The recent publication of the respective top 25 players from each club has instigated vigorous discussion across many social media platforms. A typical chorus of protests about salary cap inequity was to be expected and undoubtedly will never disappear under the current confusing system. Still, it’s what every club has to work with and the upcoming season is bound to foster plenty of discussions about the cap throughout the lounge rooms and pubs across Australia and New Zealand.
Looking to our own Parramatta Eels, there’s much to be pleased about. Firstly, let’s consider the top 25 (not listed in cap order):
1. French 2. Radradra 3. M Jennings 4. Takairangi. 5. Hoffman 6. Gutherson 7. Norman 8. Mannah 9. DeGois 10. Matagi 11. Ma’u 12. Scott 13. Moeroa 14. Edwards.15. F Pritchard 16. Brown 17. Vave 18. Terepo.19. Alvaro 20. K Pritchard 21. King 22. Gower 23 Auva’u 24. G Jennings 25. Faraimo
The interesting feature of this list is the inclusion of three hookers and four new forwards.
The salary cap debacle of 2016 prevented Cameron King from making his Parramatta debut, so any potential 2017 appearances will not be hamstrung by this obstacle. With DeGois in the veteran class (though as fit as ever), our other two rakes will be jockeying for position to don the 9 jersey should the opportunity arise.
Cameron King has been elevated to the Top 25 this year.
New recruits Brown, Vave, Pritchard and Matagi have not been purchased to play for Wenty. Despite the inspirational performances from the blue and gold pack last season, Brad Arthur signalled his intention of taking the Eels engine room to the next level through the addition of different body types and skill sets to the squad of forwards. Such a variety of attacking threats will make it difficult for opposition teams to prepare against.
Whilst I’m not privy to the Eels top 25 strategy with regard to positions, I can take a punt. The forwards comprise the greatest number of the 17 named in the NRL program Their positions are subjected to the greatest physical punishment on a weekly basis. This would necessitate a preponderance of big blokes in the 25. To cover injuries in the backs, the majority of Eels three-quarters can play in a multitude of positions. Without the use players outside of the top squad, a small re-shuffle becomes a viable option in times of player unavailability.
Taka – a prime example of the versatlity in the Eels backline.
Of course, the average punter like myself finds it hard to follow what’s happening with the 25, given the fluidity of its nature. It’s confusing, but players can drop into the list, depending on changes to their salary, often as a result of playing first grade. In the meantime, we can only base any opinions based on current information.
Outside The 25
The NRL is perhaps the most physically demanding profession in the sporting world. To borrow an analogy from a wise colleague, imagine taking yourself for a 6km run, then on this course, bash into every second telegraph pole. Get up, and keep running. This is akin to what rugby league athletes put themselves through on match day. Throw in another 4 or 5 days of training for over 10 months a year and it’s little wonder that a toll is taken on the bodies of these football gladiators.
Does it come as any surprise that clubs often field up to 30 different players per season? (Premiership winners regularly field far fewer than this – an indication of the need for some good fortune on the injury front to lift the trophy.) Feeder teams in the NSW Cup have been known to use up to 40 different players throughout the season. With this in mind, a full time squad north of forty names is essential in the modern game.
Here’s the list of the players in Parramatta’s full time squad who sit outside of the top 25 (I have attempted to organise the group into a team line-up.)
1. Honeti Tuha 2. Will Smith 3. Dane Aukafolau 4 John Folau 5. Scott Schulte 6. Jamal Fogarty 7. Troy Dargan 8. Alex Twal 9. Jeff Robson 10. Rory O’Brien 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kelepi Tanginoa 13. Jack Morris 14. James Hasson 15. Cody Nelson 16. Joseph Ualesi 17. Matt Woods
John Folau – could he push his NRL claims in 2017?
The depth chart is “off the charts”! Don’t just look at the list of the players on the Eels books from an NRL perspective. Besides the obvious role of potentially being called up to first grade, every individual plays an important role during the season. Their good form and success in the lower grades certainly keeps the pressure on the top liners and builds a culture of success in the club. Furthermore, a squad of quality players promotes high standards at training, including challenging opposed sessions. Not every club is blessed in such a way.
The Journey
I’m always very conscious of limiting the impact of my blue and gold eyes when analysing the Eels. However, this full time squad is astonishing when we consider where the club has come from.
