With our Parramatta boys are set to field (on paper) their strongest squad in well over a decade in 2018 – one blessed with speed, strike, depth and one hell of an attitude. However, if you’re anything like me, the Summer blues are certainly kicking in, as the NRL off-season takes full hold and you begin to ponder your team’s potential in the upcoming season.
I often liken NRL off-season to a barren wasteland to the rugby league supporter and while the cricket provides apt background noise to the scorching summer sun, it doesn’t quite scratch the sporting itch or the sensation to that of the steeden.
So, naturally, as all rugby league fans, we flock to the forums to post an abundance of proposed team lists in anticipation of the second weekend of March and the season ahead.
Now given the strength of the Eels 2018 squad, there are some positions where there are more certainties than contenders, however, the competition is wide open for whoever puts their hand up for the middle forward roles, and today we’re going to examine just who that may be.
Prop/Lock/Middle Forward – Who knows these days?!
Rugby league is a simple game, but an ever-evolving one. Since 1908 the middle forward role has taken on many faces, but most notably in the last 20 years. From day one through to the end of the 1980s, there was a separation between Props and Locks.
A prop was traditionally the two largest players in the side. Wearing numbers ‘8’ and ’10 (previously ’13’ and ‘11’), they were used as battering rams to cart the ball forward and charged with the responsibility of getting over the advantage line to create space for the halves and the outside backs. Conversely, the lock, who wore jersey number ‘13’ (previously ‘8’) was traditionally a more agile defensive work horse, who was used to help make up for the props lack of lateral movement and cover holes in the defensive third of the field.
Over the course of the late 1980s up until the early-mid 2000s a greater separation between the two positions took place. With the introduction of the 10m defensive line, unlimited interchange and a faster play the ball, many teams started to utilize what is now colloquially known as ‘the ball-playing lock’. This player was generally a bigger-bodied player than your typical halfback or five-eighth, but possessed a passing and kicking game akin to their halves counterparts.
However, by the mid-late 2000s, after the introduction of ‘the wrestle’ and the eventual introduction of the two-referee system, the play-the-ball and the ruck meant that a traditional forward was needed to keep up with the defensive demands of the middle, and while the old school lock made a brief appearance, teams of today now look to play with three prop-style forwards, provided they can handle the offensive and defensive responsibilities without rest for at least 20 minutes, given the reduced interchange options available to coaches.
Needless to say, the role of the middle forwards, despite its evolution, still remains the same today – cart the ball forward and get over the advantage line to create space for the halves and outside backs, what remains in question though, is the most effective way to achieve this.
Middle Forward: Sam Burgess is probably the epitome of the modern day middle forward
What’s the best style of middle forward game?
Everyone will have their own opinion, but if the last few years are anything to go off, there is a formula to be replicated for middle forward domination. Let’s examine the middle forwards and bench options of the premiership winning teams since 2012.
| Year | Premiers | Props | Locks | Bench (Middle Forwards Only) |
| 2012 | Melbourne Storm | Jesse Bromwich, Bryan Norrie | Todd Lowrie | Jaiman Lowe, Richie Fa’aoso |
| 2013 | Sydney Roosters | Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Sam Moa | Boyd Cordner | Frank-Paul Nuuausala, Luke O’Donnell |
| 2014 | South Sydney Rabbitohs | George Burgess, Dave Tyrrell | Sam Burgess | Jason Clark, Tom Burgess |
| 2015 | North Queensland Cowboys | Matt Scott, James Tamou | Jason Taumalolo | John Asiata, Scott Bolton, Ben Hannant |
| 2016 | Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks | Andrew Fifita, Matt Prior | Paul Gallen | Chris Heighington, Sam Tagatese |
| 2017 | Melbourne Storm | Jesse Bromwich, Jordan McLean | Dale Finucane | Tim Glasby, Nelson Asofa-Solomona |
Notice any trends in the starting middle forwards of each team? Or that of their benches?
Every premier since 2012 has had 2 out of their 3 middle forwards stand at least 6 ft 2” or taller, in some cases it was all 3! Those that didn’t, were supported by the traditional ‘nuggetty/hard runner’ who possessed either an offload or a pass in them.
