Melbourne Storm defeat Parramatta Eels 56-18, brutal start to Jason Ryles era
Welcome to the NRL, Jason Ryles. The new era at Parramatta got off to the worst start imaginable, with the Eels dismantled by the Storm and the new coach humbled by his former mentor.
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Welcome to hell, Rylesy.
After 12 seasons as an assistant, Jason Ryles finally became a head coach on Sunday - and it became a bloodbath.
His humiliated Parramatta side conceded eight first half tries and a further two in the second half to be embarrassed 56-18 by Melbourne at AAMI Park.
It was 35 degrees at AAMI Park – and Parramatta certainly felt the heat.
Parramatta was missing star playmaker Mitch Moses, and backrower Ryan Matterson, but their defensive effort and commitment was woeful.
Melbourne led 46-6 after 35 minutes.
It was the sixth worst loss by a first grade coach on a debut in Australian rugby league’s 117-year history.
And it was the second highest points tally in a first half by a team in Australian rugby league history. Newcastle scored 48 points in 2003.
Even the most heartless rugby league fan must have felt some sympathy for Ryles.
“I know that ‘Rylesy’ is a great coach and a great bloke. They have a really good squad and he can do something with them,” said Storm skipper Harry Grant. “The score line probably doesn’t suggest that today but ‘Rylesy’ has plenty of footy in him as a coach. It was really sad when he left us.”
After Grant’s Fox League interview, former Test forward Bryan Fletcher, said tongue-in-cheek: “Harry, just say they’re shithouse.”
The Eels did show commitment and passion in the second half, scoring two tries and actually won the second 40 minutes 12-10.
“It’s a good introduction to coaching for Jason Ryles,” Cooper Cronk said on Fox league.
Parramatta missed 47 tackles.
Ryles was a senior assistant to head coach Craig Bellamy at Melbourne Storm between 2016 and 2020. He was at the Storm for the club’s 2017 and 2020 grand final triumphs.
Returning to Melbourne on Sunday was meant to be a celebration. It became a nightmare.
It was an unfortunate game for Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown, who played the Storm game aware he must make the biggest decision before round ten - to remain at Parramatta or sign a ten-year worth $13m offer from the Newcastle Knights.
Brown was pushed off badly by Eli Katoa. Who scored a 26th minute try. To be fair Brown shouldn’t shoulder all the blame for Sunday’s result
But the pressure will remain on Brown with Moses unavailable for another five games.
“Moses wouldn’t have made a difference,” said Eels legend Nathan Hindmarsh.
Pre-game, Parramatta was $6 favourite to claim most losses, according to TAB. Their odds could drift after the Storm loss. The Eels are clearly getting used to playing without Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
The rout started in the seventh minute when Storm fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen – with his bleached blond hair - scored. Melbourne’s ground speed blew Parramatta away.
MATCH REPORT
-Lance Jenkinson
It was the Showtime Storm in the season opener.
A scintillating Storm had the statisticians scurrying for the record books early in a 56-18 annihilation of the inexperienced Parramatta Eels at AAMI Park on Sunday.
The Storm produced 46 points in a first 40 masterclass, their biggest first half score in club history, eclipsing the 40 points they put up against St George Illawarra Dragons at the MCG back in 2000.
It was a nightmare start to life as Eels coach for Jason Ryles, having to battle without star injured star Mitchell Moses.
The Eels were left shell-shocked as Storm ran in an incredible eight first half tries as part of a 10 tries to three game, including doubles to fullback Ryan Papenhuyzen and winger Xavier Coates, two players who were in doubt after injury interrupted preseasons.
Clearly smarting from last year’s grand final defeat to Penrith, the Storm were locked in from the outset.
Storm made it 23 straight victories in round one games, including 22-from-22 under coach Craig Bellamy.
It just might take the bright lights of a Las Vegas fixture to distract the Storm in round one next year because they seem unbeatable in season openers on Australian soil.
CAM POINTS THE WAY
Storm five-eighth Cameron Munster was the conductor of the shellacking.
Munster had four tackle breaks and three try assists to lay the foundation for the rout in the first half.
The Storm got rolling on the back of two Eels penalties from J’Maine Hopgood and Kelma Tuilagi.
FLASHY PAPPY
Papenhuyzen saw his pass cut off by Eels halfback Ronald Volkman, only for it to fortuitously rebound back to him for the game’s first try.
The 26-year-old was electric in the first half, showing no signs of the niggling leg injuries that interrupted his pre-season.
When Tuilagi didn’t roll out of the ruck, which Storm captain Harry Grant milked to perfection, the home side made him pay with a try to Josh King on the back of it.
The Eels defence in that set left a lot to be desired with King strolling in unopposed.
Any resistance the Eels had put up to that point - Isiaiah Iongi stood firm at fullback and winger Jake Tago had some good moments - totally evaporated.
Ionngi and Tago deservedly scored consolation tries.
SOARING COATES
Coates added to his reel of try-scoring highlights when he soared to the air in trademark style.
Rampaging forward Eli Katoa scored with a run from beyond the halfway line.
Katoa fended off Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown, dummied Iongi twice before breaking out of the clutches of William Penisini to score.
STORM MAGIC
The party tricks didn’t end there.
Storm centre Jack Howarth produced an amazing pass to evade the outstretched arm of Eels youngster Ryley Smith to find Coates for his second try.
Grant joined in on the fun before a rare Eels venture into attack also wound up with a Storm try as Ryley Smith showed his inexperience with a wayward pass that was scooped up by Storm centre Nick Meane for an 85-metre try to make it 40-0.
The Eels eventually broke through just before half time when Brown set up Tago with a well weighted aerial ball, but Papenhuyzen had a double before the break to make it 46-6.
The result was a fait accompli at half time.
Though the Eels showed fight in the second half, including holding Storm scoreless for the first 15 minutes, a 95-metre intercept try for 50th gamer Will Warbrick rubbed salt into the wounds.
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