Dragons Fans Disheartened as Legend Mark Gasnier Joins Jason Ryles at the Eels

St. George Illawarra Dragons fans have been left disappointed after former club icon Mark Gasnier was announced as part of the Parramatta Eels’ coaching staff for the 2025 season. Gasnier, a pivotal figure in the Dragons’ drought-breaking 2010 premiership victory, will reunite with new Eels head coach Jason Ryles as a specialist coach for outside backs. Adding further intrigue, Zac Lomax, a standout for the Dragons in 2024, has also made the move to Parramatta.

The trio forms a strong connection to the Red V, with Ryles, Gasnier, and Lomax all playing significant roles in the Dragons’ history. Ryles, who played 156 games for the Dragons, will also have former Dragon Nathan Brown as an assistant coach at the Eels. This wave of appointments reflects Ryles’ intent to integrate expertise from his former club as he reshapes Parramatta’s structure. Gasnier’s role, although part-time, has drawn attention due to his close bond with Ryles, who described Gasnier’s ability to mentor backs and share insights as a valuable addition. “He has a unique ability to break down the craft of playing in the backs and deliver that knowledge effectively,” Ryles said.

Gasnier’s appointment, however, has not been without controversy. Dragons fans, still reeling from years of on-field struggles and off-field decisions, expressed dismay at the club’s inability to retain or attract their legends. The situation was further aggravated by revelations that former Dragons star Matt Cooper, once regarded as one of the best centers in the NRL, had previously offered to mentor outside backs at the Dragons but was turned away. Fans took to social media to vent their frustrations, lamenting the loss of yet another club great to a rival team.

The move could be transformative for Zac Lomax, who thrived in 2024 as a winger under Dragons coach Shane Flanagan. Lomax earned both State of Origin and Test honors as a winger but views himself as a natural center—a position he aims to cement with Gasnier’s guidance at Parramatta. While some question whether the switch back to center will suit Lomax, others believe Gasnier’s tutelage could help the 25-year-old unlock new levels in his game.

This latest chapter in the Dragons-Eels narrative has added fuel to ongoing debates about St. George Illawarra’s management and its treatment of past legends, leaving fans both hopeful for change and nostalgic for what they feel is being lost.