By the end of 2013 the Eels were a shambles. Without naming players (I consider this to be unfair as I don’t blame players for being paid overs), the club was fielding a team that finished an embarrassing last and even more ridiculously, was over the salary cap. The contract money (not to mention cash in hand or in kind) handed over to the non-elite was absurd. This has now changed.
The current squad assembled by Brad Arthur is reportedly well over half a million under the cap. The club isn’t anchored by a reliance on TPAs for recruitment. Considering the quality of the squad and the depth below the top 25, it’s an extraordinary achievement. When supporters become more familiar with the junior stars being groomed for the future, and the planning accompanying junior development and recruitment (nod to BA and Anthony Fields on that) they too will become excited about what’s in store. Please get to some NYC and Junior Rep matches and see for yourself.
Brad Arthur – Coach and architect.
After the off-field nightmares of 2016, many outsiders in the league world may have viewed the Eels as a basket case to be avoided. Indeed some pundits still focus their season prognostications on the administrative sins of the past. However, those in the know within football circles are well aware of what BA and the football department were able to achieve during the most tumultuous year in the club’s history. The result is players drawn to a well-coached club on the rise rather than simply the highest offer.
Consequently, Parramatta have now assembled a team that will challenge for the finals. It’s strength will be found in its quality, its bonds, its coaching and this incredible depth.
Enjoy the ride Parra fans.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels and the NRL.
Exceptional article!
We as fans owe a lot to BA and this team they have assembled.
A little bit of luck / fortune over the year will ensure our team will be the last standing!
Go you good things!
Cheers Erbs! What a squad and we possibly have more cap space than any other.
60’s what a very good well balanced article.
Makes one wonder when all is considered that based on the two teams you have listed there is the prospect of 8 top line players not being able to fit in to either of the two primary teams of NRL and ISP teams.
Confirms for me the need for a proper reserve grade side to play on main game day as a precursor to the NRL game. All those players need to be on show every week at other than the old suburban grounds.
I agree totally Colin. I will have more to say in reply to Bubbles who has elaborated on your own observations and supported the crux of your argument.
Actually the nyc is probably the most disappointing competition ever thrust upon us and that its played at nrl level whilst genuine nrl cantidates play in front of 200 people if thier lucky is an insult to the players and fans , the standard of footy at nyc is laughable with no discipline and when the question of defence is brought up the answer is “de man is coming to fix de fence on tuesday and hes bringin more palings . While there are some genuine finds that surface the real winner is the haircuts ,theres a large contingent that puts more effort into their looks than their footy . Actually i really dont blame the nyc players i 100% blame the nrl brians trust ,(sorry couldnt bring myself to say brains ,) when footy was real as a youngster getting blooded into grade you benifitted from being in sides littered with experienced players and you learnt probably more on field of them than the coaches ,as the nyc is now its unexperienced players leading other unexperienced players around . Then theres the im playing nyc so i must have made it scenario only to go to wenty and find out not only you havent but were never going to ,its unfair on these youngsters and often has devastating effects, depression and even suicidal situations have and will contnue to exist whilever this ill thought out competition remains ,sure its going next season but the damage will last a lot longer ,anyway colin bring back reserve grade , i want to watch the players that have will and might play nrl not a 48 points to 45 game of tip
Colin and Bubbles – my concern about NSW Cup has always been that it would distance the players mentally from the club. It’s different running out at empty suburban grounds than being the support act at an NRL match. They wear the same colours, share the sheds and run on the same turf if a true reserve grade exists. As it stands, they hardly ever get seen by the fans. I know that BA is at Wenty games whenever he can, but sometimes the scheduling makes it impossible for the head coach to watch the players pressing for a call up. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy going to Wenty. As a spectator it’s brilliant old fashioned Sunday arvo footy. I recommend to anyone. As a player, it can’t be ideal.
I agree totally Colin. I will have more to say in reply to Bubbles who has elaborated on your own observations and supported the crux of your argument.
Bubbles, thank you for spending the effort to elaborate on Colin’s argument.
I am fully supportive of every point you’ve both made and have been increasingly disappointed with the arguments to support the ever obvious stupidity of the current format.
I do have to take issue with the mindset that we should all get along to “take a look at the NYC and see the talent coming through” sorry sixties, this is not one of your best but I do appreciate the fact that your view is shared by a considerable number of other footy fans.
