After unhappy 2025, a chat with coach Jason Ryles proved beneificial
“Obviously, things were happening that I was able to talk about with other clubs. I sat down and looked at myself in the mirror, looked at where I was at, and decided I needed to do better, work on myself.”
“It’s been a tough few years, so the important thing is to get my body right. The important thing is to do good things for the club, because they’ve treated me well.”
Bailey Simonsson and Eels coach Jason Ryles are back on strong footing.Credit: Getty Images
“We had a good chat and Rylesy mentioned he wanted me to be part of the club. It was a good chat, I’ve got plenty of time for him and [I am] I am grateful to him for the whole process at the club.
“I really want to stay there for the next two years, I feel like we’re building something pretty good there.”
Simonsson said that becoming a father for the first time, combined with a period of self-reflection, led to a change in his perspective.
“Honestly, he [Ryles] “He was great, he was very good at everything,” he said.
“I’m not just saying this because I said [of this interview]He is a good coach and a good person. I’m really happy to stay under him.
“I had a few things to sort out in my own life… I had a lot of injuries: ACL, broken foot, shoulder surgeries before that.
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“I had a bad time with injuries and a lot of built-up frustration. Apart from football, there were other things going on that I wouldn’t delve into, but there were things that happened. It got to a point where I didn’t really run away but I walked away from things. I felt like everything wasn’t going right, I wasn’t sure where I was going.”
“To be fair I was a bit lost…I had to sit down and figure out where I was and where I wanted to be and that is at Parramatta.”
Simonsson, who can play in the center or on the wing, also clarified his perceptions of where he wants to play.
“If you ask me what I prefer, I would prefer to play on the wing or in the centre,” he said.
“Mostly lost in translation, it wasn’t a matter of ‘I don’t want to be Pinterest’, it was that I’d rather play on the wing.
“You live and you learn. I’m focused on my remaining two years at Parra and hoping to get in and stay there for the long term.”
