After the last two days of training, I’ve decided that today’s report will have a different format.
The reason for the change is that the battle for positions has intensified, and the arrival of Brian Kelly has been the catalyst. This week’s training leaves me second-guessing the starting backline, and so I thought this post would be the ideal vehicle to dive into why Ryles has a big call to make.
Firstly, a quick overview of Thursday and Friday.
Thursday was more of a light speed session with the squad moving through a number of opposed plays. The contact was minimal, but I liked what I saw in the combination of Moses and Pezet.
Friday was a longer session of higher intensity. There was quite a crowd of onlookers due to the corporate partner event. My thanks to Jason and Adam from Talking Parra for the generous invitation they extended to me.
NRL get set to attack the NSW Cup line
The contact was up a level or two from Thursday and I made the following notes:
* A big hit from Lorenzo Talataina on Bailey Simonsson
* Simonsson and Jordan Samrani rotated on the wing. Sean Russell has also spent time on that right wing
* Russell and Brian Kelly rotated at left centre
* Jordan Samrani finishing off a try for the Cup team
* J’maine Hopgood running a great line off Joash Papalii to cross
* An Intercept try by Ronald Volkman who showed outstanding pace in the long range effort.
* A line break by Ryley Smith out of dummy half, backed up by Gideon Kautoga
After the field session, the corporate guests moved inside the facility for a Q & A with Nathan Brown. The assistant coach was asked about what he saw as the key components of “Parra Proud”. Without hesitation he explained the connection with the community and the connection with past players.
Daniel Clifford interviews Nathan Brown
Watching the playing group and staff place such a high importance on club stakeholders, particularly the fans, has moved the club culture forward. And the embracing of past players is something that has been taken to another level inside the Centre of Excellence in addition to Ryles having training groups named after former players.
And so to Ryles’ upcoming dilemma.
Previously, the challenge of deciding on the starting pack and the composition of the forwards on the interchange had been well documented. The answer – a few players will be unlucky.
This week’s sessions might have pushed the backline call into similar territory.
Prior to Christmas, I was locking in Iongi, Addo-Carr, Russell, Penisini and Simonsson as the ones to play outside Moses and Pezet.
Then Brian Kelly arrived.
Kelly and The Foxx
This week his combination with the Foxx has started to find an identity. I see Kelly as a specialist centre, and though I had Sean Russell locked in for that role, watching Kelly rotate with Russell has left me thinking that he might just get the nod.
So where does that leave Sean Russell?
He’s arguably Parra’s Mr Fixit.
After a breakout 2025, Sean has bounced into the summer with confidence, and it’s seen him comfortably cover centre and wing across field sessions. He might now be in a battle for a right wing spot.
This week, Bailey Simonsson and Jordan Samrani jostled for that right wing role. Just a couple of weeks ago there were reports of Bailey suffering a serious ankle injury. When I caught up with him the next day he was heading off for scans but confident it would be a short term issue. Barely a week later he was back in action.
Jordan Samrani has almost followed in Sean Russell’s “Mr Fixit” path in this preseason. The hybrid edge forward/centre has looked solid on the wing, and is tangibly more confident than last season. I thought he was on track for a career in the forwards. Any plans in that regard might currently be on hold.
What will be the likely outcome?
I’m at the point of backtracking with my earlier backline call.
Brian Kelly is a specialist centre with the attacking potential to unleash the Foxx. I don’t believe he’s been recruited and relocated to play NSW Cup.
That leaves the right wing spot a three way shoot out between Simonsson, Russell and Samrani.
It makes for an interesting conclusion to the preseason.
Eels forever!
Sixties
As soon as we bought Kelly I thought he was a left centre certainty, especially with Russell moving on at seasons end. My only doubt is second row, so many combos and possibilities. I don’t think we can have Williams and Kautoga as starters, both play left edge, not sure if Williams can play right, I’m pretty sure Kautoga will be far less effective on the right. I have just one certainty for the season, we WILL beat the Storm round one.
Williams played a solid amount on the right prior to kautogas injury. During the mid way point of the year when he was playing 2nd row with the number 8 on his back as luca came on to start.
