The Tip Sheet is also available on Spotify and iTunes!
Monster roster moves have shook the Parramatta Eels this week with Maika Sivo departing the NRL. Sixties and Forty20 celebrate the big moments – on and off the field – for the powerhouse winger from the time he send Blake Ayshford to the shadow realm to the surprise trip his father made to see him play.
Joash Papali’i and Jordan Samrani are the newest members of the Parramatta Eels as Jason Ryles continues to overhaul the roster ahead of the 2024/25 preseason. The Tip Sheet takes a dive into what both young men will bring to the club and where they fit in the big picture. Matt Doorey has also extended his stay with the Eels while the P
The boys unload on Ezra Mam in the NRL news following his disastrous decision to drive under the influence of narcotics. Sam Walker heads the latest round of NRL transactions with a rumoured 2-year 2.2 million dollar extension on the table. Is he worth it? The podcast looks at the long term plan for the Roosters in the halves and how Walker shapes it.
Week 2 of the Pacific Championships lands this weekend and the show previews the four games as well as reviewing the round that was.
While I wish Miaka all the best at Leeds. He certainly provided plenty of entertainment to the Eels faithful in his time at the club. He had an outstanding strike rate for scoring tries. No doubt about that.
I am really liking the recruitment that is happening at the Eels at the moment. A very nice injection of speed. Joash YouTube highlights show he possesses plenty of speed and tackle breaking ability.
The test of cause is bringing that highlight package to the NRL.
Really happy for Mitch making his Kangaroos debut. Far from the best game that I have seen him play. Looked like he had not played in three months. However his defence was very good. I didn’t get the sense that he had the same ownership of the team that he had in SOO.
John, I reckon he will be very different in the next game. He’s been out for a while and it is understandable that he’d be rusty.
Forgot to mention Lomax. His first Roos jumper and a big impact player for us next year.
I have to get used to him being an Eel next season.
Welcome to the Eels Zac.
P.S. Just voted. How easy. Why can’t we vote like that for the Federal election next year.
Will we get Jac?
Will we get Vunivalu?
I’m guessing we could possibly get both with Sivo and Guthos money.
Vunivalu and Jac are known to Ryles. Furthermore, Scott Wisemantel worked in Rugby and would also have been involved with Vunivalu. Providing a great synergy.
So I’m going out on a limb and saying we will have
1. Iongi
2. JAC – on extremely tight conditions
3. Penisini
4. Lomax
5. Vunivalu
14. Papalli
I’m not claiming inside information. I guess November 1st cannot come soon enough.
Pete, I don’t see us recruiting JAC. The Eels have looked before and it didn’t happen.
Yes it seems except for Lomax. Our recruitment has been very barren in recent years.
I think Ham pointed out that the Recruitment committee were not able to get the job done. That coalition has changed somewhat and it seems to be chalk and cheese by comparison.
We all knew how bad it was leading up to the GF and after. Ryles has had to have some tough conversations and make some big calls. But that’s what leaders do. The way his handling Gutho has been exceptional.
I think if JAC was considered he’d be on an extremely short leash so to speak with strict conditions and cut price deal – not sure it happen either but it’s good food for thought.
Would be an interesting back line Pete. It looks good. Jac is apparently not wanted by dragons, his value will be steeply discounted compared to previous periods you could imagine sixties. This is likely a man who’s going to have to take a smaller contract or risk being only wanted in SL. He is high risk, but I like it under Ryles. i think it would work. Jac might wake up with it being his possibly last life line in the NRL.
Good point Muz,
It could indeed be his last nrl life line.
Wilson would be great. Looking like Ryles will have speed to burn. Instead of having the slowest back 5 we may well have one of the fastest.
Still slots available in the top 30. However I agree with Sixties on JAC. Can’t see the club taking him on.
Hi Pete
Mate I don’t get the want for JAC; we can do much better club wise, and I’d rather a kid get a gig and or a promising reserve grader. JAC has been proven to be an imbecile- sorry but no way.
Agree, Milo I have said before the same thing about JAC and culture etc. I don’t like him as a person but as a player he is a try scorer. But, who knows what JR has planned. I’ll trust his judgement. He might be OK on 1 year deal with strict conditions.
I’m merely putting it out there as conjecture as it is off season and for a good discussion.
But There have been links. I would prefer Vunivalu instead of JAC and As Muz said I too would prefer Wilson but that talk seems to have gone cold. With them sacking JAC, losing skelton. They probably keep Wilson and they signed Montoya to replace JAC.
