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Eels in the media

King-Gutho94

King-Gutho94

Coach
Messages
15,180
Avenger said:
The old regime certainly had its successes—BA, despite his flaws, delivered plenty of highs. But we pushed things so far that we were left trying to blend the skin after squeezing the lemon dry. Change was necessary, and like many others, I’m excited for what lies ahead. With that in mind, I’ll be renewing my membership and backing the future.
Click to expand...
I noticed on the weekend your mate Adam from the Parra Plodcast was show-ponying himself with Ryles.


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TheParraboy

TheParraboy

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
68,093
Twizzle said:
Click to expand...

“It’s been rewarding to see rugby league’s reach expand throughout these communities, and we’re grateful for every opportunity to make an impact,” Sarantinos added.

“While this partnership has been a defining chapter for our Club, it’s time to explore new avenues to serve our Members and fans starting in 2026

^^^^^


How was taking a home game to Darwin serving members and fans ?

Where next Perth?
 
Johnny88

Johnny88

Juniors
Messages
1,320

​

Parramatta Eels pathways evolution as club appoints full-time coaches to grow nursery​

Former NRL hooker Josh Hodgson has emerged as one of the secret weapons in Parramatta’s attempts to stem the bleeding of junior talent, with the club making an unprecedented pathways investment that includes a $70 million centre of excellence.

Former Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson has emerged as one of the secret weapons in Parramatta’s attempts to stem the bleeding of junior talent, starting with young gun dummy-half Lachlan Coinakis.
The Eels have made an unprecedented pathways investment, installing full-time junior representative coaches across all grades for the first time in the club’s history, with Hodgson taking over their under-17s Harold Matthews Cup team for 2025.
The defections of rookies Blaize Talagi, Ethan Sanders and Matt Arthur to rival outfits after making their NRL debuts last season rocked Eels fans.
But the club is backing its newest pathways coaching strategy to bring through – and prevent a mass exodus of – the next crop of rising rookies, that includes the recently re-signed trio of Coinakis, halfback Lincoln Fletcher and prop Ryda Talagi, the younger brother of Blaize.


Coinakis, an Australian schoolboys star, is considered the best hooking prospect at the club since Reed Mahoney, who joined the Bulldogs in 2023.
But to stop history repeating itself, Parramatta’s head of elite pathways James Shepherd said Coinakis has been given unfettered access to Hodgson, even though the teenager has graduated to the SG Ball program for 2025.
“At one point, Josh was the best hooker in the world. There’s not too many kids who wouldn’t want to be coached by Josh Hodgson,” Shepherd said.
“He’ll be able to ask for advice, for tips and that’s invaluable for a developing player. Josh’s game was based on skill and craftiness and reading the game so having someone who can pass those tricks on will be beneficial for him.”

THE FUTURE: PARRAMATTA EELS' YOUTH BRIGADE​



While General Manager of football Mark O’Neill is confident the full-time pathways coaching strategy would put an end to criticism of the club losing junior talent.
“We’ve seen our halves (Talagi and Sanders) pursue opportunities elsewhere … the criticism we face, I guess that’s normal in our game. We are a big club, the fans are watching us, and we have to make sure we make more decisions right than we get wrong,” O’Neill said.
“This coaching strategy is the best chance for us, the best opportunity to make that happen.”
And to convince the next Haumole Olakau’atu, Josh Schuster, or the Wests Tigers’ three Fainu brothers — who all hail from the local area, that the Eels will provide them the best pathway to success.
“We want to embed the Eels identity, make our elite juniors feel like this is their club, their home and the best place to apply their talent long-term,” O’Neill said.

THE $70M SUPPORT STRUCTURE​





Image


These nine elite coaches have been task with turning Parramatta’s junior nursery into a powerhouse to rival Penrith’s​
Image


Click on the gold buttons to read about the coach
Image


Image

Tap on the gold buttons to read about the coach


The Eels have a huge junior catchment in which they have heavily invested to generate a production line of talent similar to that which has driven neighbours Penrith to four straight premierships.
The shake-up in Parramatta’s pathways, through that strategic investment in coaching, will soon be backed by a $70 million centre of excellence, which is scheduled to open its doors in Kellyville in April, and bring all the club’s football programs under the same roof.
It will serve as another carrot for emerging talent, and will give new NRL coach Jason Ryles the best shot at aligning the NRL program with the pathways squads, ensuring young players are capable of meeting standards and expectation as they progress through the ranks.
That approach has been the backbone of Penrith’s next-man-up mentality, and Parramatta are hoping to reap similar results.
“It’s hard to have a fully aligned program that has the same methodology, philosophy as NRL into the pathways with part-time coaches. Full-time coaches, who are learning from the NRL program will improve the calibre of coaches, it will improve the calibre of players,” O’Neill said.
THE PARRAMATTA WAY
The Eels are keen to ensure that when players graduate into the NRL system, they’re already well versed in the club’s playing style.
You see it at big overseas football clubs like Barcelona, Manchester City and Liverpool, who streamline their pathways systems with a consistent line of coaching.
It’s why Ryles is playing a crucial hands-on role in the club’s enhanced focus on junior development.
“Jason has been very open with the access he is providing these coaches,” Shepherd said.
“He sat down with them individually explaining his expectations and what he wants to see from the program.
“He invites them to training to make sure the coaches are learning what is being done at NRL level and being transferred back into the pathways.”
And by making their pathways coaches full-time, it opens up access to the NRL strategy.

