Craig Bellamy insists he won’t stand in the way of Jason Ryles if the Melbourne assistant coach wants to take the vacant Eels job. Parramatta are on the hunt for a new coach after Brad Arthur was sacked with immediate effect on Monday on the back of the Eels’ second-half collapse against the Storm in Magic Round.
Arthur had been Eels coach since 2014 and took the club to the grand final in 2022 where they lost to Penrith. But he failed to win a premiership in a decade at the helm and with the Eels languishing in 14th on the ladder with three wins from 10 games in 2024 he was dismissed.
Top of Parramatta’s wish list to replace Arthur was Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett. But the veteran super-coach has since agreed to join South Sydney for the 2025 season.
The former powerhouse club say they are in no rush to name a new coach, with Trent Barrett taking over this season in an interim role. But chief executive Jim Sarantinos revealed they have started to put together a list of potential candidates for the job, with the highly-credentialed Ryles likely to be one of the top names on that list. Ryles was part of Melbourne’s premiership success in 2017 and also helped the Storm reach two other grand finals.
Looking for a job in 2024 after leaving Melbourne to pursue other opportunities at home and abroad, Ryles was reportedly the preferred candidate for St George Illawarra’s vacant head coaching role. However, Ryles snubbed the Dragons in favour of returning to his former role under Bellamy.
Ryles is now being viewed as Arthur’s potential replacement. And while the Storm coach says he doesn’t want to lose Ryles to the Eels, he accepts that NRL head coaching roles are hard to come by. “It’s not in my control, Bellamy told AAP on Wednesday. “We’re not going to concern ourselves with things that we don’t know are going to happen. We don’t want him to go but it’s not very often that you get those sort of opportunities so if he wanted to go I wouldn’t imagine we would stand in his way.”
Brad Arthur has no ill feeling towards former club
Speaking after his brutal axing Arthur says he has no bitterness towards the Eels and is thankful for his time there. “I’ve really enjoyed my time and I’m really grateful for my time, I don’t hold any resentment, I’m not bitter about what’s happened,” he told FoxSports’ NRL360.
“Parramatta’s a massive club so I’ve gotten used to it (the pressure), so I know whatever’s next for me I’m going to be better again. I’m proud of where I started to where I am now. In 11 years, we’ve played in finals, hopefully I’ve contributed to changing people’s lives.”
And Bellamy believes before long Arthur will be at a new club. “I’m sure he will find another club – he’s a good coach and really good person so he will find another job,” Bellamy said.
Michael Maguire has began his NSW coaching tenure with a boom-or-bust call, axing captain James Tedesco and picking Dylan Edwards for State of Origin I.
Maguire confirmed the shock call on Sunday night, dropping the incumbent Australian Test captain from his team and naming Jake Trbojevic as Blues skipper.
Nicho Hynes has been named as halfback despite concerns over a lingering calf issue, while Jarome Luai has been recalled to partner him at five-eighth.
There is no room for Latrell Mitchell in the backline or on the bench, with Zac Lomax to instead debut on the wing and Joseph Aukuso-Suaalii at centre.
Cameron McInnes has also earned his debut at lock, while Haumole Olakau’atu will come off the bench. Spencer Leniu is the sixth Origin rookie picked.
Reece Robson has also won the race for the No.9 jersey ahead of Apisai Koroisau.
But among 11 changes from Game III last year, it is Maguire’s decision to drop Tedesco for the June 5 series opener in Sydney that is by far the most notable.
The 2018 Dally M medallist is arguably the best fullback in NSW Origin history, and has played a record 22 straight matches for the Blues.
Despite this, the Roosters star is now the first Australia Test captain to be dropped from their State of Origin side while still leading the Kangaroos.
Tedesco had been under pressure to keep his NSW spot since early last year, but has been in a rich vein of form for the Roosters in recent weeks.
But Maguire has opted to reward Edwards for being among the NRL’s best fullbacks while winning three straight premierships at Penrith.
Maguire has also placed significant faith in Hynes, despite a horror outing for the Sharks halfback against Penrith on Saturday night that ended with more concerns over his calf.
