Eels captain Clint Gutherson has backed Mitchell Moses’ call for the club to keep interim coach Trent Barrett next year when Jason Ryles takes over after it was confirmed he will lead the team for the next four seasons.
Following a lengthy interview process following the sacking of Brad Arthur after the Magic Round, the club announced on Monday morning that Ryles would step down from his assistant role with the Storm to take charge of a side battling to avoid a bottom spot just two years after appearing in a grand final.
Ryles has extensive experience having worked with the Storm, Roosters and some national rugby teams, and his defensive sense will help the team that conceded the most points in 2024.
Some players were unhappy with the decision to get rid of Arthur, but they are relieved that everything is finally cleared up after Ryles beat out Josh Hannay for the job.
“It’s good that they have finally come to a decision and we can now focus on where the club wants to go in the next three or four years,” said Gutherson.
“It probably took a little longer than everyone thought, but they had to make the decision they made carefully.
“It’s just good that it’s over. We can now move on and focus on the rest of the year.”
“The teams he played for and the coaches he managed say enough, but you only hear good things about him.”
Gutherson said the decision to appoint Ryles had nothing to do with the players and he was “fed up with losing” ahead of this weekend’s game against the Titans.
“It was all from the front office. They went through everything they wanted to do and kept us updated over the last few months,” he said.
“The decision had nothing to do with us. It was all their decision and they knew what they were doing and what they wanted and what direction they wanted to go.”
Ryles has a few months to look at Parramatta’s squad and identify what needs to be changed, while Gutherson is looking forward to working with Blues winger Zac Lomax, who has been “calling him weekly” to discuss a move to the Blue and Golds next year.
With a Dragons star coming, Gutherson is hoping a former St George Illawarra star stays, with Barrett’s future at the club uncertain after the season ends.
The offensive coach has taken on the role of interim boss since Arthur’s dismissal and the players have made it clear that they want to keep him.
“It would be great to keep ‘Baz’ with us. He’s been great for us over the last two years and the way he’s handled the last two months I think shows the kind of person he is,” Gutherson said.
“He just wanted us to get better and win games, but we haven’t been able to win as many games as we would have liked in the last few months.
“Baz and Rylesy need to discuss this. I would love to have Baz there, but that’s above my pay grade.”