Rumours and Stuff

[JokerEel]

The fact the Premiers can nab a handy outside back up wing option like Anderson and have a guy like Arthurs on the outer while we promote a guy like Tago or are thinking of putting Samrani on the wing speaks volumes.

MON is a failure at every level and he needed to leave with Baldie, the fact he's still here derping it up says we are not a serious club and i doubt we ever will be. Beach talked a good game when he replaced the Duffman but he's just more of the same.

It's not like we as a fan base have been screaming for outside backs even before Baldy was fired.

We have just let 2 SG ball outside backs leave while we had one of the worst wingers that played flegg last year train with the NRL side during the offseason. Allowed Russell to sign with the bears (probably on stupid money so not much we can do) Allow Lomax to walk and still have no real plan.

Is Brian Kelly the answer? Where does he play in season 2026?

 

[hineyrulz]

It's not like we as a fan base have been screaming for outside backs even before Baldy was fired.

We have just let 2 SG ball outside backs leave while we had one of the worst wingers that played flegg last year train with the NRL side during the offseason. Allowed Russell to sign with the bears (probably on stupid money so not much we can do) Allow Lomax to walk and still have no real plan.

Is Brian Kelly the answer? Where does he play in season 2026?

Yep, but but but but our recruitment is doing a great job according to MON. Someone needs to stick his busy ringing phone up his datehole.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

The worst players at every club are shit. Not just at ours.

 

[Delboy]

As it stands right now Jake Tago is our first drop outside back - not sure if you can get your head around that. We are f**king desperate

How does a club our size and financially strong, end up with Tago as next man up. To be honest the fans that provide support to the club must shake their heads at the GM and List Manager that they weren’t on the front foot even for backs with Lomax under contract. That was discussed across this site numerous times and yet nothing, then the club releases the only rep quality outside back.

Sure we signed a few players that got coached up, but for a professional rugby league club, we seem impotent to get rep level players. Until the media or interviewers actually ask the questions and get answers that seem obvious, then more of the same .

 

[Stevie]

I actually thought Ryles pushed him into the forwards because he was absolutely atrocious in the backs and his only other option was to try him at second row.

We can only hope that Richi or Nanva have an outstanding off season and somehow turn into first grade quality players during the season.

f**k “we can only hope x junior becomes Israel Folau” etc. it’s a disgrace. I’m sick of hearing this loser talk. We are a joke.

 

[Pazza]

The worst players at every club are shit. Not just at ours.

 

[Eelementary]

Paywalled

NRL considering changing two rules that dudded Melbourne Storm in grand final

The proposed rule changes will come too late for the Storm. Read more here.

au.news.yahoo.com

Yahoo stole it from the Telecrap for you.

The first proposed change is that teams will have the choice to kick off or receive after conceding a try. Under the current rules, the scoring team receives the ball from the kick-off. But teams will now have a choice after conceding a try, and it's hoped it'll prevent blow-out score-lines.

The second change is that a set restart will now be awarded anywhere outside the attacking team's 20m defensive zone, rather than the 40m. A full penalty will only be blown when a team is still inside its own 20m, rather than their 40m as it currently stands.

The third is that a team will no longer be pinged with a seven-tackle set if they drop the ball over the line in the act of scoring a try. The ensuing 20m restart will only be a regular six-tackle set.

And the fourth is a change to the size of match-day squads, with a proposal to extend the interchange bench to six players rather than four. Teams will still only be allowed to use four players off the bench, but will have a choice of who to use out of six available.

Rule number one is very interesting - so the team that conceded a try can elect to kick the ball back to the opposition, or receive a kick themselves?

Tactically, that is very, very interesting.

 

[Eelementary]

I think letting Lomax go was the correct decision, even though we may be in short-term pain - if he is not the right cultural fit, we cannot afford to have him at the club.

I admire Ryles for drawing a line in the sand, and putting the club's overall culture, above players.

Of course, it means we are down a quality player, which really sucks.

I am no fan of Mark O'Neill's, but I do suspect that a part of the reason that we are struggling to attract big-name players is because our coach is a rookie.

After season 2026, we might have better luck attracting bigger stars, once people get a better idea of how Ryles can add value to a player's career.

It really sucks to be in this position, but we've waited 40 years - I think I would rather have another dismal season, knowing there is a clear vision in place, than continue trying to do what we have done, and expect different results.

Short-term pain now, will hopefully be better for us in the long-term.

But then again, I don't really know much.

And all the teams I follow, in all sports, tend to go to shit - the Eels, the Raiders, Barça, the Lakers...so maybe I should just shut up, and go follow another team, to take my bad luck with me!

 

[Stevie]

I think letting Lomax go was the correct decision, even though we may be in short-term pain - if he is not the right cultural fit, we cannot afford to have him at the club.

I admire Ryles for drawing a line in the sand, and putting the club's overall culture, above players.

Of course, it means we are down a quality player, which really sucks.

I am no fan of Mark O'Neill's, but I do suspect that a part of the reason that we are struggling to attract big-name players is because our coach is a rookie.

After season 2026, we might have better luck attracting bigger stars, once people get a better idea of how Ryles can add value to a player's career.

It really sucks to be in this position, but we've waited 40 years - I think I would rather have another dismal season, knowing there is a clear vision in place, than continue trying to do what we have done, and expect different results.

Short-term pain now, will hopefully be better for us in the long-term.

But then again, I don't really know much.

