Rumours and Stuff

[emjaycee]

i never took much notice of the nepo stuff

but MA v RS

what are you suppose to think???

We'd have to ask the guy that picked one over the other in FG I reckon.

 

[Noise]

We'd have to ask the guy that picked one over the other in FG I reckon.

Was Riley Smith eligible for first grade selection last year?

 

[Avenger]

We'd have to ask the guy that picked one over the other in FG I reckon.

Well one of the guys that’s still with our club used the N word to describe BA many times. And it wasn’t because he was bald either.

I hear that BA isn’t a certainty to get the Perth gig anyway. The Norths board want a say too.

 

[Pazza]

We'd have to ask the guy that picked one over the other in FG I reckon.

you're right, we'll never know

but the optics dont look good so far

 

[Gronk]

i never took much notice of the nepo stuff

but MA v RS

what are you suppose to think???

You are being wise in hindsight. I say that based on what Ryles said in an interview in the last fortnight. He said that Ryley Smith was way down the pecking order and wasn't anywhere near NRL at the start of preseason. Hence why he only had a train n trial contract. It was only his efforts in the pre-season that made the staff stand up and take notice.

He was then upgraded on march 1 so he could actually play NRL.

Parramatta Eels upgrade two players

The Parramatta Eels are pleased to announce that Richard Penisini has been elevated from his development contract to the club's Top 30 squad, effective immediately

www.parraeels.com.au

 

[Pazza]

You are being wise in hindsight. I say that based on what Ryles said in an interview in the last fortnight. He said that Ryley Smith was way down the pecking order and wasn't anywhere near NRL at the start of preseason. Hence why he only had a train n trial contract. It was only his efforts in the pre-season that made the staff stand up and take notice.

He was then upgraded on march 1 so he could actually play NRL.

Parramatta Eels upgrade two players

The Parramatta Eels are pleased to announce that Richard Penisini has been elevated from his development contract to the club's Top 30 squad, effective immediately

www.parraeels.com.au

he was probably well down the pecking order cause he was behind MA thanks to the previous staff

 

[Joshuatheeel]

i never took much notice of the nepo stuff

but MA v RS

what are you suppose to think???

I definitely understand the reason some think that.... (while also of the opinion that MA is a very good player and on form deserved to be playing NSW cup....2 coaches other then BA have picked him..)...

however a good indication is what other NRL sides are doing, Smith has definitely surprised me this year (after I thought he was terrible in his first trial against the knights)....the kid is 22 this year and no other NRL Sydney club including us were willing to offer him an NRL or development contract until a week before the season started...

Absolutely well done by Smith, to get to where he is now....but it's pretty clear, no other club rated him that highly either.......

 

[JokerEel]

I definitely understand the reason some think that.... (while also of the opinion that MA is a very good player and on form deserved to be playing NSW cup....2 coaches other then BA have picked him..)...

however a good indication is what other NRL sides are doing, Smith has definitely surprised me this year (after I thought he was terrible in his first trial against the knights)....the kid is 22 this year and no other NRL Sydney club including us were willing to offer him an NRL or development contract until a week before the season started...

Absolutely well done by Smith, to get to where he is now....but it's pretty clear, no other club rated him that highly either.......

That last lines BS.

 

[Gronk]

he was probably well down the pecking order cause he was behind MA thanks to the previous staff

Matt Arthur left in July 2024. Give it a rest. He only came across from Penrith that season.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

That last lines BS.

Why? You telling him a 22 without an nrl contract is rated highly?

 

[JokerEel]

Why? You telling him a 22 without an nrl contract is rated highly?

He was playing Flegg last season and his first for us.. are you aware of the contract talk he had with the club when he signed?

Sam Tuivati doesn't have an NRL contract for next season either.. f**k kids not rated highly

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Was Riley Smith eligible for first grade selection last year?

Yes

 

[emjaycee]

you're right, we'll never know

but the optics dont look good so far

The optics aren't changing.

In early 2024, BA picked neither MA or RS in first grade.
His interim replacement however did pick one of them, who was the incumbent U19 State of Origin hooker for NSW at the time.

In 2025, the new coach chose to upgrade RS onto a development contract and subsequently selected him in FG.

What optics?

 

[Noise]

Yes

Was he top 30 or on a development contract?

 

[JokerEel]

The optics aren't changing.

In early 2024, BA picked neither MA or RS in first grade.
His interim replacement however did pick one of them, who was the incumbent U19 State of Origin hooker for NSW at the time.

In 2025, the new coach chose to upgrade RS onto a development contract and subsequently selected him in FG.

What optics?

You could see the plan BA had Blaize Sanders Matt Guymer all played NSW cup round 1 last year. Bring the youth through.

I was and still am a fan of the way Matt plays didn't think anything Smith before his first game.

Though after watching him play we are lucky that Matt has gone to Newcastle as Smith is killing it as I said he would just like I said Rees would back in 2018 when Merkins on here said he wouldn't make it...

 

[Pazza]

but it's pretty clear, no other club rated him that highly either.......

and nfl franchises had 198 opportunities to draft tom brady until new england pulled the trigger
its clear smith he has plenty of talent, he might just be a late bloomer but the whole situation smells funny

 

[JokerEel]

Was he top 30 or on a development contract?

Was he also behind 3 other hookers 2 with NRL contracts.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

He was playing Flegg last season and his first for us.. are you aware of the contract talk he had with the club when he signed?

Sam Tuivati doesn't have an NRL contract for next season either.. f**k kids not rated highly

Sam T, development contract 2024 at 19, NRL contract at 20, all before entering the 2023/24 preseason and the 2024/25 preseason......currently negotiating a new contract...

Riley Smith, no NRL contract at 19, no NRL contract at 20, no NRL contract at 21......enters 24/25 preseason without an NRL contract (top 36), only signs a 1 year development contract a week before season starts....what ever contract talk he had with the club before joining us didn't include an NRL contract....

 

[Pazza]

The optics aren't changing.

In early 2024, BA picked neither MA or RS in first grade.
His interim replacement however did pick one of them, who was the incumbent U19 State of Origin hooker for NSW at the time.

In 2025, the new coach chose to upgrade RS onto a development contract and subsequently selected him in FG.

What optics?

that one is a star on the rise and the other one is lucky to even sniff first grade

 

[Pazza]

Matt Arthur left in July 2024. Give it a rest. He only came across from Penrith that season.

both at the club last season