If you haven’t read the landing page first, make sure you start here before reading this article
CENTRES
Footwork, pace, skill and defensively strong.
Those are the prerequisites to make it as a centre in rugby league in the modern era.
While your forwards slug it out to get the ball over the advantage line and the halves dominate their opposites with well-constructed and beautifully timed set plays, it’s the centres who have to ensure that the backline movement is capitalized on.
Be it through evasive sleek feet or a simple draw-and-pass, the centre is an important cog in the rugby league machine; and while their attacking play earns them praise, it’s the work a modern day centre does off the ball that matters the most to a rugby league side.
Smart reads and decisions, strong one-on-one tackles; if the centre doesn’t do his job defensively, the scoreboard is going to know it.
Gone are the days of the light-weight, attacking-centric centre like the Reg Gasnier’s, Bob Fulton’s and even the Eel’s own Steve Ella. Today’s game relies on big-bodied strongholds in the defensive line. Those players who are brick walls and man handle their opponents.
That’s not to say these types of players aren’t still valued in the modern game, nor that these players were defensively weak, because they are both still valued and all were defensively sound – it’s more to highlight that coaches of today’s game will forgo someone of this attacking prowess in favour of a strong defender who can catch-and-pass. Anything on top of that is a bonus.
History has shown that teams that have won an NRL premiership typically have a played one centre with footwork and pace who is defensively strong; alongside another centre who has skill with the ability to pass/offload and is defensively strong.
In 1998 the Broncos had the footwork and pace of Steve Renouf paired with the skill and defensive expertise of Darren Smith; 1999 the Storm had the footwork and pace of Aaron Moule paired with the skill and defensive strength of Tony Martin; 2001 saw Novocastrian Matt Gidley’s skill and footwork paired with the pace and defensive tenacity of Mark Hughes; while similarly 2002 saw the Roosters flyer Shannon Hegarty paired with a skillful, fleet footed youngster named Justin Hodges.
See the professional era of rugby league earmarked a noticeable change in a what has become the modern day centre pairing. The examples above show that premiership winning teams, whether they realized it or not, established a very Ying-Yang relationship among their three-quarter line. The strengths of one were balanced with the strengths of another, but both had to be able to defend.
In fact you can go through the list of any premiership centre pairing from the establishment of the NRL competition in 1998 (and even prior, look at Cronin & Ella) and you’ll be hard-pressed not to see this formula at play – Mark Gasnier & Matt Cooper; Jamie Lyon & Steve Matai; even our own Michael Jennings when he was paired with Shaun Kenny-Dowall.
And the great news for Parramatta fans, is that this pattern has re-emerged in Sydney’s golden west.
Without further ado, let’s see who’ll be contending for the number 3 and 4 jerseys in 2017.
Mark Gasnier: One of the best modern day centres to play in the NRL
Michael Jennings
An experienced State of Origin campaigner, Test football representative and a premiership winner; what a luxury to have jet-boot Jennings among our ranks.
With electric pace and incredibly light feet, this opportunistic try scorer makes the most of any space given to him.
If your forward pack is consistently getting over the advantage line then you can be sure of one thing, Michael Jennings will have plenty of line breaks and tries next to his name.
After picking him up from the Roosters this time last year, Jennings has proven to be everything I expected him to be, albeit he may be a little more pricey than we’d hope for a centre, the market dictates we have gotten what we have paid for.
A strong performer in the majority of games he plays, Michael crossed the line 9 times in 2016 and laid the ground work for what has the potential to be the most lethal centre-wing partnership in the competition with Semi Radradra on the Eels left flank (which I personally think will dominate with Bevan shifting to fullback).
However it was is defence that most caught my eye.
Does anyone actively remember Jennings being stood up by his opposite at any time in 2016? I know I can’t. In fact, I can’t actively recall him ever being plain stood up – and it’s for this reason alone that he is a mainstay in the NSW origin side.
If he could develop a more strategic and timely draw-and-pass and ignore the natural tendency that has habitually followed him around since his junior league days to simply run it himself, he can take his game to the absolute elite level. That aside however, you get an ultra reliable defender who is a potential game breaker – pretty much everything you could possibly want in a centre.
