The Parramatta Eels have this morning announced that Dylan Walker will be joining the club on a two year deal, effective immediately.
Earlier, the former Manly premiership winning five-eighth and Blues Origin representative had been granted an immediate release on compassionate grounds, with a media statement from the Warriors confirming Walker’s return to Australia.
Mark O’Neill had this to say in the Eels media announcement:
“We’re excited to have a player of Dylan’s caliber join the Eels. Dylan is such a tough competitor who will suit our style of football and he will provide class and experience to our team.”
Walker in Origin action
At 30 years of age, Walker was in the final season of his three year contract at the Warriors. During that time he has transitioned from a five-eighth role to that of a bench utility, often playing as a third playmaker or lock.
The question being asked almost immediately by Eels supporters is whether he will return to a specialist five-eighth role at the Eels and consequently whether this will trigger the immediate release of Dylan Brown to the Knights.
Parramatta had two spots in their top 30 and could therefore accommodate the acquisition of Walker. The question would be whether the Knights would have the cap space to immediately add Brown to their roster.
Dylan Brown in run mode
Further to that, though there has been mounting media pressure and supporter sentiment for the Eels to release Brown, there has been no indication that the club or Jason Ryles share that sentiment.
Should the Eels decide to retain Brown for the season, the signing of Walker would provide an immediate selection option for Ryles to replace the out of form Newcastle bound Brown.
Dylan Brown has again been named at pivot for the Eels clash with Manly, so the earliest that he could be selected would be the following week against the Dragons.
Of note, Walker joins Ryan Matterson and Josh Addo-Carr as the players on the Eels roster who have won a premiership.
Eels forever!
Sixties
So he is either coming to play 6 and move Brown on, or coming to play 14 (or they are hedging and bringing him in to cover either or both).
If it is to play 14, then Smith has to play 9 and we move on from Lussick and Hands. There is no point bringing in a vet on a short deal to replace a rookie who might be seen as the long term 9, when we are not competing for a Premiership.
If we are moving Brown on, I’m sadly fine with that as well.
My broader question is; Is it normal for an NRL club not to have filled its 30 man roster by week 4? If not normal, which it wouldn’t seem to be, once again, where is the accountability on Management?
Not so unusual. The NRL requires 28 players by round one, so there are clubs who keep their powder dry. All 30 spots must be filled by June 30.
Is that a recent change? Last year we were running with 25 or 26 in our top 30 for most of the year. At least it felt like that.
Didn’t Ryan Matterson win a premiership at the Roosters in 2018 and still on the Eels roster.
Anyway most of the warriors fans ain’t too happy to be losing Dylan Walker which is an indication he must still be playing well.
When a fanbase are disappointed to lose a player that isn’t considered elite.
Hopefully he brings some energy and plays a Kurt Mann/Tyran Wishart role to plug holes and gives good coverage to any HIA’s in the backline.
While still providing impact in the middle.
I guess it may mean Joash isnt being considered for this 14 role just yet either as Walker will be straight into that role from next week.
Yes, I’ve amended that point. Thanks. I was looking at the first grade team list and forgotten about Matto.
What about the Fox? He has won a comp with Melbourne
I’ve had a shocker. Corrected!
i note dylan walker is still on the nrl team list to play for the warriors this weekend
I think he will add some much needed experience to the squad. We saw with Ado Carr coming into the team last week that his experience started to shine through. It will be interesting to see how Ryles uses Walker, but I would not be surprised to see Smith start at 9 and Walker relieves him off the bench as a 14. Hooker has been an issue for the club for a few years now, and this signing, along with the development of Smith could go a long way to fixing that.
Not a fan of the bloke, but he will be the best Dylan we have playing right now…
Anyone know what we’re paying him?
A good pick-up. I’m a fan.
Very smart pick up for the Eels. We need leaders and a more physical presence in defence and attack. Reminds me a bit of when we signed Beau Scott – a tough utility. Agree with comments above- would be starting Ryley and moving on from hands and lussick long term. Walker can also spell Hopgood at 13 and offers something different in attack. Very happy about this signing. An old school, hard and switched-on ‘adult’ coming into the squad.
