brad will be a success elsewhere. He’s already being lauded in the Super League. He’ll return to the NRL soon enough too. Thanks again Brad.
Other Ken Thornett Medal Winners
Including RCG, two departing players won major gongs at the Ken Thornett Medal.
The other major recipient Blaize Talagi took home the Rookie of the Year award. There would have been massive questions asked if it had gone to anyone else.
Blaize Talagi
Clint Gutherson bagged three awards which was hardly surprising, collecting the Member voted Blue and Gold Army Best Player Award, the Jack Gibson NRL Coach’s Award, and the Nathan Hindmarsh Players’ Player. It’s impressive to be selected as the best by the supporters, coach and team mates alike.
Shaun Lane
Shaun Lane was recognised for his work in the mental health space, receiving the Ray Price NRL Community Award. Rugby league at its grassroots level is based on volunteering and focusses on producing good citizens. When stars remain true to this ethos and give back to the community, junior clubs have role models both on field and off.
Brock Parker
Mr Consistency, Brock Parker, won the Bob O’Reilly NSW Cup Player of the Year. He wouldn’t have let the team down if he had made an NRL debut. On the topic of debuts, Dan Keir became a regular NRL selection for the last half dozen games, but that didn’t stop him from earning the Geoff Gerard NSW Cup Coach’s Award.
Dan Keir
Middle forwards scooped the pool in Jersey Flegg, with Parra’s recruit from the Wests Tigers Teancum Brown grabbing the Brett Kenny Jersey Flegg Coach’s Award.
Teancum Brown
Rising pathways star Saxon Pryke was named the Steve Ella Jersey Flegg Player of the Year. Expect him to play a more prominent role in NSW Cup next season.
Saxon Pryke
Even with such worthy recipients there are players who I consider unlucky to miss a gong.
In the NRL, that was Joe Ofahengaue. Both Forty and I considered him to be a genuine contender for the Medal itself. Likewise in NSW Cup, Matt Arthur was our tip to be in line for an award. Meanwhile in Jersey Flegg, we again agreed on Ryley Smith as a likely recipient.
Don Musson
The event wasn’t all about the players. Staff legend Don Musson took out the Michael Cronin Award for Club Person of the Year. Most supporters don’t recognise the names of staff like Don, or appreciate the contributions made, but his colleagues and the players certainly do. In fact this was Don’s second time to take home the award, having received it in 2020. Well done mate!
Gutho Tribute
Last weekend, I wrote a dedicated post to Eels Captain, Clint Gutherson. Trent Barrett had just revealed that his inspirational fullback had played with three broken ribs and a torn quad for the previous three weeks. The revelation served to emphasise why the King is such a special footballer.
Since then Gutho has gone on to sweep that hat trick of awards at the KTM event, with recognition of his value to the club arguably at an all time high.
How odd then that the King has recently been the subject of mainstream and social media speculation about his future at the club.
Not only is Gutherson a stand out performer on a regular basis, he’s also one of a limited number of backs currently contracted to the Eels. Furthermore, he just happens to be the captain in addition to the role model for emerging players.
Gutho at the KTMs
One also wonders about the source of these rumours, because as as far as I’m aware, nobody at the club has ever tapped Gutho on the shoulder or informed him that they have no interest in him beyond 2025.
Whether Gutherson is destined for a positional change is a question not yet answered. The recruitment of Isaiah Iongi provides an option in that regard, and Gutherson has a history of playing other positions throughout his career. But as we’ve witnessed this season, even a badly busted King Gutho remains first selected for coaching staff and fans alike.
As for his future, I expect Gutherson to be the one who’d make any call on the end of his career, and whenever that happens, I think he’ll finish his time as an Eel.
Parra Leagues Support of Eels Junior Rugby League
In case you missed it, Parramatta Leagues Club recently presented the Parramatta Junior Rugby League with a cheque for $350K, representing their continued funding of grassroots footy. Over the past decade that generosity has totalled well in excess of three million dollars.