A point Bubbles made concerning the impact upon young men who have made it to NYC level taking their own lives is something I hadn’t previously joined to the perceived success of these young fellows personally or by their family and peers which would not have occurred if these kids were running around in front of nobody at Ringrose, Henson or Lidcombe Oval where they should be playing if we can only afford to financially support two teams on NRL game day.
From my early days of supporting Parra I would always try to get to the game to watch “All three grades” as it presented the real progress of kids to men unfolding over the day, every week, all season. I could watch my mates come up from D grade if they were good enough to test themselves against men.
Reserve grade put on-show the men who could handle the gladiatorial test under extreme pressure of conflict with other hard men. Just like in A grade at Ringrose Park or Cabra,’ Toonie or any of those other suburban grounds around Sydney metro. The only major difference between that and Reggies was the speed and finese levels were more consistent across the paddock. Many a fancy footed schoolboy soon met his Waterloo playing Park footy and retired with the explanation “mate it’s interfering with my studies or my work, too many injuries etc, but the rest of us who loved our weekly combat (and shit ourselves just like them but kept runnin’ out) knew why they “turned it up” and most of us smugly enjoyed them not being there anymore and deluded ourselves into thinking we were still a chance of “gettin’ a game in grade.
Anyway, that’s what these under 20’s kids should have to experience so they and their families can see what these real footballers in NSW Cup are having to endure when they should at least get the opportunity to play before the “big one” which they’ve earnt!
Yep the old 3 grades usually 3rd grade was full of the younger guys trying to convince us they were worth a shot in reggies ,the reggies was full of those on the way back or in waiting so the transitioning was properly managed ,my other grind is that thru nyc theres too many guys able to say they played for parra when they wouldnt have even made wenty ,cheapens the jumper for mine.
The old 3rd grade had more than just the young fella’s as it was also used to allow injured 1st grade players back into the playing ranks it also often had the old players who were trying to keep their own career open, in many ways these two aspects was what killed the old idea with the introduction of the under 23comp. Which in itself was also changed because of the cry that if you hadn’t made it by 23 you never will.
I actually loved the lower grades as they actually played RL and an entertaining type of football rather than the top grade which was more inward as some excellent attack players never got to the top as they were deemed defensive liabiilitie,
So how much does or would a 3 team comp really cost? Seriously!
When the 3 comp gradings were listed prior to the seasons start, the numbering went from 1-13 for first’s then 14 – 26 for reserve and 27 – 39 for 3rds, players were given those numbers at the begining and they held them until outed. There were usually around 52 odd players in the full 3 grades to cover injuries.
How many today? Looking at the eels Profile pages the there are 40 players shown in the NRL squad a further 10 in the NYC gallery, so a total of 50 players, not many left of the 53 but, the NYC gallery is still to be added to.
The aspect of all of this is that if the Senior clubs had 3 games playing a day and 3 full teams,. working with the feeder clubs such as Weny in our case, few clubs would be any worse off financially, the ones disadvantaged may be those with small junior or feeder club comps, but how much will it cost for travel to regions for the next propossed competition which really will do nothing for the game.
Taking 3 teams say from Parrmatta to places like Mudgee, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange or any number of large cities would have the lower grade players, playing before larger crowds than they do now.
Starting 3 grades from around 1230 each Sunday would bring in crowds especially if the 3 grades were supported, the likes of Wenty would still bring in numbers to the club as they would still have their comp which is still a valid one.
Sure 3rd grade had a sprinkling of older guys but thats still my point you learnt of them coilin ,another thing in those days the business house comp was a chance to earn a lot more money than grade ,grade was for honour not money unless you made the top
Actually colin the days your referring to nrl was played saturdays and you were able to follow your local side on sundays so as a kid it was parra saturday and merrylands sundays , some bright spark decided if the nrl played sundays they would get the junior crowds as well and killed the sunday comp ,actuallly the people that went saturday went sundays as well ,nrl fixed that eh
I was out of Sydney by then, and it was a seriously sad indictment of the powers of the day, and the same thing still exists.
My days were up until end of 78 when I left Sydney to live in Gerringong (Werri Beach) before heading to the NW Slopes.
What was good with the 3rds was 1st grade players could come back in the 3rds, from injury to test the healing process, often they would get more time out or stay for a couple of weeks then up to reserves.
They wore the same numbers as graded with, no bench players for reserves and first unless they had complete half in the earlier game, and only came on for injuries.
