Yes! Yes! Yes! How good must it be for coaches to watch their team execute almost everything that they practise? His exterior and that heart on the sleeve passion might tell a different story, but on the inside Brad Arthur was surely smiling like the Cheshire Cat. The Auckland Nines may be only a tasty appetiser for the season proper, but isn’t it tremendous to enjoy that first bite! This is why BA and his staff had to be pleased:

Attack – Structure and Improvisation

In my training blog on Wednesday I provided an overview of how the team prepared for the Auckland Nines. Unlike certain clubs who treat this tournament with complete disdain, Parramatta select players based on format suitability and reward for effort. Certainly there is an element of using the event to have a good look at a player or two, but consider the high profile players sent across the ditch. The message was crystal clear to the opposition that we are there to give it a good shake, and for our own players it was a reminder of the culture of success that BA is building throughout the football department.

This Auckland tournament is valued and treated with respect by the Eels.

The preparation involved having a game plan in attack that also utilised the players’ skills to play what was in front of them – structure and improvisation. In essence this is similar to any match preparation. However, with this truncated version of the game, you can’t concentrate on a particular opposition. Instead you have to be a bit more generic and trust that the players will adjust what we throw at each opponent based on what’s in front of them. The Eels set up with structure then execute through options.

Witness what the Eels matches thus far have delivered. Forwards were combining on set plays that they have drilled during the pre-season. Passes were delivered to players running into holes, both in set pieces and in improvised plays. A successful forty//twenty kick was executed by Gutherson at the end of a set – the kick looked dodgy but the team trained for this through the week. And let’s not forget that superb grubber by Norman for a flying French to pick up and score – it was the epitome of a skilled player making a decision based on what was in front of them.

This week I was in the privileged position of being within earshot of Arthur colourfully detailing to his squad how defences would try to adjust to certain attacking shapes that the Eels would present. He went on to explain how we would take advantage of this then drilled it with the group. You can imagine how it felt to watch the players execute what they practised! The entire staff, including Arthur, Gentle, Murphy, Grima, O’Farrell and Palmer. would have been ecstatic and proud to see the skills that the team displayed.

Defence – Work For Each Other

In this format, teams are going to put tries on you. There’s too many open spaces, and it can say plenty about any team that doesn’t threaten to score. Fast players are going to burn you if they get the slightest room to move. However, the constant in defence has to lie in trusting the bloke next to you, remaining composed, and never dropping off in your efforts.

For the most part, we witnessed this attitude from the Eels.

Incredibly, we got two or three people in tackles, then had the energy to get back into position for the next shift. (Think back to the up/down conditioning). The communication was great and that shut out of the Warriors was a superb outcome – they offered as much variety as a kids menu in a club bistro, but then again they weren’t afforded the slightest space. For mine, Arthur gave the appropriate speech at half time of the Dragons match. Our first up contact needed to be better and ultimately it was.

That Passion

The passion on display by Brad Arthur during the half time addresses has generated some talk on social media – and rightly so. Unlike other coaches who fail to even make the trip to Auckland, Arthur wants Parramatta to win every contest that they enter. Nobody wins everything, but if you take the attitude that you want to, it breeds a culture that will ultimately deliver success.

That image of Arthur’s passion.

But for most Eels supporters this passion of BA is becoming well known, and he is Parra to the core. I witness the same passion every day that I attend training and feel privileged to do so.

Day 1 – Who Impressed?

Virtually every squad member played their role. You don’t get the performances adjudged correctly by Mark Gasnier as the standout team effort, without everyone knowing their role and executing it. However, ignoring the obvious Nines talent of Norman, I can’t go past Matagi. That combination of aggressive charges along with silky ball skills will add a lot to an already strong Eels pack. His positional play, both in attack and defence, was very intelligent. He ran at spaces with ball in hand, and always seemed to be in the right place when the opposition looked threatening.

I’d also like to give an honourable mention to Honeti Tuha and Cameron King. Tuha’s first appearance yielded a try courtesy of some dancing feet – this bloke is constantly moving and threatening in attack at training. If he’s needed this year, he’ll go well. King organised the team professionally from dummy half and in defence shut down a number of attacking drives.

Players yet take the field, like Jennings, should probably get a run on Day 2.

At the other end of the scale, I’ll be looking for a bit more from Semi. He utilised his pace for a try against the Warriors, but needs to get more involved.

How far can we go? I’ve tipped back to back titles but I’ve seen enough positive signs at training and on Day 1 to put a smile on my face about what the season has in store. Whatever the outcome in Auckland or in this season, we’re going to have some fun along the way.

Eels forever!

Sixties

Images courtesy of Parramatta Eels, NRL and Fox Sports

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.