Size. Impact. Mobility. Pace.
Powerhouse Eels recruit Kane Evans ticks some crucial middle forward boxes. Little wonder that he was touted as a prized 2018 signature when his contract was confirmed back in May.
Yet Brad Arthur and the Parramatta brains trust see far more potential in the 112kg, two metre tall blockbuster. In a recruitment decision not dissimilar to Nathan Brown the previous year, the Blue & Gold coaching team see untapped talent in the former Roosters prop.
For Kane Evans, that desire to take his game to the next level was a key factor in his move out west.
A Star on the Rise
You’ll hardly go unnoticed when you tower over the other 25 players on the footy field. With a mixture of Australian and Fijian heritage, the six foot six inch Evans stood out from the moment he moved from the Balmain juniors to the Roosters NYC team.
In an outstanding debut season, the young dynamo was named at prop in the 2011 NYC Team of the Year. Evans proved this was no flash in the pan by earning NSW Under 20 Origin and Junior Kangaroo jerseys in 2012.
With an early career on the ascent, he graduated to the senior ranks in 2013 via the Roosters feeder club, the Newtown Jets. Whilst based at Henson Park, his form warranted selection in the NSW Cup team of the Year and ultimately the honour and recognition of inclusion in the 2013 Fijian World Cup Team.
It was also in 2013 that this profile was filmed for the Fijian campaign.
The Top Grade
With the previous three years producing moment after moment for his career scrapbook, it was unsurprising that it would only take till the second round of 2014 for Kane Evans to debut in the NRL.
Most Parramatta fans would prefer to erase the 56 to 4 drubbing from their memory bank, but this would be the first of the big prop’s 58 appearances for the tri-colours.
After finishing that first season with 9 matches under the belt, further accomplishments awaited. Evans would go on to notch up 26 games in 2015 for a Roosters side that scored back to back minor premierships. For good measure he would earn a City jersey along the way. An explosive collision with Bulldogs behemoth Sam Kasiano would ultimately feature as one of the hits of the year.
The following season commenced with World All Stars selection and concluded with him solidifying his NRL credentials with a further 23 top grade appearances. His fearless charges and damaging defence were already stamping him as one of the code’s young enforcers.
After committing to the Eels for 2018, Evans still played a key role in the Roosters 2017 campaign, adding a further 16 games to his career tally.
Although a broken wrist brought Evans’ World Cup to a premature end, his Fijian team mates provided him with plenty to cheer about as they reached the semi-finals of the tournament. In a team who share a strong Christian Faith, that Fijian football experience and the bonds created by love of country and love of God seemed to galvanise the squad to produce world class performances.
Undoubtedly, a burning desire to get back onto the field will pay dividends when Evans dons the blue and gold jersey for the first time.
A Major Point Of Difference
It’s not unreasonable to suggest that there was a certain similarity in the body types and play available through the Eels prop rotation. The recruitment of Siosaia Vave was designed to introduce a larger frame to Parramatta’s middle forwards, but this was negated by his limited game time in 2017.
Kane Evans provides an entirely new dimension to the Eels pack.
There is no player that looks anything like Evans, or plays in any way similar to the big Fijian, in the Parramatta squad.
He possesses extraordinary pace and mobility for a prop, as evidenced in this highlights package via the Sydney Roosters website.
Kane Evans – Sydney Roosters Highlight Package
The big man also has the capacity for punishing brutality in his defence. A player of his dimensions needs to leave his mark on the opposition, and he’ll be expected to kick that up a notch in 2018. In the Parramatta Eels official media introduction, Evans speaks about the weights program designed to make him a more powerful conveyance next year.
Kane Evans – First Interview As An Eel
However, that aforementioned point of difference is a two way street.
In his role with the Roosters, Evans was the metres man. His was no complicated duty statement – just hit that ball up as hard and often to lay the foundations for Easts structured play to roll on.
That’s not to say that there won’t be similar expectations with the Eels. After all, the more that the defensive line is bent or back-pedalling, the more opportunities can be created for the blue and gold backline stars. When you are that big, you should carry the ball aggressively.
Brad Arthur found the key to controlled aggression with Nathan Brown. He’ll no doubt find that same attitude in Evans.
So Evans will be expected to bring some of the same, but he’ll be coached to be different.
Speaking with TCT, Evans had this to say: “I’m looking to play at about 116kg this season. I want to get a bit more game time this year and compete with the best.”
His game will be given the opportunity to develop at the Eels.
Evans added, “I’ll be bringing what a prop needs to bring to the middle but I’m mobile and I can also bring something different with a bit of a step.”
