New Parramatta Eels coach Jason Ryles cannot afford to fail in one of the NRL’s most high pressure roles
Big expectations, a big roster issues and a crushing history of failing to deliver to one of the code’s biggest fan bases – new Parramatta coach Jason Ryles has lots on his plate, writes DEAN RITCHIE.
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Jason Ryles was seven years old when Parramatta last won a first-grade premiership.
Since then, Eels fans have been forced to endure 37 years of torment and torture since their last first-grade premiership.
Thirty-seven years, 10 coaches and 400 players later, and the Eels still have the longest title drought of any side currently competing in the NRL.
The Eels’ last title was back in 1986 — Bob Hawke was Prime Minister, Neville Wran led NSW, Parramatta supporter Paul Hogan released Crocodile Dundee, the average wage was $17,322 and the average home cost $76,278.
For goodness sake, even your veteran correspondent with greying temples was still at school.
New appointment Ryles becomes the 11th Parramatta coach since John Monie. Can he take this misfiring club to the promised land?
Here are the 37 reasons why Ryles cannot afford to fail.
1. Whether it’s fair or not, Ryles will be scrutinised for sins of the past. The 37 years will weigh heavily on his sturdy shoulders. It won’t go away until it ends. Parramatta cannot have another coach crash and stall. The club must have outlaid close to $25 million in coaches since their last grand final victory.
2. The Eels have an ageing roster through Mitch Moses (29), Clint Gutherson (29), Junior Paulo (30), Shaun Lane (29), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (30), Maika Sivo (30), Ryan Matterson (29) and Bryce Cartwright (29). Ryles will need to make some tough, dramatic and unpopular calls over the next 12 to 18 months.
3. The fight to retain and please 19-year-old young gun Blaize Talagi. NSW star Zac Lomax will arrive shortly to play the same position that Talagi wants. The Dragons are circling Talagi, who is off contract after this season. He becomes a pivotal priority.
4. Parramatta’s influential legends from the 1980s are outspoken, passionate and restless. They won’t hound Ryles but they certainly won’t remain mute if the club starts to slide.
5. Brilliant number six Dylan Brown has a deal at the club until the end of 2031, but it contains two worrying exit clauses — if you’re an Eels fan — in 2026 and 2028. They both come during Ryles’ tenure. Brown is already being linked to the Perth Bears. This could get messy.
6. Ryles will need to show the entire Parramatta fraternity that he is the right man after club officials made a public, concerted and ultimately failed bid for Wayne Bennett. There’s no way to sugar-coat this — Ryles was second choice.
7. The sudden rise this year of geographic rivals Canterbury is a concern for Parramatta. The Bulldogs have essentially taken over as western Sydney’s number two side behind Penrith. That will sting.
8. Parramatta chairman Sean McElduff, chief executive Jim Sarantinos and football manager Mark O’Neill reached the final decision on a new coach. Ryles isn’t the only Eel under pressure for this appointment to succeed.
9. Ryles has signed a four-year deal worth around $3.2m. Is that too long for a rookie NRL head coach? Will he feel untouchable and too comfortable during his two-year grace period? It can be a trap.
10. Keeping Moses happy. The club’s key player, Moses has become increasingly frustrated this year at the club’s dawdling around finding Arthur’s replacement. Moses needs to be soothed and reassured.
11. Four members of Parramatta’s 2023 premiership-winning SG Ball team – Talagi, Ethan Sanders, Matt Arthur and Charlie Guymer – have already made their NRL debuts but the club has lost halfback Sanders to Canberra. The core of this side must be retained.
12. Ryles will need to show himself that a shock decision to reject the head coaching position at St George Illawarra in May last year was correct.
13. What about Parramatta’s x-factor, a missing ingredient at the club for several years? They were once touted as trying to sign Jayden Campbell. Where will Ryles go to find some flash and zip? Selwyn Cobbo? Ryan Papenhuyzen? Val Holmes? Ronaldo Mulitalo? Xavier Savage?
14. Ryles worked an assistant under Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson, two of the greatest coaches in rugby league history. He was also an assistant with the English rugby union team in 2020 and 2021. How much will he take, and bring, from each coach?
15. After clumsily missing out on Bennett, will the Parramatta board be savaged even further, perhaps at the ballot box, for their failed glacial-paced approach to the super coach?
