Rumours and Stuff

[eels_fan]

I agree with Ryles but if things do not look to be improving then I can see then drums getting pretty loud. The media will get bored and need someone to go after..

I'm yet to hear a iota of negativity around Ryles in the media despite our ladder position, and every commentator speaks of how they can see the change in our style, and a respect the enormity of what Ryles is trying to do and that he has the balls to make big calls that may not be popular or the easy option.

I genuinely think he has 2 years of completely free reign, results irrespective to reset the club. Then come year 3 and 4, thats when results become a yardstick. I'm also certain that is what would have been discussed prior to Ryles accepting the job. He didnt accept it because it was his only option, he had knocked back others, he accepted it because he knew it would be the best for him to hone his craft, within the parameters of what he was going to be allowed to do - which is craft the club in the model he wants to have them play. Anyone thinking you could change that in a single off-season was nuts. There was barely a smidge of talent off contract this year, so its recruitment over the next 12 months to bring into the 2027 pre-season that will be judge where we end up.

 

[Noise]

So what you are saying is you expected instantaneous improvement without the hard work that goes into making it happen. We had a spine with 50 odd games between them for most of the game yesterday.

You dont get overnight change in professional sport. The bulldogs are now reaping the rewards 3 years into the rebuild and cultural change under Ciraldo. Circle back on where we are in another 24 months and see where we are standing. I remember everyone, including dogs fans, blowing about about the second rate signings the dogs were making 2 seasons ago, now they are celebrated as masterstrokes.

Along with their utility signings they also signed marquee guys like Kikau, Burton, Crichton and Mahoney at the peak of their careers.

We are signing journey men at back end of their careers and reserve graders.

 

[eels_fan]

Along with their utility signings they also signed marquee guys like Kikau, Burton, Crichton and Mahoney at the peak of their careers.

We are signing journey men at back end of their careers and reserve graders.

3 of which were Ciraldo disciples from his time at Penrith. Element of luck in that, and building relationships. Also the benefit of them all being available. Since Ryles has been at the club, there hasn't been an equivalent of any of those players available to pick up, and there isnt for 2026 either with the way contracts are sitting. There is nothing but apathy based on pre-Ryles outcomes that says we wont be in the market for great players for 2027, because more than half of the origin squads from last week are off contract at the end of 2026

 

[Noise]

You can see which fans do not have patience. Moses has barely played all year we have second rowers getting injured/suspended every second week. It takes time to get combinations

Has Iongi been the only player to play all year in the same position?

Moses has barely played since the grand final. We have been getting hammered with suspensions since the grand final. These things are not new to 2025.

 

[The Predictor]

Don't see us going backwards at all. We are streaks ahead of where we were this time last year. The ladder isn't everything, not always anyway. In the long run, yes, but this year it was never about the ladder, it was about the cultural shift, the change in our style of play, and removing deadwood. We've done a decent job on all of those fronts.

I dont think we've taken a single backwards step

I think people had some expectations of not being anywhere near the bottom the ladder once again

 

[Noise]

3 of which were Ciraldo disciples from his time at Penrith. Element of luck in that, and building relationships. Also the benefit of them all being available. Since Ryles has been at the club, there hasn't been an equivalent of any of those players available to pick up, and there isnt for 2026 either with the way contracts are sitting. There is nothing but apathy based on pre-Ryles outcomes that says we wont be in the market for great players for 2027, because more than half of the origin squads from last week are off contract at the end of 2026

Interesting that a bunch of very good Penrith players followed Ciraldo but not one Roosters / Storm player followed Ryles. Even Billy f**king Rogers followed Kearney.

2027 is going to be even harder to recruit big names with the Bears having 30 roster spots and a completely open salary cap.

 

[Hindmarshisgod2]

Don't see us going backwards at all. We are streaks ahead of where we were this time last year. The ladder isn't everything, not always anyway. In the long run, yes, but this year it was never about the ladder, it was about the cultural shift, the change in our style of play, and removing deadwood. We've done a decent job on all of those fronts.

I dont think we've taken a single backwards step

Well said. I don't know what others are watching, but I see a reserve grade quality team giving the top teams a run for thier money.....only to fall away due to the lack of quality players. I am excited to see what ryles can do going forward with his own team. I honestly think he is the right man even though I wasn't confident at first. And i just have a gut feeling he can get us a premiership.

 

[Noise]

Don't see us going backwards at all. We are streaks ahead of where we were this time last year. The ladder isn't everything, not always anyway. In the long run, yes, but this year it was never about the ladder, it was about the cultural shift, the change in our style of play, and removing deadwood. We've done a decent job on all of those fronts.

I dont think we've taken a single backwards step

The ladder is the only thing that matters. Cultural shift? We moved from a losing culture in 2024 to a losing culture in 2025.