Indeed, his 199cm frame, and the accompanying “Inspector Gadget” extender arms, begs for a coach to find an offload in him. It would be ludicrous for that type of reach to be denied a target.
Fortunately a certain Joey Grima is tasked with skills instruction at the Eels, so expect a new dimension to Evans game at some stage during 2018.
Expect a Kane enabled!
Eels forever!
Sixties
There’s no doubt that with his size and first grade experience he provides the eels with some strength that is sorely needed. Thing is that in many of the games I saw him play in he seemed to have lost impact in his runs, and that is what concerns me most with him.
He is a player that looks busy but its one thing to be busy and looking that way but another if its just tiring him. A player of his size and strength should make the eels pack very formidable if he is motivated that way, I hope he is.
Good to see the positivity, Chief.
The sentence read ” find that same attitude”. There’in lies the comparison. BA likes aggression in his players. And we need a big prop who can be aggressive without giving away the penalties. Thats what I’m looking for BA to bring out in Evans.
Evans has a lot more physical ability than Brown – he is bigger, quicker and more powerful. Brown is all attitude and skill. Certainly valuable, but we need more impact in the middle. Evans is a more mobile defender than Vave too, so he will be able to play longer into fatigue.
I can not honestly make any sort of credible judgement on how good a signing he will be as I really have not seen enough of him. I would have said exactly the same about Gutho and Brown and BA got them both spot on. The Roosters play a different game to Parra so it is hard to compare the two and make decisions on what impact he will have at Parra. In Brown we thought we were getting a front row forward with 1-2 big hits a game. He got fit, was encouraged to use and develop his skills and as a result his game almost transformed in front of us all. It was a pleasure to watch.
All I know is that BA is good at recruiting. Some of the recruits he has taken a gamble on in the past he has given 1-2 years max, i.e Frank Pritchard and the number we resigned last year on 1 year deals. The fact he has given Kane a 3 year deal tells me that BA is very confident that he can help bring out the best in him. That’s enough for me to say I see his signing as positive.
At this stage I will simply support Kane. Hope his size and height can help our forward pack, because with the backs we have we only really need to hold our own in the forwards.
In BA we trust.
Well said shelley, parra,s game is totally different to roosters ,i would dare to say that ba has seen things that we havent and thats why hes brought us back to a creditable footy club ,i believe kane could be a big performer for us , just the fitness alone that is being demanded this season will take him to a better level but time will tell all.
True Anon. Evans was getting about 20 minutes game time per match at the Roosters. I’m looking forward to watching a bigger and fitter Evans next year.
I can only add my support to Anons remarks, “Well said Shelley” and if I may be excused for what might be perceived a sexist comment. Did you grow up with a footy fanatic Dad or brothers, or marry a similarly muture footy head husband?
I ask this because you have a great knowledge of the game and are quite prudent by half compared to a lot of male commentators on the game.
I really enjoy your perceptions Shelley, thank you for sharing.
And you’re entitled to your opinion Chief. Not every player signed turns to gold. If that were the case, there’d be no player movement. We were all positive about Foran, and look how south that went.
That said, this was no “oh, we better sign someone” type of decision. He was targetted for a reason, so my point is that predicting him to be the biggest dud is probably an extreme call.
Thanks Sixties, well researched piece. Looking at the highlight he has a long stride, is capable of a nice offload and will add some spice to our defence. Shelley’s point about the 3 year contract reinforces that BA sees some quality in him, looking forward to seeing him in the Blue & Gold.
I see potential in Evans as an aggressive in defense and a good offload in attack, but can BA bring the best out of him. Only time will tell and for us fans I truly hope so.
Of course mate. The proof is always in the performance.
Chief you are good to call as you see it, and i applaud that. To me Evans can only improve on his stats from this year, and think he can. My main concern Chief is the punch factor up front and i truly hope Vave / Mannah / Matagi do this. Our backrowers imo are good depth; and i also think Tepai and Terepo can be v good. If we manage to have TRex play 7-10 nrl games to me that is a bonus.
All good Chief, no harm in voicing your opinion, of course we all hope you badly wrong….. LOL
I am yet to be convinced by Evans, he looked like he would be a superstar early on but never really kicked on. Having said that he does have all the physical characteristics and if anyone can flick the switch in the head it’s BA. #inBAwetrust
As is the general consensus we are lacking Prop’s and need him to stand up. Vave and Matagi were disappointing for me, the former being poor for the majority of the year and Matagi played in spurts but wasn’t consistent. For every barnstorming charge at the line by Matagi their were a couple were he hit the defence and just dropped to the ground. I go against the grain and actually like Mannah, his speed at the play the ball is just about the best in the game and his post contact metres are always up there. Alvaro is good defensively and you cannot question his effort scoring some great individual tries, I just seem him physically, as caught between the second row and Prop, not quite mobile enough for the former and not quite big enough for the latter.
