Rumours and Stuff

[hineyrulz]

Clearing a path for Fafita??

 

[Delboy]

Is MON already on the shit list?

We have ex Tigers controlling our recruitment, what could go wrong?

Should be on the list, but do we wait to see upcoming likely signings to make it final.

 

[emjaycee]

I lived there for most of the past 13 f**ken years and never got to watch an Eels game. Now they get an NRL team. Such merkins.

You could go back?

 

[JokerEel]

We must be trying to free up a few top 30 spots for this year of we are trying to let Matto go asap same with Grieg.

@Poupou Escobar what's out top 30 count currently at?

 

[Pazza]

Beau Fermor, thats who id be talking to nov 1

 

[Avenger]

We must be signing someone before the cut off for this season. Or are we writing the year off?

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Any player might not work out. Better to take a risk on one of the best in the game. His whole career has been good defensively (over 90% tackle efficiency his whole career) , at the very least we get a good defender.

Well, it the price is irrelevant, that makes perfect sense. But the price here is potentially considerable. I'm not worried his ability in offense or defense.....he's great. It's what is going on between the ears that concerns me. If it was only for the current year it would be a no brainer, as there would really be no significant downside.

Put it another way. Let's say that we roll the dice and sign him with the GC paying a small proportion of his v. large salary. He plays well for 6 weeks and then he cracks the shits and spends a lot of time not playing NRL (or playing it in a disinterested fashion). Would you absolve the club's management of responsibility for signing him? Or rip right into them?

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Well, it the price is irrelevant, that makes perfect sense. But the price here is potentially considerable. I'm not worried his ability in offense or defense.....he's great. It's what is going on between the ears that concerns me. If it was only for the current year it would be a no brainer, as there would really be no significant downside.

Put it another way. Let's say that we roll the dice and sign him with the GC paying a small proportion of his v. large salary. He plays well for 6 weeks and then he cracks the shits and spends a lot of time not playing NRL (or playing it in a disinterested fashion). Would you absolve the club's management of responsibility for signing him? Or rip right into them?

We’d rip right in. Probably for years to come. That reminds me, f**ken Whatmough

 

[Johnny88]

Ryan Matterson could be off to Super League as Eels continue roster revolution​

Ryan Matterson is the latest high-profile Parramatta player to find himself on the outer under the Jason Ryles regime – see where the former NSW Blue could end up.

Parramatta forward Ryan Matterson has been offered a path out of the NSW Cup after he was granted permission by the Eels to explore his options on the open market.
Matterson has struggled to find a place in first grade under new coach Jason Ryles and Sport Confidential understands that his management requested permission to speak to rival clubs this week which has been granted by the club.
Significantly, the Orr brothers were recently spotted in England watching the Super League competition, where they have a number of players and coaches. It comes as Shaun Lane also looks likely to have played his last game for the club as he remains on indefinite leave.

Matterson has played 94 games for the Eels and represented NSW in 2022 but he has spent most of the year in the NSW Cup, making only one appearance in the NRL.
The 30-year-old has already taken up a rich option for next season safeguarding his future for at least another 12 months. Despite taking up the one year contract, he looks headed for the exit door as his management begins to look at his options at rival clubs.



Matterson is one of a number of prominent players at the Eels who find themselves on the outer under the new Ryles regime.
Matterson and Bryce Cartwright have found themselves anchored in the NSW Cup while Joe Ofahengaue was released to join Super League club Leigh.
Back rower Lane is taking a break from the game as he works out his future

It is understood the club is in talks with Lane about the way forward. Matterson’s path looks more clear as he and his management seek greener pastures.
It paints a stark contrast to his thoughts before the season began when Matterson optimistically wrote about the year ahead as he celebrated the 10-year anniversary of his first contract with the club.
“A decade ago I signed my first NRL contract with the Parramatta Eels, it feels like yesterday,” Matterson wrote.
“Looking forward to a big year ahead with the brothers.”

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/ryan-matterson-could-be-off-to-super-league-as-eels-continue-roster-revolution/news-story/8f8fb0be82820f11ba57d00f73b061b7?amp&nk=28cce2bf54e5d19077d87ea4ffa6b88a-1746671407

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

We’d rip right in. Probably for years to come. That reminds me, f**ken Whatmough

It's a good thing we didn't sign Anthony Watts (Whatmough's half-name sake).

 

[Johnny88]

Gold Coast Titans urged to poach Kevin Walters to replace Des Hasler​

Former Brisbane coach Kevin Walters is keen to return to the NRL coaching hot seat, we reveal the telling clue that suggests the ‘Kev-olution’ could be coming to the Gold Coast.

