Eelementary
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Good f**king luck, Rylesy...
The club needs to make some hard decisions during the bye next weekend don't wait till the end of the year.
Thanks @Johnny88Jason Ryles gets to work wooing the Parramatta Eels players
Jason Ryles has wasted little time in his new position as head coach of Parramatta. Find out what he spent his first few days doing, and what he needs to do next.
Brent Read
,
Michael Carayannis
and
David Riccio
Incoming Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has begun calling Eels players as he seeks to inject some stability into the club and secure the future of young star Blaize Talagi.
Ryles, who was appointed at the start of the week on a four year deal, will officially take over at the end of the season but there is no time to waste as he looks to ensure the Eels are a competitive force on his watch.
At the top of his to-do list is the future of Talagi, the young star who has hesitated to re-sign at Parramatta after rejecting a player option in his deal.
Talagi, whose brother Ryde was one of the stars of the Australian secondary schools championships this week, wanted to wait to see who the coach was before he made a decision on his future.
That call has now been made with Ryles handed the keys to the Eels as the club looks to end a premiership drought that stretches back more than 40 years.
The Talagi call could have a ripple effect across the squad. If he stays, the 19-year-old could play fullback next season and prompt a move for captain Clint Gutherson to the centres.
If Talagi decides to leave, Gutherson is likely to stay at fullback for another season as the Eels continue their search for an x-factor player capable of adding some speed to their backline.
The Eels forward pack is also under the microscope as Ryles, one of the greatest front rowers of his era, prepares to take the reins.
There has been talk of players being offered the opportunity to leave, although Ryles is yet to head down that path as he seeks to restore some calm to the Eels rather than propagate instability at a club that has been plagued by it this season.
TALAGI MUST BE TOP PRIORITY
The selection of Ryda Talagi in the Australian secondary schools team this week was a reminder of how important it is for Ryles to get on the front foot and convince his brother Blaize to remain at the club beyond the end of the year.
Blaize Talagi had an option in his deal but elected not to take it up, preferring to risk it all by heading to the open market. If ever there was evidence of the dysfunction among the Parramatta playing group, this was it.
Talagi emerged through the Eels system, went to Westfields Sports High and won an SG Ball premiership with Parramatta. He has been earmarked for big things for some time and he has vindicated the faith this season, scoring nine tries in 11 appearances.
He has also shown his versatility, playing off the interchange bench, centre, fullback, five-eighth and more recently on the wing.
Wherever he has played, he has handled it with aplomb. Ryles wants to keep him, something he has made patently clear to powerbrokers during talks over his plans for the club into the future.
It is understood he also made it clear how much he valued Talagi during talks with the teenager. The ball is now in Talagi’s court as he decides his future and if he stays, it will give Ryles the power and ability to make some changes that would add speed and strike to their backline
THE FORWARD PACK
Ryles has other issues beyond the future of Talagi, namely the need to regenerate an ageing forward pack. The emphasis at the moment is on stability given the trials and tribulations that have been going on at Parramatta this season.
Hence Ryles’ decision to call the entire squad as he looks to put in place a foundation that he can build on next season when he takes charge.
As always, there are players coming through the system. Dummy half Matt Arthur recently made his first grade debut and hooker Lachlan Coinakis was named alongside Ryde Talagi in the Australian secondary schools squad.
They have talent emerging from their ranks. The bigger issue is what to do with the players who are there at present, many of them having been the bedrock of the side that qualified for the 2022 grand final.
There will be movement, and you can expect to see some of Brad Arthur’s favourite players in the firing line - Arthur spent a decade at the club and commanded immense loyalty among the senior players in the squad.
Now he is gone, Ryles’ challenge will be to win them over. Those who don’t fall into line are likely to be shown the door as the former Storm assistant looks to put his stamp on the club.
He may be still on the payroll in Melbourne, but he is already working some magic behind the scenes. Forward J’maine Hopgood revealed this week that he had spoken to Ryles and walked away impressed with what he heard.
“I don’t know him personally. I’ve heard a lot of good things from people,” Hopgood said
“I had a phone call with him to have an introductory chat. He sounds like a good guy. We’re happy the decision has been made.
“He has done his apprenticeship under some great coaches. Looking forward to the pre-season time.
“It wasn’t ideal the way it panned out with Brad and then waiting around to find out who was going to be coaching us. They put a lot of thought into who they wanted. Jason has come out with the job.
“Looking forward to meeting him and get into work.”