These forwards were supported by at least one big man and/or players with 150+ NRL games to their name off the bench as well.
In short – size and experience win the territory battles in the middle during the big games.
Now this is not information new to or lost on Parramatta supporters, particularly when one considers the way the Cowboys pack restricted the Eels forwards in week 2 of the 2017 finals series.
It stands even more when one considers the forward pack of the Cowboys in 2018, who look, on paper at least, to have the best forwards in the competition. A likely rotation of the following, will create plenty of space for two of the games best halves, Jonathan Thurston and Michael Morgan:
8) Matt Scott
9)Jake Granville
10) Jordan McLean
11) Gavin Cooper
12) Ethan Lowe
13) Jason Taumalolo
14) Te Marie Martin
15) Coen Hess
16) John Asiata
17) Scott Bolton
Pretty damn formidable – especially when the middle forwards on the bench were such a strong part of their 2017 surge towards the Grand Final.
If you ask this writer, the way for us to progress further in 2018, is to be able to, on any given occasion, match and take it to, the Cowboys middle.
Physical Protege: Jason Taumalolo showed the Eels the value of size in Week 2 of the 2017 NRL Finals Series
Our Stocks
So, do we have the cattle to stick it to the best middle in the competition, and hence the rest of the NRL forward packs? And just how might we play the middle game in 2018?
Let’s have a look Eels fans.
Daniel Alvaro: Standing at 190cm and 110kg, Daniel Alvaro fits the physical profile required to match the best, but it’s the maturity of his game over the last season and a half that puts him in great stead to not only nab a spot in the 17, but make him a mainstay. An incredibly aggressive defender, who rarely misses a tackle, Alvaro’s energy and ability to play long minutes make him a valuable asset to this Eels side. Coming off-contract at the end of 2018, Daniel is the type of player management will want to lock up quickly before his value rises over the course of the season, because he presently does all the small things right and has been progressively improving his running game and leg drive.
Daniel Alvaro
Nathan Brown: The cyborg as he’s affectionately known by the TCT team, Nathan Brown took out Ken Thornett Medal honours in 2017 for his tireless work either side of the ball. This man just doesn’t tire, effortlessly racking up the hit ups and the tackles. At 185cm and 107kg, Brown falls on the slightly smaller side for a middle forward, but don’t let that fool you. He runs with vigour and tackles to hurt. Ohh and did I mention? An ultra-handy off loader and passer of the ball – something that a junior career in the halves has no doubt help him develop. Another man coming off-contract at the end of 2018, Brown is an absolute necessity for the retention list.
Nathan Brown
Kane Evans: Size doesn’t come much bigger than in the form of Kane Evans. This behemoth stands at a staggering 2 metres tall and weighs 116kg – the exact body shape this Eels pack has been missing. A new recruit for the Eels in 2017, Kane fits the typical Brad Arthur recruit profile – an aggressive defender who can play long minutes and use the football. A starting spot beckons for Kane – if he wants it badly enough – and he has been recruited with the promise that it will be handed to him if he earns it. Additionally, he brings the exact type of size the Eels were purposely recruiting for, and when you talk taking on the likes of the Cowboys forwards, it’s guys like Kane Evans we’re going to need to limit their big man.
Kane Evans
David Gower: It sounds strange to use the term clubman for a guy who has spent large parts of his career as a journeyman, but since 2014 David Gower has been an Eel, and there a few people who live and breathe the Eels culture like Gowie. At 190cm and 105kg David is on the more athletic side of the physical spectrum, which is why he often shifts between both the middle and the edge, defensively adept in both positions. Although not a noted metre eater, in the limited games Gowie played in 2017, he came up with some crucial runs. His ability to ball-play and pop an offload make him a handy player for Brad Arthur to call upon whenever the Eels want to play a tactical forwards game.