Kevin Walters has bolted into contention to replace embattled Titans coach Des Hasler following confirmation the former Broncos mentor is eyeing an NRL return.
Sport Confidential can reveal Walters is ready to put his hand up to rescue the Gold Coast if the Titans opt to part ways with the besieged Hasler.
Hasler signed a three-year contract with the Titans but as revealed by this masthead, his deal contains a number of performance clauses that could see him sacked as early as this season.

It is understood Walters has contacted NRL agents in recent weeks inquiring about the contract status of players, suggesting a job could be on the horizon for the 57-year-old.

Speculation is rife Hasler, aged 64, is even considering retiring at season’s end and Walters’ manager Chris Orr confirmed the former Queensland Origin coach is itching for an NRL comeback.
“Kevvie definitely wants to coach again,” Orr said.

Incredibly, the Gold Coast have never had a Queenslander in charge in their 18-year history and there is a view Walters could unify the underachieving Titans - just as he did at the Broncos.

Walters took the Broncos from wooden spooners to grand finalists in three years and, critically, he has a strong relationship with superstar Titans forward David Fifita.

Tallis said the Titans could consider Walters as an option before new expansion clubs Perth and Papua New Guinea enter the coaching market.
“Do you jump in before Perth and go for a Brad Arthur, Kevvie Walters or Sam Burgess,” Tallis said on NRL 360.
“There’s people out there, it’s whether they (the Titans) are ready to pull the trigger (on Hasler).”


https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/gold-coast-titans-urged-to-poach-kevin-walters-to-replace-des-hasler/news-story/ccf9201698e67c2ae05a9a891a5c2500?amp&nk=b85761488bb897d8f1143a3ec859be73-1746681171

 

[Eelementary]

Well, it the price is irrelevant, that makes perfect sense. But the price here is potentially considerable. I'm not worried his ability in offense or defense.....he's great. It's what is going on between the ears that concerns me. If it was only for the current year it would be a no brainer, as there would really be no significant downside.

Put it another way. Let's say that we roll the dice and sign him with the GC paying a small proportion of his v. large salary. He plays well for 6 weeks and then he cracks the shits and spends a lot of time not playing NRL (or playing it in a disinterested fashion). Would you absolve the club's management of responsibility for signing him? Or rip right into them?

Great points.

I know that it wasn't directed at me, but allow me to respond, using my other beloved sports team, the Las Vegas Raiders, to illustrate my point.

Back in the early 00's, the Raiders were loving high - making the Playoffs regularly, and even playing in a Super Bowl in 2003. The world was our oyster.

A series of utterly pathetic decisions over the ensuing decade (letting Charles Woodson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Randy Moss, etc. go, and replacing them with bums; inexplicably targeting positions in the draft that we did not need, and not for trade fodder) meant that the Raiders were now having to take huge risks to upgrade the roster.

Looking at the 2025 Raiders roster, they featured exactly 2 players that you'd feed - Max Crosby, and Davante Adams. The rest of the team is utter garbage.

Sure, there are young players with potential - but unless you're willing to invest 3 years of your time in developing them, it's a gamble.

I suppose what I am rather ineloquently trying to say is that a team that has reached rock bottom needs to take risks - the Raiders did it with the drafting of JaMarcus Russell (total waste of a draft pick), and Clelin Ferrell (showed promise, but was not a first-rounder for a competent organisation).

When the risks don't pan out, it's a shame, but "safe" and "sensible" will likely work out in the long run - a luxury that coaches, and their staff, don't generally enjoy, because their jobs are short-term, and success is needed quickly.

If we hypothetically sign David Fifita, and he has a hissy fit of sorts, that's when true leadership steps forward to save the day...orz at least, that is what one would expect.

 

[emjaycee]

Great points.

I know that it wasn't directed at me, but allow me to respond, using my other beloved sports team, the Las Vegas Raiders, to illustrate my point.

Back in the early 00's, the Raiders were loving high - making the Playoffs regularly, and even playing in a Super Bowl in 2003. The world was our oyster.

A series of utterly pathetic decisions over the ensuing decade (letting Charles Woodson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Randy Moss, etc. go, and replacing them with bums; inexplicably targeting positions in the draft that we did not need, and not for trade fodder) meant that the Raiders were now having to take huge risks to upgrade the roster.

Looking at the 2025 Raiders roster, they featured exactly 2 players that you'd feed - Max Crosby, and Davante Adams. The rest of the team is utter garbage.

Sure, there are young players with potential - but unless you're willing to invest 3 years of your time in developing them, it's a gamble.

I suppose what I am rather ineloquently trying to say is that a team that has reached rock bottom needs to take risks - the Raiders did it with the drafting of JaMarcus Russell (total waste of a draft pick), and Clelin Ferrell (showed promise, but was not a first-rounder for a competent organisation).