And all the teams I follow, in all sports, tend to go to shit - the Eels, the Raiders, Barça, the Lakers...so maybe I should just shut up, and go follow another team, to take my bad luck with me!

I think that’s why fans like me are fed up mate. We’ve been feeling “short team pain” for a very very long time. Most years you can tell from the first rounds that it will be a shit year filled with sprinklings of excitement.

We keep believing how brave we were cleaning the squad out, whilst we were enjoying short term pain and we hardly look like attracting an elite player or two.

Meanwhile I am reading about some new rookie man mountain winger the Dogs will debut etc (every club has some apparently), we have neither.

None of us are leaving our beloved Eels. But optimism is not anything I have about our stinky club anytime soon with our current leadership.

 

[Avenger]

 

[JokerEel]

I am no fan of Mark O'Neill's, but I do suspect that a part of the reason that we are struggling to attract big-name players is because our coach is a rookie.

I really doubt that's the issue Listening to the media and player managers talk about Ryles.

We have had an issue for a long time recruiting a quality back when they haven't been sacked by their former club or released as they don't like playing wing.

 

[JokerEel]

f**k “we can only hope x junior becomes Israel Folau” etc. it’s a disgrace. I’m sick of hearing this loser talk. We are a joke.

I doubt we have anyone at the club that is anywhere near a Folau. Not even close to John...

I would be less annoyed at our recruitment if we had 2-3 outside backs in Flegg this year but we don't.

 

[hindy111]

Cmon dude you wrote that shit. And you were open to it. SIMRANI to the wing HAAHHABAHAHHAHAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAAHHAA

NFI nada nothing. It’s the worst idea Ever. Your mate must be taking drugs and it’s slowly affecting you too.

don’t do drugs kids otherwise Simrani plays on the wing

The problem isnt Samrani. It is we have no real options and we need someone to give us strong carries. He might be the only one in the top 30 currently who is capable of it.
Id take Montoya right now we are that desperate for a power winger

 

[hindy111]

Yep, but but but but our recruitment is doing a great job according to MON. Someone needs to stick his busy ringing phone up his datehole.

The dumb merkins probably using a fax machine

 

[Eelementary]

I think that’s why fans like me are fed up mate. We’ve been feeling “short team pain” for a very very long time. Most years you can tell from the first rounds that it will be a shit year filled with sprinklings of excitement.

We keep believing how brave we were cleaning the squad out, whilst we were enjoying short term pain and we hardly look like attracting an elite player or two.

Meanwhile I am reading about some new rookie man mountain winger the Dogs will debut etc (every club has some apparently), we have neither.

None of us are leaving our beloved Eels. But optimism is not anything I have about our stinky club anytime soon with our current leadership.

In my humble opinion, we haven't had a coach with a clear vision for the club since the Brian Smith days.

Arthur did a good job of steadying the ship, but his game plans quickly became outdated.

Kearney...I won't go into that debacle.

Anderson didn't get enough time.

Stuart never gave a shit about us.

Hagan...only won a Premiership because he had the GOAT at 7 at Newey. He single-handedly set back our junior programmes years.

For the first time in almost 2 decades, we have a coach with a clear vision.

I'm willing to give the guy time.

 

[Eelementary]

I really doubt that's the issue Listening to the media and player managers talk about Ryles.

We have had an issue for a long time recruiting a quality back when they haven't been sacked by their former club or released as they don't like playing wing.

I don't think it's THE reason, but I surely suspect it is A reason - I would think a number of players would rather go play under Bellamy, Bennett, Flanagan, Cleary, etc., over a coach with fewer than 30 games of experience under his belt.

I doubt the media will criticise Ryles until he either screws up majorly, or has more experience under his belt.

Player managers will never criticise a coach - it's bad business to criticise a potential landing destination for your client.

I think Ryles' resume speaks for itself, and he is highly-regarded by many people - but he hasn't achieved anything meaningful as a coach as yet.

I have no doubt that the office is an issue, and needs a change, but I'm sure that once Ryles shows the world that he is a very good coach, all of a sudden, the calibre of players that want to join us will increase.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I really doubt that's the issue Listening to the media and player managers talk about Ryles.

We have had an issue for a long time recruiting a quality back when they haven't been sacked by their former club or released as they don't like playing wing.

Not since 2016 with all the TPAs. Coincidence?

 

[Eelementary]

I think that’s why fans like me are fed up mate. We’ve been feeling “short team pain” for a very very long time. Most years you can tell from the first rounds that it will be a shit year filled with sprinklings of excitement.

We keep believing how brave we were cleaning the squad out, whilst we were enjoying short term pain and we hardly look like attracting an elite player or two.

Meanwhile I am reading about some new rookie man mountain winger the Dogs will debut etc (every club has some apparently), we have neither.

None of us are leaving our beloved Eels. But optimism is not anything I have about our stinky club anytime soon with our current leadership.

In terms of "man mountain" - Richard Penisini is not that, but he's listed at 185cm, and 95kg - he's a big boy.

I feel your pain.

I just feel that we finally have a leader in the coach's box who knows what he wants, and will lay it out clearly.

I do hope that our recruitment team sees some changes, though.

 

[Eelementary]

The problem isnt Samrani. It is we have no real options and we need someone to give us strong carries. He might be the only one in the top 30 currently who is capable of it.
Id take Montoya right now we are that desperate for a power winger

Good player, Montoya. Would be a handy pick up.

 

[JokerEel]

Not since 2016 with all the TPAs. Coincidence?

That's just a lazy excuse