The life of Brian
In an age where everybody strives to stay relevant, Brian Smith – who took three clubs to grand finals – has stayed out of the limelight for years.
Parramatta have been in the headlines for plenty of the wrong reasons in recent months, but the Eels are making quiet moves to honour a man who has been ignored by some clubs he has coached
Eels chairman Sean McElduff has been moving behind the scenes to make Smith a life member of the club. Smith, who took Parramatta to their infamous grand final loss in 2001, is reluctant to accept any kind of honour. He has told the club those kind of rewards are best reserved for the playing group.
Smith was not everybody’s favourite person, and made media enemies. That may be why he is reluctant to put himself back in the limelight as some of his old foes remain in positions of influence in the media.
While on the Eels, they are furious at suggestions they are looking to move on Junior Paulo. Not only is he club captain, but he is still a fine player. The club has assured him that he is not going anywhere. Paulo’s season is effectively over due to a foot injury.
Ryles’ departure a sign Bellamy could coach for ‘another decade’
Jason Ryles’ move to Parramatta has opened the door for “another decade” of the Craig Bellamy era. At least that’s the view of his right-hand man Frank Ponissi.
Ponissi knows Bellamy better than anyone in the NRL. “He couldn’t even spell retirement, let alone consider it,” Ponissi said.
And with that explanation of Bellamy’s mindset, it is clear why Ryles took the most high-pressure coaching position in the game. It is high risk for a rookie, but will be high reward if he gets it right.
Ryles had returned to Melbourne under the impression that Bellamy was heading out the door, but when the master coach said publicly that he did not know what he would do with himself in retirement, Ryles knew it was time to look for another job.
“The bloke in charge is showing no signs of slowing down,” Ponissi said of Bellamy. “In fact, he is coaching better than ever. He could coach on for another decade. That’s how well he is going. There is no question that Jason had the credentials to be a serious contender for the job, if it was ever going to come up.”
It could be a while before Craig Bellamy bids farewell to coaching the Storm.
It could be a while before Craig Bellamy bids farewell to coaching the Storm. CREDIT:GETTY
Ponissi has watched Ryles’ development during the past decade and a half. Ryles joined the Storm at the back end of his playing career, and Ponissi quickly realised he had an interest in coaching.
“I think that’s where he really started thinking about becoming a coach, was in those last two years he was playing ... he started asking questions about things behind the scenes,” Ponissi said. “I think that’s where his passion for coaching first arose, in those last two years.”
Ryles has been a long-time assistant, but he has coached a team of his own – Wests in Wollongong – after he finished playing with the Storm in 2013. He has also coached the Junior Kangaroos.
His apprenticeship under some of the game’s best coaches is well known, picking the minds of Bellamy, Roosters coach Trent Robinson and often catching up with Bulldogs general manager Phil Gould. He also worked with Eddie Jones in the England rugby and Wallabies set-ups. Ponissi says Ryles has done the hard yards to be in the best possible position to succeed at the Eels.
“I think he certainly served his apprenticeship and he’s ready to be given an opportunity, which he has,” Ponissi said. “He has a really good relationship with players and this time around he has been working with the leadership group here and they have only had great things to say. That player relationship is a strength, as is his calm temperament, but his new job could test that out.”
There have been rumours Josh Hannay was actually offered the job, but did not get a promise that he would be given total control. Hannay did not want to go on the record, but be sure that is not the case. He was very happy with the the process.
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Breaking news on footy.
Ryles released effective Immediately!!!!
Great news for us!
Good luck he is going to need him.Breaking news on footy.
Ryles released effective Immediately!!!!
Great news for us!
Of course not… imagine them having to pay Ryles on top of paying Barrett and BA out…. Not our clubParramatta are aware of the situation and have no intention of asking Ryles to get involved with interim coach Trent Barrett’s team in 2024.
Bro we all know!Good luck he is going to need him.
We are a complete rabble atm.
7 games left of this shitshow of a season.
2025 can't come quick enough
I doubt thats this issue. Makes better sense to allow Ryles to fully focus on preparations for next year. It’s the ideal outcome I reckonOf course not… imagine them having to pay Ryles on top of paying Barrett and BA out…. Not our club
Am sure money is not the issue, although lets not get in the way of someone on here putting shit on the club at every chance.I doubt thats this issue. Makes better sense to allow Ryles to fully focus on preparations for next year. It’s the ideal outcome I reckon