Jason Ryles - Head coach of Parramatta from 2025

[Poupou Escobar]

Agree, with the halves we have we should always be top 8.

With the money we are spending on the halves we should have less to spend on the rest of the squad than other clubs.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

That’s like saying that turd doesn’t stink, it’s just brown.

No it’s like the difference between stepping in a human turd or dogshit. If you’re going to whinge about the culprit you at least want to blame the right one.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

How good is it having a proper back up half like Dean Hawkins. Such a great signing. What’s Jake Arthur doing?

Backup half at Manly

 

[JohnStoppafarty]

Well in fairness, we are in the Jason Ryles thread, next years coach!

If I recall I was on a cruise ship at the time...drowning my sorrows that our season was over so quickly.

Jeez bro, I'm so sorry. I never should have mentioned it. Now it all makes perfect sense. My sincere apologies.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Nice insight. BA and his crew basically had no f**king idea how to consistently defend. The last two years were an abomination which tells me that he should have been sacked after the lucky GF appearance.

That table also shows how underrated Brian Smith was getting sides strong defensively. And why we always lurked around prelim final weekend which was Brian's problem.

We finished Top 2 in defence between 1998-2001 including being the best defensive side in 1999 & 2001.

And we were 4th best defence in 2002 despite finishing 6th and being knocked out week 1 of the finals.

2000 we finished 7th in the regular season but made a prelim final off the 2nd best defence in the comp. We lost to the dominant minor premiers & eventual premiers Brisbane who had about 12 internationals in that side 16-10 was the score that could have gone either way.

2005 we were also the best defensive side.

It also goes a long way to explain why we made 1 prelim final in 11 years under Arthur. We just weren't consistent enough in the defensive side of the game. Yes we aimed up in finals like 2017 & 2021 and unlucky with a few calls in those games. But overall wasn't consistent enough across a period of time to consistently challenge for the title.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

Also while I hate to say it, we have had some players that are not natural defenders on the wings recently.

Mika Sivo and Blake Furgerson were great in attack but took longer to turn than the QE2.

I have fond memories of those late 90's sides and "The Point". were everyone knew who had who.

 

[Avenger]

Rd 27 Sea Eagles Injury Report

Here is the latest Sea Eagles injury news from Manly's NRL Head Physiotherapist Chris Bailey leading into round 27 of the Telstra Premiership.

www.seaeagles.com.au

I thought you were talking about Hawkins.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Well @emjaycee and I have a lunch bet on the outcome. I’m thinking Sahra at Parra. Love my Lebanese food.

OK. Let me know what day.

 

[JokerEel]

Pretty sure Hands is the first choice dummy half from our current squad - why would it have changed?

Because there is chat we are after Brailey from the Knights I hope it's not a later January/ February signing.

 

[the phantom menace]

Because there is chat we are after Brailey from the Knights I hope it's not a later January/ February signing.

Ah, for some reason I can't post in the Rumours and Stuff thread...

Yes, I hope if we are signing anyone for 2025 (perhaps on early release, if they're off contract for 2026) that it happens in November/December, or not at all.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don't believe we're in a position to take short term pain. If we choose to move Gutho on, we have to have adequate replacements to cover for the loss.

A new coach is always a great time for short term pain. Penrith made the finals for three straight years before they sacked Griffin and signed Nathan Cleary's dad. They shat the bed that first season under Cleary, and pretty significantly given how much talent they turned out to have the following year.

 

[lucablight]

That table also shows how underrated Brian Smith was getting sides strong defensively. And why we always lurked around prelim final weekend which was Brian's problem.

We finished Top 2 in defence between 1998-2001 including being the best defensive side in 1999 & 2001.

And we were 4th best defence in 2002 despite finishing 6th and being knocked out week 1 of the finals.

2000 we finished 7th in the regular season but made a prelim final off the 2nd best defence in the comp. We lost to the dominant minor premiers & eventual premiers Brisbane who had about 12 internationals in that side 16-10 was the score that could have gone either way.

2005 we were also the best defensive side.

It also goes a long way to explain why we made 1 prelim final in 11 years under Arthur. We just weren't consistent enough in the defensive side of the game. Yes we aimed up in finals like 2017 & 2021 and unlucky with a few calls in those games. But overall wasn't consistent enough across a period of time to consistently challenge for the title.

I reckon we would have won in 2005 if Hindmarsh and Fui hadn’t been injured. We were a way better team than the Cowboys and Tigers at our best that season.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I reckon we would have won in 2005 if Hindmarsh and Fui hadn’t been injured. We were a way better team than the Cowboys and Tigers at our best that season.

