‘Why are we glazing?’: Doubts emerge over Ryles’ rebuild after Eels ‘fall from perch’

Despite sitting in 14th, the general consensus around the league on the Eels and rookie coach Jason Ryles is positive, but is that too lenient?

That’s the opinion of The Daily Telegraph’s Dean Ritchie, who penned a column dismissing all of the hype surrounding Parramatta over the past month or so.

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Ritchie put forward that the Eels have recorded just seven wins in 2025, which is the same amount as last season.

“That’s hardly what you would call a stunning improvement,” Ritchie wrote.

“Parramatta is like a selfie with a filter. It looks great but you know it’s make-believe.”

Since halfback Mitch Moses returned from injury, the Eels have recorded wins over the Broncos and Cowboys and also got within a try of the Storm.

However, they came crashing back down to last weekend, losing to the decimated Rabbitohs.

The NRL360 panel discussed Ritchie’s column, with host Braith Anasta asking in response whether the Eels have “fallen off their perch a bit”.

Michael Carayannis disagreed with Ritchie, his Daily Telegraph colleague.

Carayannis explained that Ryles has done a great job clearing house, with the coach making the tough decision to move several veterans on in order to blood some young guns.

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“I don’t think they are being as comprehensive as some have made out but I don’t think it’s been doom or gloom either,” Carayannis said.

“Look at Mitch Moses. How many games as he played, nine? The fact they’ve got a rookie fullback.

“There’s been so much change, they’ve had the Dylan Brown turmoil going on

“They have cleared out the joint. Ryan Matterson isn’t there, Joe Ofahengaue, Shaun Lane. These were guys that started the season now out the door already.

“I think they’re building. You can see the structure of play Jason Ryles is trying to introduce. The gameplay in the middle of the field, the sharp back line movements.

“They’ve unearthed a gem in Isaiah Iongi. We’re going to be looking back in 5-10 years time and judging Json Ryles on the first call that he made and that was to move on Clint Gutherson to sign Iongi.”

Fox League’s Dan Ginnane also think the Eels are on the right track towards success.

However, he didn’t think the column was an all out attack on the club.

“I read that in a different light. I didn’t see that as a shot at the Eels but a shot at the media,” Ginnane said.

“I think is tone was ‘why are we glazing the Eels so much when they’re 14th on the ladder with seven wins’. It’s food for thought.

“As far as rebuilds, he got rid of Gutherson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Lane, Matterson. That’s not bad for one year, if you consider that era is done and this is the new era.

“You’ve got to get 50-60 games into Iongi, Ryley Smith and Joash Papalii.”