The money is used for typical junior rugby league club expenditures such as referees fees, and insurance for players, committees, managers, trainers and volunteers. This year it was also put towards a coaching leadership course and to deliver Mental Health First Aid training for two members at each PJRL Affiliated Club.
Of course, the main outcome is the financial bottom line for families – player rego fees. With these fees kept down to around the $40 mark, playing the sport of rugby league remains incredibly affordable in these tough economic times. Throw in another Club initiative, “The Great Aussie Boot Swap”, and the goal of PLC is all about making footy accessible for young kids.
Chris Dimou, Mark Jenkins, Jim Sarantinos, Adam Fairley, Phil Sims
As Parramatta Leagues Club CEO Chris Dimou explains,
“Giving back and being part of the community is something that we are extremely passionate about. Our contribution to the Parramatta Junior Rugby League is a significant investment in the next generation of rugby league players, and at grassroots enables thousands of girls and boys to play the sport they love.”
Junior football clubs are incredibly important to their communities. Not only do they bring people together, in a game that continues to expand its focus of inclusivity, there is a genuine goal of developing good citizens with a mindset of giving back.
That level of investment in young people is something to be applauded.
Gutsy Eels NRLW Victory
The Eels recorded their fourth win of the 2024 NRLW season when they defied the odds to defeat the Titans 24 to 14 at Eric Tweedale Stadium last Sunday.
A cursory look at the match stats tell you that it was a match that they shouldn’t have won.
With only 41% possession, and having to make 85 more tackles than their opponents, the Eels spent much of the game defending their line. Yet somehow they kept turning up to hold out the Titans who applied plenty of pressure via a string of penalties.
The resilience factor was off the charts.
The understandable jubilation against the Titans
Fatigue could have been expected to kick in. Yet when possession finally came the Eels way late in the match, they finished over the top of the visitors.
Elsie Albert was outstanding, winning the middle with her charges through the ruck, sometimes taking multiple hit-ups in the same set. How fitting it was for her to score the game-clinching try!
However, it was the Eels young rookies Rory Owen and Chloe Jackson who were the talk of supporters. Owen has become a genuine strike weapon in attack, and it’s difficult to believe she’s in her first season of rugby league.
As for Jackson, she’s an absolute workhorse in both sides of the game. On Sunday she recorded 118 run metres and made a whopping 37 tackles.
No matter what happens with this Eels team in 2024, the rising players in this squad will be better for this experience. It’s certainly a bright horizon for Parramatta’s NRLW program.
Take Me To Church
This week, Abbi Church becomes the first to play 25 NRLW games for the Eels.
Such a milestone is quite an achievement given the abbreviated NRLW seasons. Of course it’s not just about playing those games, it’s how Abby’s played them. The Eels NRLW custodian is similar to her NRL counterpart. She leaves nothing in the tank.
Eels media tribute to Abbi – credit to Jane Mortimer
Abbi was a rookie off the bench in the first ever Eels NRLW team. Before that game I asked an NRLW staff member if there was anyone that had caught him by surprise. Someone that impressed him during training.
His reply, “You know what, keep an eye on Abbi Church. Yeah.”
Quite prophetic.
NRLW Connectedness
I’ve said to many people that NRLW players are wired like rugby league players from years gone by. They are passionate about playing top grade footy and wear their heart on their sleeve about their team and team mates.
And like players from the semi-professional era, they have to hold down jobs and train in the evening.
Despite this, similar to those footballers from yesteryear, NRLW players are surprisingly accessible for the fans. With fixtures held at smaller suburban grounds, supporters get to watch the contest at close quarters, and kids often get the chance to meet their heroes.
Kennedy leading the cheers at Granville
Then there was the Round 7 match against the Titans at Granville. Fans witnessed the currently sidelined Kennedy Cherrington leading the cheers for the team in front of the Eric Tweedale Stadium grandstand. The emotion of the victory and what it meant for the team was there for all to see.
