Benji Marshall provided an inadvertent insight into the scrutiny Parramatta can expect after their 32-6 drubbing at the hands of his Wests Tigers on Sunday.
“If we lose that today, then the external pressure builds and just gets louder and louder,” coach Marshall said when asked if he felt a sense of relief after steering the Tigers to their first win of the season.
Instead, Marshall and his men are entitled to be feeling good about themselves, as are their long-suffering fans.
Two rounds into the season, they are seventh on the points table and Sunday’s victory may prove another step in their quest to emerge from the competition cellar after a three-year residency.
While the Eels avoided the ignominy of finishing last in 2024, after smashing the Tigers 60-26 in the last-round “Spoon Bowl”, bookmakers doubt they can again escape the dreaded utensil, judging by their first two performances this year.
After a 56-18 trouncing from Melbourne in their season opener, TAB wound the Eels in to $6 favourites in its “most losses” betting market. They tightened to $3.75 after Sunday’s display, followed by the Dolphins ($5.50), St George Illawarra ($6.50) and North Queensland ($7).
Jason Ryles is still chasing his first win as a head coach.Credit: Getty Images
With Mitchell Moses estimating that he faces another “five or six weeks” on the sidelines because of a foot injury, Parramatta’s season could be as good as over before the incumbent Test halfback is cleared to return.
All of which represents the toughest of initiations for rookie coach Jason Ryles, who served his coaching apprenticeship at perennial heavyweights Melbourne and Sydney Roosters, as well as stints with the English national rugby union team and the Wallabies.
Ryles admitted he was “super disappointed” with his team’s performance on Sunday and conceded their start to the season had taken him partly by surprise.
“Did I expect it was going to be like this? I don’t think anyone would,” he said.
“But I can see some signs there where we can build.”
The Eels ran 15th last season, and have since parted company with inspirational skipper Clint Gutherson, proven performers Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Maika Sivo, and outstanding rookie Blaize Talagi.
“Where we finished the season last year, it was no fluke,” Ryles said. “There’s obviously going to be a few bumps early.”
In addition to Moses, new signing Josh Addo-Carr has been unable to play because of suspension, while Bailey Simonsson, Bryce Cartwright, and Ryan Matterson have not featured because of injury.
Jarome Luai shares a joke with Tigers coach Benji Marshall.Credit: Getty Images
In addition, five-eighth Dylan Brown has been dealing with the distraction of contract negotiations, after signing an unprecedented 10-year deal with Newcastle last week.
All of which has left Ryles on the back foot from the outset.
“The most important part for us is sticking together,” Ryles said.
“Just making sure that we’re on a path here, that there’s been quite a bit of change, and it’s been instigated by myself. We can see the fruits of, it but we’ve got to stay the course.”
Twelve months ago, Marshall was in a similar position – a rookie coach kicking off his career with an inexperienced, struggling team.
Now, after a signing spree that delivered Jarome Luai, Sunia Turuva, Terrell May, Jack Bird and Royce Hunt to the Tigers, he has some weapons at his disposal and is confident his new-look squad will continue to evolve and improve.
“We’re still tinkering with the way we want to play,” Marshall said.
Relieved as he was after Sunday’s victory, Marshall insisted: “We’re not going to get carried away. We’ve won one game.”
That’s one more than the Eels, who must be wondering where their first win under Ryles will come from.
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