Yeah prior to Kautogas injury, Kelma and Kautoga were the starting edges with Williams starting up front and also off the bench. Not sure Ryles will revert back to his original selections, or go with something close to what we finished with in ’25.
Mick, if he goes with a dummy half and at least one back on a six player bench, having the versatile Williams in the team means that he can be moved across middle and edge and play extended minutes whilst maintaining a flexible bench.
If I remember correctly, I think Jack Williams did a podcast with Bloke in a Bar. I’m fairly certain he said he likes playing on the right/would like to play on the right to be with Mitch. Something along those lines, but that was about 6 months ago to be fair
Gideon is most definitely on the left, and when Kelma plays its on the right. Williams can play either middle or edge, so it could be a case of him rotating with Kelma.
For mine it’s a case of we have to have Tuilagi in there, there’s just too many points in him, Iongi in particular just lives in his pocket. Williams has to start in the left which unfortunately leaves KitKat to come off the extended bench.
I reckon you can lock Gideon in to be a starter. He’s a potential superstar.
Mick, big call about the Storm. I’ll back us to perform much better.
Kelly has always had heaps of attacking upside to him, my only worry is his defensive lapses and hoping ryles and by the sounds of last year wisemantle along with the Foxx outside of him can help him fix it.
That has been the common theme for most supporters about Kelly. I wonder if it’s a case of him or the club he played at?
I was interested in the comment re Ron Volkman. With elite talent emerging in the halves this is a key year for him. He is not tall but is recorded as over 90 kgs. As well as being an effective organising half I believe he has potential at 6, 9 andin the centres. As to whether he makes his case for retention depends on the chances he gets.
Noel, he was ultra consistent in NSW Cup last year. He adds quality to opposed sessions. It will be interesting to see what transpires for him individually in 26.
Like everyone else I’m not definitely sure of the Round 1 lineup. In relation to the left centre spot I would be inclined to go with Kelly. Sean Russell played well last year with JAC to guide him in defence but
a) he didn’t position himself all that well in attack in order to get the ball to JAC. Make no mistake JAC is still a weapon and a match winner. He is still in the Top 3 wingers in the game IMO. He potentially could be the top try scorer in the NRL but he needs to get more of the ball
b) Ryles has shown with Dylan Brown that he is not afraid to drop a player to NSW Cup if they have signed for another club.
As a result Sean Russell could be fighting it out for a wing spot with Simmonsen and Samrani or a bench spot
Imo Russel gets the nod for round 1 for defence VS Storm
Too many changes in personnel in rd 1 = Storm will have a field day attacking us there knowing weak defence combo’s with no NRL reps together
I’m a believer that you can’t look at any titans players (for years), and honestly say “oh he’s a great defensive player”
That clubs playing style and culture cultivates almost and exclusively attacking focused game play like touch footy at times (as 60’s as suggested before)
I’m a believer in Kelly – but IMO we can’t risk losing close games against good opponents in early rds of the season
If the eels have a poor start to 2026 you really chase your tail from there and it’s VERY hard to recover from it
The storm typically like to attack around your centres and back rowers trying then strip you for numbers out wide, then once break through a fast winger is often there to finish off the try
Sean Russel really limits teams ability to attack out there, you’ve seen him shut down the games best centres & back rowers who have tried to target him in attack
There’s actually probably only about 5-8 centres in the whole game who can tackle and hold their own like Sean Did in 2025 in the centre position
If you put your foot in Melbournes shoes for a minute ..
You can imagine they would much prefer we played Kelly at centre because he will be still learning th Ryles system + building his defensive combo with Ado Carr.. They’d target him all night
keep in mind in a big fan of Kelly signing! he is probably better than Sean Russel in attack (by a wide margin)
Defence wins games against the Storm. You saw that with the grit panthers used for years against them to become a better team then them over the last 5 or so years
You can’t out attack the Storm usually, if you go into it trying to out-attack them, 9/10 teams just get flogged
To beat the Storm you have to stay in the fight with them and limit their A+ attacking game which applies massive pressure to oppositions centres and wingers (often 2-3 times per set of 6)
Regardless, really happy Kelly came to Parra, actually a pretty good player, just wish he could get his defensive reps in VS wests tigers (not melb storm) ⚡️
Any information on Sam Loizou?