Bailey Simonsson now understands Parramatta coach Jason Ryles’ reluctance to play him in the NRL at various times last season.

“To be fair, looking back on the situation now, it was probably the right call from him,” Simonsson said.

Simonsson has realised that the Eels, to whom he is contracted for the next two seasons, are the only team he wants to play for. The former Raiders flyer expressed very different sentiments in August when Dylan Brown, who was defecting to Newcastle and had little experience in that position, was picked ahead of him in the centres.

The decision strained the relationship between Ryles and a frustrated Simonsson, to the point where the latter requested – and was at one point granted – a chance to explore his options at other clubs.

It all pointed to the like

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