Supporters connect deeper with players when those players demonstrate that the jersey means as much to them as it does to the fans.
There’s no doubt about how Kennedy feels.
Podcast Plug
I’ve already given a plug to our own upcoming podcast with Bernie Gurr, but I’m going to also give a recommendation for the recent Everything Rugby League podcast featuring the former Eels CEO.
It was a wide reaching chat taking in everything from Bernie’s background as a player, through his accountancy career outside rugby league and his journey into sports administration, and ultimately to his takes on pertinent issues in the game such as expansion, international rugby league and rule changes.
Bernie Gurr
I thought I knew Bernie fairly well but I was fascinated by what he was able to share.
What Eels supporters will also find interesting are his reflections on the challenges faced by the club when he first took on the gig and how the club is currently positioned. It’s a reminder of the problems that had to be navigated back then. Spoiler – he also finds the positives that exist for the club moving forward.
Eels Preseason Begins Now
As strange as it might sound, the 2025 preseason will be commencing immediately for the Parramatta Eels.
Players will rightly be getting their time away from the game, but for the incoming coaches and Eels administration, it’s all about getting the preparation right from this point onwards.
Obviously future planning is an on-going process for every club. It can never be just about taking care of the present. Even in successful seasons, incumbent coaching staff and administration would have already mapped out their preseason strategy.
For Parramatta, there would have been some limitations. Jason Ryles and his incoming staff couldn’t be on location at Eels HQ up until now. The 2024 staff were still in place with a job to do. Any discussions, meetings, or decisions would have taken place remotely.
Those unavoidable restrictions have ended.
Jason Ryles
The Eels next face a sharpened lens from the media and consequently the fans.
Based on this past week’s communication from Sean McElduff, it appears that the club intends to get on the front foot with stakeholders. Better connections with members and supporters is a non-negotiable, and it’s far better to have strong relationships in that space than to have mainstream and social media air any grievances.
Everybody has to be on the same page and the club needs to drive that because nobody else has the capacity to do so.
As for the incoming coaches, I was already familiar with Nathan Brown and I’ve only heard positives about Jason Ryles and his staff. They’ll inherit facilities that have been a long time coming and will be second to none. But, they haven’t hit their first day working with the squad so they need nothing but support from the club and fans alike.
There are challenges ahead. Key decisions still need to be made.
I’m not expecting a typical off-season.
As a club, the Parramatta Eels are already in their preseason.
Vale Gary Morris
The Cumberland Throw was saddened to hear about the passing of former Eels Football Board member, and Parra Leagues Board member, Gary Morris.
Gary Morris
So valuable were Gary’s contributions to both organisations that he received the rare distinction of Eels and PLC Life Memberships.
We extend our condolences to all of Gary’s family and friends.
Stop The Presses!
The first round of finals footy isn’t yet over, but the speed of the contests has well and truly put the spotlight back on the play the ball.
As we got deeper into this season, the game seemed to get faster and total match points got higher and higher with every round. I haven’t had time to dig up the stats to support my personal eye test, but social media has been blowing up about a potential cause. In the opening round of the finals, the Panthers players simply rolled the ball back rather than attempting to use their foot in their clash with the Roosters.
They weren’t wrong, and I reckon the rolling of the ball has crept back into the game big time this season to the point that it is common practice across many teams. There are occasions when this part of the game looks like touch footy.
Here’s the problem. Like every other rule “crackdown”, refs enforce it for a period of time and then eventually they turn a blind eye to it. Before the crackdown happened, coaches worked on the ball roll technique as a skill. I’d suggest that’s also happening again
But you can’t have a sudden crackdown in finals footy can you? After all it’s farcical if you do.
Then again, if the play the ball continues to be ignored, that’s also a farce, isn’t it?
Some things never change.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Thanks 60s.
