Eels coach Jason Ryles believes Bailey Simonsson will return to the club next week following a tumultuous period that saw the outside back request a release on multiple occasions.
According to Code Sports, Simonsson was granted a leave of absence after he was left with a bad taste in his mouth following a shock decision from Ryles.
The rookie coach reportedly told Simonsson that star five-eighth Dylan Brown is ahead of him in the centre pecking order.
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“Bailey made that decision to stay away for a couple of days which we fully supported,” Ryles said of Simonsson’s leave.
“He will get himself sorted and back into training as soon as he can. I’m not going to elaborate out on anything I speak with the players about
“Bailey is being really well supported by the club and we will make sure he is OK.
“(Wanting him here has) been communicated. It’s been a little bit of a shock but it’s all footy and we have to manage players as best we can.”
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With Sean Russell out of Sunday’s clash with the Cowboys due to a hand injury, Ryles has been forced to make a change to his backline.
He has named the versatile Jordan Samrani at centre, but according to News Corp, there will be a late switch and Brown will be a shock recall to play there.
That decision has reportedly angered Simonsson, who has played 21 of his 101 NRL games at centre and is a specialist outside back as opposed to Brown, who is a five-eighth.
“It’s exciting for him,” Ryles said of Brown’s re-call.
“He has been training hard. He has maintained a good attitude in and around the place.
“I said if circumstances and anything like that changed we would more than happily bring Dylan in. he hasn’t been dropped. Things changed and an opportunity came up We found a spot for him
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“He was good. He was excited. He has been really good in and around the group the whole time. He has a great attitude and team first mentality.”
The wantaway flyer reportedly sat down with Eels officials on Thursday night, where he was granted leave with his future in Parramatta looking uncertain.
Simonsson is contracted to the Eels until the end of 2027 but the Herald reports the 27-year-old requested an early release this week — his third request in the last month.
Simonsson, who signed a two-year extension in August last year, has had rotten luck with injuries this season.
He returned from an ACL injury in Round 6 only to injure his foot four games later.
Simonsson returned in Round 19 and played two games in the centres before being dropped following the Eels’ 40-16 loss to the Raiders.
