Ryles’ new Eels era won’t include Barrett as Talagi offered fullback chance
ByAdam Pengilly
Parramatta’s caretaker coach Trent Barrett won’t be part of Jason Ryles’ support staff as the incoming coach opts for a clean break from the Brad Arthur era, which includes a pitch for Blaize Talagi to take over the fullback role if he remains at the club.
Former Sea Eagles and Bulldogs coach Barrett, who was one of the final four candidates in the race to take over at the Eels, is preparing to move on from the blue and golds when the season finishes, having been parachuted into the interim role after Arthur was sacked earlier this season.
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According to sources familiar with the situation but not allowed to discuss the matter publicly, Ryles will bring in an entirely new assistant coaching team to the Eels, despite suggestions Barrett could stay on in the same role he filled under Arthur for 18 months.
The decision will be seen as Ryles putting his own stamp on the club after Barrett joined Josh Hannay and Dean Young in auditioning for the Eels job, which was finally decided earlier this month.
Barrett has led the Eels to just one win from seven matches since taking over from Arthur, and is trying to arrest a five-game losing streak which has included a number of narrow defeats to finals-chasing teams including the Bulldogs, Roosters and Knights.
Eels bosses have been rapt with the efforts of Barrett since taking over and visited him to tell him in person he’d missed out on the coveted job to Ryles, despite the backing of high-profile stars such as Mitchell Moses.
But Ryles – a former assistant to Craig Bellamy, Trent Robinson and Eddie Jones at England rugby union – will put his own stamp on the Eels with Barrett, a longtime St George Illawarra teammate during their playing days, to be one of the first casualties.
Ryles has signed an agreement with the Storm that stipulates he won’t be able to poach any of their staff for the next 12 months under the terms of an early release, which will see him start working in the background for the Eels as soon as this week. Barrett will continue coaching the team for the rest of the season.
Ryles is in the final stages of trying to convince teenage star Talagi to sign a new deal at the Eels, with the NRL rookie and his management putting off talks until Parramatta finalised their coaching search.
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Discussed in the negotiations has been the potential for Talagi to take over from co-captain Clint Gutherson at fullback, a major ace up the sleeve of Ryles when it comes to keeping the highly rated star.
The Dragons, Knights and Dolphins have all courted the former Australian Schoolboys prodigy, who has scored eight tries in his last nine games playing a number of positions including fullback, wing and centre.
Having already lost Moses for the rest of the season with a biceps rupture, Junior Paulo (foot), J’maine Hopgood (back) and Bailey Simonsson (knee), the Eels will also be without rookie Charlie Guymer, one of the few bright spots this season after making his debut three weeks ago. He’s booked in for season-ending ankle surgery.
Parramatta will face table-topping Melbourne on Friday night as they try to edge away from the Tigers in the wooden spoon battle.
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