But Vunivalu is an outside chance.
As said November 1st cannot come soon enough.
As I said just conjecture.
People who disagree on jac due to culture, I get that too. It’s a risk. But unless Ryles can get us a NRL experienced winger who’s fast, what can we do? we risk having piss weak edge defence over on that wing again which is largely why we almost got a wooden spoon. It’s the same area we lose most games and leak most tries. If it comes down to us having him and it fixed that issue partly? I’ll support Ryles & co’s decision. We have probably the worst edge defence on the game. Sivo and russel were not (defensively) up to standard. I’ll take us leaking less tries and not rushing in like fools on every set giving away weak tries, if it means we risk it on Jac. Hopefully Jason can get us someone better, but honestly Jac is a far superior winger than Say russel or Sivo at defending. Lomax isn’t coming to play wing. We need one more experienced good winger or we risk being weak defensively out wide again, and will be an easy team to beat. Obviously Wilson is my pick. I don’t believe our rookie Joash papali’i will be ready to plug the eels weakest defensive area on his first year.
What other good wingers are becoming available other than Vunivalu?
I’m sure Ryles has some plans here; and I’d be shocked if he was after JAC…but I’m just a would be if I could be Mick! Like many mate.
Vuni would be just good – and he’s tough as teak.
Pete the other player who I would prefer over JAC is Wilson. That kid has real speed, elusive, X factor, and very young which would suggest he has a high ceiling & great long term stock if he remained healthy.
Jason’s selecting player’s evidently based on what they “could be” in time. Wilson is a good pick in this case, he’s probably like simmonson who in 2-3 seasons all the sudden becomes your best back or their abouts. I personally believe Jason would prefer Wilson. But Jac is still a way better winger than anything we have. Lomax is coming to play centre. Ba was generally good at identifying talent, he too wanted Wilson. It sounds like he is hard to get.
I’m hearing rumours that Sangalang has signed with the Panthers; can you confirm or refute?
What is it with young players who command a fist full of money and do not have the mental aptitude to conduct themselves in a way that commensurates with the money they demand. Ezra Mam is a baby in a football guernsey with a mindset that does not equate to his pay grade.
He purchases an expensive vehicle, drives it unlicensed and most likely under the influence of an illegal substance. What arrogance and his teammates say he just made a mistake because he is so young. That mistake could very well have taken someone’s life and to avoid the scrutiny he checks himself into rehab. Why? Does he have an addiction we should know about? No! He really wants to avoid the penalty of his stupidity. Should he be sacked? Absolutely! That way he might learn he is not a god! Money will never give people intelligence and some footballers will never learn self control.
Personally definitely agree he should be sacked. He broke a kids hip in the accident apparently. Sacked for sure mate. You would be furious if he hurt your child driving on drugs and then seen this guy playing football when watching tv. It’s shameful and a disgrace. Should be made an example of.
At the moment I struggle to see how he doesn’t go to jail. Allegedly he had expired license. no rego on car, failed a roadside drug test (whatever those are worth), went into wrong lane and had a head on crash. The judge isn’t going to like the sound of that combination of factors. I think the nrl and broncos will put him on no fault stand down as soon as he is charged and then it’s out of their hands till court process wraps up
For sure Ron. Imagine if you or I did it? We would get Jail time… interesting to see if he gets preferential treatment due to some politics due to his colour or the fact he is a bronco. Broncos have an evident cultural issue, this kid and Walsh are clearly a big part of it. Walsh has been caught with coke before too. 🤡’s
I don’t think colour is relevant – if anything this country has history of treating indigenous peoples more harshly than others.
But I do think it’s an interesting issue re: nrl players and misconduct. Many seems to think nrl players get preferential treatment but I personally don’t think nrl players get preferential treatment in court. In fact I’d suggest they might wel be treated harsher than ordinary citizens when it comes to court matters. Take hayne as an example – his reputation as high profile nrl player likely did not help in a sex related case when two juries wrongfully convicted him and some judges made errors aswell. Indeed some in the game still belittle him and his contribution to nrl/eels/blues/Fiji despite several judges saying he should have been convicted and one particular judge saying that there is a very real chance a innocent man was convicted all this time. Then consider Dylan – he committed a crime which was very low seriousness but he got smashed by the judge and wider public+ had to pay fine + was suspended by nrl.
