Let’s be honest. In rolling up to Parramatta Eels training today, I was fully aware that I would be far from the only spectator. The sight of outside broadcast vans parked outside the facility foreshadowed what was about to transpire. Welcome to Eels training, 2016 style.
The Media Call
This was quite a turn out! The film crews and print media journalists filled what is often a quiet area reserved for the usual weekly media calls. Today, there was certainly a huge interest in the latest drama involving star five-eighth, Corey Norman.
The players rostered on for media duties were Tim Mannah and Clint Gutherson. The typical football questions were pushed aside as the focus became the latest topic of distraction to the Eels season.
Tim Mannah is truly a wonderful ambassador for the club. He respectfully answered all questions, looking each interviewer in the eye, and maintaining a composure which surely defied how he would have been feeling about the situation.
Clinton Gutherson similarly dealt with the questioning with a level of professionalism that far exceeded a player in his first full season of NRL.
The club and its supporters can feel rightly proud of these two men.
Tim Mannah – a great ambassador for the Eels
Back To Business
After running through their warm ups, the players broke into their half-field footy game. This particular field work involves rapid shifts of the ball in touch footy (grab) type conditions. Quick hands, offloads, shifts, cut outs – basically all of the players get their hands on the ball in this drill.
The players then shifted into opposed work that split the NRL squad across two teams. Even though the teams involved a mixture of Parramatta and Wenty players, it allowed Brad Arthur and his staff to work with the players on their attacking and defensive decisions. Accolades were handed out to teams and individuals. The competitive nature of the game resulted in a bit of fun banter taking place.
The main field work concluded with the NRL team working through their attacking shapes. Brad Arthur was organising the plays to be used for different sets of six for the upcoming match. At this stage of the week, the plays are done without opposition.
For the warm down the players split into a forwards group and a backs group and went through slightly different shuttle runs.
The Big Question – Corey Norman?
Corey did not face the media during my time there today, though the film crews remained to capture vision of him training.
As far as training was concerned, Norman participated in the field work and it was business as usual. No doubt he would be feeling the pressure – and who wouldn’t be? Nonetheless, the preparation of the squad, the banter, the effort, the camaraderie – it looked as it has done all year. The resilience of this group is amazing.
Corey Norman – the centre of attention today.
My Standouts
I really liked the work of Tepai Moeroa today. There was real energy in his defensive play and he was running some great lines. Jeff Robson continues to become a big part of this team. “The King” has adjusted well to his return to the blue and gold. I’m looking forward to seeing more of him in the half back role this week.
A Final Word
Every week is a new challenge, yet every week it has been business as usual for this group of players and staff. As a fan, myself and others feel lucky to be welcomed at training by players and staff. I’d like to thank Craig Sultana for his time today and again Tim Mannah for his personal g’day.
Eels forever
Sixties
Sixties, how many tyres did you (or somebody else *wink*) deflate from the media convoy vehicles???
That’s actually a great idea Phil.
Ha! I was there from 9:30 to 2. The OB vans were there when I arrived. They were there when I left. I spoke to one of the crew as I left and he told me he was on the second shift and had just arrived!
Hi Sixties, thanks for the training report. Who trained at left wing Gutho or French? Did Nelson spend anytime with the NRL tram at 9? Thanks in advance
Bevan was on the right but the team was mixed up so I wouldn’t read anything into today. Thursday will give a better idea.
Good read mate and thanks for the welcome today and chat. Great to see the team again..
Enjoyed catching up and appreciated your advice. The next challenge for you is to convince your lovely lady to jump from the Knights to the Eels.
That may take a few years mate but I’ll try….she’s a good lady.
What a good bloke Timmy is. Glad to hear the boys trained well, they’ll be looking to make up for the last second loss against Penrith last time they played.
Gem, Tim says gday whenever the opportunity allows him to do so (remembering they are in their workplace). I’ve got a massive amount of respect for that bloke!
Thanks for passing on this information again, sixties.
I’ve always held Mannah in the highest regard and obviously you do too.
I thought he had a very good game last week, particularly being his first in many weeks. His presence on the field was notable and he is a true leader and the perfect club captain IMO.
I really like having Robbo in the team, particularly with the way Norman plays.
Fingers crossed that both halves are available for selection for Sunday’s game and good luck to Norman today!
Go you eels!
Thanks Grunta. Tim is the ideal club captain. He is great at encouraging his team mates, is vocal in his work, and doesn’t take short cuts at training – really pushes himself. Furthermore, he is appreciative of supporters. He asked me recently about how the fans were feeling about this year and I told him that the team keeps giving their all on the field and we couldn’t expect more than that from the players.
Thank you for the updates sixties. To be honest , the more I hear about the culture being created by BA and the team the more impressed I am, especially given all the off field issues. In particular, Tim Mannah is a man I respect not only as a footballer but as an individual. I don’t know Tim personally but he’d be someone I’d like to have a few beers with. I’d also involve him in the kids programs that I run- they’d gain so much from listening to him and what he stands for. He is all class!
With regard to the kids programs, you should try to contact him via the club. The players are very busy with commitments but it can’t hurt to ask.
Hadn’t considered that but thank you. I think I’d better clarify that the program is for youth rather than kids. Helping them to believe in themselves, positive attitude , health, self worth etc. Supports PDHPE and IB. Sixties anyone in particular I should speak with?
Sounds like what you do overlaps a bit with the Eels Educate program. Maybe speak with them or even have a word with Michael Basan.
Cheers sixties
Let me know how you go.
60’s. Would love to have been there, but then again not! having dealt with those leeches enough in the past is enough for me, but at least I did get one of them onside at a rural paper at Tamworth some years back.
There are some players that the club should hold up more, & that especially applies to the critics of Tim Mannah, who deserves much more credit for what he does on & off the field,
Gutho also is one that is starting to show maturity beyond his age, oops don’t want to put a mokka on him.
These are the type of blokes that represent the club well, both on and off the field, that you can build a club’s culture around.
Too True
There is no origin blog here, so…
Tedesco has to be number one.
Hayne should take Jennings position.
French should be trained as a 7.
James Maloney should be 6.
7 is up for grabs your IMO.
Rake should be Reign. Big call but he bleeds origin and is slightly above Peats, not necessarily recently but I reckon he has all the smarts to be origin 9 for nsw.
Pity Moeroa can’t play for NSW. I reckon next year is all his.
Great comments regarding Tim Mannah – it’s easy for us to forget the measure of this man and his importance to the team and club. Great human being.
“every week is a new challenge, yet every week it has been business as usual” – -this could be a comment about you TCT blokes, don’t know how you do it!