I would like to see something akin to that introduced for the NRL, a player who has played in an earlier game, and that would mean I guess NYC unless ISP was on the same day and ground, that a replacement back and forward could be chosen to sit the bench to cover for a match ending injury or concussion. Such player then became part of replacement/rotation system, does no penalise a team when the lose someone through injury or concussion, which in effect is an injury anyway.
Hey Rowdy,
I think you’ve judged my thoughts on that single comment. Just to clarify – I see NYC for all it is – an age restricted competition. When I talk about watching some of the future stars, there are some talented young kids being brought through NYC at a very young age and they are worth looking at. However, I’m an advocate of reserve grade – the only true preparation for NRL for most players is through an open age grade, not against young opposition. I also believe that reserves must be played as the NRL curtain raiser. I’ve banged on about this plenty of times in the past.
Cheers sixties, glad I got a bit though. 😉
Too funny you bugger!
An interesting point re cap is supposedly were going to be nearly the most cashed up club in the comp 2018 but just who or what we need to buy will be very interesting especially if guthos a hit and word is we have some “real” talent that cant be held back , thats actually talent identified by BA and fieldsy and their judgements are looking good , maybe we could lend some of cap to others !
It’s an amazing transformation from what was handed to BA. Long term future being looked after with a plan.
I know a couple are questionable, but quality people on the whole too
True parra we have a few hiccups but someone said to me once “theres a lot of really good people out there doing a lot of really really bad things, we just dont know who they are !!
Yeah, yeah…you just had to make way for ‘preponderance’ now didn’t you? 😉
Someone on a different site was praying for no injuries in this trial and of course I agree. However, if ever we have the depth to cover any position very well, it’s this season. I can’t wait to see all our new recruits getting a shot and Vave in a few weeks. Everything I have read re Brown has been very positive, I’m backing him for a very solid year?
Excellent reading, just as I’ve come to expect from this site! Thank you for your hard work and equally well thought out article!
Depth. It’s been missing from the Parra side for the best part of a decade – when did they drop reserve grade again? How many years has Parra started with a bang and ended with a whimper? No more of that crap thanks to having a football department that thinks long term and understands how to lure quality talent.
Great read Sixties.
Thanks mate. They’ve basically been fooling around with different open age second tier comps since the Super League. Parra hasn’t had a stand alone team since 2008 when the Wenty joint venture began. I really enjoy going to Ringrose but I believe we need to play reserve grade as NRL curtain raisers.
If we understand that the NYC competition was the brainchild and pushed through by a CEO who regularly said that if you weren’t playing NRL by age of 20, then you were no good
He sold the concept to the other clubs on cost saving and television rights. Fair to say. Most of his visions were just that, mirages that he just saw.
We need a reserve grade to prepare good young players for the real collisions and defence of the NRL, as Tim Mannah said after his first game at Wenty – how long a this been going on. He adjusted quicker than most, but how many stars from the Warriors have failed to progress as the more mature body shapes took away their age/size advantage
Incredible understanding of the pig headed arrogance of Brian Smith who had told me the same thing prior to his brianwave which as you say he sold to the NRL and others. Brian was a very good coach, but he saw everything through the eyes of a school teacher.
Nb; sixties, not all school teachers are that narrow minded and/or arrogant as you have proven my friend. Your objectivity is genuine.
The other very telling consequence of BS “if they haven’t made it the time they are 20 crap. Is the wonderful exciting youthful forward pack that we were left with for the GF against Newcastle, who’s big, old tough campaigners in their forward pack blew our young, willing pack off the park in the first half and by the time our blokes got it together it was “GONE” although they rallied valiantly. 2 years earlier we had J Smith, J. Dymock, D. Pay etc teaching these youngsters how it was done. Smith punted them on his arrogant thesis.
Spot on Rowdy. After losing the GF, there was an interview with IIRC Harrygone, who said that he and one of the other NCLE forwards were sitting together at the GF breakfast and having a good time at a social event, and they noticed how tense the Parra players were, Smith also, as he had felt the players needed the time to concentrate on the game.
At that point they believed they were certainties for the win, and the tactic was to steamroll the game in the first half then defend the second.
I often think about that day Rowdy and it did show up the shortcomings of Smith as a coach. Innovative in some respects, obsessive in others.
I still marvel at our depth. So much quality across our forward pack and backline – we are so very well covered for injuries in these positions.