Anyway, broncos are in trouble. I just hope Madge doesn’t come hunting for Moses to replace Reynolds + mam
*several judges saying he should NOT have been convicted. If forgot to put “not” while typing on phone
Muz, on principle I agree. But not if you’ve seen some sentences for other crimes. But he needs a spell…but let’s see what is played out etc. I doubt he will see four walls and wash basin.
it’s not always about age.
Plain luck saved him from being a killer. I hope the Broncos, NRL and the law judge him on what he could have done rather than what eventuated.
Forty nailed with his half time beat, an old arsehole is just an arsehole who was once young.
Thanks for podcast gents.
I must admit, I feel a little safer on the road now that another hoon in his souped up MX5 has been caught. I hope you’ve learnt your lesson Sixties 😀
Joash played mainly fullback and 5/8 if I’m not mistaken. He wasn’t signed to play fullback and he isn’t taking Browns spot which is why I agree with Sixties. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if Ryles has plans to groom him as our bench dummy half. I used to love seeing PJ Marsh coming on late in the half and catching tired forwards out with his speed and acceleration. I can see Joash playing a similar role.
TCT I suspect has inside info regarding JAC, from face value, the club should be chasing his signature. We need a fast, experienced winger, more so now that Sivo has left. JAC will become available and we should have the cap space to sign him. But, the boys seem confident he won’t be an Eel. Care to share boys? 😀
I know we have chased him before but that was when he was under contract and Gould was in our path, he hates Parra. Gould can’t stand in his way if he’s sacked.
While his form the past two seasons has been patchy at best, I’ll miss Maika. My favourite moment as well was the try agains the Storm on 2021. I was at the game and if I remember correctly rain was biblical.
I’m liking Ryles’ recruiting. Some of the players may be “project” or depth players but it will depend what they want to get out of their time at Parra. A chance may be what they need to take that next step.
I’m not sure that JAC would fit into the culture that Ryles is building. A player who doesn’t buy into the culture can derail a team. We’ve seen that a Parra. Though if he did come his contract would have to have some very tight clauses around behaviour. And that takes us to the Bronocs where Ezra Mam’s incident is an indicator of the porrculture at the Broncos. If he even plays in 2025 I’d be very surprised and what he did I’d expect attract more than just a fine.
Hi Shaun, I’m not a fan of JAC’s antics and behaviour but from what I understand, players do like him and are happy to play with him.
To be honest, I’m only interested in a winning culture. I can’t speak for all supporters and I’m not entirely sure how Ryles interprets culture but the supporters I know prefer a trophy from the NRL over a medal from mother Teresa.
Winning fixes everything, the Broncos were well and truly shot before their players went rouge.
Every club claims to have standards, none have conviction when deciding between winning and making a stand.
Gould is happy to sack JAC because it suits his club, they need a halfback and a decent front rower. Gould’s “standards” compass would be pointing the other way if that player was Crichton. He had no problem signing Xerri.
The Titans had no problem signing Greg Bird after he smashed a glass in his girlfriends face, the Broncos bent over backwards to sign Lodge after he held people hostage, the Roosters and Manly found it in their hearts to give Lodge a contract too. The list of double standards is endless.
I’d rather a winning dickhead than a losing clean skin as long as they are just playing football and not marrying my daughters.
I forgot to mention, Ryles did serve his apprenticeship under a coach who single handedly changed the NRL rule book. Nothing is off limits for Belemy, if he could inflict pain and injury to a player to gain an advantage within the rules, then he would and still does.
I’m not hoping that Ryles introduces grubby tactics but I hope that the culture that he speaks of is a win at all cost culture, I hope to see our team push the refs and themselves to the limit to gain any advantage, I want to see a ruthless Parra that takes no prisoners, a Parra that no team looks forward to playing.
Agreed – we need to have a lot of resilience and mongrel. Brad used to have that when we had beau Scott, manu manu etc but we lost our way and even spent half a year playing nice and refusing to wrestle in ruck. The best teams push boundaries and find a competitive advantage.
1 of our chances of keeping gutho would love to know what 60s thinks of keeping gutho my thoughts are it’s a must. Say st George come in at 700k for 3 years if we go the 900k or whatever it is then offer say around 600k for 2 years plus a coaching position after surely that’s enough to keep him. I just sense many supporters are ok with going maybe I’m just too sentimental but I’d love him to stay
Hi Joseph, I’m for a winning culture as well but as a great Rugby League commentator and 5/8 for the Nazareth Carpenters once said “For what will it profit a fan if they gain the premiership and forfeits their soul?s”
The culture of rugby league and it continued leniency for the purpose of cheap redemption without atonement is a continued blight on the game. And you are right that sometimes money wins and desperate clubs will throw their ethics out the window. I’ll spare you my rant on the players who should have never been let back into the game yet found clubs.
