Ricky Stuart

[Poupou Escobar]

Hey morons! Time to piss your knickers...

EELS coach Ricky Stuart will resist the urge to rush outside recruits into his struggling side in a strategy to maximise salary cap space for future years.

As rival clubs Wests Tigers and St George Illawarra comb the market for mid-season transfers, Parramatta are determined to soldier on with their current roster.

Although the 50-point thrashing to the Roosters highlighted numerous shortcomings, such as a lack of size up front and playmaking options, Stuart doesn't want to erode his long-term spending power with "quick fix" buys.

"You look at the market every day to see what's around, but if we go for the quick fix this year we're going to be in the same position in four or five years' time," he said.

"I'm not patient by nature, but I have to be in this situation.

"I really feel sorry for our supporters - I love their passion and emotion.

"But at the moment I have to think about the team and what it's going to look like in four or five years' time."

As illustrated by their pursuit of Israel Folau late last year, the Eels have enough space under this year's salary cap to buy up reinforcements.

But - just as the Roosters did with James Maloney's deal - they have decided to use that space to front-load contracts for coming years, thus generating more buying power for 2014 and beyond.

Parramatta went hard for Cowboys pair James Tamou and Matt Scott, and only missed out on Raiders back-rower Josh Papalii because of an 11th-hour backflip.

But forcing the Raiders to pay big money for Papalii could still reap a return, with Canberra now facing the challenge of keeping fellow back-rower Joel Thompson. Parramatta also have a number of players off contract including Jacob Loko, Ryan Morgan, Ben Roberts, Willie Tonga, Mitchell Allgood, and Matt Keating, putting the club in line for a potential clean-out.

It's understood extension talks have been put on hold while the team battles to regain confidence.

"We've got to fix this mess we are in and there's going to be some heartache along the way," Stuart said.

"We are targeting the correct players."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-players-to-eels/story-e6frexq0-1226611225021

But but but other coaches have turned other clubs around in a single year!!! :crazy:

Sticky is the second Eels coach in a row to inherit an ordinary roster. How long do you think it takes to fix something that deeply ingrained?

And I told you this squad wasn't maxing out the cap.

 

[Avenger]

I'd be surprised if Stuart is here beyond his 3 year contract. If we don't make the 8 during his tenure you can almost guarantee he won't be.

 

[Avenger]

I dare say that the article just about confirms a massive cleanout. Even in the offseason people in the know were telling me that Stuart couldn't believe some players had extended contracts with our club and were considered part of our future plans.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I dare say that the article just about confirms a massive cleanout. Even in the offseason people in the know were telling me that Stuart couldn't believe some players had extended contracts with our club and were considered part of our future plans.

Well if they're better than what's available then why not? And as the article states, at least they're not using up the whole salary cap on long contracts.

I was surprised Fui and Ben Smith got longer than a year though. But then, it's hard to get any player to sign a one year contract.

Here are the guys contracted beyond this year:

Harrison
Hayne
Hopoate
Kelly
Lussick
Ma'afu
Maitua
Mannah
Moimoi
Norman
Paulo
Ryan
Sandow
Sio
Smith, B
Tanginoa

Plus those four or five kids in NYC.

Ordinarily you don't want the majority of your squad off contract at the same time because they're all distracted about their futures, but the plus side is plenty of room to move under the cap.

 

[Avenger]

Some of those players may retire or be asked to look elsewhere. For instance Ben Smith and Moimoi may retire whilst Paulo and Ryan may be given permission to look elsewhere.

 

[Avenger]

Ken Edwards is also only on a one year deal. Terepo's contract is also ending this year. Could be the case with Nathan Smith aswell.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Ken Edwards is also only on a one year deal. Terepo's contract is also ending this year. Could be the case with Nathan Smith aswell.

Yep. If they're not on that list I just posted then they're off contract at the end of the year.

Unless they've got a player option like Daniel f**king Mortimer had.

 

[Avenger]

My tip is that we will sign up to 5 established first grade forwards. Players like Joel Thompson, Bukuya, Weyman, Mitch Rein and Frank Paul Nuasalla (sic). Would kill for Matt Gillett. Would even take Ben Creagh.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Ha ha. I rate Ben Creagh. I reckon he's quality. Thompson and Gillett would be great buys too. Plus one of the Dragons' young hookers.