I guess time will tell on letting Reg go and who that allows cap space for signing. I’m still of the view that we would have been better taking a bath on Junior and/or Lane, and recruiting “value” buys with whatever residual we were left with.
There’s a lot about officiating that is clearly inconsistent and frustrating. Obstruction, tunnel ball, ball plants, 6-agains, high tackles, hip drops and as a general matter the contribution of the bunker. I’d like to see the NRL simplify officiating and reduce the number of battles it’s picking. Ultimately if they are consistent, regardless of the rule almost, it’s a level playing field. You’d think with the amount of data they have and over many years of managing all this stuff they’d be in a better place by now.
Mick, I agree about the rules. The NRL overcomplicate by making changes, not just to the rules but to the interpretations which are inconsistent at best.
Sixties, RCG, is the club punting him or, did RCG ask for a release. Most media reports say Parra has granted RCG a release which sounds more like he wants out.
My understanding is that there was a mutual element.
As Gus is fond of saying, 95% of the rules of rugby league are guidelines, decided with discretion. In fact the only rules that are black and white are those that involve a line, ie tryline, touch line etc. I would redeploy the Bunker to adjudicate on those decisions only and be used to collate and provide real time stats to the coaches during games.
Fair call Brett.
We are not going to win the 2025 grand final. Obviously our efforts need be towards building a challenge for 2026. In that regard decisions at other clubs ovrr the next six weeks will have a massive significance to our decision making. Arguably two of the most underpaid current players are at The Storm – Josh King and Tyran Wishart. Both have one further year to run on their contracts and so would be eligible to receive offers from othet clubs on November One if that situation doesn’t change. Jack Hetherington whose potential has never been realised has been reported as a potential release from Newcastle. Bulemore has only one year to run on his contract at Manly. If these blokes temain available we’ll have significant opportunities to reshape our roster over summer, maybe with 2025 as a transition year when we get the squad fit and work on defensive structures.
I see no reason why we cannot win the comp or at least top 4 for next year, barring another season that “buggers” us from injuries.
I expect that at least two more signings of significance to take place and an improvement in overall depth. The addition of Lomax and a winger with pace combined with the young fullback from Penrith being a immediate difference, hopefully also a forward like Jazz Tavanna who unfortunately has been announced as going to Manly.
I don’t think that any side in the finals in their current shape are out of our reach.
This final view will polarise opinion but I believe that Gutho can be our Harry Grant, many believe Guth is too tall for a dummy half, unless his knees are totally shot, I cannot see why he cannot provide exactly what Grant provides to Melbourne. He is still the fittest player in the club and his awareness in that “hooker” role would/will surprise many. I believe a revelation.
I expect a lot of negativity in this suggestion, but that’s fine. Who Know’s if we get to see whether I am right or wrong.
PS Guth is not a lock forward as that would require him to play as a middle and that would finish him. Hooker is just another half and in this respect he can be rested and rotated if required. Ryles as also indicated he has different plans for Guth (whatever they are?).
Poppa I love your optimism and I still believe in our eels too, we have plenty of footy in us on our day..
The issue is we do not have the fitness or work ethic of fast moving feet in defence and attack all game like a penrith or storm to compete in the finals.
I still believe We’ll improve.. but with one off season? And still a lot of ba’s old power forward roster? And plenty of players around 30?
I highly doubt one off season can turn these men into fitness machines who can tackle line demons for 80 mins which is what can win us the comp. I feel we will improve but like we saw at the dogs with Ciro, it might take 2 seasons and a roster clean out to see us a solid top 4 team again.
We must believe in Ryles but IMO be realistic, it can be duper hard to breed a new mindset, fitness, defensive work ethic into many of the same players who are responsible for almost getting us a spoon in 24’…
A top 8 finish or there abouts would be a vast improvement. We must give Jason some time to get the players he truly wants. We have players in our team on huge money that are worst fitness & defensive wise than Penrith or storms fringe first graders who are on canteen change salary’s in comparison. We have a huge challenge ahead. But I agree with you, we are still a great side at full strength, if they can fix our edge defence then I’ll eat my words and agree we could finish top 4. 🤞 buy until our defence and fitness matches those sides, it could be difficult.
