‘There is no disconnect’: Mitch Moses thrilled to have Jason Ryles as his coach in 2025, shuts down rumours of a rift between players and board

Parramatta halfback Mitchell Moses has welcomed the club’s decision to appoint Jason Ryles as their coach next year, with the Eels star denying suggestions there’s been a disconnect between the playing group and officials over who should have been brought in to replace Brad Arthur.

Ryles will leave his role at the Storm at the end of the year to take up a four-year deal with the Eels. His first job is fixing their leaky defence, the worst in the NRL this season, and a major reason why they have won just four games.

The decision to sack Arthur after Magic Round came as a shock to the players, with Trent Barrett stepping in as interim coach but unable to turn their season around.

“I don’t think it has been a distraction. We haven’t been getting the results and just falling short every week,” Moses said.

“It’s probably not because of uncertainty around the coach or anything. Baz has come in and done a great job. With the cards he has been dealt, he’s come in to work every day and done his best for us. We probably let him down as players.

“It hasn’t affected us not knowing who the coach is. Our playing group just hasn’t been up to scratch. It’s all sorted now.”

Moses addressed the Ryles appointment while in camp with the Blues on Monday, with the Parramatta playmaker keen to shut down speculation that senior players were fed up with club bosses over the lack of clarity around Arthur’s departure and the time it’s taken to replace him.

“We’ve been talking through the whole time, not about who. It’s not our decision on who to make coach. It’s completely up to the board, CEO and whoever makes the decision. We are just out there just trying to win footy games,” he said.

“What we can control is the result on the footy field. We haven’t been getting the result. It’s good they fixed that stuff up, now we’ve got to win and fix the footy side up.

“I don’t know where this disconnect thing has come from. It’s a bit weird. There is no disconnect with the playing group.

“We’re not winning games so the media is going to come at us and everyone is going to have these stories and start these stories. All we can control is to win games, so that’s all we can try and do.

“We’re a close-knit group at Parra, there is no disconnect at all. The club has got our full support as a playing group, and they support us as well. There is no disconnect.”

Moses praised Barrett for elevating the playmaker’s game to new heights since he joined the Parramatta coaching staff, with the halfback hopeful Ryles will keep him as an assistant next year.

He also wants Zac Lomax to wear the blue and gold jersey in 2025, with a few reports the Dragons star will try to back out of his deal given his incredible form this season and the fact Arthur – the man who signed him – won’t be there.

“He’s good. He’s been playing some great footy,” Moses said.

“With all the headlines around him from the start of the year until now, he had every right to throw it away, but he has been their best player.

“It’s a credit to him. He has put himself in this arena. That’s because of the footy he has played in this arena. Hopefully, he continues to do that next year.”