Rd20: 3pm Parra v Canberra GAME DAY THREAD @ GIO Stadium 19/7/25

[JokerEel]

@hindy111 does..

So do I

 

[Parrapat]

So did BA and he got sacked last year..

I remember last year and 2023 a lot of fans bagging out Hands but I thought he was better than Lussick. Yet both BA and Ryles now prefer Lussick to Hands.

Just going through our team list from game 1 this year Hands started as Ryles' preferred starting 9 with Smith the Bench 9.

Under Ryles, Hands had his contract extended 2 years in November 2024 to 2026 and I think at approximately $365K per year.

So, Hands was Ryles' first choice 9 at the start of 2025 with Smith over Lussick on the bench.

Hands subsequently got dropped to Cup after the opening 2 rounds of slaughter and has never recovered a starting 9 or bench NRL role since.

You can see in the table below that Smith cemented his first choice 9 position under Ryles' game plan from round 5 through to 18 where he was the lone 9 at times, banging out a few 80 minute games for an overall positive and winning series of games for the Eels.

I think you all are far more astute judges of football skill and talent than me, which is why I love to read you, but it's also clear to me that we've had some good form with Ryley Smith at 9 and he suits Ryle's game plan.

If Hindy is right that R Smith "is all energy and effort but in 15 games averages 17 run mtrs. Hasn't had 1 x LBA or 1 x TA and his support play is non existent" and that he "can tackle and has energy" then Ryles' values that more than Hands' running game when it comes to Ryles' game plan and formations.

So, Hands remains a great backup 9 but looks to have fallen out of NRL consideration under Ryles and will probably be offered the option for greener pastures elsewhere after November 2025. Another one we can add to Hindy's earlier list of players departing to build up our cash reserves to splash out on some gun prospects for 2026.

Game	Home	Away	W/L	Result	Starting 9	Bench 9	NSW Cup 9	NSW Cup Bench 9	Notes
1	Scum	Eels		56-18	Hands	Smith	Bye		Eels won 2nd half
2	Eels	Tigers		6-32	Hands	Smith	Lussick	M Luke
3	Eels	Dogs		8-16	Lussick	Smith	Hands		Impressive result for Eels after disastrous start
4	Manly	Eels		26-12	Lussick	Smith	Hands		Another good result after opening debacle
5	Eels	Dargons	Win	23-22	Guymer	Smith	Luke		Was Lussick and Hands injured?
6	Eels	Raiders		12-50	Guymer	Smith	Hands		Guymer preferred to Hands. Lussick injured?
7	Tigers	Eels	Win	22-38	Smith		Hands		Smith played 80 minutes at 9. Brilliant result Eels. Galvin dropped.
8	Bye						Kruz Niutili-Schmidt (KNS)	M Luke	Cup Meni Luke Bench 9. Bunnies vs Eels in Cup we won 2-50
9	Sharks	Eels		28-18	Smith		Kruz Niutili-Schmidt (KNS)	M Luke	Smith played 72 minutes at 9. Guymer replaced? Eels played well and score not indicative, Sharks lucky. Cup Meni Luke Bench 9. Jets vs Eels in Cup we won 18-20
10	Eels	Dolphins		16-20	Smith		Hands	KNS	Great effort Eels lost to in form Dolphins on conversions, 3 tries each. Smith played 80 minutes at 9. KNS Bench 9 Cup
11	Knights	Eels	Win	6-28	Smith		Hands	?	Smith played 70 minutes at 9. No bench 9 in Cup?
12	Eels	Manly	Win	30-20	Smith		Lussick	Hands	Smith Played 80 at 9. Hands bench 9 in Cup
13	Panthers	Eels		18-10	Smith	Joash?	Hands		Smith played 66. Who was bench 9? Joash? Cleary 40/20 turned the game - Eels against full strength Panthers very competative. Cup got flogged 42-28
14	Dogs	Eels		30-12	Smith	Joash?	Hands	KNS	Smith played 66. Who was bench 9? Joash? NKS Cup 9
15	Bye
16	Eels	Titans	Win	36-20	Lussick	Smith	Hands	M Luke	Lussick starting first time over Smith. Lussick 46m and Smith 34
17	Dargons	Eels		34-20	Lussick	Joash?			Smith out injured. Lussick 65m. Eels robbed JAC try to lock up scores disallowed try then Lomax brain explosion for intercept.
18	Bye
19	Eels	Panthers		10-32	Joash	TDS	Lussick	Hands	Smith out injured. TDS played 51m. Cup revenge for 1st matchup flogging
20	Raiders	Eels		40-16	Smith	TDS	Lussick	Hands	5-1 penalty count against with 0 6 agains to 4 to Raiders - Ref gave us nothing yet we led for large swathes of the game.