16. Gun centre Will Penisini comes off contract after 2025. One of his best mates is Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, who has defected to rugby union from next season. Could Penisini follow ahead of the 2027 World Cup? The pair played rugby union together at Sydney’s prestigious King’s School, in North Parramatta.
17. An NRL coach once said to me: “Everyone loves you when you’re the assistant. You’re always the good guy, everyone’s mate. No-one prepares you for the pressure of being a head coach.” It won’t be easy, Jason.
18. Talagi, Bailey Simonsson, Daejarn Asi, Haze Dunster, Makahesi Makatoa, Morgan Harper, Ofahiki Ogden and Charlie Guymer come off after this year. Who should Ryles keep? Some can start packing their bags.
19. Parramatta will be forced to share CommBank Stadium next season with Penrith, a four-time defending premiership-winning side who continue to succeed despite rivals picking apart their salary cap-impacted roster. Will Parramatta be envious at the success of their bitter western Sydney rivals?
20. There’s absolutely no doubt Parramatta’s large support base has had a gutful. The Eels consistently pass the 30,000 membership milestone. You reckon they won’t become vocal if Ryles’ era starts slowly?
21. It’s been 37 years since Parramatta’s last grand final win. The Eels are well ahead of their rivals in this unwanted category with Canberra Raiders (29), Warriors (28, and never won a premiership) and Newcastle (22). The heat will be turned up again in 2025.
22. Will Wests Tigers threaten Parramatta as another western Sydney force? The Tigers have struggled in recent years but the recruitment of Jarome Luai is certain to shake things up at Concord.
23. Moses, Gutherson, Paulo, Campbell-Gillard and Matterson have strong, imposing personalities. How will Ryles cuddle the big names but also show his authority?
24. The current playing roster contains six State of Origin players – Moses, Gutherson, Paulo, Matterson, Hopgood and Campbell-Gillard. It is a semi-final side. Can Ryles unlock this mob? The excuses are over.
25. Many Eels fans felt Brad Arthur was treated poorly by the club. Parramatta secretly went behind his back to sign another coach. Ryles must perform to justify Arthur’s demise.
26. Parramatta’s once volatile boardroom has become settled in recent years but don’t for a moment think the knives won’t be out if Ryles’ cannot find success early.
27. Brown, Penisini, Lane, Cartwright, Gutherson, Sivo, Campbell-Gillard, Matterson, Hopgood, Joey Lussick, Joe Ofahengaue, Kelma Tuilagi, Matt Doorey, Sean Russell, Wiremu Greig and Luca Moretti are off after next season? Who to keep, who will go?
28. Ryles must be buoyed by Parramatta’s SG Ball and Harold Matthews teams making the finals this year.
29. Parramatta are trying to avoid their fourth wooden spoon in 13 seasons. Guess Ryles only has one way to go – and that’s up.
30. Lomax will play under pressure. His performances at St George Illawarra and NSW this year have been remarkable. The key question will be: Can he match those efforts under Ryles next season?
31. Mitch Moses, Junior Paulo and young Matt Arthur are locked in long-term. A good start for Ryles.
32. Parramatta has reached just three grand finals – 2001, 2009 and 2022 – since their last premiership. They were stunned as unbackable favourites against Newcastle in 2001 when trailing 24-0 at halftime. In 2009 they fell short against Melbourne, who were later stripped of their title due to salary cap breaches. And a rampant Penrith blew Parramatta away two years ago.
33. Parramatta’s NSW Cup side isn’t exactly struggling, but they’re hardly flying either. They have nine from 17 games this season and sit in ninth spot.
34. The Eels don’t harbour any cash issues. The club is flying financially and will give Ryles every available resource on and off the field to succeed.
35. Ryles’ age appears perfect. At 45, he will be ready, mature, educated and experienced for the immense challenges that lie ahead after ten years as an assistant in two rugby codes.
36. Cashed-up expansion clubs, promising the world, will shortly start to identify rising talent and Parramatta will be a key target area. Let the games begin.
37. Why? Why did Parramatta choose Ryles over candidates Josh Hannay, Trent Barrett and Dean Young? Will the club come out to explain the decision to loyal fans? After nearly four decades of anguish, they at least deserve that.
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