Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos breaks silence on Parramatta’s poor start to the 2025 NRL season

Parramatta boss Jim Sarantinos has addressed the Eels’ poor start to the season, backing the decision to release Clint Gutherson and denying Dylan Brown has become a distraction. But there were two questions he refused to answer.

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I know our fans are disappointed and frustrated, but give us time, we have complete faith in our coach - we need understanding, patience and we will improve.

This is the blunt message from Parramatta chief executive Jim Sarantinos after the club’s horror 0-2 start to this season.

In his first interview this NRL season, Sarantinos backed the club’s decision to allow Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard to leave, denied Dylan Brown had become a distraction while claiming to be “completely behind” new coach Jason Ryles.

Bulldog’s Bite posed 10 questions being asked by Eels fans to Sarantinos – why, how, when and where did the club fall in such a heap. And, to his credit, Sarantinos fronted up under pressure to provide answers.

He declined to answer just two questions.

Dean Ritchie posed 10 questions to Parramatta boss Jim Sarantinos after a poor start to the 2025 season.

Bulldog: Should you, as CEO, shoulder some blame for the first two defeats?

Sarantinos: No one at the club is shirking responsibility, my job is to support Jason, our staff and players through this period of change and ensure they feel that support at all times and have the resources they need to do their job.

Bulldog: Was letting Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard leave a big mistake?

JS: Those decisions were made by both Clint and Reagan and our football department together, to get the best outcome for the club moving forward as well as the players’ futures. I am comfortable that these decisions are the right ones for us as a club and are a part of the change and reset that comes with a new head coach and a change in direction.

Bulldog: Are you shocked at the poor opening two games?

JS: We’re all disappointed with the results, it’s certainly not the start we were hoping for. However, we have driven a lot of change to the football program, across coaching, support staff and playing personnel and we know it will take some time for that to all come together.

Sarantinos is adamant it was not a mistake for Parramatta to release Clint Gutherson. Picture: Getty Images

Bulldog: What’s your message to fans?

JS: We have the most loyal fans in the NRL, and I understand that they are frustrated and disappointed. But we have complete faith that the change and reset of the NRL program will make us a better club and we want our fans to come on the journey with us.

Bulldog: Many agree the Eels can’t make the finals already?

JS: It’s only round three and too early for predictions. We have a number of new players to our squad, a number of young players just starting out their NRL journey and we also have some key players returning in the coming weeks. It will take some time to build cohesion in the team and our performances will improve with time.

Bulldog: Is Dylan Brown now a distraction?

JS: No, Dylan Brown has made his decision, and we’re all focused on the rest of the season and making sure our performances improve.

Despite an 0-2 start to the season, Sarantinos says new coach Jason Ryles has been fantastic since day one. Picture: NRL

Bulldog: How are you supporting Jason Ryles?

JS: Jason has been fantastic from the day he first walked in the door and has built a great relationship with everyone at the club. We have supported Jason in bringing together his new coaching and support staff, we are completely behind his desire to drive change for the betterment of the club, and we all want to see Jason and the team succeed. He is starting out his NRL head coaching journey, and many others have experienced similar challenges so it’s important that there is understanding and patience.

Bulldog: Was losing by such a big margin to Wests Tigers, a team which has collected the past three wooden spoons, acceptable?

JS: (Declined to comment)

Bulldog: Where does the club go from here?

JS: We have a game to play this weekend against the Bulldogs and that’s what everyone’s focus is on. We have the utmost belief and confidence in Jason’s vision and where he’s taking our football program.

Bulldog: It would appear the 39-year wait will continue?

JS: (Declined to comment, interview concluded).

Sarantinos was adamant that the Dylan Brown saga is not a distraction for the club. Picture: Getty Images

Parramatta offered very little last weekend against Wests Tigers, who have run last in the past three years, The Eels’ energy and enthusiasm was minimal, unusual given a new coach normally generates vigour and spark.

Parramatta needs to find respect, and quickly. The club was confident and self-assured around the exit of Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard. Any regrets now?

