‘Like riding a bike’: Left-field contender backed by great as Eels coaching race goes down to wir

Parramatta powerbrokers are reportedly set to make a call on their next head coach, with an announcement expected as soon as Friday after a late twist in the search for Brad Arthur’s successor.

After 11 years at the helm, Arthur was sacked in May and speculation has since been rife regarding who will take over as the Eels sit bottom of the ladder.

Interim coach Trent Barrett has been leading the team but is no longer considered a contender for the long-term job.

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Rookie head coaches Jason Ryles, Josh Hannay and Dean Young all reportedly held interviews with Parramatta bosses wile in a shock turn of events, legendary coach Brian Smith threw his name in the hat on Thursday.

Speaking to media on Wednesday, Barrett made it clear it’s best for the “everyone, the club and the players” for Eels’ powerbrokers to make their decision, and make it fast.

However, a sticking point has emerged in that very little separates the frontrunners for the role.

“The current list of candidates, they’re pretty much even pegging as far as coaches go,” The Daily Telegraph’s David Riccio said on NRL360.

“To say you’re more confident of one over the other, I think you’re throwing darts a little bit.”

So where could that dart land and who are the remaining contenders for the role?

Here, foxsports.com.au breaks down the coaches being considered for the Eels’ top job.

JOSH HANNAY

Ahead of his meeting with Parramatta bosses, it was revealed two references from revered figures – from Queensland greats Billy Slater and Daly Cherry-Evans – could give Hannay a major boost in his bid to win the job.

The 44-year-old has been Slater’s Maroons assistant across their Origin-winning campaigns in 2022 and 2023, and is considering a key cog in his coaching team.

Speaking on 2GB, Hannay made it clear he believes he is ready to take an NRL head coaching job.

“I think in my own mind, there’s no doubt about my readiness. I’ve stated that publicly, so we will see where it all lands,” he said.

Hannay has previously been an interim NRL coach at both the Cowboys and Sharks following the exits of Paul Green and John Morris.

He’s previously been said to have been leading the race to win the role and The Courier Mail’s Peter Badel said “I would not be surprised if he gets the job with Daly Cherry-Evans and Billy Slater in his corner” on NRL360 in June.

DEAN YOUNG

Support from Wayne Bennett is like gold in the rugby league world and Young’s bid to win the job has been boosted by some strong words from the man who once coached him at the Dragons.

“You can’t coach if you can’t lead. He ticks that box,” Bennett said to the SMH.

“He’s an outstanding person. Simple as that. When you go through all the details of what makes someone outstanding, that’s what he is.

“The best part is Dean actually wants to do it, he’s applied for the job. It’s not about what I think. He obviously thinks he can do it and I know Dean Young well enough to know he wouldn’t have applied for the job if he didn’t have the qualifications and the ability to do it.”

Young is currently an assistant under Shane Flanagan at the Dragons, having also had a stint as Todd Payten’s assistant in North Queensland.

He’s reportedly one of the frontrunners to win the position, and alongside Ryles and Hannay, is yet to have been a head coach in the NRL.

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JASON RYLES

Ryles is currently Craig Bellamy’s assistant coach at the Storm, having previously been touted to take over at the Dragons prior to Shane Flanagan.

He turned down a five-year deal at the Red V, and Ryles was then installed in Melbourne as the man set to be Bellamy’s successor.

However, he’s one of the three frontrunners to take over at the Eels, and the fact the Storm, a strong club and system, have faith in the up-and-coming coach is a huge tick for Parramatta according to league legend Matty Johns.

“The fact the Storm, they picked him as the man if Craig decided at the end of the year, that’s it,” Johns said on the Matty Johns show on Thursday night.

“He’s not going to, but if he did then he was going in. In a lot of ways for Parramatta, the Storm have done the leg work here.”

It’s a year-on-year proposition at the Storm for Ryles, with Bellamy once again confirming he will coach on, extending his contract until the end of the 2025 season.

It remains to be seen if he will continue in 2026 and even 2027, so Ryles could still be waiting at least 18 months to become a head coach.

He’s playing the waiting game, but there’s not many better coaches to complete an apprenticeship under before taking the top job.

BRIAN SMITH

Brian Smith has emerged late as a canditate with reports emerging on Thursday he’d sat down for a meeting with Eels powerbrokers, pitching to take over the head coach job.

Smith coached the Eels across 243 games from 1997 to 2006 and has a total of 601 NRL and NSWRL games coached uner his belt, dating back to his job with Illawarra in 1984.

The 70-year-old is the third-most capped NRL coach of all time and was only last year taken over as the most experienced Eels coach by Arthur.

For legendary Eels forward Nathan Hindmarsh, Smith would be a great fit for the role

“Look, people are going to say Smith has been out of the game for a long time,” Hindmarsh said on the Matty Johns Show on Thursday night.

“But coaching is a bit like riding a bike, you always are going to stay in touch with it.

“He has coached over 600 first grade games, and yes he hasn’t had the success the Eels were looking for, but Smithy knows what he is doing.

“Now that he has put his hand up, I can’t see an issue with it. Only because you can put him there for a few years, if things don’t happen you’re not burning one of these young, up and coming coaches from the clubs they are already at.”

However, Smith is reportedly not considered as one of the major contenders for the head coaching role.