Strengths: Strength, pace, footwork, defence, genuine try scoring threat.
Areas of Development: Using his outside men more strategically, his potential nominal value against the salary cap.
Highlights: View here
This is an all round 2016 Jennings highlights package, but there are three attacking moments at 1:12, 2:52 & 3:02that excite me in particular. All great centre play for a variety of reasons!
Strong Start: Michael Jennings will be looking to build on a good first year with the Eels
Brad Takairangi
On the verge of becoming a Kiwi Test International, Brad Takairangi has taken his career to the next level since joining the Eels in 2015. After forming a lethal left edge combination with Semi Radradra, Takaz made the move to right centre in 2016. With incredibly soft hands and agile feet, the man Phil Gould dubbed as “being good enough to play any position on the rugby league field” has become a mainstay in the Eels squad.
After recently penning a new deal to extend his time at Old Salesyard until the end of the 2019 season, ‘Takaz’ as he’s affectionately known as, has the style of play the complements the rest of the Eels backline.
His very underrated in-and-away, pass selection and ability to offload make him a handful to tackle and almost impossible to defend against one-on-one. You need only look at the try scoring statistics of Semi Radradra in 2015 and similarly, the try assist statistics of Takairangi, to see these attributes and how lethal he is at creating opportunities for the finishers outside of him.
With the versatility to play across the backline (and in the forwards too), Brad has quickly become a favourite of the Eels faithful. His blue and gold lineage means Parramatta has a special place in his heart and his on-field passion and ability to get the job done, no matter the task, have earned him many a fan and made him an Eels clubman very fast.
Using his big frame with an aggressive ball-and-all tackling style has many an attacking player being stopped dead in their tracks, as Brad’s strong first contact with them featured in the new look Eels defence of 2016.
Some niggling and minor injuries have limited Brad from playing out a full-season to date, however if he can shake them off and remain healthy throughout the whole campaign, the blue and gold might not be the only team that requires his services come the back half of the year.
Strengths: Strength, footwork, offload ability, creates opportunities.
Areas of Development: Trusting his outside man defensively, overcoming niggling injuries.
Highlights: View here
The in-and-away he puts on Jamie Lyon to set up Semi at 0:07; the offload for Reece Robinson at 0:50; the soft hands at 1:30; the offload at 1:45; the in-and-away at 1:57 – ladies and gentleman, we have a footballer on our hands here!
Fan Favourite: Many Eels supporters have taken a strong liking to Brad Takairangi
Kirisome Auva’a
What a luxury it is to have the likes of Michael Jennings and Brad Takairangi on the books and then being able to fit in a premiership winning centre like Kirisome Auva’a in as well. No doubt he comes to us from last chance saloon, but sometimes you just can’t help how you meet somebody.
Irrespective of the circumstances he got here, we have a genuine first grader who will be pushing very hard to earn a starting spot in the Eels backline this year.
Powerfully built with strong leg drive and an aggressive running style that makes metres, Auva’a will no doubt feature in the Eels line up at some point in 2017. With potential injury and rep selection affecting either one or two of the Eels likely first choice centres, Auva’a will gain the opportunity to see some first grade football in the blue and gold – and when he does, he’ll be ready to take it with both hands.
A player on a minimum contract with a point to prove is one of the most shrewd and risk-free signings a coach can make. If they perform to their peak, you’ve won one over the salary cap. If they don’t work out, no problem, they’re on a short-term base contact that has little to no affect on the salary cap at all. In short, it’s a rugby league win-win.
With underrated pace, the ability to change direction and get on the outside of his man and a stiff arm that will leave the best of defenders clutching at straws, Kirisome (rightfully) backs himself close to the line.
Off the ball he’s just as tough, with his tenacity and aggression forcing many of his centre opponents into error. If he can keep himself out of trouble off the field, he’ll no doubt be an asset to the Eels squad in 2017.
Strengths: Robust, fend, gets over the advantage line, premiership winner.
Areas of Development: History of off-field incidents, not likely to be a first choice player.
Highlights: View here
Another highlights package with plenty of outstanding defence to watch, but have a look at the brilliant centre play he produces on current State of Origin player Dane Gagai at 0:20.