Yep 2005 was a bigger missed opportunity then 2001.

We would have had GF experience with a fair chunk of that squad.

The Tigers were riding a wave but during that period we always had there measure.

That Cowboys loss in hindsight is probably the most horrific and inexplicable loss in my 25 years of following this team considering what was at stake and the scoreline that it ended up.

 

[hineyrulz]

Yep 2005 was a bigger missed opportunity then 2001.

We would have had GF experience with a fair chunk of that squad.

The Tigers were riding a wave but during that period we always had there measure.

That Cowboys loss in hindsight is probably the most horrific and inexplicable loss in my 25 years of following this team considering what was at stake and the scoreline that it ended up.

The 98 semi, 01 GF and 05 Cows choke are the top 3. Toss a coin for the worst, fmd as Eels fans we’ve to put up with some quality gastric infested shit over the years.

 

[Incorrect]

The 98 semi, 01 GF and 05 Cows choke are the top 3. Toss a coin for the worst, fmd as Eels fans we’ve to put up with some quality gastric infested shit over the years.

The 98 prelim pips the others IMO. To lose a prelim after leading by 16 with 10 to go is unforgivable. Fans were cockahoop, on a high and planning ahead to get GF tix only to see the team fall to bits.... The other 2 games we were never in, so at least we were spared going from euphoric highs to depressing lows in the 1 game....

 

[King-Gutho94]

The 98 semi, 01 GF and 05 Cows choke are the top 3. Toss a coin for the worst, fmd as Eels fans we’ve to put up with some quality gastric infested shit over the years.

I don't remember 1998 wasn't old enough probably a good thing tbh i have seen the rest of the shit post then.

Someone should write a book the curse of the Eel & the different types of shit we have had to put with this mob since 1986.

From those losses to being screwed over by a cheating Melbourne Storm on 3 different occasions to Wooden Spoons, Political infighting, Salary Cap Saga, Brad Arthur Era, Jenko testing positive on game day of a semi final, Penrith 2021 semi final.

The only chapter left to be written is the part where we finally win a premiership.

So the book will never make it to print.

 

[Gronk]

I don't remember 1998 wasn't old enough probably a good thing tbh i have seen the rest of the shit post then.

Someone should write a book the curse of the Eel & the different types of shit we have had to put with this mob since 1986.

From those losses to being screwed over by a cheating Melbourne Storm on 3 different occasions to Wooden Spoons, Political infighting, Salary Cap Saga, Brad Arthur Era, Jenko testing positive on game day of a semi final, Penrith 2021 semi final.

The only chapter left to be written is the part where we finally win a premiership.

So the book will never make it to print.

I am interested to hear from others who are old enough to have enjoyed the 4 GF wins in the 80's and the the drought that followed.

Just a simple observation from my POV, and certainly no fault on you, but the Brad Arthur era was a tropical island holiday compared to previous years.

No I am not being a hugger. Well, others will determine if I am or not.

 

[T.S Quint]

Yep 2005 was a bigger missed opportunity then 2001.

We would have had GF experience with a fair chunk of that squad.

The Tigers were riding a wave but during that period we always had there measure.

That Cowboys loss in hindsight is probably the most horrific and inexplicable loss in my 25 years of following this team considering what was at stake and the scoreline that it ended up.

Be glad you haven’t been supporting them for 26 years.

 

[T.S Quint]

The 98 prelim pips the others IMO. To lose a prelim after leading by 16 with 10 to go is unforgivable. Fans were cockahoop, on a high and planning ahead to get GF tix only to see the team fall to bits.... The other 2 games we were never in, so at least we were spared going from euphoric highs to depressing lows in the 1 game....

FFS!

 

[T.S Quint]

I am interested to hear from others who are old enough to have enjoyed the 4 GF wins in the 80's and the the drought that followed.

Just a simple observation from my POV, and certainly no fault on you, but the Brad Arthur era was a tropical island holiday compared to previous years.

No I am not being a hugger. Well, others will determine if I am or not.

I enjoyed the BA era for the most part. We had some very good years, won a lot of games. Yes, there were quite a few terrible losses, but mostly we were good enough to be a chance of winning every game we played. I was optimistic and hopeful. Even these last two years where we weren’t very good I was able to begin the year with a feeling that we might do well.

The 3-4 years before then I could not say the same. Also the early to mid 90s.