NRL 2025: Jason Ryles’ bold Parramatta Eels clean-out with more key decisions to be made | Locker Room
New Eels coach Jason Ryles has overseen one of the most ruthless roster overhauls by a rookie coach in recent memory. And he’s not done yet, writes David Riccio.
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In another life, Jason Ryles must have been a cleaner.
How else can you explain the spring makeover of the Eels roster in just a short few months.
Have we seen a rookie coach cut a swath through a roster like what is happening at Parramatta?
It’s reminiscent of Craig Fitzgibbon letting go roster heavyweights at the Sharks when he first walked through the doors of Cronulla.
In 2021, Fitzy tapped representative players Shaun Johnson, Aaron Woods and Josh Dugan before a ball was kicked.
They were huge decisions for the then rookie coach.
Ryles has been equally as deliberate.
Out with the old, in with the new at the Eels and Ryles isn’t finished spruiking up the place just yet.
A decision is close to being made on discarded Bulldogs winger Josh Addo-Carr, possibly as early this week, with the Eels at this stage, taking a buyer beware approach.
Meetings with the ‘Foxx’ have been held and phone calls to his previous clubs and coaches have been made to get background checks.
Things were looking hot to begin the week, but there’s a cooling that has increased as the week has progressed.
The Eels are mulling over whether to sign an out-and-out winger in Addo-Carr, or tip the money into a more versatile outside back that can play wing and centre.
On top of deciding whether to risk signing a 29-year-old winger with off-field form, the Eels have spent this weekend finding out if the Knights will uphold their mid-season desire to let hooker Jayden Brailey go.
Brailey, the Knights co-captain, has been walking around in limbo since halfway through the year after he was informed he could look around for another home for 2026.
Now that Parramatta are eager to entertain Brailey, the tip is Newcastle are now reluctant to let him go.
Brailey, with his outstanding work-ethic, dummy-half class and leadership qualities, would be the solution to what Parramatta have been searching for since Reed Mahoney left.
The Knights could benefit from decisive action, which no one could ever say Ryles is lacking.
Whether Ryles is an NRL coach is undetermined. Let’s see what his first season in the hot seat brings.
All we can judge him on is what is unfolding right now. And it’s impressive.
If there’s one thing that players want, it’s to know where they stand in the eyes of their coach. Honesty. Clarity.
Ryles has made it fairly clear who he wants to be part of the Eels future.
Since being appointed as the new Eels coach last July, Ryles has been ripping and tearing through Parramatta with the intensity of a contestant from The Block.
Gone for 2025 are three mainstays of the Eels squad across the past six seasons, led by captain Clint Gutherson, who is off to St George Illawarra.
It’s a win-win for both parties with Ryles intent on introducing former Panthers talent Isaiah Iongi to the NRL at fullback, and the Dragons getting the competitive leader they desperately need.
Gone too is NSW Origin prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard and cult figure Maika Sivo.
From what we saw in 2024, the loss of outstanding talent Blaize Talagi to Penrith is regrettable, but countered by the arrival of Jack Williams (Sharks), Zac Lomax (Dragons), Joash Papalii (Bulldogs) and Jordan Samrani (Bulldogs).
It’s easy for fans with a supercoach mindset to skim through team sheets and simply pick or flick players like swap cards.
It’s nothing like it inside a footy club. The dissection of the decision is excruciating.
Fans should never underestimate the stress involved with such career-defining decisions.
Gutherson’s exit was painstaking because of what he would’ve been able to provide Ryles in his first year.
Rookie coaches need a security blanket in that first year.
They need an experienced player they can lean on to help drive the new standards and direction of which he wants to implement.
Gutherson would’ve been so beneficial for Ryles’ first season.
It’s probably why there remains a collection of Eels fans walking down Church St in tears over the decision.
Somehow they’ve forgotten that Parramatta finished 15th in 2024.
While no one really has any idea if Ryles has the coaching strategy and nous to elevate the Eels in 2025, what we at least know is that when the season is underway and there’s a tough selection decision to be made, ‘the cleaner’ won’t be afraid to make the call.
Letting go of your club captain is proof of that.
TIME TO GET GIVE TIME-HONOURED AWARD THE GOLDEN BOOT
The Golden Boot Award belongs in the bin with the iPod, fax machines and those trippy power balance wristbands.
It’s redundant.
I have nothing but respect for professional athletes.
But to see the likes of Nene MacDonald, Taane Milne, Esan Marsters and George Williams nominated for what was long regarded as the trophy awarded to the greatest rugby league player in the game is a farce.
Adding to the absurdity is that no less than 17 players have been nominated for the Golden Boot this year.
Why not make it 18, or 20, or 30?
Aussies Isaah Yeo, Harry Grant, Zac Lomax and Tom Trbojevic are among the nominations.
Players have been nominated from all six nations involved in the Pacific Championships – Australia, Tonga, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and Cook Islands – as well as England and Samoa, who last weekend completed their two Test series have been nominated.
The IRL Golden Boot is awarded to the best player in sanctioned rugby league international matches each year.
State of Origin doesn’t count.
Origin, the greatest rugby league competition in the world where even the most elite players succumb to the ridiculous pressure, holds no weight.
But a Test match between PNG and Fiji does.
Ludicrous.
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Originally published as NRL 2025: Jason Ryles’ bold Parramatta Eels clean-out with more key decisions to be made | Locker Room
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