In another positive development, Ryley Smith has been offered a development contract for 2025 and 2026 seasons. Both players have demonstrated exceptional promise and are seen as key components of the club’s future success.
Parramatta Eels General Manager of Football Mark O’Neill expressed his delight with the changes, stating: “Richard’s promotion to the Top 30 is a reflection of his hard work and dedication. As a local junior, we’ve seen his potential coming through our elite pathways program and are proud to have him take this next step in his career.
“Ryley has been very impressive during the pre-season and thoroughly deserves his promotion to the development list. His leadership, character and skill from dummy half makes our overall squad stronger. We are excited to see him continue to develop with us over the next few years,” added O’Neill.
Penisini showed exciting signs during an impressive 2023 season as a powerful outside back in which he played SG Ball, Jersey Flegg, and made his New South Wales Cup debut. Coming back from an injury he sustained last year, he worked hard on his rehab journey and is now fully fit and ready for the season ahead.
A former Australian Schoolboy, Smith joined the Eels in 2023 and played dummy half for Jersey Flegg and NSW Cup last year.
The Mole: Major ‘worry’ that could erase Parramatta ‘facelift’ under new coach Jason Ryles
Few clubs have had a bigger facelift than the Parramatta Eels over the summer – and boy did they need it.
After coming 15th with a strong squad and having the second-worst defensive record in the competition behind only the Wests Tigers, officials decided enough was enough.
Long-serving coach Brad Arthur was sent packing mid-season and his replacement, Jason Ryles, cut loose the Eels’ two most experienced players – fullback and skipper Clinton Gutherson and prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
Crowd favourite Maika Sivo has followed Arthur to Leeds, but his replacement Zac Lomax from the Dragons or Josh Addo-Carr from Canterbury should be top signings.
Fellow recruits Isaiah Iongi (Panthers) and Jack Williams (Sharks) should also bring plenty to the club, but there’s plenty of pressure on young Iongi, who will have to fill Gutherson’s role at the back.
Scoring points has never been a problem – they actually posted more last season than the Bulldogs and Knights, who both played finals footy – but Ryles will be looking for a huge improvement in defence after the team leaked closed to 30 points per game.
Halves pairing Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown remain the Eels’ trump cards and there are few better playmaking combinations in the league.
Dylan Brown of the Eels. Getty
They were responsible for the high scores the team was able to post and gave the likes of Will Penisini and Bailey Simonsson time and space to work their moves.
There’s class aplenty in the forwards with the likes of Shaun Lane, J’maine Hopgood, Ryan Matterson and Junior Paulo all accomplished offloaders who can put teammates through holes in the line.
The hooking spot is a bit of a worry, with several contenders but no clear standout – and that could bite the Eels.
Watch the 2025 NRL premiership live and free on Nine and 9Now.
2025 gains
Zac Lomax (Dragons), Isaiah Iongi (Panthers), Dean Hawkins (Rabbitohs), Joash Papalii (Bulldogs), Jordan Samrani (Bulldogs), Jack Williams (Sharks), Kitione Kautoga (Bulldogs), Josh Addo-Carr (Bulldogs), Ronald Volkman (Dragons)
2025 losses
Ethan Sanders (Raiders), Blaize Talagi (Panthers), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (Titans), Maika Sivo (Leeds Rhinos), Clint Gutherson (Dragons), Daejarn Asi (Castleford), Ky Rodwell (Wakefield Trinity), Makahesi Makatoa (released), Morgan Harper (Warriors), Ofahiki Ogden (released), Tevita Taumoepenu (released), Zac Cini (Castleford)
Best buy:
Josh Addo-Carr remains one of the best wingers in the game and playing outside Moses and Brown, he could be the top tryscorer in the league if things go his way.
It’s a big season for:
With RCG gone, there’s extra pressure on the broad shoulders of Junior Paulo. He has the ability, but was quiet last season and needs to lift.
Biggest question mark: There’s no doubting Ryles has the cattle – it’s whether he can get the best out of them in his first season that is the question to be answered.
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