Last Chance Saloon: Kirisome Auva’a has been putting in the hard yards at Eels training following his departure from South Sydney
Josh Hoffman
Josh has gotten a write up in all my articles to date (check out fullback here and wingers here) and it’s because he has the ability to play a number of positions across the Eels backline.
Having spent the last year and a half predominantly as a centre, it would be remiss of me not to include him in this discussion, even if the likelihood of him starting in this position would only eventuate from a massive injury toll. Regardless, it’s important that we know what we can expect to see should the occasion call for it – and I don’t think Eels fans will be disappointed should that time ever come.
He reads the attacking play incredibly well, often communicating with his halves for early try scoring opportunities with kicks in behind the line and supports his inside and outside runners half-breaks to great effect.
His tackle efficiency is probably a little off for what Brad Arthur expects in his centres, however he is by no means a bad defender. If he wanted to push his claims for a centre spot, this would be the one area he’d have to improve, however given that we’ve purchased him with the intention to play other positions, it’s probably not a focus of his or the team’s. That being said however, another tremendous back up option.
Strengths: Anticipates the play well, underrated pace, makes metres.
Areas of Development: Tackle efficiency, generation of second phase play.
Highlights: View here
Check out the try he sets up for Nathan Peats at 1:23 – great feet and fend!
Versatility: Josh Hoffman can play just about anywhere in the Eels backline
John Folau
Another player I referenced in the winger post, John plays the power centre game very well. With the ability to trample over any opponent, he can truly become a dominating force in the NRL. Just as I referenced in the winger post however, John has to want it, and he has to want it bad.
We’ve all seen him shrug off defenders and get the ball away, or crash over the line himself – this is no secret to anyone who has followed his development through our U20s systems. It’s his work off the ball that needs to become consistently better.
Personally I think for NRL purposes, he’s better suited to the wing, however his sole game in 2016 saw him line up at centre and at present, it’s his preferred position. In order for him to become that dominating force we know he has the potential to be, he has a few areas of development to address before that potential is realised.
His lateral movement in a sliding defensive line is what first comes to mind. When you’re the size of John, this isn’t always amongst your strongest attributes. However, when you consider his potential opponents, it’s an attribute you have to be in control of. Many NRL centres pray on the opportunity to catch a big man flat footed and to stand him up, it’s almost what the position lives for. If John can tweak this part of his game, along with his aerobic capacity, he can be whatever he wants to be because ball-in-hand, he’s a machine – we believe in you Johnny!
Strengths: Robust, difficult to tackle one-on-one.
Areas of Development: Aerobic capacity, sliding defence.
Highlights: View here
These highlights might be recycled, but a great centres line at 0:53 from John
Potential: John Folau could add another damaging ball runner to the Eels backline
George Jennings
George may have played most of his junior football on the outside flank, however as Jennings boy he’s still a potential centre option.
Like his brother Michael, George’s pace over the first 10 metres is breath-taking. He has the ability to burn opponents before they even realise he’s got the ball. His power running game likens him a lot more to the Auva’a type of centre, just with more acceleration.
The trade off however is his defensive reads. To date he has only played wing in the NRL and asking a player to transition to defending one in after spending most of his years in the development system on the wing would be a huge ask. It’s certainly not beyond George, he has the ability to adjust, but in the space of this season after coming off serious injury, his main focus (and that of Brad Arthur’s) will probably be around securing a position on the wing.
Ball in hand, no doubt he has the ability to be a great centre, however in terms of the defensive workload required to play there, he’s probably not ready for it just yet.
Strengths: Acceleration, difficult to tackle.
Areas of Development: Defensive workload of NRL centre, coming back from injury.
Highlights: View here
Another recycled highlights piece , but a great acceleration from George at 1:20 makes you wonder what he can do with a bit more time and space – looking forward to seeing him in Auckland!
Porque no los dos: Why have one Jennings, when you can have two?
Marata Niukore
The Warriors junior joins the Eels in 2017 predominantly as an edge backrower, but after spending plenty of time in the U20s backline, do not be fooled into thinking he lacks the versatility or athletic skill set not to play in the three-quarter line.