 

[The Predictor]

You can see which fans do not have patience. Moses has barely played all year we have second rowers getting injured/suspended every second week. It takes time to get combinations

Has Iongi been the only player to play all year in the same position?

Exactly my point, Moses has hardly played all year like last year…..how much is he being paid?

Don’t highlight fans who have no patience, considering it’s been 40 years, I’m actually fkn sick of hearing the word patience..every year people say patience yet it’s the same shit show year in year out!!!!

How much more patience should fans have?? 2 3 4 10 years???

 

[Noise]

Exactly my point, Moses has hardly played all year like last year…..how much is he being paid?

Don’t highlight fans who have no patience, considering it’s been 40 years, I’m actually fkn sick of hearing the word patience..every year people say patience yet it’s the same shit show year in year out!!!!

How much more patience should have fans, 2 3 4 10 years???

Merkins we’re saying have patience in Kearneys first year too - He’s from Melbourne, he’s changing our playing style, he inherited Andersons roster…. All sounds familiar.

 

[Matty Bhoy]

Ryles is going absolutely nowhere, he’s one of the safest coaches in the NRL. You’d certainly hope so too because he inherited an absolute cluster of a roster.

 

[eels_fan]

Interesting that a bunch of very good Penrith players followed Ciraldo but not one Roosters / Storm player followed Ryles.

which Roosters/Storm players have been off-contract since Ryles arrived at the Eels ? and were in positions we needed ?

 

[eels_fan]

The ladder is the only thing that matters. Cultural shift? We moved from a losing culture in 2024 to a losing culture in 2025.

The culture in the club isn't just what you see on a football field - and no, the ladder isn't the only thing that matters. Anyone involved in high level business knows sometimes you need to sacrifice short term to adapt and change for a long term result. That's where we are at. Ryles is not accountable for anything prior to Nov 1, 2024. So "we've been rebuilding for years" is not on him.

The culture change in the club is infinitely improved and can be seen by many greats of the club including Sterlo being involved again, fan interaction and engagement, community work, charity work, resetting the pillars of the club moving forward which is a big thing Ryles is about.

Results and culture are entirely separate in an organisation.

 

[Delboy]

which Roosters/Storm players have been off-contract since Ryles arrived at the Eels ? and were in positions we needed ?

So what has R&R done previously or even recently to inspireany confidence. that they can attract the players needed despite all the advantages we apparently have. Unfortunately they remain invisible and need to do a whole lot more .

 

[Noise]

The culture in the club isn't just what you see on a football field - and no, the ladder isn't the only thing that matters. Anyone involved in high level business knows sometimes you need to sacrifice short term to adapt and change for a long term result. That's where we are at. Ryles is not accountable for anything prior to Nov 1, 2024. So "we've been rebuilding for years" is not on him.

The culture change in the club is infinitely improved and can be seen by many greats of the club including Sterlo being involved again, fan interaction and engagement, community work, charity work, resetting the pillars of the club moving forward which is a big thing Ryles is about.

Results and culture are entirely separate in an organisation.

We could have the loveliest blokes in the comp visiting nursing homes, having lunch with ex players, signing autographs for 3hours after every game but it doesn’t mean shit if we are bottom of the ladder.

 

[King-Gutho94]

I have more concerns about two of the key pillars who helped assemble this mess of a roster in the first place that are still in there jobs then the coach.

The CEO was quoted the day we sacked Arthur "we think we still have a premiership quality roster.

Clearly Ryles looked at it within 5 mins and went you blokes are kidding.

I seen enough green shoots to think he can coach. His also been brave and ruthless enough to make tough calls on certain players.

Its now up to replacing those players.

I think we will get there if we stay the course its just a little longer then I first anticipated which is frustrating but I have seen change for the better.

Sooner we get Lane and Matterson off the books the BA/MON mess with POs will be wiped clean.

 

[emjaycee]

You can see which fans do not have patience. Moses has barely played all year we have second rowers getting injured/suspended every second week. It takes time to get combinations

Has Iongi been the only player to play all year in the same position?

Russell maybe?

 

[emjaycee]

Moses has barely played since the grand final. We have been getting hammered with suspensions since the grand final. These things are not new to 2025.

And neither is our ladder position.
Coincidence?

 

[Noise]

which Roosters/Storm players have been off-contract since Ryles arrived at the Eels ? and were in positions we needed ?

Storm - Grant, Papa, Loeiro , King, Falago
Roosters - Whyte, Walker, E Butcher

 

[Noise]

And neither is our ladder position.
Coincidence?

Agreed. But it seems Ryles is the messiah because he talks about pillars, culture and connection when in reality our players are defending as bad as last year, making the same stupid errors and getting dumb suspensions on the regular. Nothing has changed.