Signings, Suggestions & Rumours Discussion

craigtob said:
Totally agree, it always looks like we are always 2-3 steps behind every club year in year out.
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It's really weird to me. We signed Luai, May (prop), Skelton, Turuva and May (centre) plus a bunch of others.

Next year we have signed KPP and have spots open with cash to spend and we are supposedly 2-3 steps behind?

We are about 3 players off a total roster overhaul. Go back and look at our team list in 2024 and compare to now. It's a big change.

Not sure what more you expect.
 
jirskyr said:
I don't really believe this take on the Eels.

Since Tigers were last any good (2010), Parra have made the finals 5 times in 16 attempts (2017, 2019-2022). Their Finals record in that time is 4W 8L, including 2x straight-set loss knock outs in 2017-2020.

It's clearly much better than Tigers have managed but it's still very ordinary compared to most clubs. Eels probably won't make the Finals this year and certainly won't trouble the best sides.

I believe Eels usually rely too heavily on individual talent. For a good while it was Jarryd Hayne playing elite-level club football, now it's Mitch Moses who they can barely win without.

For example 2025 Eels are 6W 12L total (33%) which increases to 43% when Moses plays (7 appearances). 2024 they were 7W 17L (29%) increasing to 37.5% when Moses plays (8 appearances). They are basically a 10% better team when Moses plays.

My other main concern on Eels is I think they made a mistake letting Gutho go and I think he still gives very good, very reliable and clever value to Dragons. Next year Eels will be without Dylan Brown who they have not replaced, instead they have Hawkins and Volkman who are career reserve graders.

Apart from speculation on Brett Fermor who have Eels recruited for 2026? Jack De Belin is the only one. They rushed over Dylan Walker because their forwards are so spare. They have moved Hopgood to prop because Junior Paulo lacks support. The bulk of their forward pack is uninspiring workers like Jack Williams, Guymer, Doorey, Moretti... not overly impressed.
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I reckon Ryles is almost coach of the year given how well he’s got them playing. Remember their opening half of the opening round in Melbourne - they were terrible, played like a Sydney Shield team.

I take your point about certain positions they still need to strengthen but given a fair crack with injuries, I see the Eels pushing strongly for a finals berth in 26.
 
Garrry said:
Can't tell he has any injuries he's doing everything running, tackling, squad are all gang tackling and dragging ball carrier back or towards sideline
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Well at least the coaches have identified winning the tackle as something we need to work on.

Thanks for intel @Garrry .... curly question do you recall what side of the field Mapapalangi & Luke Laulilii were lining up in the opposed team? Might be a pointer for things to come.
 
GNR4LIFE said:
Benji has name value, no doubt about that. But that will only get him so far if he’s clueless when it comes to the 80 mins week in week out. And like another question I have regularly posed. What’s the point of attracting all these players if the coach can’t do anything with them? Also, the appeal will soon wear off for players to want to continue to come here and sign for him if we aren’t getting results. He needs more to his arsenal than his reputation as a player.
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Spot on.
He needs better assistants--------------OR he needs to listen to the ones he has.
This is where Benji must decide on how it's to be? If you need better help................get it!
Or perish by your own sword. Over to you Benji.
 
BlackWhiteGold said:
Well at least the coaches have identified winning the tackle as something we need to work on.

Thanks for intel @Garrry .... curly question do you recall what side of the field Mapapalangi & Luke Laulilii were lining up in the opposed team? Might be a pointer for things to come.
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love to know what’s going on with to’a contract wise seems an odd situation
 
Tiger in boots 🐅 said:
Balmain Boy at it again. You got NFI son! Stop stealing our oxygen. If you watched the game the edge forwards held them self well against Penrith the first half. You’re talking about a 4 time NRL grand final team who could not bust our line for 30min. Had Latu not shot out, no way they would have scored. I would have been embarrassed if I was a Penrith player and could not get through a rookie 21 year old edge forward for that long.

But since you hate Sukkar, Twal and Doueihi, it’s quite obvious where your minds at. BUT like the coward you are, you will never run it Str8.

Please change your name to keyboard warrior!
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Are you suggesting Twal and Sayfarth are starting forwards in other N.R.L teams. I'm not including Sukkar cause hes just starting out in first grade.
 
Bus 2 Terrigal said:
I reckon Ryles is almost coach of the year given how well he’s got them playing. Remember their opening half of the opening round in Melbourne - they were terrible, played like a Sydney Shield team.

I take your point about certain positions they still need to strengthen but given a fair crack with injuries, I see the Eels pushing strongly for a finals berth in 26.
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I think Ryles is making a real go of his first stint as a head coach, but Moses plays such a massive part in any success they achieve. Not bagging Luai but if we had landed Moses when we chased him we would probably be on the cusp of playing finals football now. Can’t stand Moses but I rate him possibly a touch in front of Cleary as he has never had the same quality players around him that Cleary has had
 
Tom Shines said:
Did a couple of forward options become available like 48 hours after you posted this? Funny how that works hey…
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Who has become available that will make sure our forwards don’t get bullied ?
Trey Mooney is a good young player and he’s probably as good as we might be able to get, but he’s is yet to show he’s an NRL forward leader.
The others such as Beau Fermor is an edge back rowers, but I reckon Richo and Benji are of the same opinion as you and are satisfied with Samuela and KPP.
As I’ve agreed they are both.goid players, but neither have the explosive speed that every other club has with at least one of their edge back rowers. My solution is to give Ssmuela and KPP every opportunity to make the edge back row positions their own, but bring in a versatile, faster, more explosive edge back row option as our 15 and to keep the pressure on them to perform. Someone like Fermor is not coming here to be a number 15, however players such as Simi Sasagi might providing they do get a starting spot if their form demands it.
 
supercoach said:
I think Ryles is making a real go of his first stint as a head coach, but Moses plays such a massive part in any success they achieve. Not bagging Luai but if we had landed Moses when we chased him we would probably be on the cusp of playing finals football now. Can’t stand Moses but I rate him possibly a touch in front of Cleary as he has never had the same quality players around him that Cleary has had
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I can't judge the success of Luais signing until we actually get a real forward pack. Cleary on Saturday night behind our guys would have done no better. We don't have a pack. I give our guys a white hot shot at beating the dogs, they're pack arnt huge so we won't get dominated as much as we did against the Panthers, the problem we will have is they seem faster than the Panthers forwards so I'm keen to see how our pack goes.
 
carltonleach said:
Question for anyone with any info on player agency’s. My boy has been approached by wasserman rugby and just wanted to know if they’re ok and not an Issac Moses type company. Thanks in advance
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They are one of the bigger agencies in both NRL & rugby. Have the likes of Starford To'a, Hammer, Xavier Savage, Isaiah Papalii, Xavier Coates. Seem to be popular amongst the Kiwi players.
 
Tiger Stripes said:
Spot on.
He needs better assistants--------------OR he needs to listen to the ones he has.
This is where Benji must decide on how it's to be? If you need better help................get it!
Or perish by your own sword. Over to you Benji.
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The coach is the last piece of the puzzle in my opinion. We have sacked so many coaches and kept playing with mediocre sides expecting better results.

The coach needs the players first and foremost. Any team in the top 4 aren't trotting out sides like we've had in the past.

Our recruitment has been pretty good and Benji will either have them winning or he'll be replaced. At least we will have a team capable of winning games off the bat instead of having to wait 3 years for the new coach to rebuild the squad which is going to be infinitely harder with a 19 team competition.
 
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