Standing at an athletic 6″2′ and 102kg, Niukore proved a handful in the Holden Cup. His big wing span and fend make him a tough player to tackle one-on-one and his running style makes him incredibly difficult to cut down around the legs.
Many Eels fans are yet to have seen Marata in action, so let me share some anecdotes from what I’ve seen of him. Imagine an upcoming youngster that’s a hybrid of Manu M’au and Brad Takairangi. Now imagine that player in the reduced format of the 9s. If you can’t see it yet, you will next weekend when he takes the field in Auckland – a great pick up who will push for a first grade spot all year.
Strengths: Tackle-breaking ability, leg speed.
Areas of Development: Will have to prove himself, adjusting to first grade defensive lines.
Highlights: View here
An all round highlights compilation package here, look at the great lines run at 0:48 as well as the footwork and leg speed at 1:04 & 3:20.
Nines bound: Look to Marata Niukore to make his mark in Auckland in this years 9s
Dane Aukafolau
Another product coming from the great rugby league nursery that is the Cabramatta Two Blues, Dane Aukafolau has impressed many of the Eels diehards that saw his performances in the U20s in 2016.
A strong runner of the football who has dominated his opposites in the lower grades, Dane is probably won’t feature in an Eels NRL jersey this year. However, that’s not to say that he isn’t far off. I know that both Sixties and Forty20 have a particularly keen eye for this young man. His ability to break tackles and score a well-timed try have earned their plaudits and his physicality will only improve as he continues to grow into his body.
Some defensive aspects of his game do still need some work, but keep a weathered eye on the horizon Eels fans.
Strengths: Step, fend, difficult to tackle around the legs.
Areas of Development: Defensive reads and first contact.
Highlights: View here
He scores a good backline try for our U20s at 3:11 as well as an example of the runs he often produces at 2:24
Junior to Watch: Dane Aukafolau was impressive for the Eels U20s in 2016
As always, over to you Eels fans – who would you like to see get a run in the three-quarter line and why?
Clint
All images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels, NRL.com and Getty Images.
Great report as always.
With john folau , would he make the switch to the forwards in time?
Thanks for your kind words Matt.
It can go one of two ways with John – he drops some weight and leans down to about the 98-102kg mark focusing on his lateral movement and changing direction at pace and solidifies himself as an outside back; or he focuses on improving his endurance and the tackle bags and transitions into a forward.
Given his pedigree, I’d love to see the former rather than the later, but it comes down to what the coaching staff need from him most, as well as what John wants. He’s off-contract at the end of this season, so it’s very much a year in which he’ll have to earn his new contract.
I noticed he’s still listed at 111kg in the Eels profile page, but I dare say that was measured at weigh-in at the start of the pre-season. Clubs are known to release those weights in the official team guides so as not to expose any physical transformations their players go under in a pre-season. Having seen John recently in person and going off the pictures on the Clubs website, he looks to have dropped some kg’s, so my inclination is to believe he’s currently committed to being an outside back – great commitment considering he has also been injured.
Taka and Jenko firstly, but if they get hurt, Hoffman is my favourite and Auva’a. Both of these two are very good players and defensively too. They also have different but similar skills. Hoff is v good with ball in hand and Auva’a too, but he is also v strong defending in my view. We have picked up two good players here. With the addition of Jennings junior, Folau and the young guys,we are looking v good.
I’ll defiinitely need to see the NYC and Wenty teams play this season.
We’re a bit spoiled for choice, aren’t we Mitchy? What tremendous depth! To think up until a month ago, Vai Toutai, who had played 33 games for the club and was slowly developing more confidence in the top grade, was also a potential option.
Auva’a will most likely be the first cab off the rank should Jennings or Takairangi go down. Some of the defence in his highlights video is absolutely brutal! A very shrewd and opportunistic purchase.
It’s unlikely Hoffman will have to play centre, but in the event he does, he’s a very solid option. How great it is to have genuine first grade depth! I have not seen anything like this at the club since the last couple of seasons Brian Smith was in charge.