Dylan Walker is a tough scrapper and plays a number of positions. He’s going to give us some seniority and fight that we’ve lacked. He talks to his players something we’ve been lacking on field.
Great utility and a strong voice. Junior and Brown dont talk.
He’s always been good at the Warriors.
These are the types of players we need scrappers and fighters.
Well noted Pete
I think its an astute signing considering what has occurred; I am also thinking and probably wrong that we may try and move on someone else other than Brown; or I could be barking up the wrong tree.
I like we have added someone with some toughness and edge to them even though they are 30. It also suggests Ryles has gone to the retention team and told them who / what he needs so he has his stamp over the squad. I like the use of Walker as a 9 with Ryley but we need to remember that Ryley is a rookie and needs time.
I’m not sure when we are able to start using Walker. I suspect it might be a couple of weeks.
Excellent signing.
Ryles slowly getting rid of the soft underbelly and replacing them with professionals.
Walker plays so many roles, a true utility.
Now can we get Taylan May for the right wing spot ? Or better still put May in Penisini place and place Penisini on the wing so that he doesn’t have to pass.
I couldn’t watch the Eels with Watmough playing and I don’t think i could watch them with a May wearing our jersey. Walker will be tough enough.
I am more convinced than ever that Will Penisini is a winger. Simonsen and Zac is the centre pairing for the next few years.
Noel I do too.
His lack of speed does worry me and you can hide that at centre moreso than on the wing.
If he’s on the wing he can be like Brian Too , just run straight and hard.
When at centre he tends to starve his winger.
“Tends to starve his winger” – the only time Will gives the ball Tobi’s winger is if he has run out of options.
Mate we definitely don’t need a bunch of choir boys.
We have them all already.
I just want them to play good hard football.
What they do in their private time is of no concern to me as long as they don’t get suspended, they can do what they want.
Within boundaries, I’m sort of with you Spark. I’d hazard a guess that we don’t know who her most “vile” player is in the NRL. Views of players is very much media influenced and what gets pulled up. Not to make excuses for poor behaviour, but we don’t know everything, and we just need to win footy games.
I think this line of thought is a trend in fan thinking. So are we now prepared to give more opportunities for redemption?
Maybe 60s.
The reality of it is the vast majority of the NRL fan base have had very little success over the last 20 odd years. Premierships and GFs have been dominated by a handful of clubs. It’s a bit dull seeing the Panthers, Chooks and Storm feature all the time.
Further, the likelihood of poor behaviour being picked up has never been so easy.
Again not to make excuses for it, but it’s not beyond the wit of man that fans are a bit numb on some of this stuff.
Not a bad idea Sparky, I have always said Peni would go well on the wing.
This signing really helps our bench (ideally it is Walker, moretti, a prop, a backrower) and means whatever value matto brought to our squad is almost 0 now.
Walker can spell hopgood (which is needed) and allow hopgood to play prop at times. Walker is also really good at isiah yeo type role of helping create space for halves. He might be too quick for junior etc though…
Good point Ron; we need a strong bench and have some guys such as Guymer / Big Sam and co who will benefit from stints on the bench as well as working in Reggies this year.
In my view we have not got the consistency from some players over the last two years – Lane / Paulo / Matterson for example have been ok in patches but not consistently good and we also need some mongrel.
The matterson lane and Paulo deals are awful. Particularly lane and Paulo given the length of them. Boggles my mind how a half year of good form from lane and matto warranted their deals with no safeguarding of the future given prior and post inconsistency. Paulo is a harder one but he was never gonna be value for money – his best years were clearly going to be behind him after big years between 2020-2022.
100% Ron
Milo agree with your comments about giving the younger players experience in NRL through time on the bench. A little bit BA, but a good way for these promising players to get their NRL experience.
I was discussing this on Sunday at the game. My view is that Sam Tuivati is showing a lot of promise in his limited exposure in NRL. However this is where R&R have failed in the past. They need to bite the bullet and sign him to a longer contract. Is it a risk, of course, but I think it is low and could pay good dividends.
This is the very reason we embarked on being a development club.