 

[Eels Dude]

If they're front loading I'd expect some decent signings for next year and beyond. Like 3 or 4 on top of what we've already got. Who in our current squad would take up enough salary cap space they ened to be front loaded.

 

[Mr Pmatta]

Listening to Ricky one could have expected four losses. I get that he is trying to get the fans to face the reality that we don't have a roster as strong as most other clubs on paper but I for one think it's a coaches job to get his team to believe in themselves and achieve more than they thought possible.
Basically what Stuart is telling our players is that most of them are too shit individually to expect to win many games rather than telling them that as a team united they can be successful.
Do we have a weak roster? Yes we probably do but we also have a very young and inexperienced roster that is capable of much more if they reach their potential. I can't see them reaching that potential if our coach is saying that they simply are not good enough.
Sure you need a talented roster that works hard to win games but you also need a roster that believes in themselves and each other. If the coach doesn't believe in them and he is also telling the fans not to then how the hell does he expect his players to?

Well said Tony.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Listening to Ricky one could have expected four losses. I get that he is trying to get the fans to face the reality that we don't have a roster as strong as most other clubs on paper but I for one think it's a coaches job to get his team to believe in themselves and achieve more than they thought possible.
Basically what Stuart is telling our players is that most of them are too shit individually to expect to win many games rather than telling them that as a team united they can be successful.
Do we have a weak roster? Yes we probably do but we also have a very young and inexperienced roster that is capable of much more if they reach their potential. I can't see them reaching that potential if our coach is saying that they simply are not good enough.
Sure you need a talented roster that works hard to win games but you also need a roster that believes in themselves and each other. If the coach doesn't believe in them and he is also telling the fans not to then how the hell does he expect his players to?

You make a good point, but Sticky has played and coached for a long time. He knows what he is doing.

There's a good chance he's telling the players something very different in private, and making it clear they should not believe anything he tells the media.

 

[strider]

f**kin kearney ... couldn't coach, couldn't recruit, couldn't even run a decent 5 year plan :roll:

 

[oldmancraigy]

Ha ha. I rate Ben Creagh. I reckon he's quality. Thompson and Gillett would be great buys too. Plus one of the Dragons' young hookers.

If we JUST got the 4 players mentioned, we'd be a massive force.

Imagine having 3 backrowers who can play footy? And a hooker who can pass them the ball?

 

[whall15]

I hope this is like the Commie five year plans.

The ones which took three.

 

[ROGUE]

I dare say that the article just about confirms a massive cleanout. Even in the offseason people in the know were telling me that Stuart couldn't believe some players had extended contracts with our club and were considered part of our future plans.

Clean out is one thing, but the ability to sign quality players in the future is a concern.

 

[Tommy Coco]

The beauty of this rebuilding attempt is there is replacements coming next year that are better then is what is porentially leaving, unlike last year. Also those playing for a contract next year have got to get there game together real quickly

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Hey morons! Time to piss your knickers...



http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-players-to-eels/story-e6frexq0-1226611225021

But but but other coaches have turned other clubs around in a single year!!! :crazy:

Sticky is the second Eels coach in a row to inherit an ordinary roster. How long do you think it takes to fix something that deeply ingrained?

And I told you this squad wasn't maxing out the cap.

Of course we aren't maxing out this years cap. We had all that cash up our sleeve for Izzy. Oh yeah it wasn't really that much was it.

 

[byrner]

Of course we aren't maxing out this years cap. We had all that cash up our sleeve for Izzy. Oh yeah it wasn't really that much was it.

Didnt they up the cap after we missed out on Izzy? So there would be a fair bit of room.

I am trying to think why/when/how our talent scouting/development went so wrong. Was it when Crusher left or Brian Smith?

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Didnt they up the cap after we missed out on Izzy? So there would be a fair bit of room.

I am trying to think why/when/how our talent scouting/development went so wrong. Was it when Crusher left or Brian Smith?

Yes I think they upped the cap. We were maxed out though.