David Gower
Tim Mannah: Speaking of clubman, with the most Eels caps in the 2018 squad, Captain Tim Mannah is another man who fits the mould. At 184cm and 110kg, Tim fits the profile of nuggetty style prop. Most Eels fans would have noticed a difference in the Eels defensive line when Tim Mannah left the field in 2017 (particularly after Beau Scott ruptured his bicep and was out for 2 months). His ability to wrestle and slow down the play-the-ball is so crucial to winning the ruck and Tim did this often for Parramatta throughout the year. Some supporters have asked questions of his running game in recent times, as well as his ability to play long minutes, but Tim reminded everyone while representing Lebanon the World Cup that he can still match the yardage game with the best. If he can utilise the offload that exists in his arsenal more regularly, he will bring his game up another level.
Tim Mannah
Suaia Matagi: Does anyone still find it hard to believe when they watch Suaia Matagi that he stands at 179cm? Weighing 107kg also means that Suaia fits the nuggetty style of prop, but you wouldn’t think this is a guy small in stature by the way he returns the ball from the kick-off, often bulldozing opponents in a way that would bring a smile to former Eels prop, Fui Fui Moi Moi. Another one of the off-contract brigade, 2018 will be a year where Suaia will want to consolidate his spot inside the team and earn another contract. Beginning 2017 as a starter and a stellar 9s tournament, a slide in mid-season form saw Matagi move to the bench, where he slowly rediscovered his form heading into the back third of the year. Suaia is the type of runner every team needs, but his ability to consistently defend across long minutes will be where the questions are asked of him in 2018. If he can improve his durability across a sustained period of play, there’s no reason why he can’t be a crucial part of the middle forward rotation.
Suaia Matagi
Tepai Moeroa: I’m not going to lie, I have a bit of a rugby league crush on Tepai Moeroa. For a couple of years now (and let’s keep in mind, he’s still quite young – won’t turn 23 until October 2018), “his defence is impressive for his age”, but I will argue that his defence is just impressive altogether. 2017 saw Tepai slowly rediscover the form that saw him boom onto the scene in the back-half of 2014 and earn Junior Kangaroo honours. At 190cm and 112kg, Tepai is one big man, and a big man with durability – playing on both the edge and in the middle. 2017 saw Tepai spend the first 20-25 minutes of the game stationed on the right edge, before transitioning into the middle – and if anyone remembers our game against the Cowboys in Townsville, restricted cannonball Jason Taumalolo to his lowest meterage game of the year and put him on his backside – numerous times. There might be something there to consider when we play these sides in 2018.
Tepai Moeroa
Marata Niukore: Some might think it strange that I list Marata Niukore here, particularly when he’s been exclusively an edge player for Wentworthville (and was the Wenty player of the year doing so in 2017), however Marata’s size makes him a hard proposition to ignore when we consider who might play in the middle for the NRL team in 2018. The 21-year-old stands at 188cm and 102kg, which might not sound that heavy, but let me tell you, is an incredibly athletic and muscular 102kg. Additionally, it’s his hard-running style and ability to offload and produce a pass that make him such a tantalizing proposition for the middle. At this stage of his career I see him personally as an edge player, but believe he could equally find a home in the middle, and may just offer the point of difference the Eels forward pack is seeking for 2018.
Marata Niukore
Beau Scott: If ever there was a player who fit the traditional lock profile, it’s Beau Scott. The guy is ultra-aggressive and just does not miss a tackle. He dominates and man-handles his opposition (seriously there’s a reason why Mitch thinks he may actually be one of the Milat brothers). Having played mostly off the bench in 2017, 2018 poses as an interesting year for Beau Scott. With his career starting to wind down, younger players pushing for opportunities and being out of contract at years end, some fans might be entertaining the idea of where Beau Scott fits in our 17. However, his defensive presence and experience cannot be underestimated, for ever if there is a player you want to defensively take it to the opposition, it’s Beau Scott. The last few years have seen him develop a timely offload into this game as well, which could be the key to breaking down some of the bigger-bodied defensive lines. At 185cm and 99kg, he is the lightest man in the Eels pack.
