Contract clauses turned Eels into a ticking time bomb. Ryles may be the perfect man to diffuse it
The setting is the Bella Vista Hotel in western Sydney where Parramatta Eels CEO Jim Sarantinos calmly walks over to the table.
“I brought you a gift,” offers a smiling Sarantinos – handing over a bag of frozen edamame beans.
It’s a fair square up. For much of last year I lined up to give it to the Parramatta Eels management about the ill-fated pursuit of Wayne Bennett, silly options in players’ contracts and losing three gun local juniors as the Eels found themselves in a race to avoid the wooden spoon.
A big part of the narrative was labelling ex-Eels chairman Sean McElduff “the banker” and CEO Sarantinos “the bean counter” – because both come out of the banking sector and the accounting game by trade.
The white-collar world of finance is a far cry from the cut-throat jungle otherwise known as the wonderful world of rugby league.
At least Sarantinos showed he’s got a sense of humour.
When Eels general manager of football walked into the meeting the ex-NRL premiership-winner joked he still had scars from the barbecuing of last season.
I offered him the frozen beans as an ailment and we could all see the lighter side.
What’s no laughing matter for the Eels and new coach Jason Ryles is the “player options” in contracts with the potential to tear the club apart.
The Eels are at pains to point out they’ve finally decided to take a stand and say no more.
Is it too little, too late? Time will tell depending on what happens with gun five-eighth Dylan Brown who is a free agent until round 10 of this season.
Gun centre Will Penisini – who is best mates with rugby union convert Joseph Suaalii – also has the same player option in his contract this year.
It’s a similar story for newly-appointed captain Mitch Moses who has a player option valid until October 31 of this year.
If all these clauses are confusing the easiest way to explain the Moses situation is he’s signed with the Eels for this year and next year but if he decides he wants to pull the rip cord before October 31 then he’s free to leave for the 2027 season.
It was also one of these option clauses that cost the Eels young gun local junior Blaize Talagi who defected to arch-rivals Penrith at the end of last season.
Eels members and fans will be celebrating like it’s 1986 all over again now that “player options” in contracts are getting blown up.
Hallelujah. It’s a positive move but it still doesn’t solve the issue of Newcastle sharpening the pencil to offer five-eighth Brown a monster six-year deal if the gun playmaker indicates he’s seriously considering leaving.
This is where it’s critical the Eels buy-in to what new coach Ryles has created over the off season by banking early wins and building momentum.
A positive environment at Parramatta will be Ryles’ strongest selling point and from all reports over the summer the ex-NSW and Australian front rower has delivered on all fronts.
Whether Ryles can end the NRL’s longest premiership drought of 39 years and counting is another story.
If Ryles is nervous going into his first NRL season then you’d hate to be playing poker against him.
Since being appointed last July the ex-Test and Origin front rower has already taken an axe to the Eels roster by overseeing the departures of long-term Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson and reigning Ken Thornett medallist Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