And while I have issues with Bellamy’s tactics that ruined the NRL in the 2000s, he does have some track record in creating a strong playing culture that runs through the club. He observes potential new signings at a cafe and I believe new signings do a week or two working a trade. if Ryles bring something like that to the Eels it would be beneficial.
And while Ryles may have be influence by his mentors, he seems to be building a culture that is unique for Parramatta. I hope it would be a tough side with resilience that leaves the dickheads behind. Which is why I suspect JAC may not be on his list. Yes, he may be “popular” with players but if such a player does not buy into the culture then that is a like a cancer in the playing group. Worse than losing clean skins you’ll have losing dickheads.
Just a week to the pre-season. I’m very keen to see how Ryles moulds this club into shape.
Too be honest I don’t get the negativity about gutho he bleeds Parramatta and that’s what we wont
Good podcast fellas thank you. just finished it all up today. One point regarding players like Joash Papali’i I’ll add something to it.
Ryels has done his apprenticeship under two premiership winning clubs who religiously have seemingly multiple fullbacks in their 17 consistently.
We’ve been accustomed to just having gutherson, and if he gets injured we basically lose every game. And it has never been addressed aggressively, probably because gutherson barely gets injured.
What Jason Ryles is doing is taking us into a new direction like the top clubs do. Where you have multiple backs in the 17 who can sufficiently play fullback competitively.
Joash papali’i has said his preferred position is fullback and he will be no doubt training in multiple positions, but continuing to develop his game at fullback in our cup team most likely. Obviously he can fill in at 6, and as you guys mentioned a good #14 option.
The old mindset of us eels as having 1 fullback, 1 halfback, 1 nrl standard dummy half, is probably partly why we aren’t a truly competitive team.
There is an evident reason why the roosters have had Teddy, Manu, sualii in the backs. All can play fullback and have done during injury periods. Storm have Nick meany, pappy, (now also fa’alago too), and don’t forget Cam Munster goes back to fullback sometimes when a player gets injured.
We have only had gutherson who can play fullback realistically. The stats suggest this is why we basically could not win a game in guthersons absence. I don’t think our clubs been managed properly roster wise. Too reliant on gutherson. The signing of Iongi and Papali’i are just bare basic depth signings any nrl team should have who intends to be competitive. We’ve simply been extremely lucky gutherson very rarely got injured, played loads of games.
I’m not saying we will suddenly win every game or times will be smooth. But don’t be suprised if Ryles signs another NRL fullback or utility back who can also cover there. He is attempting to bring our roster up with the times, using a similar backs depth approach he learned from his previous clubs who are have been wildly successful for many years.
The good teams have generally 3 players who can sufficiently play at fullback NRL standard and the team can still win games. We are simply taking (or trying to take) our club up a notch in terms of roster management and professionalism. We can’t expect a club to have 1 fullback and 1 half back and think that’s enough to win a premiership. That’s the set up we’ve been doing and our team collapses the second our fullback or half isn’t playing.
It’s yet to be seen if coach Ryles can coach correctly. But it is at least refreshing to see they are supporting him in attempting to bring our clubs roster up to scratch to hopefully be competitive in todays game, and not 100% reliant on 1 fullback and 1 half back.
Ronald Volkman if we sign him is another good halves depth signing. Ryan paps is also possibly going to market as storm offered him a lesser contract. If he goes to market, and gutho leaves, Ryan paps is possibly available for less than gutho is on. Paps was offered 750 apparently from storm. And may test market. It’s a risk with his history of injuries, but don’t he surprised if we take a shot at paps if he goes to market.
If we can keep on making progressive movements like this our on field performances will take care of its self.
We could end up having gutho, iongi, papali’i, and Lomax now who can fill at fullback. Or another NRL level fullback if gutho leaves. We’ve been so restricted with fullbacks and backs for so long roster wise some fans think we have too many fullbacks. It’s not the case.
Clubs who compete for the title consistently all have multiple fullbacks on the roster who are able to play NRL and not look out of place. He is obviously trying to steer our roster in that direction. Not relying on poor old gutho to carry the team near on his own at times.. Our only main issue I see for next year is we severely lack dummy half depth, plus RCG going leaves a huge void to fill… hopefully our young forwards can step up next year.