Beau Scott
Brad Takairangi: Another strange man to be adding to this list is Brad Takairangi, a player who has played exclusively in the backs for the Eels. Particularly when said play just represented his country at centre in the World Cup. However, when you stand at 194cm and 108kg, questions are always going to be asked of when, not if, you’re going to shift into the forwards – and the time seems imminent, for Brad Takairangi, considering the Eels recruitment of Jarryd Hayne. When one considers he started his career in the second-row, it’s not a stretch to think the Brad Takairangi may play a forward-based utility role off the bench in 2018. His ball-playing and offloading ability would make him a menace in the middle third of the field, as he showed when he shifted to five-eighth during the Easter Monday clash against the Tigers, and is something that could replicated weekly by playing him in short stints in 2018. Food for thought Eels fans.
Brad Takairangi
Peni Terepo: Peni Terepo almost became the forgotten man in 2017 after a pec tear kept him out for most of the year, but for those of you who remember his 2016, you will know that Peni Terepo was the most efficient tackler in the Eels squad. A Brad Arthur favourite, Peni brings plenty of energy to either side of the ball with a lively running game and defensive desire. Another one of the off-contract brigade in 2018, Peni will like many others, be keen to establish himself firmly as a first-choice player, and his attributes lend himself to being one of those, however at 186cm and 106kg, Peni will find himself in a log-jam battle against the other nuggetty style props in the Eels squad. His defensive prowess gives him an edge, but his ability to continue evolving his attacking game will be what determines his longevity. A successful campaign for Tonga in the World Cup will have provided Peni plenty of big game experience and ensure he enters the 2018 season with his tail-wagging.
Peni Terepo
Siosaia Vave: At 188cm and 117kg, Siosaia Vave brings body shape variety to the Eels middle men. At his best, Vave carries men over the advantage line on his back and generates quick play-the-balls, but it’s his ability to do this consistently that will determine how regularly he features in the top side, especially when one considers his size means he gives away a little in the durability and fitness ranks, meaning he can be found out defensively under fatigue. One cannot knock Siosaia’s attitude, often a very vocal trainer down at Old Salesyard and a well-liked personality amongst the squad, it will be his ability to bring balance and consistency to his game that will determine his fate in 2018 and beyond – Viva la Vave, Siosaia.
Siosaia Vave
Tony Williams: A decade after leaving Parramatta, big Tony Williams has returned to the Golden West. At 193cm and 120kg, the former NSW and Australian representative is the heaviest forward in the Eels pack. Having played a majority of the career on the edge (be it second-row, centre or wing), a move to the middle might just be the thing to bring the best out of T-Rex. Coming off an ACL injury, questions will be asked of Tony and his ability to return to his best, following a couple of poor seasons in his final years at the Bulldogs before his 1-year defection to the Sharks. However, as we all know, Brad Arthur doesn’t recruit any one he doesn’t see value in, and having a man who fits the criteria of size, big game experience and desire to prove himself on a small-contract deal, can only be a win-win for the Eels. Worst case scenario, Wenty have acquired a high quality forward. Best case scenario, well the narrative writes itself Eels fans.
Tony Williams
The Answer?
So, with all said, what is the answer for our Eels? Well one thing is for certain, we have a plethora of depth in the forwards (and our squad for that matter), which gives us tremendous leverage when all are fit. I’m a huge believer of having like-for-like players in your squad and players you can easily rely upon as top 17 players on any given day of the week, regardless of your injury toll – and that’s something we have in our 2018 squad. However, if we were to adopt the model that appears to have worked for all the NRL premiers from 2012, we would have to pick our middle men based on a few characteristics: size, experience and style of play. As such, I have categorized our potential middle men into such characteristics.