Hynes failed to get through the match, and underwent scans on the sore leg on Sunday.
It is likely he will have to be on a managed workload, causing potential issues for NSW given the amount of new combinations.
But a lack of fit halves – with Nathan Cleary injured and Mitch Moses out since late March – has led Maguire to stick with the Cronulla star.
Picked on the bench for last year’s series opener, Hynes has since admitted a brief stint at centre and subsequent axing knocked his confidence.
He has rebounded this season, leading Cronulla to the top of the table at the halfway mark of the regular season.
Luai was also dropped by NSW during last year’s Origin series, but is back to his best at Penrith this season.
The playmaker is one of five Panthers in the squad, with Liam Martin selected but still waiting to undergo a medical assessment after a minor hamstring strain.
Brian To’o is on the wing alongside former Penrith star Stephen Crichton, while Isaah Yeo is the fifth Panther in the squad but may come off the bench.
Angus Crichton has also won his way back into the side as a starting left-edge second-rower, while Hudson Young will come off the bench with Matt Burton as 18th man.
NSW: Dylan Edwards, Brian To’o, Stephen Crichton, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Zac Lomax, Jarome Luai, Nicho Hynes, Jake Trbojevic, Reece Robson, Payne Haas, Liam Martin, Angus Crichton, Cameron McInnes. Bench: Isaah Yeo, Haumole Olakau’atu, Spencer Leniu, Hudson Young. 18th: Matt Burton. Reserves: Luke Keary, Mitchell Barnett.
Billy Slater’s decision to leave David Fifita out of his Queensland team for State of Origin I has stunned the NRL world, with many questioning how the rampaging back-rower could possibly be overlooked. Slater’s team for the Origin opener was leaked on Sunday night ahead of the official announcement on Monday morning.
And the biggest surprise was Fifita’s axing after the Gold Coast Titans forward played in all three Origin games last year. Slater has instead gone with Jeremiah Nanai and Jaydn Su’a in the second row, with Parramatta forward J’Maine Hopgood earning his Queensland debut on the bench.
Tom Dearden has won the race to replace Cameron Munster at five-eighth, beating Ezra Mam (who is in the 20-player squad). Slater has gone with a fairly unchanged back-line, with Reece Walsh, Xavier Coates, Valentine Holmes, Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and Murray Taulagi, while Daly Cherry-Evans is the halfback and captain.
Reuben Cotter and Lindsay Collins are the front-rowers and Patrick Carrigan is the lock, while Ben Hunt will be named at hooker and Harry Grant on the bench. Another surprise inclusion on the bench is Selwyn Cobbo, with the Broncos centre unable to force his way back into the starting side after missing Game III last year.
Fifita missed the opening month of the NRL season through injury but has been back to his rampaging best over the last few weeks. He was enormous with his involvements and impact against the Broncos on Sunday and ran for 230 metres, to go along with two try assists and six tackle breaks.
“He was a different animal out there today,” Titans captain Fotuaika said of Fifita after the shock 36-34 win. “He was taking kick-off runs. It’s good to see that side of him come out.”
Slater revealed on Monday morning that it was merely the form of others that resulted in Fifita being axed. “I’ve got no doubt that Dave will get back to the footy he played last year, and I’m sure he will wear a Maroons jersey in the future again,” the coach said.
“Dave created a really high standard for his footy last year. He just hasn’t quite got to that standard this year. I spoke to Dave last night, he’s taken the disappointing news like a true Queenslander and wishes the best for the footy team.”
But the barnstorming display wasn’t enough to convince Slater that he deserved to keep his Origin spot, and Fifita will now watch the opening game of the series from home. The decision has been widely questioned by fans and pundits alike, with many pointing out that NSW will be happy they don’t have to face a rampaging Fifita in the Game I.
Slater officially named his side on Monday morning after a meeting with fellow Maroons selectors Darren Lockyer and Gene Miles and Sunday night. One day after Michael Maguire opted to make 11 changes for the Blues from Game III last year and name six debutants, there are no such challenges for the Maroons.
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