Ryles’ Radical Rebuild: Parramatta’s Bold New Era on Track to End 40-Year Premiership Curse
When Jason Ryles took over at Parramatta, it wasn’t just a coaching appointment—it was a revolution. His bold decisions raised eyebrows, with fans wondering if he was dismantling a team that had been close to glory in recent years. His first major move was to part ways with club legend Clint Gutherson, the “King of Parramatta,” and then moved on other established players like Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Mika Sivo, and Joe Ofahengaue. He even left out Bryce Cartwright from the squad entirely, and Ryan Matterson was loaned out to Warrington after just a handful of appearances.
Perhaps most puzzling was his treatment of Dylan Brown, who was dropped to the bench and shuffled around to positions like hooker and centre before briefly returning to five-eighth. These decisions had fans scratching their heads, but Ryles had a clear vision. Rather than sticking with the old guard, he was focused on blooding fresh talent and fostering a dynamic, fast-paced style of play.
Fast forward to the end of the season, and Ryles’ rebuild has already proven a resounding success. In a sport where coaches face intense scrutiny, Ryles kept his composure and quietly engineered one of the quickest and most impressive turnarounds the NRL has seen. Under his guidance, players like Tallyn De Silva stepped up, and despite early struggles, the youngster has shown vast improvement.
Next season, with the addition of hardened veterans like Jack de Belin and an off-season for the squad to gel, Parramatta is poised for a serious push. The club is on track to break its 40-year premiership drought, and Ryles, it seems, has set the stage for what could be a new golden era. Soon, the Eels may well be quoting Jack Gibson after their next premiership: “Ding, Dong, the Witch is Dead.” The future is bright for Parramatta.