Size (Players ranked by height, then weight)
| Player | Height | Weight |
| Kane Evans | 200cm | 116kg |
| Brad Takairangi | 194cm | 108kg |
| Tony Williams | 193cm | 120kg |
| Tepai Moeroa | 190cm | 112kg |
| Daniel Alvaro | 190cm | 110kg |
| David Gower | 190cm | 105kg |
| Siosaia Vave | 188cm | 117kg |
| Marata Niukore | 188cm | 102kg |
| Peni Terepo | 186cm | 106kg |
| Nathan Brown | 185cm | 107kg |
| Beau Scott | 185cm | 99kg |
| Tim Mannah | 184cm | 110kg |
| Suaia Matagi | 179cm | 107kg |
Size (Players ranked by weight, then height)
| Player | Weight | Height |
| Tony Williams | 120kg | 193cm |
| Siosaia Vave | 117kg | 188cm |
| Kane Evans | 116kg | 200cm |
| Tepai Moeroa | 112kg | 190cm |
| Daniel Alvaro | 110kg | 190cm |
| Tim Mannah | 110kg | 184cm |
| Brad Takairangi | 108kg | 194cm |
| Nathan Brown | 107kg | 185cm |
| Suaia Matagi | 107kg | 179cm |
| Peni Terepo | 106kg | 186cm |
| David Gower | 105kg | 190cm |
| Marata Niukore | 102kg | 188cm |
| Beau Scott | 99kg | 185cm |
Experience (Players ranked by NRL games, then tries)
| Player | NRL Games | Tries |
| Beau Scott | 237 | 32 |
| Tim Mannah | 205 | 5 |
| Tony Williams | 165 | 50 |
| Brad Takairangi | 125 | 22 |
| Siosaia Vave | 97 | 5 |
| Suaia Matagi | 92 | 1 |
| David Gower | 86 | 4 |
| Peni Terepo | 81 | 5 |
| Kane Evans | 74 | 3 |
| Tepai Moeroa | 71 | 8 |
| Nathan Brown | 54 | 2 |
| Daniel Alvaro | 49 | 4 |
| Marata Niukore | 0 | 0 |
Style of Play (Keep in mind, this is what they’re most noted for)
| Player | Profile | Style of Play |
| Daniel Alvaro | Tall, Athletic | Aggressive, Strong Defender, Line Speed, Fit, Leg Drive Attacker |
| Nathan Brown | Short, Nuggetty | Aggressive, Strong Defender, Line Speed, Fit, Offloader, Ball Playing |
| Kane Evans | Tall, Rangy | Aggressive, Fit, Strong Defender, Line Speed, Offloader |
| David Gower | Tall, Athletic | Strong Defender, Line Speed, Offloader, Ball Playing |
| Tim Mannah | Short, Nuggetty | Strong Defender, Line Speed, Fit, Leg Drive Attacker, Fast Play-the-Ball |
| Suaia Matagi | Short, Nuggetty | Aggressive, Strong Ball Carrier |
| Tepai Moeroa | Tall, Athletic | Fit, Strong Defender, Line Speed, Line Runner |
| Marata Niukore | Tall, Athletic | Aggressive, Fit, Strong Defender, Offloader, Line Runner |
| Beau Scott | Short, Athletic | Aggressive, Fit, Strong Defender, Line Speed, Offloader |
| Brad Takairangi | Tall, Athletic | Aggressive, Offloader, Ball Playing |
| Peni Terepo | Short, Nuggetty | Aggressive, Fit, Strong Defender, Line Speed, Strong Ball Carrier |
| Siosaia Vave | Tall, Stocky | Strong Ball Carrier, Post-Contact Metres, Fast Play-the-Ball |
| Tony Williams | Tall, Stocky | Aggressive, Strong Ball Carrier, Post-Contact Metres, Line Runner |
Who Do You Pick?
One thing I’m also a believer of, is playing to your oppositions weaknesses. Which means on any given week, we do have the ability to rotate our forwards throughout the squad. For the sake of combinations, this strategy is not always effective. So, if we had to settle on the best combination of all those factors mentioned earlier, what direction do we go?