Let’s be fair here, Parramatta has been playing without Mitch Moses, Josh Addo-Carr and Ryan Matterson, who came back through NSW Cup last week. Addo-Carr will debut for the Eels against Canterbury this Sunday. Moses is world class but could he have stopped his side conceding 88 points in two games? I doubt it.

Ryles is two games into a four-year contract and deserves time.

But Parramatta fans are tired of being told to wait for their next premiership. Fed up with being assured their team is in a rebuilding phase. It’s been 39 years…and counting.

Premiership aren’t even in the equation for Parramatta at present. They’d be more worried about claiming another gong - a wooden spoon.

DOG TREATS

Federal Opposition leader Peter Dutton’s advisers acted quickly to assist veteran rugby league broadcaster Peter ‘Zorba’ Peters, who was involved in a traffic accident on the NSW Central Coast last week.

A bus ran into Peters’ car outside Erina Fair shopping centre with Dutton and a political posse campaigning about busy Terrigal Road on an adjacent corner.

Dutton being photographed is believed to have been the distraction which may have caused the bus driver to rear-end Peters.

Members of Dutton’s throng, which included a Federal Police Officer and private detective, rushed to help Peters before giving police statements.

“They came across to check on my welfare. They put ice packs on me, gave me a cup of tea and stayed with me for two hours. They were lovely. Thankfully I wasn’t injured, albeit a little shaken,” said Peters, Sydney’s longest serving radio broadcaster.

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The Rabbitohs Old Boys - aka the Souths Players Association - will commemorate the club’s 34 coaches - since the club’s 1908 inception - with a specially-made pin. It will be the first time an NRL club has given its coaches a chronological number.

Twenty-six coaches or family representatives will attend a luncheon at Souths Juniors on May 10 to receive the honour. The pin case will also include an in-fill with each coach’s South Sydney coaching stats.

“This special event is being held to celebrate the significant contribution the 34 coaches have had to the rich history and legacy of the South Sydney Rabbitohs. We deeply value the legacy and impact they have had on the club and the players they’ve coached and the Rabbitohs Old Boys are honoured to have the opportunity to celebrate and host them,” said Old Boys president Sean Garlick.

Souths’ 2014 premiership winning coach Michael Maguire will attend with his Broncos having played the Rabbitohs the night before at Accor Stadium.

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We’re hearing about a bolter bursting into NSW State of Origin contention. He represents an out-of-Sydney club but is fast firming to make his Blues debut.

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Former Great Britain and Canterbury forward Doug Laughton died this week, aged 80. He played five games for the Bulldogs in 1974 and completed 657 matches for Widnes and Leeds.

Doug Laughton is tackled by Bob Fulton (L) and Ron Costello during the Australia v Great Britain World Cup final in Leeds, England in 1970.

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The Kangaroos are firming to play at three world famous sporting venues during this year’s Ashes tour of England.

While plans are still being finalised, it is understood coach Mal Meninga’s team could play Tests against England at Wembley Stadium, the newly-built Everton Stadium and Headingley in Leeds.

The Australians are likely to play the first Test at London’s Wembley Stadium, which has a seating capacity of 90,000. Everton’s new stadium, built on Liverpool’s waterfront, holds 52,800, the same size as Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium.

Meninga is also hoping to play a Test against France in France.

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Is there a better bloke in rugby league than former Balmain and Australian flyer Larry Corowa? ‘The Flash’ visited his old Tigers mate Percy Knight last week and then called in to see ex-Balmain winger Wayne Miranda a few days later.

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NSW skipper Jack Edwards and batsman Ollie Davies interrupted preparations for the important Sheffield Shield clash against Tasmania to send a special ‘rev up’ video to a group of schoolboy cricketers back in Sydney.

It helped motivate the underdog St Augustine’s Brookvale second XI to a stunning 24-run win over St Pats in the Independent Sporting Association grand final at Strathfield last Saturday. It’s a moment those young players will never forget.

Originally published as Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos breaks silence on Parramatta’s poor start to the 2025 NRL season