Storm Demolish Eels as Ryles’ Coaching Debut Ends in Disaster

Jason Ryles’ first game as Parramatta’s head coach turned into a nightmare on Sunday, as the Eels suffered a heavy 56-18 defeat at the hands of the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park. Ryles, making his NRL head coaching debut, received no mercy from his former mentor, Craig Bellamy, who extended his remarkable round-one winning streak to 23 straight victories.

Having spent years within Melbourne’s system as both a player and an assistant coach, Ryles had a strong understanding of what awaited his team. The Storm, determined to bounce back from last year’s grand final loss to Penrith, looked sharp from the outset, punishing every mistake Parramatta made. Their dominance reaffirmed why they are considered one of the strongest title contenders this season.

“They’re not the premiership favourites for no reason,” Ryles admitted after the game. “They were so close to winning it last season, and they’ve only strengthened since then. This result just shows where we’re at right now, but we’ll improve.”

Despite the lopsided scoreline, Ryles remained optimistic, emphasizing the importance of his younger players gaining more first-grade experience. “The only way they’ll improve is by getting more game time alongside the senior players,” he said.

While the loss was a harsh reality check, Ryles believes the Eels will learn from the experience and show improvement in the coming weeks. However, the road ahead won’t get any easier, and he will need to rally his squad quickly to avoid a difficult start to the season.