Make sure you do Mitchy, both have very competitive squads who’ll give their respective competitions a shake. If you can’t get out there Forty20 does a superb job with his play-by-play reports – keep an eye out for them throughout the year!
Cheers Clint will do mate.
I’ve managed to see a couple of training runs at salesyards and am v impressed with the intensity of the teams.
Think Hoffman and Auva’a are both superb players and both have v good first grade experience and more importantly experience in pressure games.
It all goes towards a strong club on the rise and it’s no coincidence with BA, and co things are on the up. Appointment of Gurr, Max previously and now R Palmer is all pointing towards a brighter future. Our juniors seem to be going well and I think next season it will be even better.
Absolutely Mitchy. Their experience is priceless and it takes experience to win a premiership. You could see things heading in this direction the second BA took over. What a coup it was to secure a man of his calibre and passion for this club. Similarly Gurr & Max – let’s enjoy the ride, my friend!
Another superb analysis Clint. The depth and options across our outside backs is a new plus for the Eels. At this stage, I can’t see Manu, Kenny or Beau being asked to fill in a centre position.
Cheers Sixties. It’s tremendous and too right you are. What an absolute luxury (don’t forget Gowie there either).
P.S. Thanks for the awesome feedback from the coaching staff earlier this morning, it made my day!
Well presented analysis Clint. You’ve given explanation to the difference between Parra 2016 and Parra 2017 with in-depth substantive proof of the real potential this team has in the three-quarters. As sixties has stated there will be no requirement to weaken our backrow to cover the centres this season
Great work Clint, thank you.
Thanks Rowdy, I’m glad you enjoyed the article. Depth in the three-quarters is something we’ve really bolstered this off-season. There are plenty of hybrid players adept at playing both wing and centre, as well as centre and backrow. Very, very intelligent recruitment and use of the salary cap, Mr. Arthur.
Great write up Clint.
I’m looking forward to the weekend and seeing how good Niukore in particular plays. BA is setting up a show of our depth.
I’m not looking forward to your next write up because so far you’ve shown we’ve got a deep deep team – there’s gotta be some weakness somewhere, isn’t there?
Thanks Trouser.
Niukore will be one of the youngsters I watch with a close eye. I feel like under tutelage of a coach like Arthur, he has the potential to develop very quickly – a very smart purchase.
Potentially there are weaknesses, but the beauty of this years squad is that there’s tremendous balance across the team. We have a number of players capable of performing a number of roles to First Grade standard, sprinkled with potential game breakers and some star power to boot. When you consider our management of the salary cap, along with our style of play, this team is very well balanced. Stay tuned for the next article as I’ll start digging into this a little further!
Awesome writeup Clint.
Thanks Pou. Always appreciate when you stop by and take the time to read my work. I know as a fellow student of the game, you are the type of audience I love communicating to the most!
Clint, great write up and as I’ve been away so late responses. Hope I don’t repeat what others have said though.
If we are spoilt for choices in the forwards, well I think we are in better shape in the backs especially with players that can cover almost all backline positions than we have seen at the club, either forever or at least since the Cronin Ella days.
What you say in regard to MJ is very true regarding the need to read the outside players and support options, his defence is excellent but he tend to over play his own abilities and trust his own speed and jinks to beat the opposition. His long running speed seemed down last year but still good over shorter runs, so he would be better served feeding his outside players in the long range attacks.
Taka, is top quality and I think he can still get better, a very unselfish centre and that puts him the same range as the crow for that alone, he will make his outside man look great, just need him on the field for the whole year.
With all the reports regarding Dane Aukafolau, and no profile of him on the eels site its encouraging to read about him and being young should auger well for the future, same with Marata Niukore, who I just have a gut feeling will make a name for himself at the club for the future.
John Folou. Looking at reports of him, then seeing his eels profile, the body in the 2017 gallery does not match that of 2016, and certainly not 11Kgs, in fact he looks very fit and perhaps very much fleet footed, if the photo does not lie.
Like some others signed for this year, how he goes will certainly determine his future beyond this year. Balls in his court and being lighter should make him a bit faster but needs larger hands, stronger defence and maybe calcium build up for his bones to try and stop the breakages.