Rumours and Stuff

[Joshuatheeel]

Was he top 30 or on a development contract?

No

 

[JokerEel]

Sam T, development contract 2024 at 19, NRL contract at 20, all before entering the 2023/24 preseason and the 2024/25 preseason......currently negotiating a new contract...

Riley Smith, no NRL contract at 19, no NRL contract at 20, no NRL contract at 21......enters 24/25 preseason without an NRL contract (top 36), only signs a 1 year development contract a week before season starts....what ever contract talk he had with the club before joining us didn't include an NRL contract....

So Sam still hasn't got a contract for 2026? Can't be rated to highly..

How do you know he didn't have NRL contract talk with the club? Maybe there was and he had to meet standards or he had other offers and didn't want to sign one with us?

 

[senior]

Absolutely well done by Smith, to get to where he is now....but it's pretty clear, no other club rated him that highly either.......

Penrith did rate him and he had a choice between Eels and Penrith, he chose Parra because he thought he had a better chance to play first grade here

 

[JokerEel]

Also fairly sure Hands and Lussick won't be with us once their contracts expire.. Smith can't have been rated at all..

 

[JokerEel]

Penrith did rate him and he had a choice between Eels and Penrith, he chose Parra because he thought he had a better chance to play first grade here

Yep this is what I have been told too..

But wasn't highly rated apparently

 

[Joshuatheeel]

So Sam still hasn't got a contract for 2026? Can't be rated to highly..

How do you know he didn't have NRL contract talk with the club? Maybe there was and he had to meet standards or he had other offers and didn't want to sign one with us?

Well we don't know...but I dare say the security of a NRL contract entering the NRL preseason is a much better option the chancing it with a train and trial....

Maybe Smith preferred a train and trial over a NRL contract with another Sydney club...it's possible....

 

[The Predictor]

I definitely understand the reason some think that.... (while also of the opinion that MA is a very good player and on form deserved to be playing NSW cup....2 coaches other then BA have picked him..)...

however a good indication is what other NRL sides are doing, Smith has definitely surprised me this year (after I thought he was terrible in his first trial against the knights)....the kid is 22 this year and no other NRL Sydney club including us were willing to offer him an NRL or development contract until a week before the season started...

Absolutely well done by Smith, to get to where he is now....but it's pretty clear, no other club rated him that highly either.......

Doesn’t matter who rated him, he’s here now and making a difference, he will end up being a very astute buy

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Penrith did rate him and he had a choice between Eels and Penrith, he chose Parra because he thought he had a better chance to play first grade here

Well if panthers rated him, why didn't they give him a development contract?

Maybe they did but Smith said no thank you, keep your $60k.... I prefer a $5k flegg contract because the eels may give him a train and trial the year after...

 

[JokerEel]

Well we don't know...but I dare say the security of a NRL contract entering the NRL preseason is a much better option the chancing it with a train and trial....

Maybe Smith preferred a train and trial over a NRL contract with another Sydney club...it's possible....

Well look at that.

 

[Delboy]

Was involved in a small way when Ryley Smith was in the Riff juniors, the junior coaching staff rated him as a possible, but felt that his size didn’t correlate with the way the Panthers played in the NRL. Believe that’s one reason why he wasn’t offered much of a deal in the end. This happens across the broad NRL and for a change we got some benefit .

 

[JokerEel]

Well if panthers rated him, why didn't they give him a development contract?

Maybe they did but Smith said no thank you, keep your $60k.... I prefer a $5k flegg contract because the eels may give him a train and trial the year after...

Is a Flegg contract 5k?

 

[The Predictor]

Sam T, development contract 2024 at 19, NRL contract at 20, all before entering the 2023/24 preseason and the 2024/25 preseason......currently negotiating a new contract...

Riley Smith, no NRL contract at 19, no NRL contract at 20, no NRL contract at 21......enters 24/25 preseason without an NRL contract (top 36), only signs a 1 year development contract a week before season starts....what ever contract talk he had with the club before joining us didn't include an NRL contract....

Who cares….this is now a moot point!!!

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Doesn’t matter who rated him, he’s here now and making a difference, he will end up being a very astute buy

I agree 110%....the Maltese warrior has done good....

But that's missing the point that nepotism prevented his progress because of MA...

 

[JokerEel]

Was involved in a small way when Ryley Smith was in the Riff juniors, the junior coaching staff rated him as a possible, but felt that his size didn’t correlate with the way the Panthers played in the NRL. Believe that’s one reason why he wasn’t offered much of a deal in the end. This happens across the broad NRL and for a change we got some benefit .

Sounds like what the Dogs said to Reed!

Bet Panthers Would like to have Smith now.
Better than thier other 2 current backups.
But their other kid coming through apparently is pretty decent!

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Is a Flegg contract 5k?

If you are lucky....it's stuff all for a standard flegg player....

 

[JokerEel]

I agree 110%....the Maltese warrior has done good....

But that's missing the point that nepotism prevented his progress because of MA...

I think Nepotism with Lussick prevented Ma getting more NRL game time with us!

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Also fairly sure Hands and Lussick won't be with us once their contracts expire.. Smith can't have been rated at all..

I agree, that's the reason Hands was extended in the preseason:

Parramatta Eels extend two players

Brendan Hands and Sean Russell have re-signed with the Eels.

www.parraeels.com.au

And Smith only given a development contract for 2 years:

Parramatta Eels upgrade two players

The Parramatta Eels are pleased to announce that Richard Penisini has been elevated from his development contract to the club's Top 30 squad, effective immediately

www.parraeels.com.au

But a huge credit to Smith, making the most of chances! Great story!

 

[Pazza]

But a huge credit to Smith, making the most of chances! Great story!

or he was look on by a fresh set of eyes

 

[TheCrowe]

Doesn’t matter who rated him, he’s here now and making a difference, he will end up being a very astute buy

For someone else if we don't sign him to a top30 contract.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I yearn for the days of "option" talk