How Josh Addo-Carr almost ruined Jason Ryles secret recruitment drive

Jason Ryles sought a secret meeting with Josh Addo-Carr to get the measure of the man he wanted to sign at the Eels, but a neighbour’s party - and Addo-Carr’s extroverted personality - almost ruined the deal.

Just over a week before Josh Addo-Carr committed his future to Parramatta late last year, he was invited to a secret meeting at the home of Eels coach Jason Ryles.

It was meant to be a chance for Ryles to catch up with Addo-Carr and establish once and for all whether the club would sign the former NSW and Australian winger, who had been shown the door by the Bulldogs.

Ryles knew Addo-Carr from their time in Melbourne together, but there was plenty of noise around the try-scoring machine and the new Eels coach wanted to ensure he would fit in with the cultural revamp he was about to undertake at Parramatta.

So he asked Addo-Carr and his partner Lakaree to a clandestine meeting which would determine whether Ryles and the Eels stepped up their pursuit of Addo-Carr.

Only the meeting didn’t stay secret for very long.

Things started well.

Former Canterbury winger Josh Addo-Carr leaving Belmore Sports Ground with his lawyer Elias Tabchouri (left) and manager Mario Tartak (back) after a meeting with the Bulldogs board. Picture: Jonathan Ng

‘JOSH, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?’

Addo-Carr and Lakaree managed to arrive without alerting the media or the wider public.

The only problem was that Ryles’ neighbour, who happened to be mad Bulldogs fans, was having a party and Addo-Carr couldn’t help himself.

Moments after arriving, the loquacious Addo-Carr found himself on Ryles’ veranda inquisitively asking the neighbours what the party was all about.

“I think I rang him and we had a chat,” Ryles said.

“I let it go for another week or so and then I just rang him again and said, ‘can you come to my place on the weekend?’

“He came over and there was actually a party down the back because you can sort of see the next door.

“He’s over the back saying, hey, how are you going? I said, ‘Josh, no one’s supposed to know you are here, mate, get off the veranda and stop talking to the neighbours’.

“No word of a lie, it was hilarious. He just said, ‘what you up to and what’s the party for?’ I’m like, ‘Josh, what are you doing?”

Ryles coaxed Addo-Carr off the veranda, sat down with him for lunch and quickly realised that not much had changed.

Addo-Carr was still the same bubbly personality who bounced around Melbourne and occasionally drove Craig Bellamy insane with his antics.

He was also the sort of infectious character that Ryles wanted at his club. The winds of change were blowing through Parramatta under his leadership and Addo-Carr brought speed and energy.

Ryles yearned for both. After the lunch date was over, Ryles picked up the phone to Parramatta chief executive Jim Sarantinos and head of football Mark O’Neill, and green lit the club’s pursuit of Addo-Carr.

There were still some hurdles to clear, but Addo-Carr would soon be an Eel.

Josh Addo-Carr scores a try on his debut. Picture: Brett Costello

‘HE IS HARD NOT TO LIKE’

Ryles wasn’t the only key official within the corridors of power at Parramatta who had an association with Addo-Carr.

When Mark O’Neill was in charge of football at the Wests Tigers in 2016, Addo-Carr was a young whipper snapper about to launch a representative career.

Addo-Carr made his debut in the NRL that season and went on to score six tries in nine games, showcasing his ability to find the tryline.

“I knew Josh when he was a kid and came through the Tigers, before he debuted,” O’Neill said.

“He was always one of the good characters. Every time I have seen him since then, he has always gone out of his way to be polite and respectful.”

Ryles’ association with Addo-Carr stretched back to their days together in Melbourne, where Addo-Carr became a key figure in the sides that regularly finished in the top eight and went on to win the 2017 and 2020 grand finals.

Addo-Carr, then with the Melbourne Storm, reacts as a fan dressed with a fox mask greets him in 2017. Picture: Julian Smith

They always had a good relationship but Ryles was still on guard. Addo-Carr’s departure from the Bulldogs had been messy after he had returned a positive response to a roadside drug test for cocaine.

Addo-Carr insisted he had not knowingly ingested recreational drugs but the Bulldogs cut their losses and the NRL weighed in with a fine and a four-game ban, which he has now served.

