What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Rumours and Stuff

Eelementary

Post Whore
Messages
57,054
I maintain that it wasn’t even 20 minutes, it was the one force sinks back kick, which didn’t cost us and stepping on sideline where game was already basically over by that stage.
The touch in goal was a Harrigan stitch up, the ball was definitely still moving. And the tackle over sideline, he’s got to field that kick and just wasn’t strong enough to stop going over.

Agreed.

Paul Carige was a pretty decent player - he's certainly better than some of our current backs...
 

Soto

Bench
Messages
4,170
Are you serious? I’d take him in a heartbeat.
Under the right coaching, ie Jason Ryles he would be a good get particularly if his contract is being subsidised...even if its not then for the right price he'd be good.
I think ok Makatoa, Lane, Ogden and then I think Hetherington. So much unfulfilled potential there and only 28. I'm a yes.
Good leg speed, good size, can put on a hit and break the line.
The other upside is he will want to smash Mahoney into orbit...controlled and legal of course
 

Poupou Escobar

Post Whore
Messages
90,620
Plus all those memories of scoring tries. I dunno about you merkins but I enjoy watching us play, including games since 1986. None of those were grand final wins.
 

eels_fan

First Grade
Messages
7,502
Parramatta will fight to avoid the wooden spoon with approximately $4.5 million – or 40 per cent – of their salary cap on the sidelines for almost the rest of the season.
As incoming coach Jason Ryles dangles the No.1 jersey in front of Blaize Talagi — who CEO Jim Sarantinos described as the Eels’ “long-term future” – and works on rejigging a top-heavy roster, interim coach Trent Barrett will guide a depleted side against Melbourne, where Ryles himself was assistant until last week.
As revealed by this masthead, Barrett will not be part of Ryles’ 2025 staff as his former Dragons teammate opts for a fresh slate in his first head coaching role.
Parramatta officials have been impressed with Barrett’s efforts as interim coach since Brad Arthur’s sacking, despite a five-game losing streak in which Barrett missed out on the coveted Eels job to Ryles. The run of defeats has left the side second bottom on the ladder, just two points ahead of bottom side Wests Tigers, who have a bye in hand.

Hampering the club’s 2024 campaign has been a crippling injury toll that saw million-dollar halfback Mitchell Moses undergo season-ending biceps surgery on Monday after his Origin III heroics for NSW.
After missing eight games during Arthur’s last months as coach with a broken foot, Moses joins co-captain Junior Paulo (Lisfranc injury), J’maine Hopgood (back surgery) and rookie Charlie Guymer (syndesmosis) in going under the knife and ending his campaign early.


Wingers Maika Sivo (hamstring) and Haze Dunster (Lisfranc) as well as back-rower Kelma Tuilagi (thumb) are also sidelined and are not due to return until the last few weeks of the season.

Ladder-leaders Melbourne, on the other hand, are increasingly hopeful of having star No.6 Cameron Munster back from a groin injury on Friday night, alongside props Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring) and Christian Welch (back).


“You look at those injuries, there’s no pattern or theme,” Sarantinos told this masthead. “It’s not as though we’ve got a range of hamstrings or calf injuries, soft tissue issues that point to training and preparation.

“It’d be a hell of a lot better if we had more of our troops on the paddock and if we were winning more games, and you can’t get away from the fact it’s been a difficult year for us … Coming in as an interim coach in any circumstance is a tough job.


“But Baz [Barrett] stepped into it with enthusiasm and positivity, and he’s keeping that up. I’m not sure that the players could have been better prepared than they have been, and to be missing seven or eight top-line players each week makes it very hard.”
Ryles’ early release from Melbourne last week to take up his four-year deal has enabled behind the scenes on Parramatta’s turnaround, chiefly tying 19-year-old Talagi down long term.

As well a long-term extension for one of the leading Dally M rookie of the year contenders, big-earners Ryan Matterson and Sivo have also been told they are free to leave if they can find deals elsewhere.
Talagi is set to meet with his management this week to discuss his options with the Dragons, Knights and Dolphins all expressing interest.


The potential for Talagi to play fullback as Clint Gutherson moves to centre has been raised by Ryles.

The Eels could well present the youngster with his best shot at a No.1 jersey given Newcastle has Kalyn Ponga, the Dolphins Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and St George Illawarra have pursued Talagi chiefly as a centre.


“Being able to clear a path for the head coach and Blaize to sort out where he fits in the team longer term is really important,” Sarantinos said, given Talagi had put off talks around his future until the Eels appointed their next coach.

“There’s no secret about how much everyone at the club cares for Blaize and sees him as our long-term future.

“He’s been able to play a number of different positions and been able to handle those really well. It just talks to the character and talent that he has.

“It just talks to the character and talent that he has. Hopefully we’ll see him doing that in an Eels jersey for a long time to come.”

 

Eelementary

Post Whore
Messages
57,054
Under the right coaching, ie Jason Ryles he would be a good get particularly if his contract is being subsidised...even if its not then for the right price he'd be good.
I think ok Makatoa, Lane, Ogden and then I think Hetherington. So much unfulfilled potential there and only 28. I'm a yes.
Good leg speed, good size, can put on a hit and break the line.
The other upside is he will want to smash Mahoney into orbit...controlled and legal of course

I'm not sure we can say that Jason Ryles is "the right" coaching....for now....
 

Latest posts

Top