I’ll be happy to just see solid defensive structures and defensive first attitudes weekly like we saw at the dogs this year. We can’t go anywhere until we can learn to actually defend like a proper NRL team. At the moment our edge defence it looks like an under 14’s player could carve up our men out wide. 😅
Well Poppa, I wrote some weeks ago Parra can finish in the top four 2025 with one proviso, we stay healthy. I believe they must put the State of Origin on the back burner and play it after the grand final. Too many clubs are losing players injured due to the Origin. As great a game it is, the origin has cost too much in terms of injuries and is detrimental to the success of teams in their quest for finals football. I like your suggestion about Gutherson but, apart from the heavy lifting forwards he can play anywhere. Pre-season will sort this all out plus as you wrote a winger who can torch the grass with speed. If the Bulldogs dump Addo-Carr should we look in his direction? I remain positive for next year. Then again I remain positive every year and I am looking forward to a new approach. I hope Mr Sixties can continue with his training reports but possibly in greater detail.
I’m aiming to continue those reports Zero.
Pops, I still disagree with you re: Gutho at 9. Too tall and bung knees. I don’t think his knees would stand up to being bent for most of the game, plus I don’t think his passing would be crisp enough. I agree with you re: JAC, apparently we are in talks with Wilson from the dogs, if rumours are true about them punting JAC, there is no chance they will let Wilson go, unless he wants out or we offer him more $.
For sure Mick & sixities it’s hard to imagine gutho at 9 with his height, knees, and they would just run at him all game to take our most consistently hard working players gas tank away. He also isn’t the best passer on both sides like a proper first grade dummy half needs to be. Gutho is still our fullback starting season or a solid defensive centre Imo. He would tidy up our defence on one side if they test him there. Gutho is a very smart footballer, Ryles could use him anywhere and he will deliver. He is the most pure “footballer” in our team. I’m still convinced he is our best player (when moses is out) by a wide margin, and on a torn quad and broken ribs. The king will also come in next season with something to prove. I would still love to see him in our backs, not going to waste at 13 or 9 tackling middle forwards all game…
Poppa, I think increasing Gutho’s workload, especially in defence would be too much to ask. Dummy halves make more tackles than any other player. I think it would be far greater than a lock role.
Those players haven’t been mentioned in anything I’ve heard but you’d have to think that Wishart will be in demand. I think there has to be player movement on our roster for significant recruitment to occur.
I absolutely hate the play the ball or lack of.
I wish they would introduce a five minute sin bin for next season to be used after one warning for any player.
Any subsequent tunnell ball the player would be binned for five minutes.
I don’t care if we end up with thirteen on ten.
Maybe the coaches will than instruct their players to use their foot when it cost them the game.
Rant over.
The refs control the rule interpretation. They can penalize, they can sin bin. It must just be coincidental that Mr Klein continually misses transgressions from the Penrith club. Any association attributed to Shaun Lane with Ray Price is a disgrace. Mental health, give us a break.
Yeah they would be good signings. Word is we are interested in knights brailey
?.. if he can stay healthy he isn’t a bad 9. I rate hands off the bench like how we played him when Josh Hodgson was playing.
Rocket, I didn’t write about it, but what about the ball planting! The crackdown on that stopped long ago.
Looking forward to hearing from Ryles.
2 players we should look at if we can offload someone else.
1. Leo Thompson allegedly on around $400k
2. Dylan Lucas can play centre or back rower
These 2 guys would transform our pack. Both have a bit of mongrel. Something we lack.
I know MON hates BA otherwise we’d be sending him a couple of players. With no cost to us.