You are right John, and its called having some trust, and I think if Ryles wants such a player considering his backside is on the line, then they should. We have seen some good things from some of these younger ones and to me they need a good mix experience and some mongrel around them; a little like in the late 90’s when Smith had Dean Pay and co with the Cayless, Vella, Hindmarsh group.
Great example!
Milo. I note you said ‘and co’…there was something in the DNA of Jason Smith, Dymock and McCracken that we could use right now.
Great signing – just what we need in so many ways – aggression, energy & creativity.
Excellent signing. Straight in to the ones. Negotiate a release of Brown even if we have to take a Knights player to give them cap space.
This is good signing for how our team currently sits – one of the best versitile players you could get.
Hopgoods errors are a result of his insane tackle rate and too much work load – hopefully Walker can help give Hopgood a breather in that hall playing lock position + offers us cover in several different positions obviously.
We currently lack creativity and ball playing outside of Hawkins & brown who’s severely out of form, I think this could help spark our attack.
Warriors fans being unhappy he’s left is a good sign.
As for a direct replacement to Dylan? I don’t think it’s a good idea. Our forwards defensively on the edges need help, our lock also needs his work load reduced so he isn’t too tired and dropping balls on set plays.
Really good experience and this could finally see us have some creativity in attack when we look flat.
Can Walker play much dummy half too? Being a former 5/8 he can probably provide us coverage there too.
No other club in the league persists in this bargain bin recruiting policy employed by O’Neil. How will this signing turn around our season. It appears dead now so invest in your juniors.
I think trying to avoid a wooden spoon is also in our clubs future best interests
Our club improves winning % likelihood at this time with this signing
It’s not going to turn our season around; no one player will, not even Mitch Moses, but what if will do is give us some desperately needed leadership, which our young players need, and also a small forward with skill and footwork who can play almost any position. Have a look at the best teams, they are loaded with players who can play multiple roles.
Brett we desperately need a player like him there’s no creativity in attack and limited versatility as you mentioned. The warriors who are doing better than us look much better when Walker goes on the field if you watch them. This is a much needed addition, as you said good clubs all have lots of versatility. He’s one of the best for versatility really.
Come back Brett . We miss you.
Hey Wiz
Got shafted from the other site last year for standing up to HOE who PM’d me some petulant and absolutely pathetic messages. Child like..I pasted one in his blog!
Anyway mate, can’t get back on to share a bit of banter.
I would warn people about automatically reading ‘experience’ and turning it into ‘leadership’. Alot of comments are talking about the leadership he will bring even though i have never read a footy forum where any one has talked about Dylan Walker and leadership in the same sentence. The dotted line being created isn’t always there.
Every time I saw him on the park for the Warriors in recent times, I couldn’t help but notice his energy and constructive role, he looked like a footballer with positivity, experience, a voice,and good on each side of the ball. The old DWalker was talented but unstable, he’s definitely grown up in more ways than one.
True BDon every time he enters for the Warriors he provides a bit of spark to defence or attack. He’s a footballer and he’s tough. Our soft underbelly has been exposed far too often. He’s a strong voice and he follows up with actions.
It’s not often that the majority of fans like a signing.
he makes the warriors look a lot better when he was on
He will make an immediate difference in the team, especially in attack where we have low creativity since gutho leaving
Hopgood also needs a lock partner who can give him a rest, Hopgood is doing too much work hence dropping balls in attack and costing us opportunities
Agree Muz, he adds spark in attack and defence. He’s a good talker and experienced.
What a great signing for us Dylan Walker he brings so much energy off the bench for Warriors he can play 6 8 9 or maybe even 7 if needed for Dylbags to get his confidence back playing at 6 again not sure Ryles would consider it just putting it out there
Good to see the club culture continues to disintegrate.
I suspect the lure of playing 5/8 has attracted Walker. Are we getting ready for a player swap with Newcastle… Brown for Cant, Lucas or Pierce-Paul???
Also, we have Talataina, Fletcher, Twiddle, Joash Papalii, we have some of the best young halves coming through, Walker gives us the space and time to allow one of these players to take Browns role. Best thing is, that because of Walkers versatility, one one of these players is ready walker jas the positional versatility to move into another, just as effective role.
