Parramatta pathways: Eels make massive youth investment

The Parramatta Eels last tasted premiership success in 1986, meet the talented crop of rising rookies - and their coaches - who are going to bring glory back to the blue and gold.

Former Canberra hooker Josh Hodgson has emerged as one of the secret weapons in Parramatta’s attempts to stem the bleeding of junior talent, starting with young gun dummy-half Lachlan Coinakis.

The Eels have made an unprecedented pathways investment, installing full-time junior representative coaches across all grades for the first time in the club’s history, with Hodgson taking over their under-17s Harold Matthews Cup team for 2025.

The defections of rookies Blaize Talagi, Ethan Sanders and Matt Arthur to rival outfits after making their NRL debuts last season rocked Eels fans.

But the club is backing its newest pathways coaching strategy to bring through – and prevent a mass exodus of – the next crop of rising rookies, that includes the recently re-signed trio of Coinakis, halfback Lincoln Fletcher and prop Ryda Talagi, the younger brother of Blaize.

Coinakis, an Australian schoolboys star, is considered the best hooking prospect at the club since Reed Mahoney, who joined the Bulldogs in 2023.

But to stop history repeating itself, Parramatta’s head of elite pathways James Shepherd said Coinakis has been given unfettered access to Hodgson, even though the teenager has graduated to the SG Ball program for 2025.

“At one point, Josh was the best hooker in the world. There’s not too many kids who wouldn’t want to be coached by Josh Hodgson,” Shepherd said.

“He’ll be able to ask for advice, for tips and that’s invaluable for a developing player. Josh’s game was based on skill and craftiness and reading the game so having someone who can pass those tricks on will be beneficial for him.”

Young Parramatta hooker Lachlan Coinakis.

While General Manager of football Mark O’Neill is confident the full-time pathways coaching strategy would put an end to criticism of the club losing junior talent.

“We’ve seen our halves (Talagi and Sanders) pursue opportunities elsewhere … the criticism we face, I guess that’s normal in our game. We are a big club, the fans are watching us, and we have to make sure we make more decisions right than we get wrong,” O’Neill said.

“This coaching strategy is the best chance for us, the best opportunity to make that happen.”

And to convince the next Haumole Olakau’atu, Josh Schuster, or the Wests Tigers’ three Fainu brothers — who all hail from the local area, that the Eels will provide them the best pathway to success.

“We want to embed the Eels identity, make our elite juniors feel like this is their club, their home and the best place to apply their talent long-term,” O’Neill said.

THE $70M SUPPORT STRUCTURE

The Eels have a huge junior catchment in which they have heavily invested to generate a production line of talent similar to that which has driven neighbours Penrith to four straight premierships.

The shake-up in Parramatta’s pathways, through that strategic investment in coaching, will soon be backed by a $70 million centre of excellence, which is scheduled to open its doors in Kellyville in April, and bring all the club’s football programs under the same roof.

It will serve as another carrot for emerging talent, and will give new NRL coach Jason Ryles the best shot at aligning the NRL program with the pathways squads, ensuring young players are capable of meeting standards and expectation as they progress through the ranks.

That approach has been the backbone of Penrith’s next-man-up mentality, and Parramatta are hoping to reap similar results.

“It’s hard to have a fully aligned program that has the same methodology, philosophy as NRL into the pathways with part-time coaches. Full-time coaches, who are learning from the NRL program will improve the calibre of coaches, it will improve the calibre of players,” O’Neill said.

THE PARRAMATTA WAY

The Eels are keen to ensure that when players graduate into the NRL system, they’re already well versed in the club’s playing style.

You see it at big overseas football clubs like Barcelona, Manchester City and Liverpool, who streamline their pathways systems with a consistent line of coaching.

It’s why Ryles is playing a crucial hands-on role in the club’s enhanced focus on junior development.

“Jason has been very open with the access he is providing these coaches,” Shepherd said.

“He sat down with them individually explaining his expectations and what he wants to see from the program.

“He invites them to training to make sure the coaches are learning what is being done at NRL level and being transferred back into the pathways.”

And by making their pathways coaches full-time, it opens up access to the NRL strategy.

New Eels coach Jason Ryles has already made big changes at the club. Picture: NewsWire/Gaye Gerard

THE TALENT

The club is wary not to put undue pressure on its young starts. However, privately, they view Talagi, Fletcher and Coinakis as future first-graders.

Mitchell Moses will turn 34 in 2027, when the first of his two-year player options in his contract kick in.

It’s hoped Fletcher, a goalkicking game manager, would be in a position to succeed Moses in the No.7 jumper when he’s ready to bring the curtain down on his career.

It’s no secret Parramatta have been linked to Newcastle’s Jayden Brailey about potentially joining the club as early as next season, bolstering their hooker stocks that already include Brendan Hands and Joey Lussick, who are both unsigned beyond 2025.

Rising Eels No.7 Lincoln Fletcher. Picture: Adam Wrightson Photography

All the while, Coinakis, a crafty dummy-half with solid defence, is being nurtured through their system.

More immediately, forwards Saxon Pryke, Sam Tuivaiti and Will Latu, and centre Richard Penisini, the younger brother of star Eels back Will Penisini, are viewed as next in line to earn an NRL call-up. Back-rower Charlie Guymer, who was also part of the premiership-winning 2023 SG Ball outfit, has already made his NRL debut.

“Those boys have been training since the 4th of November, they are tracking nicely,” Shepherd said.

“Richard is back doing well after his (ACL) injury.

“They’ve coped with the demands of training and putting themselves in front of the coach. If they do well, that opportunity will come.” 

Originally published as Parramatta pathways: Eels make massive youth investment