 

[Stevie]

Then they should put the merkin on the weekly injured list, return date indefinite.

There's no source that it's a mental health issue - just that Lane was "considering his future in rugby league" after being dropped, despite having an option to activate for next season as well.

Sounds more like code for no longer in the coach's plans... but Lane is on the RLPA Board, so you can be sure he knows his contract entitlements and how to work them in his favour.

Can we not just get him to retire, and pay him as a role in the club? Mental health officer or something? If the blokes head is no good from headknocks it’s a very legitimate end to his career. As a club we should be applauded for looking after him.

Do we need to hire Gus for an hour consulting to us to teach our bloke to use the system FFS?!

 

[Suitman]

My problem with it is that it was the same problems from the last month of games. It’s not good enough to say there’s plenty to work on, that shit should’ve already been worked on

With the right roster, I'm sure it would have been.
We just don't have the best cattle.

 

[Stevie]

More excuses, that time has past, Dogs signed Leo Thompson and I guess Galvin already, yes it’s Gus etc but about time our people put on big boy boots and started to act like a club that’s in the top 4 of all metrics.

Do they seriously not draw up a list of the top 5 or 6 backrowers and go sniff to see if there is any unrest with the manager? Actually think big?

A lot of the time, these elite players are just assumed to be happy but how do we know unless we get our hands dirty?
Nikora?
Nanai?
Yeo?
Martin?
Crichton?
Murray?
Papali’i?
Katoa?

If I’m in the GM of football role or similar, I’m out there talking to ALL these managers saying we need a star.

For all we know Katoa might be sick to death of living in the cold and only earns $550k a year and we could offer him $850k for example. It happens every f**king day.

If Parra employed me, I can show these peanuts how to get a deal done. My role sees me close multi hundred million dollar deals that have complex negotiations over 6-18months.

Honestly, do they need some negotiation training? Complex selling? I train and coach my teams all day and they are clever people already!

All these peanuts have to do it sell the club and opportunity (I.e more cash) to a f**king footballer.

How hard is it, it’s putrid!!!!

 

[emjaycee]

@hindy111 does..

That comment of Hindy111's was so May 2025 though.

 

[hindy111]

@hindy111 does..

He is getting better. But hasn't shown as much to his game as I would of liked. If that doesn't change he will be flushed out of system.
Silvas the future anyhows. He will be the long term 9

 

[Stevie]

Was he sacked because he knew less about footy than a bunch of slobs on the internet?

 

[JokerEel]

Our dummy halves both need to run more Brailey is killing it at the moment

 

[King-Gutho94]

Our dummy halves both need to run more Brailey is killing it at the moment

Honest question has Smith had a dart at a barge over yet.

We take the piss out of lussick for doing it.

He has scored 4 tries in his last 10 FG games

Smith hasn't even gone close or had 1 crack at it

 

[85 Baby]

Can we not just get him to retire, and pay him as a role in the club? Mental health officer or something? If the blokes head is no good from headknocks it’s a very legitimate end to his career. As a club we should be applauded for looking after him.

Do we need to hire Gus for an hour consulting to us to teach our bloke to use the system FFS?!

I suspect he has retired and it not being official is us playing the system but also path of least resistance in terms of getting Lane off books, I.e. we’ve agreed to just pay him as normal this year, then if there is any exit payment next year and beyond it’ll be structured to not be included on cap, though I doubt there will be any retirement pay under circumstances.
I also think we asked the question of retiring him pre-30 June but likely he had us by short and curlies, but I also don’t think that’s what ultimately cost us Galvin either.
The only thing I’m concerned about is where the cap is going. I understand we had to hold some cap for options and the player movement wasn’t available after that but we seem even with Lane & Matto still on books, seriously like $1m under cap?

 

[Suitman]

Honest question has Smith had a dart at a barge over yet.

We take the piss out of lussick for doing it.

He has scored 4 tries in his last 10 FG games

Smith hasn't even gone close or had 1 crack at it

It might not what he is being instructed to do.

