For NRL players, the pre-season must seem like it goes forever. Whilst I get my footy fix from watching the squad prepare for the season ahead, the players have been counting down the days to get to the real stuff. This weekend’s hit out may still be classified as a trial, but there was a real sense of the summer being over today. Maybe it was the cooler, overcast conditions. Maybe it was the knowledge that a number of the blokes would be taking the field under match conditions for the first time this year. Whatever the reason, the team is champing at the bit to play this Saturday. After watching this session, I can’t wait.
Skills
As part of the warm-up, the players improvised unusual ball carries. I’ve reported on this before, but today I noticed quite a few carries that involved juggles above the head. It’s not uncommon in NRL matches to see a player needing to juggle a footy whilst running at pace, often after receiving a bad ball. Making this a skill to be practised can only enhance the chances of converting opportunities that come from loose passes or regathered balls.
Following the warm-up, the squad split into two groups: middle forwards and edge/backs. The groups worked through offensive and defensive shapes and attacking lines. This would be the lead in to the opposed work.
The Main Course
If it’s possible for players to have their game faces on, I witnessed something close to that this morning. It was a completely different vibe during this session. The banter was gone, replaced by “match talk” – and plenty of it! Communication is such an integral component of football, so to have it echoing around the ground was an incredibly encouraging sign. Whether it was the key playmakers directing the attack, or the defenders calling to team mates, there was not one moment of white noise.
The opposed session in full swing.
For the blue team, Frank Pritchard was my standout performer. He has a nice combination or two that will cause plenty of headaches for the Eels opponents this year. Perhaps fans will glimpse some of that this week. Not far behind “the Tank” was Gutho. His left to right pass was on fire, and Taka and the Hoff were the beneficiaries. Kaysa was very busy out of dummy half, and his defensive line speed was testimony to his supreme fitness.
For the green team, Auva’a looked very solid in both attack and defence, King maintained good control around the ruck and made a couple of crucial plays to prevent tries. Robbo’s short kicking game delivered a try and he marshalled his troops with the confidence expected of someone with veteran status.
After witnessing the opposed work, I could probably name the starting line up for the Penrith trial. However, I’ll leave that for the official site. What I will report is that a player or two will be rested this week, which will provide others with the opportunity to showcase their wares.
Look Out!
How good was it to see Siosaia Vave participate in the contact work today! He may have been wearing an orange jersey, but it was the first time that I’ve witnessed him get stuck into the opposed hit out. I’m sure he enjoyed it. After all of the rehab and conditioning work that he’s been through, it’s little wonder that he had such a spring in his step!
Other Noteworthy Observations
Norman continues to work on his hamstring but it’s not causing any concern. Woods injured his shoulder at Alice Springs and is likely to miss the first couple of rounds. John Folau is on track to return by Round 3 or 4, and Will Smith continues to make excellent progress in his rehabilitation.
I’ll bring you further reports leading up to Saturday’s trial. TCT will be attending the trial. We have been negotiating the provision of a live stream of the match, though given the Panthers recent Tweet on the subject of coverage, it might not come through. We remain hopeful!
Eels forever!
Sixties
I’m itching for the season to start! Your blogs are such a tease.
A tease? Now I’m worried about that itching of yours! In all seriousness, those of us who’ve been to pre-season training are just as anxious for the footy to start. However, as Geoff said to me today, we probably witnessed the most spectacular footy moment of the year at a training session courtesy of Bevan French. Doubt anything will top it!
Was that today sixties, the French heroics or was that a few weeks ago?
Thanks for the update and bring on the Wiff!
A few weeks ago
I will endeavour to describe but it won’t be as good as being there
They had the team split for a bit of ad-lib footy in teams of 9.
Bev has chipped over the top of the defence and has got to the ball the same time as the opposite fullback. There was about a metre of space between them. He has taken the ball with hands fully stretched over his head (image as if taking a basketball shot at release), and instantly dropped the ball to his right foot to dribble it past the fullback, step around him, follow through and get a perfect bounce.
