Breaking news: Jason Ryles has been elected as a Parramatta Eels new coach 2025.
Who will be Parramatta Eels head coach in 2025? Jason Ryles given top job following Brad Arthur’s exit
Jason Ryles has been appointed the next head coach of the Parramatta Eels, after Brad Arthur was ushered swiftly out of the back door earlier in the season.
Ryles was named after an extensive coaching search, which included names like Josh Hannay and Trent Barrett.
Ultimately, Ryles was selected, with the current Melbourne Storm assistant finally given the chance to lead a team of his own.
Jason Ryles named Parramatta Eels head coach in 2025
After a long tenure as an assistant under legendary head coach Craig Bellamy, Ryles finally steps in to a head coaching position of his own, taking up the task of leading the Parramatta Eels to an NRL Premiership.
Ryles is a 14-year NRL veteran as a player, including eight State of Origin appearances for NSW and 15 for Australia, and since retirement has been steadily rising up the coaching ranks.
With Brad Arthur gone from Parramatta, Ryles’ chance finally came, given the tall task of elevating the team currently in competition for the NRL’s wooden spoon.
“I am incredibly honoured to be appointed Head Coach of the Parramatta Eels,” Ryles said in a statement.
“This is a club with a rich history and a passionate fanbase. I look forward to coaching these young men.”
The Eels decided on Ryles after an extensive search, with Eels club chairman Sean McElduff claiming that his experience in Melbourne’s winning system will perfeclty prepare him for success.
“We are delighted to welcome Jason to the Parramatta Eels,” McElduff said.
“Jason’s proven track record in winning environments, combined with his passion for developing young talent perfectly aligns with the direction we are taking our club.
“We have a strong NRL roster and a group of exciting young players coming through our pathways programs.
“We believe Jason is the ideal person to build a strong connection within the playing group, across the club and with the passionate Parramatta Eels fanbase.”
Ryles has been a head coach in waiting for a number of years now, with the former St George Illawarra forward serving his apprenticeship under Craig Bellamy and Trent Robinson.
He knocked back interest from the Dragons last year in order to return to Melbourne and work under Bellamy again with the assumption he’d take charge of the Storm following the veteran’s retirement.
However, Bellamy then confirmed he would go around again in 2025, putting doubts around Ryles’ long-term future at the club.
The Eels noted how they were looking to go in a “new direction” following the sacking of Arthur, which Ryles could provide.
Benji Marshall, Andrew Webster, Cameron Ciraldo and Craig Fitzgibbon have been the most recent assistant coaches who have graduated to the hot seats at clubs with mixed results so far.
Ryles will undoubtedly be a risky move with a number of far more experienced campaigners potentially available.
However, he was one of the front-runners for the position throughout the search, and with current Blues halfback Mitchell Moses under contract,and star winger/centre Zac Lomax incoming, he could be set up to hit the ground running in 2025.
Ryles beats out experienced field to claim Eels job
It was an exhaustive search for Parramatta to choose their next head coach, doing their due diligence to select the perfect man for the job.
Names like Wayne Bennett, Michael Cheika, Trent Barrett and Michael Maguire were all considered, but Ryles was the man who was eventually selected
Cronulla assistant Josh Hannay was also considered, telling The Age it was a “pretty appealing and attractive job,” but ultimately missing out.
Why was Brad Arthur sacked by Parramatta Eels?
Arthur spent 11 seasons at Parra but failed in his quest to end their long premiership drought, with a loss in the 2022 grand final as close as he got.
The 50-year-old took over on an interim basis in 2012 and guided the club through some of their darkest days due to salary cap constraints, before he made them a regular fixture in the finals.
“I’ve never walked away from a fight and we’re going to keep fighting hard,” Arthur said in the wake of another horror second half collapse from his team last week.
The Eels slumped to a 48-16 hammering at the hands of the Melbourne Storm in Magic Round in what turned out to be Arthur’s final game in charge, despite his assertions that he could turn things around at the embattled club.
“There hasn’t been any indication from the club towards me,” he continued in the post-match presser.
“All they want to do is get around us and support myself and the coaches and the rest of the staff and the team.
“But at the end of the day, what matters is what we’re doing on that field for 80 minutes and it’s not good enough at the minute.
“The facts are that we’re not playing well enough and I’m the head coach of the team.”
A board meeting the day after their Magic Round capitulation ultimately sealed Arthur’s fate as he was axed with immediate effect.
Barrett was installed as the interim coach for the Eels, with Ryles set to take up the reins come 2025.