Here’s my take and the way we need to approach our selection criteria:
- Defence First: You need to be able to rely on your players to hold the defensive line intact, even when under fatigue. We all know defence wins the big games, but it also wins the ‘not so big’ games as well. The first necessary criteria should be aggressive players with line speed. Those that get up in the face of our opposition and don’t go away. Players with Line Speed in the Eels Squad: Daniel Alvaro, Nathan Brown, Kane Evans, David Gower, Tim Mannah, Tepai Moeroa, Marata Niukore, Beau Scott, Peni Terepo
- Fitness Second: Players with durability who can play long minutes are worth their weight in gold, particularly is there are injuries throughout the match. Limited interchange means having forwards that can play long minutes, but not have to play long minutes are a valuable asset. They can replicate and maintain the intensity of the starting side when they come on, and so too the starters when they return for their second stint. It creates consistency across the forward pack throughout the entire course of the game. Players with Fitness in the Eels Squad: Daniel Alvaro, Nathan Brown, Kane Evans, Tim Mannah, Tepai Moeroa, Marata Niukore, Beau Scott, Peni Terepo
- Experience Third: To put it simply, players with greater experience have better temperament in high pressure situations. This is because they have been there and done it before. They’re also better at managing themselves physically over the course of the season and help provide a calming influence over younger players. A theory has long been held (correctly), that you need a certain amount of experience in your team to win a premiership, the Eels have four forwards with 100+ games, with another two in the 90s. Players with Experience in the Eels Squad: Beau Scott, Tim Mannah, Tony Williams, Brad Takairangi, Siosaia Vave, Suaia Matagi
- Size (Based on Height) Fourth: As discussed earlier, the Eels made a conscience effort to recruit some height when Kane Evans and Tony Williams joined the ranks for 2018. It’s been a noted that this was an area we lacked in in 2017 regularly, especially in the finals series where we spend large periods of both games without Tepai Moeroa, Daniel Alvaro and Siosaia Vave, particularly against the Cowboys in week 2. Having these bigger bodied men at our disposal (and more of them to choose from), will only benefit us when we come up against the more intimidating forward packs. Players with Size (Based on Height) in the Eels Squad (6”2’ or taller): Daniel Alvaro, Kane Evans, David Gower, Tepai Moeroa, Marata Nuikore, Brad Takairangi, Siosaia Vave, Tony Williams.
- Point of Difference Fifth: As is always the case in rugby league, you need a player who can bring that little extra element that can provide that point of difference that can provide either an advantage or to shift the momentum either side of the ball. This can range from anything such as the ability to ball play, a momentum changing run, a bone-crunching hit that produces a turnover or a timely offload that helps get the team over the advantage line. Given that many of our players have the ability to do this, I will only consider those that produce this on a more regular basis. Players with a Point of Difference: Nathan Brown (Hitup, Offload, Ball-Playing, Defence), David Gower (Ball-Playing, Offload), Suaia Matagi (Hitup), Tepai Moeroa (Defence), Brad Takairangi (Offlod, Ball-Playing), Peni Terepo (Hitup), Siosaia Vave (Hitup) Tony Williams (Hit up, Tackle Break)
Standout: Nathan Brown came out on top in the middle forward criteria
Let’s Add Up the Tally
I’ve tallied in the table below to give each player an aggregate score across the categories. The scoring system will work as follows:
| Category | Points |
| Defence First | 5 points |
| Fitness Second | 4 points |
| Experience Third | 3 points |
| Size (Based on Height) Fourth | 2 points |
| Point of Difference Fifth | 1 point for each point of difference they bring |
| Player | Points |
| Nathan Brown | 13 |
| Tim Mannah | 12 |
| Tepai Moeroa | 12 |
| Beau Scott | 12 |
| Daniel Alvaro | 11 |
| Kane Evans | 11 |
| Marata Niukore | 11 |
| Peni Terepo | 10 |
| David Gower | 8 |
| Brad Takairangi | 7 |
| Tony Williams | 7 |
| Siosaia Vave | 6 |
| Suaia Matagi | 4 |
With 5, maybe 6 middle forward positions available in the top 17 it’s clear that the competition will be red hot, but this system has determined a couple the following players will be best capable of filling those spots: Nathan Brown, Tim Mannah, Tepai Moeroa, Beau Scott, Daniel Alvaro and Kane Evans.
Given that Tepai will likely resume his role of starting on the edge in the backrow, we can likely rule him out as part of the middle third rotation. Which leaves us with the following:
8) Kane Evans
10) Tim Mannah
13) Nathan Brown
16) Beau Scott
17) Daniel Alvaro
Now while this 100% provides our best defensive and our fitness middle third, it lacks a point of difference in attack. The presence of three shorter forwards (Mannah, Brown and Scott) does little to address the height problem we’ve had, particularly when one considers that there’s little point of difference between those three and that they have many of the same strengths. So we may have to go down the list to find a man to either substitute in or add to the bench rotation of middle forwards who can add an attacking point of difference to all the players listed above, as well as height and experience.
