Newly minted Parramatta coach Jason Ryles will have to look away from Melbourne for new recruitments as part of his exit agreement with the Storm. Nine days after he was appointed as Eels coach on a four-year deal starting in 2025, Ryles was told by the Storm that he could leave at week’s end to begin his work with the struggling NRL side.

While Trent Barrett will remain as interim Eels coach until the end of this campaign, Ryles can work in the background on all planning decisions for next season. The former Melbourne assistant coach will undoubtedly now turn his attention to other clubs’ players as he looks to turn around Parramatta’s fortunes. And foreseeing the possibility of the coach poaching some of Melbourne’s talented young crop, as part of the deal to let him go early he agreed to not bring in any Storm players in his first year in charge of the Eels.

The Sydney Morning Herald reports the agreement is not just verbal but is in writing and is similar to what other clubs have stipulated with other coaches in the game. The likes of Bob Fulton and Phil Gould had an agreement in the past not to poach each other’s players without the other’s permission.

And for Ryles, it will prevent him from raiding Melbourne’s prolific backline talent as he searches for Clint Gutherson‘s long-term fullback replacement at Parramatta. This means he will be unable to try and lure Ryan Papenhuyzen or Sua Fa’alogo to the club.

“On behalf of everyone at the Melbourne Storm, we congratulate Jason on his appointment to senior coach at the Eels,” said Storm CEO Justin Rodski earlier this week. “Given the significance of this opportunity for Jason, we have agreed an early release is in the best interest of both parties.

“Jason is a quality person and coach, we thank him for his contribution in 2024 and wish him, his wife Alana and his family all the best for the future.”