The Cumberland Throw

A Positioning Statement: Your Guide to the Eels 2017 Roster

Eels fans, it has been a long and arduous year.

When one considers the roller-coaster ride that all associated to the blue and gold have been on in 2016, you could excuse us for having enough rugby league for the year.

However, if you ask this supporter, even in light of all our past dramas, the only real tough part in the rugby league calendar is the ‘off-season’.

I mean, what does one simply do with their weekend during the off-season?

Off-season Pain: We feel you Isaac

Without rugby league to quench our sporting thirst, I suppose one could retreat into the arms of summer cricket. However, with the 2017 NRL season destined to be upon us in less than three months and the 9s only seven weeks away, it would be remiss of us to stray (too far) from our great love.

With a host of new players joining our squad; the new executive administration and board; as well as the opportunity to start afresh from our ‘annus horribilis’, one can’t help be excited about 2017.

So as our boys slog it out in the Western Sydney heat out at Old Salesyard, one also can’t help but be in awe of the squad that Brad Arthur has built.

Midst all the difficulties this Club has endured in 2016, not since the Brian Smith era has our squad had the level of depth it currently enjoys moving into the new year. Just trying to pick a top 17 each week will be the Club’s biggest challenge moving forward (as it should be!).

Grinding Time: The Off-season is where our players prove their worth to make the NRL top squad

So in an attempt to help alleviate this problem, I want to help us as supporters try and make the most informed decision we can when it comes to picking our top 17 for ’17 by sharing some insights into what to expect from the players in our side and open the floor to discussion to our supporter base to share their opinions on the players who make up our extended squad for next year.

This page will be the landing page for a series of articles that analyses the positions we have to fulfill and what to expect from each of the players trying to fulfill them.

So without further ado Eels fans, please enjoy your summer fix of rugby league!

 

Fullback

Wingers

Centres

Halves

Edge Forwards (Coming Soon)

Middle Forwards (Coming Soon)

Hooker

 

I look forward to hearing your opinions!

 

Clint

All images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels, NRL.com and Getty Images.

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10 thoughts on “A Positioning Statement: Your Guide to the Eels 2017 Roster

  1. Grunta 'what other site?' Potato

    What the..?
    An OFFICIAL team list blog? Now, why didn’t I think of that?

    FULLBACK – Gutherson.
    WINGERS – Semi / Hoffman. (if Semi is suspended, G Jennings until Kirisome is available)
    CENTRES – M Jennings / Taka.
    HALVES – Norman / French.
    EDGE FORWARDS – Ma’u / Matangi / Moeroa.
    MIDDLE FORWARD – Mannah / Alvaro / Vave.
    HYBRID? FORWARDS – Brown / Edwards / Scott.
    HOOKER – King or Fogarty or Hunt! (80mins).

    Of course this is only my opinion!
    French at 7 is controversial, but I maintain that he would kill it. With his talents, we need him more involved than at wing or fullback imo.
    I also think that Gutho is a pure fullback and could well prove one of the best?
    The hooker position, I would give someone else a chance moving forward. Ben Hunt has played most of his footy at hooker believe it or not and has a fantastic short kicking game. He is also quick between the ears, quick enough to be a rake. Of course this is pie in the sky stuff, so if he wasn’t to come to the Eels, either King or Fogarty. The latter for the same reasons as Hunt.

    Unfortunately some decent players miss out, in this case Terepo and Gower.

    1. Mitchy

      Good points Grunta. Bevan would be good…maybe in a year or so..
      The thing with these team blogs Grunts is that there would not be more than one blog…with all the extras.
      I have Terepo in my 17, as his running is tough and he improved a lot this season.

      1. Grunta

        Yes I agree re Terepo.
        Who do you leave out though?
        Incredible depth but I’m sure within a few games that it will sort itself?

      2. sixties

        Mitchy, we’ve watched French fill in earlier this year in the halves at training, so I’ll agree that he has the talent to play there. However, if he succeeds at fullback this year, his pace will make him an irresistible long term custodian.

      3. Clint Post author

        Terepo is very highly rated by our coaching staff – his tackle efficiency and effectiveness is incredible.

    2. Clint Post author

      Grunta, that’s the beauty of these posts. I want to incite discussion and for people to share their opinions and outlook.
      My role is to try and take you into the minds of our coaching staff, why they might consider who we have on our books and the considerations that come along with selecting those players.
      As supporters, I want you to use that information to form your own opinions about who makes up our best 17, so it’s great that you are sharing your team and opinions – I love that!

      As Sixties said, make sure to jump in on the individual position debates!

  2. Bubbles

    Im fine with people having sensible opinions on players and team selections but please dont let the sites standards descend to sledging playerspersonally as seen elsewhere ,this site has respectability id hate to see that lost

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