Rumours and Stuff

[jason taylor]

It is assuming Iongi isn’t a bust.

Why I’m liking Ryles’s signings so far. Sure another untested player, but if Iongi is a bust after all we have Joash Papalii to throw in.

Now we just need a new hooker and I’ll be confident that we can make an impact in 2025.

 

[lingard]

Iongi
Lomax
Penisini
Simonson
Addo Carr

Iongi
Addo Carr
Penisini
Lomax
Simonson
Lomax will play right centre.

 

[oldmancraigy]

If Iongi is a bust we could also put Lomax at the back. Or Russell (!) Or whatever.

Given Iongi's debut game, busting doesn't seem to be where he is at though. Has more of a Hopgood feel to him

 

[Tiger5150]

Well 5 players didn't get the txt about training in the off season apparently. Another stuff up by W-T management or is Farrar white anting Benji?

Andrew Farrar?

From 22:00 - 25:00

 

[Tiger5150]

I've never understood why they start training so long out from the season.

That doesnt surprise me

 

[Eelogical]

7. Moses
6. Brown
5. Addo-Carr
4. Penisini
3. Lomax
2. Simonsson
1. Iongi

That’s a pretty gun backline.

That's all well and good but where are the bullets?

 

[emjaycee]

Understand if he does sign, it will be for an amount the club set not his manager asked. For a change we have been very disciplined , even to the extent if the deal was not executed, they wouldn’t budge.
Player managers are aware the club has decent amount and are asking overs across the board, and we are receiving plent of names.

O'Neill must still be on holidays and someone else doing the negotiations hey.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

What’s all this about starting to follow the Eels in a particular year. Weren’t you f**kers all born as eels fans?

 

[Tmars]

 

[Tmars]

I'm looking forward to the fox bringing a voice and speed out wide

 

[Legal Eel]

There's a new sheriff in town ffs

Don’t be silly

coach has no input into recruitment remember?

 

[Gronk]

Don’t be silly

coach has no input into recruitment remember?

We (MON etc) are seemingly acting on strict instructions from Ryles and re-building the squad. Based on that, then the previous squad was entirely the product of BA’s vision*.

However if you read across these pages, merkins want the heads of MON the R&R committee and the CEO for the debacle that was our 23/24 rosters.

So what is it ? Merkins seem to scapegoat without having any real intimate knowledge of what is actually happening at the club.

* This makes the most sense to me.

 

[Twizzle]

 

[lingard]

Saw them at the BDO in Sydney and they were still playing when all the lights came on and engaged with the crowd the whole time.

Just further proof you are a dribbler and have NFI.

What??

 

[Glenneel]

7. Moses
6. Brown
5. Addo-Carr
4. Penisini
3. Lomax
2. Simonsson
1. Iongi

That’s a pretty gun backline.

And fast, what we've been missing. Now they just have to learn to tackle.

 

[eel01s]

Let's hope the Fox doesn't continue to have problems with his hamstrings.

 

[King-Gutho94]

We (MON etc) are seemingly acting on strict instructions from Ryles and re-building the squad. Based on that, then the previous squad was entirely the product of BA’s vision*.

However if you read across these pages, merkins want the heads of MON the R&R committee and the CEO for the debacle that was our 23/24 rosters.

So what is it ? Merkins seem to scapegoat without having any real intimate knowledge of what is actually happening at the club.

* This makes the most sense to me.

BA Vision was shit as most of us pointed out on here for a long time.

But you always seem to get your panties in a twist whenever the adults on here were bashing poor old BA.

MON is one of 4 R&R committee members so he may have been hamstrung by the type of players BA wanted but doesn't mean he isn't absolved of all blame here.

The piss poor NRLW debacle last year was part of MON's doing, countless POs been offered, not having a full top 30, Junior retention not being up to scratch.

A strong HOF would have called out all these issues with BA and the board.

Its quite clear the board let this working relationship that obviously wasn't working fester for way too long and we got our result this year with almost winning the wooden spoon.

If you have two key pillars in recruitment not seeing eye to eye for so long one of them should have left a fair while ago.

Benji flicked off Scott Fulton pretty quick as there relationship wasn't tenable because they had different ideas.

Ryles after a few months already has a clear defined strategy on where he wants to head. Will it work i guess we will find out.

I find it ironic those within the club now are happy to smash BA and blame everything on him for all these recruitment issues which most of us identified this 12-18 months ago continuously on this forum.to cover there collective arses on the stuffs up that have been made.

Because if that's the case they deserve a rocket as much for giving a dope like BA so much reign and control.

 

[Gronk]

But you always seem to get your panties in a twist whenever the adults on here were bashing poor old BA.

We (MON etc) are seemingly acting on strict instructions from Ryles and re-building the squad. Based on that, then the previous squad was entirely the product of BA’s vision*.

* This makes the most sense to me.

I literally said in the post that you replied to that the squad was BAs fault. FMD are you OK ?

 

[Obscene Assassin]

It was only last year that Addo-Carr was playing for NSW and Australia, if he isn't injured it would've been a contest between him and Lomax for who plays on the right wing in those teams this year.

In terms of playing ability this is a very good signing. He averaged 150m per game in 2024, possibly more in games that he played 80 or close to it. He opens us up for an early long kick to the LHS, he lowers the opportunity for an early kick in behind to our LHS that has hampered us since 2021. Adds a fair bit of aggression to our start of sets and allows us to attack from our defensive half if we're willing to shift early.

There's of course the negatives. Injury history only playing 14 games last year with a shoulder and hamstring injury. Going to miss either 3 or 4 games to start the season, if they include the All stars game and his age.

 

[RustedonEel]

It was only last year that Addo-Carr was playing for NSW and Australia, if he isn't injured it would've been a contest between him and Lomax for who plays on the right wing in those teams this year.

In terms of playing ability this is a very good signing. He averaged 150m per game in 2024, possibly more in games that he played 80 or close to it. He opens us up for an early long kick to the LHS, he lowers the opportunity for an early kick in behind to our LHS that has hampered us since 2021. Adds a fair bit of aggression to our start of sets and allows us to attack from our defensive half if we're willing to shift early.

There's of course the negatives. Injury history only playing 14 games last year with a shoulder and hamstring injury. Going to miss either 3 or 4 games to start the season, if they include the All stars game and his age.

Plus his shit off field behaviour.