Controversial Inclusion?
Enter Tony Williams. An experienced man who has represented his country, state, won a premiership and possesses all the physical qualities and style of game to off-set and compliment the strengths that already permeate throughout our squad. It’s a bold call, particularly given how long he’s been away from his best, but it might just be the risk the Eels need to take to move their middle game to the next level.
Let’s look at how a Tony Williams might fit into the Eels squad in 2018 (and indulge me a little Eels fans, for the sake of my imagination, I’m going to say Semi Radradra re-joins us midway through the season after getting homesick).
1) Clint Gutherson
2) Semi Radradra
3) Michael Jennings
4) Jarryd Hayne
5) Bevan French
6) Corey Norman
7) Mitchell Moses
8) Kane Evans
9) Cameron King
10) Tim Mannah
11) Manu Ma’u
12) Tepai Moeroa
13) Nathan Brown
14) Beau Scott
15) Kenny Edwards
16) Tony Williams
17) Daniel Alvaro
I’d like to think that it’s a very balanced squad that brings filled with players the complement each other well and offset each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Additionally, it’s a side brimming with experience and talent, size and skill (the only thing missing is a bench utility and someone who may be able to fill in for Cameron King if he needs a spell) but moreover, it’s a side that can stick it to the heavy-weight forward packs of the competition and has plenty of impact either side of the ball in both the starting side, as well as off the bench.
Over to You
So, what are your thoughts Eels fans? Who do you see being our men in the middle? Who do you want to see? Who do you think will best complement each other?
It’s a tantalising prop-osition, isn’t it Eels fans?
Clint
All images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels, NRL.com & Getty Images.
Clint, an absolute mammoth in-depth article! So hats off to you. I enjoyed the read!
So many variables to consider and an insane amount of talent that will be playing for wenty next year.
It actually makes me anxious to pick and choose who’s in our first grade squad.
But after reading what you’ve written I’m also incredibly excited.
I love a love a comeback story from Williams, I do believe he could be a game changer given fitness and Desire are driving his endeavours.
I believe Beau Scott will perhaps float in and out of the squad given the competition on the sideline and I’m hopeful that Marata will jag a spot on the squad.
Still wondering if will smith will be used as a super sub? Which will change the dynamic again.
Jack, I don’t believe that players are purchased with only reserve grade in mind. Maybe they might be looked at providing depth or they might be a project player that they expect will develop from Wenty. But to get one of those 30 contracts a player has to offer something. So to my way of thinking, there is genuine intent about the role Williams can play.
My sentiments precisely Sixties. I expect Tony Williams to return to his block-busting best as long as his recovery from ACL is complete!
Thanks for taking the time to read Jack, much appreciated.
It’s an incredibly hard decision for our coaching staff to determine, but one they would rather be making than not. There’s so many different paths we could go down and my article is by no means a reflection of even the path I would go down, just the most sensical based on the evidence and criteria our coaching staff will likely be judging our players against.
And then of course there’s the utility v all forwards bench debate as well! We are blessed with options, but you need to be given the casualty ward that takes place over the course of an NRL season.
As sixties said, we don’t purchase anyone to play reserve grade specifically, so everyone is there with the intention of earning a first grade spot – you never know who might just surprise us and nab one.
Superbly put together
Ditto.
Thanks Collo, I hope you enjoyed it!
The Throw never sleeps! Even on New Year’s Eve.
Great article Clint, typically well informed and in depth.
It’d be interesting to see if your scoring system was adjusted a little too make the scoring criteria a more closely weighted. Fitness isn’t twice as important as size for example (4 vs 2 points)
Scoring each criteria starting at 10 points for defence, 9 for fitness etc would skew things a little differently.
I want to believe T-Rex is a good buy, but in the same way I can’t see Hayne working out, I’m watching on in anticipation to see BA work his magic – our realise he is human after all
I’m really looking forward to watching the opposed sessions throughout January and February.