THE TALENT
The club is wary not to put undue pressure on its young starts. However, privately, they view Talagi, Fletcher and Coinakis as future first-graders.
Mitchell Moses will turn 34 in 2027, when the first of his two-year player options in his contract kick in.
It’s hoped Fletcher, a goalkicking game manager, would be in a position to succeed Moses in the No.7 jumper when he’s ready to bring the curtain down on his career.
It’s no secret Parramatta have been linked to Newcastle’s Jayden Brailey about potentially joining the club as early as next season, bolstering their hooker stocks that already include Brendan Hands and Joey Lussick, who are both unsigned beyond 2025.

All the while, Coinakis, a crafty dummy-half with solid defence, is being nurtured through their system.
More immediately, forwards Saxon Pryke, Sam Tuivaiti and Will Latu, and centre Richard Penisini, the younger brother of star Eels back Will Penisini, are viewed as next in line to earn an NRL call-up. Back-rower Charlie Guymer, who was also part of the premiership-winning 2023 SG Ball outfit, has already made his NRL debut.
“Those boys have been training since the 4th of November, they are tracking nicely,” Shepherd said.
“Richard is back doing well after his (ACL) injury.
“They’ve coped with the demands of training and putting themselves in front of the coach. If they do well, that opportunity will come.”
 
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King-Gutho94

King-Gutho94

Coach
Messages
15,180
Avenger said:
You should give yourself about 5 minutes to hear the dumbest interview ever recorded on a podcast between him and Haze Dunster. I bet you can’t last any longer. He is such a limited blowarse.
Click to expand...
On my walk this arvo I turned that pod on.

I got 300m and just went back to music.
 
King-Gutho94

King-Gutho94

Coach
Messages
15,180
Johnny88 said:
Coinakis, an Australian schoolboys star, is considered the best hooking prospect at the club since Reed Mahoney, who joined the Bulldogs in 2023.
Click to expand...
Are my eyes deceiving me here.

The club think Coinakis is the best hooking prospect at the joint since Reed Mahoney left.

Have they forgotten who they let go this year.

Sounds to me like that is the club giving the middle finger and a f.. you to Boods and the Arthur family.
 
Twizzle

Twizzle

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
152,981
Johnny88 said:

​

Parramatta Eels pathways evolution as club appoints full-time coaches to grow nursery​

Former NRL hooker Josh Hodgson has emerged as one of the secret weapons in Parramatta’s attempts to stem the bleeding of junior talent, with the club making an unprecedented pathways investment that includes a $70 million centre of excellence.

Former Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson has emerged as one of the secret weapons in Parramatta’s attempts to stem the bleeding of junior talent, starting with young gun dummy-half Lachlan Coinakis.
The Eels have made an unprecedented pathways investment, installing full-time junior representative coaches across all grades for the first time in the club’s history, with Hodgson taking over their under-17s Harold Matthews Cup team for 2025.
The defections of rookies Blaize Talagi, Ethan Sanders and Matt Arthur to rival outfits after making their NRL debuts last season rocked Eels fans.
But the club is backing its newest pathways coaching strategy to bring through – and prevent a mass exodus of – the next crop of rising rookies, that includes the recently re-signed trio of Coinakis, halfback Lincoln Fletcher and prop Ryda Talagi, the younger brother of Blaize.


Coinakis, an Australian schoolboys star, is considered the best hooking prospect at the club since Reed Mahoney, who joined the Bulldogs in 2023.
But to stop history repeating itself, Parramatta’s head of elite pathways James Shepherd said Coinakis has been given unfettered access to Hodgson, even though the teenager has graduated to the SG Ball program for 2025.
“At one point, Josh was the best hooker in the world. There’s not too many kids who wouldn’t want to be coached by Josh Hodgson,” Shepherd said.
“He’ll be able to ask for advice, for tips and that’s invaluable for a developing player. Josh’s game was based on skill and craftiness and reading the game so having someone who can pass those tricks on will be beneficial for him.”

THE FUTURE: PARRAMATTA EELS' YOUTH BRIGADE​



While General Manager of football Mark O’Neill is confident the full-time pathways coaching strategy would put an end to criticism of the club losing junior talent.
“We’ve seen our halves (Talagi and Sanders) pursue opportunities elsewhere … the criticism we face, I guess that’s normal in our game. We are a big club, the fans are watching us, and we have to make sure we make more decisions right than we get wrong,” O’Neill said.
“This coaching strategy is the best chance for us, the best opportunity to make that happen.”
And to convince the next Haumole Olakau’atu, Josh Schuster, or the Wests Tigers’ three Fainu brothers — who all hail from the local area, that the Eels will provide them the best pathway to success.
“We want to embed the Eels identity, make our elite juniors feel like this is their club, their home and the best place to apply their talent long-term,” O’Neill said.