Addo-Carr became a free agent and briefly worked on a building site while he waited for his next chance.

Ryles initially trod carefully.

“We always got on well when I was in Melbourne,” Ryles said.

“He is hard not to like. You’ve met him. At training, he gets in and does his work. There’s no special treatment.

“We had some senior players leave. He came in and we heard him before he saw him. The rest is history. So he’s been great in that regard.”

Josh Addo-Carr Jason Ryles are all smiles as the new deal is signed. Pic: Instagram

THE MEETINGS

Despite being linked to other clubs, Addo-Carr quickly decided he wanted to be at Parramatta and opted not to meet with any other prospective suitors after his first conversation with Ryles.

He had the coach on side but he needed to win over the club hierarchy. The first formal meeting occurred in the office of Addo-Carr’s agent Mario Tartak at Sydney Olympic Park on a Sunday.

Addo-Carr and Tartak were joined by O’Neill and Ryles.

“We thought okay, let’s find out what has gone on,” O’Neill said.

“We need to have a chat with Josh. We needed everything to be on the table. So we met with him and his agent.

“He was very open and honest and vulnerable. We said this may not go anywhere but if it does, we need everyone to be comfortable about the signing.

“We explained to him what it would look like. He would have to meet with people at the club – the chief executive and board members.

“We wanted to be honest with him and see what lessons he had learned from it, as well as ensure he was ready to meet the expectations and standards from the club.”

Tartak would soon be visited by Sarantinos and then chairman Sean McElduff minus Addo-Carr. It was here that Tartak had to press Addo-Carr’s case.

The Eels were leaving no stone unturned. Ryles had backed the signing, but the board still needed some convincing.

A crucial 45-minute get together again in Tartak’s offices would be the final obstacle for Addo-Carr to end any doubt that he would be a perfect fit for the Eels.

Sarantinos was flanked by two board members in McElduff and chairman in waiting Matthew Beach. Addo-Carr was open and transparent about his recent issues and the board members responded by informing him of their expectations if he was to join the club.

It wasn’t just off the field. They knew how he could be a positive influence on their fan base and encouraged him to continue to engage with the supporters.

After that meeting, the Eels decided to table an offer.

THE IMPACT

Ryles made it clear from day one when he joined Parramatta that he wanted more speed. Addo-Carr helped on that front.

Ryles also swept through the Eels with a cultural broom and on that front, Addo-Carr has been invaluable.

“His energy is infectious,” Ryles said.

“At the end of the day, my belief was that we needed more speed, he came up and we got speed and experience, which was good for us.

“I knew he’d help with our footy and culture and energy. He’s been really good with everyone that he’s worked with.”

Parramatta’s deal with Addo-Carr includes an option in the Eels’ favour which gives them the ability to extend his contract by a further 12 months.

They need to make a decision by mid-June. Even though he is yet to play for the club - he will make his maiden appearance against his former club the Bulldogs at CommBank Stadium on Sunday - it seems more likely than not that Parramatta will do just that.

Josh Addo-Carr brought plenty of energy and enthusiasm to the Eels. Picture: Sam Ruttyn

“He’s really determined to leave a legacy,” O’Neill said.

“He wants to win a premiership. I think he is determined to make a difference. You never know when another chance is going to come.

“He’s determined to make it a success. So far what he has done in terms of community engagement has been fantastic.

“His contribution in team meetings has been great. He is very team oriented. He seems hungry.”

Ultimately, Addo-Carr will be judged by what he produces on the field and at 29, there are still plenty of miles left in his legs.

He has missed a chunk of footy during the past two years but when he has played, he has been as potent as ever.

In 29 games for the Bulldogs over the previous two years, Addo-Carr scored 22 tries, All told, his strike rate is remarkable.

In 179 games, he has scored 140 tries. If he can maintain that rate or even go close, the Eels have landed a bargain.

Asked whether Addo-Carr had lived up to expectations, Ryles insisted he had exceeded them.

“He’s been better, way better,” Ryles said.

“He’s right across the game. He’s great for us in that regard as well. He knew he was returning at round three, so he is ready.”