Elite: Ryles’ way” Inside Eels $3m clean out… and big moves that could spark NRL revival as Eels preparation for preseason already taking sweet shape” see details..
Jason Ryles, the new coach of the Eels, has wasted no time in making a difficult choice in his quest to break the NRL’s longest title drought.
Two years after making a Grand Final, the Eels are currently rebuilding under Ryles as a result of many significant hiring and retention choices.
Maika Sivo, meanwhile, is off to the Super League signalling the end to this recent Eels era.
Broncos premiership player Corey Parker spoke to foxsports.com.au about Ryles’ early impact on the Eels and the roster moves that could propel them back into contention.
‘IT’S GOING TO DISGRUNTLE A FEW PEOPLE
“Ultimately Ryles is the head coach and he’s obviously had some ideas around how he wants the team to play,” Parker told foxsports.com.au.
“What sort of style that looks like, who’s taking up money in the cap? He’s made some calls pretty much immediately and as a result there has been some players let go.
“It’s a bit of a juggling act when you take on a new roster because you weren’t there when the deals were done.
“For example the Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s deal still had some time to run. Clint Gutherson is the same.
“If they’re taking up a large chunk of your roster and you don’t have the same view, you’ve got to make some plans.
“From what I’ve seen from Ryles, it’s good to see that he’s got a clear plan in his head and he’s moving forward with it.”
Parker commended Ryles, who has worked as an assistant under Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson, for making decision that might not immediately be popular with fans and the playing group.
“Sure it’s going to disgruntle a few people along the way, but they needed some change didn’t they? They need some new personnel,” Parker said.
“They’ve done that in the way of a coach and now the coach has made some change in some of the personnel in terms of players that they’ve got. I’m not surprised by that.
“He has got his own ideas in where and what and how he builds this roster and he has made some immediate change.”
HOW THE EELS GOT TO THIS POINT
But just how did the Eels find themselves in this position having been 80 minutes away from glory just two seasons ago?
The first place to start is recruitment and retention. A look at key roster decisions shows the Eels made a number of errors in their bid to keep the team contending for a title.
The first was letting Reed Mahoney leave the club without bringing in a like for like replacement at hooker.
The Bulldogs out-bidded the Eels for Mahoney’s services after they prioritised re-signing their other spine members in Mitchell Moses, Dylan Brown and Gutherson.
In hindsight the Eels probably underestimated how important Mahoney was to their team and how much pressure he took off his halves in Moses and Brown.
Josh Hodgson was a stopgap solution that turned into a disaster when he was medically retired after just 12 games for the club.
Incumbents Brendan Hands (38 games) and Joey Lussick (25) have shown glimpses of promise after sharing the role the last two seasons, but neither has cemented the No.9 jersey as their own.
HOW THE EELS GOT TO THIS POINT
But just how did the Eels find themselves in this position having been 80 minutes away from glory just two seasons ago?
The first place to start is recruitment and retention. A look at key roster decisions shows the Eels made a number of errors in their bid to keep the team contending for a title.
The first was letting Reed Mahoney leave the club without bringing in a like for like replacement at hooker.
The Bulldogs out-bidded the Eels for Mahoney’s services after they prioritised re-signing their other spine members in Mitchell Moses, Dylan Brown and Gutherson.
In hindsight the Eels probably underestimated how important Mahoney was to their team and how much pressure he took off his halves in Moses and Brown.
Josh Hodgson was a stopgap solution that turned into a disaster when he was medically retired after just 12 games for the club.
Incumbents Brendan Hands (38 games) and Joey Lussick (25) have shown glimpses of promise after sharing the role the last two seasons, but neither has cemented the No.9 jersey as their own.
THE MOVES RYLES CAN MAKE TO TURN EELS AROUND
Ryles has admitted hooker is an area the team needs to address, with Knights hooker Jayden Brailey reportedly on their radar.
Parker said that replacing Mahoney has proven difficult for the Eels and if they can land a player like Brailey, it could have a big impact in terms of improving the team’s performance.
“It’s one of the key areas they need to improve,” Parker said.
“It’s an area they are a little deficient in. If you look at their squad moving forward they have got Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses and Zac Lomax and they have got some quality younger outside backs.
“But they have failed or struggled to replace that Reed Mahoney style player.
Once more, you must decide whatever football style you wish to play. Purchasing a hooker that doesn’t fit your style is pointless. I have no doubt that Ryles has been searching there.
Since Isaiah Papali’i joined the Tigers, the team has also had difficulty replacing his effect on both sides of the ball on the edge, as both their attack and defense have suffered.
Papali’i made a difference by running some outstanding lines off of Moses and Brown on attack and putting on some huge shots in defense.
J’maine Hopgood and Kelma Tuilagi have been solid signings, but neither has had quite the same type of impact as Papali’i.
Since signing with the Eels in July on a four-year deal, Ryles has shown his intentions to shake up the club’s unbalanced roster.
Firstly, he let prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard leave to join the Gold Coast Titans, which freed up valuable salary cap space, but also left the Eels short a class front-rower.