Yeah they would be good signings. Word is we are interested in knights brailey
?.. if he can stay healthy he isn’t a bad 9. I rate hands off the bench like how we played him when Josh Hodgson was playing
Muz,
Hands is still developing he can play in the halves and he’s young.
I haven’t seen much of Brailey. I hope he goes OK.
Not sure what happens with Lussick. I guess it is good to have some depth. Instead of being paper thin and 1 injury away from season collapse.
JAC – looks like he’s on the outer at Dogs. Skelton going to Tigers. Probably means they keep Blake Wilson. I’m guessing Dogs knew JAC would mess up sooner or later.
Yeah interesting to see mate I think also JAC is a nice short term possible solution if Wilson falls thru but I wonder if JAC’s days are almost done ?
Guys who can play in the centres, edge forward and the middle are extremely valuable these days. We’ve not truly replaced Marata Niukore, guys like Dylan Lucas are so important to your overall depth.
I’m sure that Thompson is or has been on the radar
GUTHO: Love the guy and I have heard all sorts of suggestions for him in 2025, from Centre, to 5/8, lock, hooker and even at 14, but personally I believe he will be put where he rightly belongs…..Fullback.
My opinion, don’t make it right, but he has had 2 issues in the past 2 seasons, first one, not enough support from the back, we don’t have wingers to bring the ball back (Look at the top 3 sides) with any impetus, so this leads to Gutho’s 2nd issue in that he will take the run back and take it upon himself to make up for any deficiencies, even in the middle. You can’t save Gutho from himself, and that is by no means an insult, this guy just gives and gives and leads by example. I honestly believe more support for him at the back and this man can pick and choose his moments a bit more, keeping some life in those legs a little longer.
Special shout out to Joe O this year, he is looking like the Joe O for Origin of a few years back. Optimistically, I think at full strength, some favours from the injury Gods and a couple of astute signings, we may just do alright next year.
Eels since 76.
Tks sixties. Season Review…from GF to wooden spoon contenders almost overnight is something quite poor. Judging football teams and why they go wrong or right can be subjective and prone to wide spread opinion. It’s part of being engaged with the game, but almost first to almost last in the blink of an eye surely can be viewed objectively, a bit like a mix of the sciences, you know, the answers are proven by evidence and can be taken as real. To me, our (the Eels) reading of the state of the game, roster composition and ability to develop a sound defensive system are the 3 major issues. Everyone will have a list of more detailed shortcomings, and most will be a sub-set of these 3. Getting these things wrong should bear accountability, but also a clear plan to remedy.
Without question, a number of things have to be wrong to have such a fall. It will be the mix of subjective and objective for anyone who looks into it.
Would love to know how Isaiah Iongi is going after leaving the panthers game in last few minutes yesterday with a knee injury.
Hoping he is okay.
Tony
Last thing we need is injury to a recruit!
First time I ever cheered for Manly
The horror of it all Pete!
Yeah it was strange we all cheered for manly too. Isn’t it amazing how unlikable the dogs & dog’s supporter base is? Reed has turned into a grub / little turd over at the dogs.
The bloke is either a snake in the grass or a small man syndrome suffering fellah that’s easily influenced by others. Him being lured back to the dogs by gus after they wanted nothing to do with him in the past, then seemingly becoming influenced into becoming the new Mick Ennis Grub of the bulldogs.
One thing I’m proud of as a parra fan our team even when we are winning most games in previous years never got a big head or arrogance about us like the broncos or the bulldogs have gotten this year. In my view the broncos cockiness to Mitch moses last year when he hurt himself tackling them and pointing at him after they scored made me a lifetime broncos hater. The bulldogs & fans also gained a arrogance about them this year, it seems like everyone wanted them to lose!
20 years ago I cheered for the Dogs against Manly, albeit through grinding teeth, but this time I was slightly at peace with Manly beating the Dogs.
