League legend Cooper Cronk believes fans have to \u201ctip your cap\u201d to Eels coach Jason Ryles after he made another tough call to release winger Zac Lomax.<\/p>\n
Lomax\u2019s immediate exit from the Parramatta club was confirmed on Sunday, the latest in a cohort of players that have been shown the door since the rookie coach arrived at the club.<\/p>\n
Watch The Ashes 2025\/26 LIVE and ad-break free during play with FOX CRICKET on Kayo Sports | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.<\/a><\/p>\n WHAT’S GAMBLING REALLY COSTING YOU? Set a deposit limit. For Free and confidential support call 1800 858 858 or visit gamblinghelponline.org.au.<\/p>\n This list was headlined by skipper Clint Gutherson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard two veteran\u2019s whose exits were heavily scrutinised as the Eels got off to a slow start in 2025.<\/p>\n However, Cronk believes Ryles has been vindicated in the past \u2014 and he will be once again after his latest decision.<\/p>\n \u201cYou\u2019ve got to tip your cap to Jason Ryles,\u201d Cronk said on the Kayo Sports NRL Podcast.<\/p>\n \u201cRookie coach last year, arrived at Parramatta Eels, and when you\u2019re making decisions based on your own career you\u2019re probably going to keep some players and say \u2018I need to win games\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cHe got rid of Clint Gutherson and RCG, got smashed by Melbourne first round… didn\u2019t win a couple for a while, brought in some other players.<\/p>\n Cronk said the decision was about resetting the culture of the club.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is another call from Jason Ryles, he\u2019s like \u2018well Zac, if you\u2019re not buying in to what we\u2019re doing, cya later\u2019.<\/p>\n \u201cBecause Ryles has made some really strong decisions that you could argue has put Parramatta a couple of steps back, but are definitely going in the right direction.<\/p>\n Watch the latest episode of the Kayo Sports NRL Podcast here!<\/a><\/p>\n Coach Jason Ryles has made some big calls.Source: News Corp Australia<\/p>\n \u201cHe chose to set a culture with good characters, good leaders and I think this is a decision around Zac as well. He\u2019s happy to let Zac move on and reshape their roster a little bit.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s happy to let Zac move on and re-shape their roster.\u201d<\/p>\n Legendary prop Steve Roach echoed Cronk\u2019s \u2014 and he also highlighted a player he believes would slot straight into the Parramatta forward pack as a marquee recruit.<\/p>\n \u201cI reckon Jason Ryles has shown a lot of maturity here, you would still say that he\u2019s a rookie coach, to buy a player to come to Parramatta,\u201d Roach said.<\/p>\n \u201cAll of a sudden he is one of your best and to have the maturity to say \u2018we are going to let you go\u2019… I think it opens the door for big Nelson Asofa-Solomona.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s the type of player that can play 50 minutes every week, play the first 20 or 30, have a rest and come on and finish games.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019s a presence, sometimes he is a little erratic, but I don\u2019t think Parramatta will try and replace Lomax with an outside back.<\/p>\n \u201cThey probably lacked a bit of size, when you think about it, if you\u2019re going through to the finals you\u2019re playing 27, 28 games.<\/p>\n \u201cYou get worn out if you don\u2019t have size, so I think big Nelson would be perfect for them. I think he\u2019s the type of bloke people will follow.<\/p>\n \u201cI think he\u2019d really be a good fit for Parramatta.\u201d<\/p>\n However, Cronk wasn\u2019t sure a big body was the right fit for the Eels.<\/p>\n \u201cNelson\u2019s one of the names he\u2019s going after, Koloamatangi… I think one of the things Parramatta needed to fix… they needed some mobile leg speed middle forwards,\u201d Cronk said.<\/p>\n \u201cJunior Paulo had a really good year, dropped some weight, got fit. Dylan Walker was a point of difference when he came across from the Warriors.<\/p>\n Haas set to reject R360 for Broncos | 00:36<\/p>\n MORE NRL NEWS<\/p>\n NOV 1 LIVE: Origin star set for Cowboys exit; Raiders poach another Broncos gun <\/a><\/p>\n SOUTHS\u2019 STATE OF PLAY: Enforcer\u2019s exit fears amid fairytale reunion roster fix<\/a><\/p>\n