Well done Ryles and MON
Good points Kenny ‘
Thomas Cant given his chance last week in a losing team 53 tackles 15 runs 150m. We could do worse (we already do).
Think this could be the start of a Bulldogs type rebuild. I’d say in about 2 or 3 years there wont be many of the current squad left as the broom is swept through the place.
There are many great juniors coming through, so we may not really need to go on the market to buy players, but Dylan Walker is a great start to a new look Blue and Gold squad.
Colmac, the question then will be whether Ryles is still around. 2 or 3 more years to rebuild, which traditionally is not a good situation to be in, could result in 3-4 years of missed finals for Ryles and he’s on a 4 year contract. What happens then? Does Ryles get an extension based on a 3-4 year rebuild? Does O’Neill survive and continue with mediocre signings whilst losing quality?
There was a section of Eels supporters that wanted BA gone and claimed he was solely responsible for everything happening. The squad was there, they needed a new voice was all. Now they’ve seen that maybe just maybe, the people telling them the problem was above BA could have been right as they’ve turned their attention to O’Neill and the powers that be. They were relentless when the Eels lost under BA with no regard for Moses and others being missing long term in ’23 and ’24 – now it’s “we haven’t got Moses and Ryles is stuck with BA’s squad” which is a load of BS as Ryles moved on 12 of the top 30 from last year. It’s largely his squad and it’s certainly his structures after a full pre-season that has seen the Eels put up 2 of the most putrid “efforts” in the 1st 2 rounds I’ve ever seen. Those wanting BA gone are now in a position they have to support Ryles no matter what because they’ve made a rod for their own back with their BA comments.
Obviously there’s a lot of hypotheticals in this reply, but it bears thinking about where this club will be in 3 years time. A Dogs style revival will see Ryles safe and the fan base appeased, however, will the same people bagging BA despite many years of finals appearances and a GF, also then want Ryles gone in the same manner if he doesn’t deliver finals – I’d say that’s a big yes, as hypocrisy is their middle name. With expansion teams on the horizon there is going to be big money to spend, the existing player pool will be even thinner and if O’Neill is still around I honestly don’t think there’s any chance of a Dogs style rebuild. Ryles, in my opinion, is on a hiding to nothing. He has to deliver finals next year, or at least somewhere 9-12th. Finals in ’27 is an absolute must, and deep into the finals at that. ’28 will be the last year of his current contract and if a deep finals run hasn’t happened in ’27 do they persist with an extension and keep “re-building” in ’28. Whatever you think of BA, there’s no doubt he over achieved with the tools he was given and the lack of ability of those handing them to him. Ryles could be the next scapegoat and where to then?
Stubby I think a quick turnaround is completely possible. The Dogs started entirely from scratch. They still have no halfback which we all know is the key ingredient to premiership success.
We can build a team around Moses quickly, we obviously couldn’t do it in one offseason.
Our backline is pretty set with the exception of a 5/8. But we do have Brown’s money to spend, our success has never revolved around Brown, some would argue Brown’s success revolves around Moses.
We have enough quality in the squad to build around, we do lack quality middles and attacking edge forwards. These positions are far easier to fill than a halfback.
Time is ticking, our club needs to get aggressive and go all in for 2026. Our window closes when Moses retires.
What Ryles has done well is given us depth, Our squad is far from complete but 2 or 3 really good signings will completely change our fortunes. The Dogs were not in our position.
And I agree, our first two games are probably the worst I’ve seen from a Parra team and I hope Ryles knows what he’s doing. Regardless, change was needed, our old structures didn’t exactly deliver success in the past two seasons.
I do admire what BA did for our club and he did it the hard way. We need to consider that BA didn’t get the squad he wanted in one offseason.
The new franchises are going to make it hard which is why our club has no choice but to pay overs for the right players. The days of building for the future are over, clubs need to go all in when the iron’s hot, our iron will ice over when Moses is past his best.
I can’t speak for all fans but I’d take 5 years of misery on the back of a premiership.