No one in front of him he could have scored himself but chose to throw a perfect 20m rugby union half type pass left to right (including the obligatory dive) to Alvaro charging down the centre field
It has taken me about 100 times longer to write this than it took to see.
There are a lot of footy memories that I will take to the grave with me (Kenny Ella Hayne etc) and that will be one of them
Well done with that description Geoff. You did it justice.
Parrathruandthru, thanks for the visualization, he is certainly a freak and I would go as far to say that he has the potential to surpass Hayne in the freakishness stakes!
I remember a game last year in the Holden Cup just prior to French getting his opportunity in 1st Grade and he put on a move that I can only describe as a Show and Go which then involved a Shimmy, then a Kick and Regather to score in the corner! I know this sounds pretty straight forward but it looked so fluid and effortless.
Hope to see more of his freakishness in the coming years!
Yes its the casual way he does freaky stuff
Sixties, Do I get the sense of tenseness that anticipation can bring on, on the paddock today? Seems that with the banter gone and the time has come to be serious the mood has somewhat changed.
While last weeks Alice game had a lot of new faces, I got the feeling that BA was not too happy at one point with the way he addressed the team in an on field break, I would also think that the off ground talks would have had some fire in them as well. The message is that its now getting to the business end and time all realised it.
Nice to hear that Vave was also champing at the bit. Bring it all on, I hope the stream can go ahead, even if its a feed to TCT by computer.
Not a tenseness more a professionalism. The team is hanging out for a proper hit out against an opposition after 3 months of facing up against mates and guys who know your game and the plays. I imagine they are looking forward to running harder and hitting harder
Agree completely with Parrathruandthru. This is going to be the first hit out with many of those likely to be in the Round 1 team playing. There was a tangible difference in the way they communicated with each other. It’s a long pre-season, and it’s nearly over.
Parra and Sixties. I guess the word tenseness was not what I was looking for and meaning. Having worked with a lot of people and something I experienced under certain conditions when doing a test of new workings, I looked forward to it but there was also a type of tenseness as the known of what had gone on under the prior conditions and system is being changed, and my role in that is crucial, to ensure it comes off right for all my work mates as well as myself. In that tenseness there is also the aspect of anticipation that I then referred to as to this new step and of course my professionalism could not be discounted. In those tests, I had superiors watching over me and dynometre carriage behind with engineers watching every move. I stuff up and so did the test. So my professionalism in that job was a paramount consideration.
If wondering what I am talking about I was a senior train driver for many years before being medically retired, and over a period of around 5 years in my later career I was involved in tests on heavier and longer freight trains in my allocated district and on the XPT introductory runs as well.
A new week and now the real game gets to the starting line, and they are all looking at what part they are to play within the team
Excellent report again.
I’m gunna ventcha a guess at the Parra absentees for the Riff game.
Scott still has a wrist problem and at this stage of his carreer doesn’t have to prove anything to anyone. Nathan Brown to start at #13
Matagi could benefit from a spell to be replaced in the starting side by Alvaro. Mannah has to play as we need one of our capt’s on the paddock.
Lawn Moweroa has his timing in both attack and D down pat and has had a very busy couple of weeks. Gower or F. Tank to start right side.
Finally, Miguel, brother of Bobby doesn’t need to be risked against the old home town The Riff, but may need a gallop? If not, Big Bro Bobby J. may get inspired against his old team mates?
Wow Rowdy – a bit of poetic licence with the names. Bobby? You mean Georgie?
I’m going to guess that all of those players might just play.
Yes Sixties, quite an exaggeration of the links between players, clubs and the past which you obviously picked up on, but missed the latter. (my bad as they say). I know it was quite a stretch but, in the early 70’s we had a frontrower named Robert Jay, Bob Jay or Big Bobby J (couldn’t get Georgie in any other way) who was nicknamed Bluejay after the feathered variety of which he bore no resemblance, but a lovely big bloke.
I will endeavour to keep my cryptic comments relevant to the day, in the future. 😉
Bob Jay more like a Blue Kooka actually.