When belief meets belonging, when a young player finds not just a team but a family, and when a club’s faith becomes the gentle spark that transforms potential into power — that’s when dreams take their first real breath. At Parramatta, Ryley Smith isn’t just rising… he’s blooming.
In a touching and revealing reflection, Parramatta Eels rising star Ryley Smith has spoken about the extraordinary two-year journey that has taken him from Jersey Flegg hopeful to one of the most promising young talents in the NRL. And according to the 22-year-old, none of it would have been possible without one thing: faith — the faith others put in him and the faith he learned to put in himself.
Sitting inside the James Hardie Centre of Excellence, Smith described the whirlwind that has defined his last two seasons.
“It’s been unreal,” he said, “and I think the journey is only just starting. I feel like I’ve done so much… but really, I’ve only just begun.”
In 2024, Smith was playing Jersey Flegg. Just months later, he was invited to train with the NRL squad on a train-and-trial deal. His relentless energy and professionalism caught the eye of the coaching staff, and his momentum carried him into a development contract — and then, astonishingly, into the Top 30 squad for 2025, complete with a contract extension through 2027.
Smith is clear about who unlocked this leap forward: Head Coach Jason Ryles and the entire Eels coaching team.
“They put faith in me — something I’ve needed for a few years,” Smith said. “Coming to Parra, I finally felt that sense of belief.”
He gave special recognition to Jordan Rankin, who entrusted him with leadership roles in Flegg, and praised Eels staff members Browny and Wisey for shaping him daily.
“You just listen to them because they’re always right,” he laughed.
The maturing half also admitted that his role has shifted entering his second NRL preseason. Younger players now look to him for guidance — a responsibility he carries proudly.
“It’s been refreshing to see boys come to me with questions. It shows how far I’ve come.”
But perhaps the most heartfelt shoutout was reserved for the Blue & Gold Army.
“The fans have been unbelievable,” Smith said. “They make my job easy. I just go out and play knowing they’re behind me.”
With preseason ramping up ahead of the Round 1 clash against Melbourne, Smith’s story is becoming one of Parramatta’s most inspiring chapters — a young man lifted by faith, strengthened by family, and ready to lead the next wave of Eels talent into the future.