THE $70M SUPPORT STRUCTURE​





Image


These nine elite coaches have been task with turning Parramatta’s junior nursery into a powerhouse to rival Penrith’s​
Image


Click on the gold buttons to read about the coach
Image


Image

Tap on the gold buttons to read about the coach
Click to expand...


f**k me, its a bald convention
 
hineyrulz

hineyrulz

Post Whore
Messages
153,426
Johnny88 said:

​

Parramatta Eels pathways evolution as club appoints full-time coaches to grow nursery​

Former NRL hooker Josh Hodgson has emerged as one of the secret weapons in Parramatta’s attempts to stem the bleeding of junior talent, with the club making an unprecedented pathways investment that includes a $70 million centre of excellence.

Former Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson has emerged as one of the secret weapons in Parramatta’s attempts to stem the bleeding of junior talent, starting with young gun dummy-half Lachlan Coinakis.
The Eels have made an unprecedented pathways investment, installing full-time junior representative coaches across all grades for the first time in the club’s history, with Hodgson taking over their under-17s Harold Matthews Cup team for 2025.
The defections of rookies Blaize Talagi, Ethan Sanders and Matt Arthur to rival outfits after making their NRL debuts last season rocked Eels fans.
But the club is backing its newest pathways coaching strategy to bring through – and prevent a mass exodus of – the next crop of rising rookies, that includes the recently re-signed trio of Coinakis, halfback Lincoln Fletcher and prop Ryda Talagi, the younger brother of Blaize.


Coinakis, an Australian schoolboys star, is considered the best hooking prospect at the club since Reed Mahoney, who joined the Bulldogs in 2023.
But to stop history repeating itself, Parramatta’s head of elite pathways James Shepherd said Coinakis has been given unfettered access to Hodgson, even though the teenager has graduated to the SG Ball program for 2025.
“At one point, Josh was the best hooker in the world. There’s not too many kids who wouldn’t want to be coached by Josh Hodgson,” Shepherd said.
“He’ll be able to ask for advice, for tips and that’s invaluable for a developing player. Josh’s game was based on skill and craftiness and reading the game so having someone who can pass those tricks on will be beneficial for him.”

THE FUTURE: PARRAMATTA EELS' YOUTH BRIGADE​



While General Manager of football Mark O’Neill is confident the full-time pathways coaching strategy would put an end to criticism of the club losing junior talent.
“We’ve seen our halves (Talagi and Sanders) pursue opportunities elsewhere … the criticism we face, I guess that’s normal in our game. We are a big club, the fans are watching us, and we have to make sure we make more decisions right than we get wrong,” O’Neill said.
“This coaching strategy is the best chance for us, the best opportunity to make that happen.”
And to convince the next Haumole Olakau’atu, Josh Schuster, or the Wests Tigers’ three Fainu brothers — who all hail from the local area, that the Eels will provide them the best pathway to success.
“We want to embed the Eels identity, make our elite juniors feel like this is their club, their home and the best place to apply their talent long-term,” O’Neill said.

THE $70M SUPPORT STRUCTURE​





Image


These nine elite coaches have been task with turning Parramatta’s junior nursery into a powerhouse to rival Penrith’s​
Image


Click on the gold buttons to read about the coach
Image


Image

Tap on the gold buttons to read about the coach
Click to expand...


There is a worrying amount of baldness in that photo.......


I think it's awesome the club are finally committing to being a development club, thy have been talking about it since 2018 looks like they are finally trying to do it. All it took was that Deadshit Spags to launch a challenge to put a fire up their arses.
 
Noise

Noise

Coach
Messages
18,147
hineyrulz said:
There is a worrying amount of baldness in that photo.......


I think it's awesome the club are finally committing to being a development club, thy have been talking about it since 2018 looks like they are finally trying to do it. All it took was that Deadshit Spags to launch a challenge to put a fire up their arses.
Click to expand...
And a coach that is not just looking after his family and friends.
 
PARRA_FAN

PARRA_FAN

Coach
Messages
17,674
Forget the bald jokes it's amazing how many blokes have stuck around retiring from our club, De Gois, Gower and Hodgson. He might’ve been a dud signing after Canberra but it's great he's staying here helping the youngsters
 
Obscene Assassin

Obscene Assassin

First Grade
Messages
6,308
PARRA_FAN said:
Forget the bald jokes it's amazing how many blokes have stuck around retiring from our club, De Gois, Gower and Hodgson. He might’ve been a dud signing after Canberra but it's great he's staying here helping the youngsters
Click to expand...

He did a decent interview on the bye round podcast with James Graham recently too. He talks about the sort of player he wants in his team, they may not be the biggest but he wants competitors, players who never stop moving even when tired and a bunch of other intangible metrics you can't really measure. He also talks about going down to the local games to look at players and having scouts from all across the NRL watching games in the Parra district.
 
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