Good points Joseph, however, I don’t agree Ryles has given the squad depth. The only depth I see is Hawkins. Papalii is untried, Volkman hasn’t shown me anything, Samrani is very raw and has a lot of work to do. As you said, the forwards are very light on and I’ve mentioned that a few times previously. Not sure what will be on the market in the coming 12 to 18 months, but that’s where a lot of attention needs to go to. I agree with you that the backline is sort of settled, although I am not sold completely on Iongi yet either, he has a tonne of work to do in defence and positioning and hasn’t been subject to the week in week out NRL grind as yet either. And let’s not forget the best defensive 5/8 is out of the picture next year so it will be interesting to see what eventuates there. The problem is, no backline, even with Moses back, can compete without a forward pack going forward and good edges to capitalise on the momentum out wide (as well as the more important defensive work). Again, this is where O’Neill has failed IMO, losing Ice, Niukore etc and not replacing them was a big reason for the ’23-24 coupled with the long absences due to injury and suspensions to key players.
A quick turn around needs to start this season I think, Joseph.
We can’t afford to go into another offseason, recruit and have players come in to 2026 cold as a mother in laws kiss. Otherwise we will be behind the 8 ball, again this time next year.
I’m not really sure what to make of Dylan Walker as a signing. Would never have been on my hit list to recruit, but hopefully it works out in whatever capacity.
MickB I completely agree. Our team needs to be pushing for a top 8 spot and have the team completely on song with its new structures in the next few weeks for any hope of quick turnaround in season 2026.
O’Neil and co need to pull their finger out and start lining up talent now.
I’m sure this is all happening in the background. At least I’d hope so.
Not sure what to make with Walker signing myself.
Like Shelley suggested, he may just be the stop gap for 2026, there’s no doubt the club is going to go all chips in for Galvin. The club will throw serious money at this kid, unlike Brown, Galvin has all the attributes of a halfback so he would succeed Moses after retirement.
1.2M for Galvin would not surprise me.
We have to be so careful at the moment with recruitment. I think Dylan Walker is an excellent buy the simple reason of two new clubs PNG & Perth will put enormous pressure on clubs’ depth of players, these experienced soldiers like Walker will be “gold” we should not miss anyone of them if the opportunity arises.
Likewise, we should lock up these new players that are currently fringe and remember how valuable they will be in 2/3 years.
So we sign a player that can play 6, should we need him to, for 25-26. Does that mean we are looking at a 6 who is off contract in 2027?
This signing reads as a stop gap until we get who we really want to be partnered with Moses. Possibly a young, skilled potential superstar who has worn our colours before. Let’s hope so.
Hope you are right Shelley
A brilliant strategy until we lose 1 or two promising pathway juniors who’s progress forward has been blocked by journeymen recruits. A recurring theme at this club.
Which Utility player will Walker be blocking this year and next year?
Walker is filling the gap between our junior development players and our top squad. We won’t lose pathways players over this. We only lost Sanders and Talagi because their pathway was blocked by Moses and Brown, they weren’t going to stay around as backups for the next 5yrs.
Shelley, I suspect your thinking Galvin who will be too expensive (Tigers will go to 1.4 to keep him) and then Blaize who is totally overrated…..no I think we have to go elsewhere with a high priority on our forwards.
You may even find someone like Lomax may end up being your long term 5/8.
Hi Stubbs. You have been on about this for a while now and I wasn’t sure whether I quite agreed with your thoughts. If BA was the sole arbitrator for signing and retention he left behind a mess. Now if it was HoF and MON with an input from BA then he contributed to the mess. However should it just be HoF and MON and BA had little say then it’s not his mess. The question is who is really responsible. Do we really know – I don’t. We talk about the contracts of certain forwards who have their best years behind them but it was the fans and supporters who demanded they be signed. Why? They didn’t want to lose them to the Dolphins. So then did the fans and supporters contribute to this so called mess? It’s possible you might agree.
