A rookie NRL coach – no matter their pedigree – have decisions to make in a very short amount of time and Parramatta’s new big cheese Jason Ryles has already made his bed.
You can say what you want about his predecessor Brad Arthur but the man had runs on the board. The former coach, now in charge of the Leeds Rhinos in the English Super League, made the Eels box office, again.
Made a grand final, too!
Perennial contenders.
A darling for broadcasters, in primetime, Friday night blockbusters.
Ratings, baby.
Arthur made the Eels great again.
Ricky Stuart, overhead projector under his arm, couldn’t make it work.
It’s been a long time since John Monie.
Even longer since Big Jack’s fur coat.
Brian Smith dragged them out of the cellar-dweller days of the early 1990s.
But Arthur will be remembered as the one that deserved a premiership just a little more.
Despite all the low-hanging fruit for media scrums.
In 2023, Eels star Dylan Brown was charged with five counts of sexual touching without consent at a Sydney pub.
Eels forward Shaun Lane fronted the media in a ridiculous press conference where professional footballers – Eels players – were heard behind closed doors during the presser.
“As they tried to interview Shaun Lane, who was acting respectfully in his capacity at a senior player, from the sheds came cat calls and dog noises from at least two, maybe more, players,” veteran broadcaster and Parramatta Eels tragic Ray Hadley said on 2GB at the time.
“If that’s not bad enough in light of the very serious nature of the allegations against their teammate, Josh Draper, the media manager, who I don’t have much to do with because I think he is a dope, was giggling, thinks it was funny.
“I’ve been saying for quite some time the place is a zoo, there’s no discipline in the joint.
“That’s why they haven’t won a grand final since 1986 and probably won’t win one this year the way they are travelling.”
The Eels missed the finals in 2023.
15th in 2024.
Brad Arthur was a great coach.
Maybe the best thing that happened to Parramatta in a long time.
From a distance, the other best thing going for the Eels, was their captain Clint Gutherson.
Their 2020 and 2023 Ken Thornett Medal winner, four-time Player’s player winner (including 2024), three-time coaches award (including 2024), three-time supporter’s player of the year (including 2023 and 2024).
But before Ryles had even had his first coffee on Church Street, the whispers in the wind suggested the new boss didn’t want their custodian and leader.
Did Ryles know something we didn’t?
Was Gutherson part of the problem?
“Clint will be a fantastic addition to our squad over the next three seasons,” Dragons coach Shane Flanagan said after St George Illawarra nabbed the fullback and have since made him co-captain for 2025.
“He is not just an elite fullback; he also brings leadership, competitiveness, toughness and versatility. In addition to his obvious on-field qualities he will also be a huge asset to our emerging players over the coming years.”
Massive call from Ryles.
Since then, Dylan Brown’s management have sensationally and very publicly started shopping the talented Kiwi, to every single other club in the NRL and even rugby union.
Brown is returning from a serious knee injury suffered in the side’s final round “Spoon Bowl” victory over Wests Tigers at Campbelltown Stadium.
Before the severity of the injury was downgraded and the pivot dodged surgery – there were concerns he wouldn’t be the player he was.
Hence the attempted fire sale.
In his favour is a player-option to get him out of the Eels by the end of the season which stinks of a player, and or agent, worried about his future if he can’t compete at the same level prior to his injury.
At the same time, Ryles has confirmed his captain for the new campaign in NSW Blues halfback Mitch Moses.
30-year-old Moses himself has a player-option to get out of his deal for 2027 but that didn’t stop Ryles making him the new captain of the club.
“I am incredibly proud and honoured to be named captain,” Moses said.
“This club means so much to me and it’s a privilege to lead this group of players.
“I have great support around me from the leadership group and coaching staff and I can’t wait to start the season with them in a few weeks.”
The fact is the NRL is a result-driven business and the Eels sacked a head coach that made Parramatta a heavyweight force.
Still got rid of him.
Ryles has already made his bed and tucked in as tight as he can.
Gutherson is gone.
Long live the King.
Echoes of “Sivo, Sivo, Sivo” around CommBank Stadium on a sunny winter’s afternoon are no more.
Brown could be next.
If the Eels don’t start winning from round one, pressure will build, and it will make it harder to keep Moses.
Those sombrero-flipping, latte-sipping Bondi boys know that money talks and players walk.
Contract, captaincy or otherwise.
Ryles has taken a new job and his first in the NRL.
But there’s always the lingering smell of history at the Eels.
Ghosts of Sterling, Price, Cronin and Kenny shadow haunt them at every turn.
Arthur couldn’t get there.
Can Ryles survive long enough to see the light of another golden Parramatta era?