Ex-Souths mentor out of Eels race with rookie coach reportedly set to take over at Parramatta
The Parramatta Eels have reportedly trimmed down the list of candidates for their vacant head coaching position to two, with a former Rabbitohs coach knocked out of the running.
It’s reported that one of either Josh Hannay and Jason Ryles will be Parramatta’s next coach from 2025 after progressing through to the next round of interviews.
Former Souths coach Jason Demetriou and ex-Wallabies coach Michael Cheika have been overlooked, while it appears Trent Barrett, who is currently leading the side in an interim role, will also likely miss out.
Dean Ritchie confirmed the report on Tuesday night’s episode of NRL360.
“I think you can demote Trent Barrett to at least number three now. Jason Demetriou and Michael Cheika have been omitted from future interviews,” Ritchie said.
“Josh Hannay has some support internally and I’m hearing he’s marginally ahead of Jason Ryles. Ever so marginally but there’s other support within the club that want Ryles.
“There’s a bit of butting of heads out there with who wants who and who flexes the most muscle and power.”
It’s no secret that negotiations move along at a glacial pace at Parramatta, but veteran journalist Paul Crawley is stunned that the Eels brass have yet to come to a decision.
“You know what I find interesting, is that we’re even having this discussion. If it’s right if Parramatta are having this discussion, surely they are the ones that should know,” Crawley said.
“They missed out on Bennett. Let’s be fair dinkum, they were never in this race.
“With these two guys, if there is a division there, surely they need to know who they want, what they want and they need to go and get him.”
NRL360 co-host Braith Anasta is in the corner of a former teammate in Ryles.
“I’d go with Ryles. He’s got the potential to be an amazing coach,” Anasta said.
“It’s good roster there at Parramatta, I think he could do some great things.”
Reportedly the likes of Clint Gutherson and Mitch Moses went into bat for Barrett during the interview process, but the club is ultimately set to go against their star players and hire a rookie coach.