Next year we have either best or second best halves pairing we had 9th best attack with Moses missing 16 games if our halves are healthy our attack should be top 4 statically our hope is Ryles transform our defence we have a chance of contending next year
That’s funny, about 3am this morning I was laying in bed thinking the very same thing, but more in the context of the total spine. Penrith and Storm have the elite spines, but we’re not far behind, if anything I can place us in the top 3, and as you suggest, that should really mean something if they can stay on the park. Brendan Hands has been far from our problem, and has improved to be a serviceable No 9. Just like Penisini and a couple of others, a better balanced and healthier roster will assist in his game. Our spine is definitely a big plus.
The dummy half and how they play for mine is firstly based on the skill set of the player, and then how the coach wants to use that position. Will Hands role change under Ryles?
BDon, it is definitely a strength, but also a weakness with regard to depth.
Bdon we have a crazy good halves Pairing. It’s just as good as Melbournes or the panthers or not far off (if you surrounded them with the same playing systems, players, and elite coaching they’ve got).
Mitchel moses and brown are easily a top 3 halves pairing, and this is where former players & experts think parra has been ran like shit. You stick those two players into a side even like the titans and it would be a side fighting for the top 4 or at least guaranteed top 8 this year probably.
We have been the only club for many years who refused to throw resources aggressively into high standard backs. They’ve never failed to sign forwards every year or two and even high quality ones, yet we get stuck with reserve grade backs for years on years.
If we had solid defence and speed on our edges, moses & brown’s game would elevate to a whole new dimension. You even see at Cronulla how good their halves & Hynes has looked at times and honestly have average he is (VS moses or Cleary)…
It’s because he is blessed with significant speed and quality in the backs who are playing outside of him. If you threw Nicho Hynes into the #7 at parramatta with our outside backs, he would probably be no impressive than Daejarn Asi has looked when playing for us. In fact Asi probably has a better long kicking game.
Elite backs would make moses & browns try assists sky rocket. If Lomax stays healthy next season he alone will probably help them tremendously because he can actually compete & catch kicks, and can finish well, has X factor.
With Luai and Keary leaving it is between us and Melbourne for best halves pairing. It’s just comes down to our defence that simple
Great read and thanks Sixties for all things Parra and the team.
B Gurr – now he is someone the club should / could look at for being in charge of GM and the like but I imagine he has bigger items going on besides a M Cameron. Look forward to the pod here.
I said it a yr or two back but our pack lacked leaders / mongrel – we need 1/2 types of these players and Guymer for me is a must.
I am sure Ryles and co have already made plans for 2025 and possibly further and I will back them and support them as we go into the next pre-season. I will be interested to see the work Sam Moa does with the squad and hope this resonates with our pack….
I only hope like many here that the front of the club get themselves in order and learn from the errors of the last 2-3 yrs for retention, and ensure we keep our best kids and communicate strongly with managers and families that the club comes first and last.
I’m looking forward to what will change defensively. My concern has always been players falling out of systems, or individuals being error prone as individual defenders. I’m curious to see whether anything in the way of defence coaching is radically different.
Wow.. awesome to see the video get published today with coach Ryles. I can confirm playing on the south coast his former jnr team DID have the parra colours + heard rumours he was a parra supporter growing up too (before this video today)!
Let’s get behind him like most of us did with BA during those tough years. We must not underestimate the power of support & unity to our team. Just like BA, Ryles is coming in to an extremely challenging situation. And just like BA did for us over the years, I predict Jason will be hard nosed and get us out of tough times. He is is considered as a EXTREMELY dedicated & competitive. We need some of that mongrel & winning mentality.
For anyone who missed it, you can catch it here on the eels YouTube:
https://youtu.be/JP7pHnRGfb8?si=-RCsSnQrp-3ZL-fU
Yeah Muz,
It was a good introduction.
He seems like a good honest communicator.
He’s clearly got a plan.
Off season will be a big one.