Stubbs, it doesn’t really matter now – we have a new coach – we have changed direction with new horizons. This current mess on the park is solely the efforts of the players. I think you used the word putrid and that is an apt description.. Ryles has his agenda, if the players are not buying into it then the door is their exit. Too many of our fans live in the past but have such impatient expectations. I understand why and it is truly really hard to snag a premiership. We have three chances since the year 2000 and not a lot of teams have had those chances. We were robbed in 2009 and over the past ten years three clubs have dominated the big dance. Whether, we like it or not it is a rebuild and it started when we signed Ryles. As for the past a mess or not it’s in the rear view mirror and I am a bit like you – let’s stop the griping about BA because he did do a lot of good for the club and let’s give Ryles some leeway as he stamps his authority on the team with his agenda. After all it is his neck.
I quite like the signing. He is no world beater but he is a genuine experienced first grader every day of the week. I definately don’t think Ryles has bought him to replace Dylan directly but he is an option as cover.
I see him more as a 14 option who will cover 9,13 and even front and second row. Having him on the bench aswell gives you alot more versatility with your rotations. Id really like us to go hard at an ex factor back rower externally I think it’s a position we don’t have within the club right now in the rookies. Galvin is obviously a player we’d love but I think it’s just unrealistic for us to get him. He will be the hottest player on the market and his price tag will be ridiculous.
Dylan would make the top 17 ofanyclub in the NRL. A major pick up.
It is obvious but an early release for D Brown should only happen if there is a material upside for parra in regards to an exchange player or the difference in cap space enabling a strong signing that wouldn’t otherwise be possible.
I am highly critical of Dylan’s performance this season but as it stands I would rather him remain at the club than strengthen another team. If we still had Sanders at our club I’d suggest Dylan should be in reserve grade this week but without a logical player to bring into 5/8 to develop there’s not a great deal of upside to letting him go outside of recruiting a new player. Kai Pearce Paul or Dylan Lucas are the level of player we would need to receive at a minimum.
As has been reported the Knights do not have the cap space to take on Dylan this year without doing a player swap.
So BP I would be happy to give them Dylan in a player swap for Bradman Best!
A lot of people online haven’t been able to understand how good this signing is – and WHY we need it.
Carty and Matto, throw lane and possibly even hands & Joffa (the old ba era players) have lost their spark, fallen down the pecking order, not bought into Jason’s requirements, or whatever speculation we want to put in there for some of them.
It’s very well documented that whenever a take over or restructure of any organisation or team takes place, usually the organisation has to cut out many of the old people & leaders to reset the culture. Bad performances or culturally divisive attitudes have to be addressed or dealt with or this sets the tone as “acceptable” within the new team culture.
Dylan Walker has been a leader and game influencer at warriors and holds zero emotional attachment to the past or past coach at parra so it’s a clean slate. He won’t be sooking or mentally stuck in the past.
Walker is a rare player who verbally lifts & organises players, he can play ball playing lock or various other positions. He is still playing better than all of those long term Eels I mentioned above.
In fact, I’ll make another prediction. Walker will be added to the list of new players who turn out to be the clubs now best performers.
People can make excuses or live in fairy land because they look happy in media photos. But there’s evidently a mindset of attitude issue going on in the club.
It cannot be a coincidence that besides Jnr & Hopgood every single long term parramatta eel is severely out of form or under performing to the point they are stuck in NSW cup and being out performed down there by some eels who haven’t had an NRL debut.
Whatever attitude, mindset or “coincidental” poor form issue that’s only plaguing the old BA era Snr players needs to come to an end soon.
If Walker comes in here and is one of the best players within his first 3 games then you can almost bet Jason’s going to take drastic actions on any Snr players who still haven’t decided to give 100% to their performances.
I personally really want to see our long time eels players all do well. This is the first time at parra some have been exposed to true discipline in terms of “perform or go to reserve grade”. But this is normal at other quality clubs.
I personally support Jason not rewarding any players who are not 100% commited to parramatta’s new season and culture.
A few of These blokes are only shooting themselves in the foot – they will be virtually unemployable post the eels if they don’t start to show better performances in NSW cup.
Great points there Muz, Walker is a very handy pickup.
In the short term, if Dylan has yet another poor game against the Sea Eagles (which is highly likely) Ryles has the option to move Walker into the 6 and to move Brown somewhere else.
A quick bus to Newcastle would be my ideal location but I like the idea of moving Brown to 13 as suggested and to get him to just tackle.