When the risks don't pan out, it's a shame, but "safe" and "sensible" will likely work out in the long run - a luxury that coaches, and their staff, don't generally enjoy, because their jobs are short-term, and success is needed quickly.

If we hypothetically sign David Fifita, and he has a hissy fit of sorts, that's when true leadership steps forward to save the day...orz at least, that is what one would expect.

Or true leadership steps up early and makes the hard call to support the longer term objective of building a solid base from the ground up and doesn't jump at the next best shiny toy for a quick fix alone.

 

[Suitman]

We must be signing someone before the cut off for this season. Or are we writing the year off?

No way Ryles would even consider writing the season off.
He has a club to build. The quicker he gets rid of the deadwood, the sooner he can start doing that.

 

[Barry O'Speedwagon]

Great points.

I know that it wasn't directed at me, but allow me to respond, using my other beloved sports team, the Las Vegas Raiders, to illustrate my point.

Back in the early 00's, the Raiders were loving high - making the Playoffs regularly, and even playing in a Super Bowl in 2003. The world was our oyster.

A series of utterly pathetic decisions over the ensuing decade (letting Charles Woodson, Nnamdi Asomugha, Randy Moss, etc. go, and replacing them with bums; inexplicably targeting positions in the draft that we did not need, and not for trade fodder) meant that the Raiders were now having to take huge risks to upgrade the roster.

Looking at the 2025 Raiders roster, they featured exactly 2 players that you'd feed - Max Crosby, and Davante Adams. The rest of the team is utter garbage.

Sure, there are young players with potential - but unless you're willing to invest 3 years of your time in developing them, it's a gamble.

I suppose what I am rather ineloquently trying to say is that a team that has reached rock bottom needs to take risks - the Raiders did it with the drafting of JaMarcus Russell (total waste of a draft pick), and Clelin Ferrell (showed promise, but was not a first-rounder for a competent organisation).

When the risks don't pan out, it's a shame, but "safe" and "sensible" will likely work out in the long run - a luxury that coaches, and their staff, don't generally enjoy, because their jobs are short-term, and success is needed quickly.

If we hypothetically sign David Fifita, and he has a hissy fit of sorts, that's when true leadership steps forward to save the day...orz at least, that is what one would expect.

Those are fair points, but I don't think we are anywhere near in as bad a position as the Raiders have found themselves in. We made the playoffs 5 out of 7 seasons from 2017-2023, came last once in that time and missed narrowly the other. We came last in 2024 but had key players out for a long time. We have one of the best players in the game signed long-term, and 3 other recent SoO players. We didn't sell Khalil Mack.
We've got money to spend, if the club reckons Fifita is a good candidate for that money and they talk to him and are convinced he'll put in, that's fine by me, but I'm equally happy if that don't think he's worth rolling the dice on.

 

[Noise]

Well, it the price is irrelevant, that makes perfect sense. But the price here is potentially considerable. I'm not worried his ability in offense or defense.....he's great. It's what is going on between the ears that concerns me. If it was only for the current year it would be a no brainer, as there would really be no significant downside.

Put it another way. Let's say that we roll the dice and sign him with the GC paying a small proportion of his v. large salary. He plays well for 6 weeks and then he cracks the shits and spends a lot of time not playing NRL (or playing it in a disinterested fashion). Would you absolve the club's management of responsibility for signing him? Or rip right into them?

I’d back the clubs leadership to get the best out of him.

 

[emjaycee]

Those are fair points, but I don't think we are anywhere near in as bad a position as the Raiders have found themselves in. We made the playoffs 5 out of 7 seasons from 2017-2023, came last once in that time and missed narrowly the other. We came last in 2024 but had key players out for a long time. We have one of the best players in the game signed long-term, and 3 other recent SoO players. We didn't sell Khalil Mack.
We've got money to spend, if the club reckons Fifita is a good candidate for that money and they talk to him and are convinced he'll put in, that's fine by me, but I'm equally happy if that don't think he's worth rolling the dice on.

We didn't come last in 2024.

 

[emjaycee]

I’d back the clubs leadership to get the best out of him.

I don't think they will be backing themselves to though.

 

[Soto]

I’d rather look at his numbers in first grade for his entire career. He has never had a tackle efficiency less than 90% and his average running metres has only been below 100m in one season out of eight. That’s elite

View attachment 101868

David Fifita

The NRL profile of David Fifita including career statistics, season stats, games, tries, goals, tackles and fantasy scores.

www.titans.com.au

The facts are undeniable and the truth will set you free

 

[Soto]

I lived there for most of the past 13 f**ken years and never got to watch an Eels game. Now they get an NRL team. Such merkins.

Mate they waited for you to go and then strike...and strike they did...
Go to the roiders dogs game on Sat...that will be a belter