Jimmy, this point of difference in what we can punch up the middle with could be crucial.
As for Tim Mannah, he does the type of work in the middle that rarely earns plaudits from the general public. For mine, even without the C next to his name, he is an important player in the team.
I am happy with this recruit; and he wanted a starting spot and he knows he has to work for this. His height can only be good and i look forward to his enthusiasm as well. He could be a very good buy; and i know he did not have a great 2017, but he has shown in the past what he is able to do.
His 2017 was adjudged by many to be down on previous years, yet his game time was was much reduced last year – and that was the role he had to play.
Like you Mitchy, I’m looking forward to his enthusiasm.
You do that a lot mate ,respect your right to your opinion though mate , maybe bit calmer , me i will give him benefit of doubt for now but im pretty confident in coaching staffs judgement , time will tell
I can edit that for you mate. It’s what comes with this not being a forum. But if you ever want to retract something, let me know.
It’s all good mate. Your opinions are welcome.
Perhaps a change is all he needs. I think having a body as big as his is a good thing for us, and having more depth can hardly be a bad thing.
As I wrote Gem, there is nobody in the team with his dimensions. After speaking to him, there is a quiet confidence that he possesses.
We have lacked a Kane Evans build/style of a player for a while now. He did not seem to get much of a go at the Roosters. Watch him go under BA.
Given about 20 minutes per game in 2017, Manginina. That was his role at the Roosters.
Good write up 60’s. I really like this kid and think he will add a different dimension to our pack. If he can add a off load to his game well will that be a bonus.
Time will tell how good he goes, but I think this young fella will spend a lot of time in the starting 17 this year.
I agree with you JJ.
Similar dimensions to dane tilse who was very effective for the raiders over a long period and in the prop position.
Tiles was very effective Matthew, and Evans is far more mobile.
If you think there is a prop that will start ahead of him can you please name. There is not one prop in our squad that any team fears. We do not have a prop that can offload or that has any type of footwork. For whats on the market i think this was a great signing. Dean Pay was our last ball playing Prop, heres to Kane adding something different.
BA and recruitment staff ring chief first
Chief, I’m no great Evans fan but I’m also prepared to give him the chance to prove himself, the only difference between him and Brown at their former clubs was Browns erratic agro snaps, he still shows some of it but a lot more settled seeing he’s been given a chance. I see Evans in same way only on the basis he has not progressed that much since his first years in the NRL, so lets at least give him a year at the club to see what he can produce.
Personally I think if he and TRex bring their best to the club they could be big impact players, no worse than the potential in Vave and Matagi who could be anything if they played to their potential week in and out.
I totally agree with you re Twal, I was always a fan of him and saw a lot in him for a young lanky player, if he can fill out he will be a top prop. If I understand right, he was offered an upgraded contract to resign at the eels but the offer from the Tigers swamped it so no wonder he left.
Colin, I have the feeling that if the Eels had matched the Tigers offer for Twal, Eels fans would have blown up deluxe. Even chief!
60’s I have no doubt that you would be right on that, although I have no idea of the wests offer.
Thing was that a host of the experts over on the other site lamblasted him big time I am sorry to see him go especially with the length of the contract he was offered.
Fui had an offload in him. My all time favourite Eels Prop.
Dear Chief, what a marvelous revelation. Spontaneous response (for more than 30 adult years) used to most often catch me out also. As an adult I would regularly suffer foot’n mouth disease and lament at my own foolishness.
Unfortunately I can’t offer much advice other than to suggest that I improved in this area only after I stopped using drugs and alcohol prior to conversing with strangers in public or on a public forum as is the case these days.
I do enjoy reading what you have to say, most of the time though Chief.
Gee Sixties, I’m quite late posting on this one mate but keen to add my two bobs worth.
I have really enjoyed the differing opinions and subsequent discussions around our newest recruit.
I really like this young bloke and believe his best is yet to come. I see abit of Nobby Clarke in him with 3 extra inches and 10 more kilos. Nobby was a no-nonsense prop who didn’t produce his best until he changed clubs at 27 years of age and got a smart coach (Gus Gould) who knew what to do with him either. He also put his best foot forward in the two GF’s he played in for Penrith!
With all due respect to Nobby, Evans has a bit more going for him than just a being a tough tradesman of a prop in my opinion.
Cheers Rowdy.
The proof will be in what he produces on the field. However, what impressed me when speaking with him was his quiet confidence. He’s genuinely looking to take his game to the elite level and he’s enjoying the hard work demanded of him thus far. It’s a good start.