Parramatta will fight to avoid the wooden spoon with approximately $4.5 million – or 40 per cent – of their salary cap on the sidelines for almost the rest of the season.
As incoming coach Jason Ryles dangles the No.1 jersey in front of Blaize Talagi — who CEO Jim Sarantinos described as the Eels’ “long-term future” – and works on rejigging a top-heavy roster, interim coach Trent Barrett will guide a depleted side against Melbourne, where Ryles himself was assistant until last week.
As revealed by this masthead, Barrett will not be part of Ryles’ 2025 staff as his former Dragons teammate opts for a fresh slate in his first head coaching role.
Parramatta officials have been impressed with Barrett’s efforts as interim coach since Brad Arthur’s sacking, despite a five-game losing streak in which Barrett missed out on the coveted Eels job to Ryles. The run of defeats has left the side second bottom on the ladder, just two points ahead of bottom side Wests Tigers, who have a bye in hand.
Hampering the club’s 2024 campaign has been a crippling injury toll that saw million-dollar halfback Mitchell Moses undergo season-ending biceps surgery on Monday after his Origin III heroics for NSW.
After missing eight games during Arthur’s last months as coach with a broken foot, Moses joins co-captain Junior Paulo (Lisfranc injury), J’maine Hopgood (back surgery) and rookie Charlie Guymer (syndesmosis) in going under the knife and ending his campaign early.
Wingers Maika Sivo (hamstring) and Haze Dunster (Lisfranc) as well as back-rower Kelma Tuilagi (thumb) are also sidelined and are not due to return until the last few weeks of the season.
Ladder-leaders Melbourne, on the other hand, are increasingly hopeful of having star No.6 Cameron Munster back from a groin injury on Friday night, alongside props Nelson Asofa-Solomona (hamstring) and Christian Welch (back).
“You look at those injuries, there’s no pattern or theme,” Sarantinos told this masthead. “It’s not as though we’ve got a range of hamstrings or calf injuries, soft tissue issues that point to training and preparation.
“It’d be a hell of a lot better if we had more of our troops on the paddock and if we were winning more games, and you can’t get away from the fact it’s been a difficult year for us … Coming in as an interim coach in any circumstance is a tough job.
“But Baz [Barrett] stepped into it with enthusiasm and positivity, and he’s keeping that up. I’m not sure that the players could have been better prepared than they have been, and to be missing seven or eight top-line players each week makes it very hard.”
Ryles’ early release from Melbourne last week to take up his four-year deal has enabled behind the scenes on Parramatta’s turnaround, chiefly tying 19-year-old Talagi down long term.
As well a long-term extension for one of the leading Dally M rookie of the year contenders, big-earners Ryan Matterson and Sivo have also been told they are free to leave if they can find deals elsewhere.
Talagi is set to meet with his management this week to discuss his options with the Dragons, Knights and Dolphins all expressing interest.
The potential for Talagi to play fullback as Clint Gutherson moves to centre has been raised by Ryles.
The Eels could well present the youngster with his best shot at a No.1 jersey given Newcastle has Kalyn Ponga, the Dolphins Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow and St George Illawarra have pursued Talagi chiefly as a centre.
“Being able to clear a path for the head coach and Blaize to sort out where he fits in the team longer term is really important,” Sarantinos said, given Talagi had put off talks around his future until the Eels appointed their next coach.
“There’s no secret about how much everyone at the club cares for Blaize and sees him as our long-term future.
“He’s been able to play a number of different positions and been able to handle those really well. It just talks to the character and talent that he has.
“It just talks to the character and talent that he has. Hopefully we’ll see him doing that in an Eels jersey for a long time to come.”