 

[Stevie]

I suspect he has retired and it not being official is us playing the system but also path of least resistance in terms of getting Lane off books, I.e. we’ve agreed to just pay him as normal this year, then if there is any exit payment next year and beyond it’ll be structured to not be included on cap, though I doubt there will be any retirement pay under circumstances.
I also think we asked the question of retiring him pre-30 June but likely he had us by short and curlies, but I also don’t think that’s what ultimately cost us Galvin either.
The only thing I’m concerned about is where the cap is going. I understand we had to hold some cap for options and the player movement wasn’t available after that but we seem even with Lane & Matto still on books, seriously like $1m under cap?

I don’t care about this year, if Lane takes up his option next year is all I care about. I believe he has an option which f**ks is of a top 30 spot if he decides he wants to be around the club another year.

 

[JohnStoppafarty]

Do they seriously not draw up a list of the top 5 or 6 backrowers and go sniff to see if there is any unrest with the manager? Actually think big?

A lot of the time, these elite players are just assumed to be happy but how do we know unless we get our hands dirty?
Nikora?
Nanai?
Yeo?
Martin?
Crichton?
Murray?
Papali’i?
Katoa?

If I’m in the GM of football role or similar, I’m out there talking to ALL these managers saying we need a star.

For all we know Katoa might be sick to death of living in the cold and only earns $550k a year and we could offer him $850k for example. It happens every f**king day.

If Parra employed me, I can show these peanuts how to get a deal done. My role sees me close multi hundred million dollar deals that have complex negotiations over 6-18months.

Honestly, do they need some negotiation training? Complex selling? I train and coach my teams all day and they are clever people already!

All these peanuts have to do it sell the club and opportunity (I.e more cash) to a f**king footballer.

How hard is it, it’s putrid!!!!

You talk yourself up but can't even spell penaut. I'm sorry but this sounds like the same mediocrity we've become accustomed to.

 

[Stevie]

You talk yourself up but can't even spell penaut. I'm sorry but this sounds like the same mediocrity we've become accustomed to.

I have an iPhone and sausages paws you merkin! It’s a genuine disability in this day you insensitive bastard.

 

[Stevie]

On a side note, I’m not Gordon Gecko but I’m very serious I’d donate my time for free to either support discussions or hold training on complex selling. I promise you I could improve them.

 

[Delboy]

On a side note, I’m not Gordon Gecko but I’m very serious I’d donate my time for free to either support discussions or hold training on complex selling. I promise you I could improve them.

The real question is do they actually watch and learn what other clubs do, seems so reactionary and the club ends up behind the 8 ball. The fact that it’s discussed for almost the last 10 years, really tells us what their ability is.

Big clubs and we are by most metrics , do big things and employ the best, enough said.

 

[Stevie]

The real question is do they actually watch and learn what other clubs do, seems so reactionary and the club ends up behind the 8 ball. The fact that it’s discussed for almost the last 10 years, really tells us what their ability is.

Big clubs and we are by most metrics , do big things and employ the best, enough said.

Yes I agree completely. The growth of the Dogs is the Cinderella story that should be the Eels. We’ve never connected the dots it seems to be at the top end of town like the best clubs.

Parramatta should be such an exciting club to sell. The city is going ballistic, huge population growth and loads of potential new fans, LOADS of corporations based there so there should be no shortage of 3rd party deals… heck, even our colours are flattering if you are pasty like me!

Imagine wearing an Orange or Red players polo for the next 4 f**king years of your life making you look like James f**king Graham every week!

 

[Suitman]

Yes I agree completely. The growth of the Dogs is the Cinderella story that should be the Eels. We’ve never connected the dots it seems to be at the top end of town like the best clubs.

Parramatta should be such an exciting club to sell. The city is going ballistic, huge population growth and loads of potential new fans, LOADS of corporations based there so there should be no shortage of 3rd party deals… heck, even our colours are flattering if you are pasty like me!

This is what frustrates me.
We are the sole Sydney club (maybe with the Bulldogs) that has the largest potential.
Great stadium. Progressive city. Huge supporter base.
40 years without a Premiership is just embarrassing.
It's just not good enough.

 

[Parra Pride]

The real question is do they actually watch and learn what other clubs do, seems so reactionary and the club ends up behind the 8 ball. The fact that it’s discussed for almost the last 10 years, really tells us what their ability is.

Big clubs and we are by most metrics , do big things and employ the best, enough said.

There was that one time we decided to copy the Storm and try rorting the cap for success, sadly we did it for Chris Sandow instead of Cameron Smith.