The Throw always finds a way, Trouser Eel!
Thank you for your kind words and I hope you enjoyed the read?
The scoring system is by no means the be-all and end-all. There is certainly margin for error and re-interpretation and the idea was that with the system our readers would interpret it with their own system, after all, it’s the forwards you want to see in the top 17 and who you think will work best and why?
I understand the skepticism re some of the boys returning, but the fact we have competition for spots in any and all of the positions they play means that it’s not going to be a fait accompli that they waltz into first grade, they’ll have to earn it. So if they are in the top 17, best rest-assured it’s because they’re bringing some sort of value to the team and the style of footy we want to play.
Who would you like to see in the middle (and on the bench), Trouser Eel?
I’m a big fan of Beau Scott but I think his time has come.
Those offloads he has worked into is game have been a double edged sword, with most of his passes hitting the turf.
And for bone crunching defence we’ve got Tepai, Brown, Mau and Evans.
His given his all though and I really respect what his brought to the Blue and Gold.
Replace, Scott with Will Smith and I’ll be a happy chappy.
I think where we have struggled the most is when an injury has occurred in our back line/ dummy half. The shifting of players really brakes down the flow of our attack and defence (obviously happens in every team not just ours)
It’s not even a Smith over Scott decision. It’s another forward over utility debate. No doubt there will be a future blog on this 😉
Sorry to hijack your forward thread
So you’re predicting that a post about bench options will be featuring soon on TCT?
Hmmmm.
Yes please. Closet Will Smith fan.
You’re not alone there, Jeff. Plenty of love for Will Smith on and off the field.
I’d suggest you have a chat to Miatch about Smith, but none of us can find him. He’s been lost in Will’s eyes for quite some time now.
No hijack at all, Bad Boy Boogie. You raise a very important point. There’ll be a massive debate in the coaching room about whether to play a utility or the all-forward rotation with our interchange in 2018.
The beauty of our situation is that we can actually do both quite effectively. I opted with the all-forward rotation in my post because I believe based on the criteria and the split of skills we need across our forward pack overall, it would be the best mix. However, I am equally tempted to throw a Brad Takairangi or Will Smith into the 14 as well. There’s plenty of merit to throwing Kaysa in the 14 with an exclusive interchange hooker also.
We have choice and the path we go down will say a lot about how we will look to play our footy in 2018 – it’s exciting times!
Who would you go, Bad Boy Boogie?
What a mammoth read, I feel exhausted and a head ache intensifying.
I loved reading how the game has changed, more especially how the roll of the pigs while in most respects has not changed from the old days, the new naming of middle and edge, brings a new title for them, are the middle men on the edge, or the edge ones more for the middle, I ask as I wonder how many of these gallant warriors would care less as to what they are called in the top team, especially when they make up the team week in and out.
It would be easy to say that while there has been some improvements in the forward strength but with only 2 new signings how much improvement is there really? While Evans has the size and all, same with Williams the other recruit, are they signings that will really add that much to the team? more questions! For me both if they hit their top potential along with the other seasoned forwards the eels will be no push over, even with the signings made by the likes of the Chooks, there will be fierce competition and clashes, I just hope both show enough to be included in the pack each week.
One concern though with all this strength and players able to play top grade, the potential of having a real powerful and strong Wenty team is great, but only a year of two back we salivated about the team that Wenty could put on the field and the pressure they would exert on the NRL squad, and what really happened? I hope we don’t see a repeat again.
Good strength means that pressure will be there on keeping many of those players beyond 2018, then where will we be?
I’ll put my hand up and say “guilty” with regard to expectations about Wenty. Having watched plenty of their performances last year, the frequency of their collapses, after dominating matches against the top teams, was frustrating in the extreme.
For mine, I’m looking forward to the development of forwards such as Stone and Niukore.
Thanks for swinging by Col.
I don’t think the players care too much about the labels they are given, but more about playing to their strengths for the team and playing a role that gives them the opportunity to utilize those strengths.
One thing our forwards showed in both 2016 and 2017 is that they won’t roll over, even given the odd off game here and there, they generally bounced back the next week and were largely quite consistent. Given the players and style of players we have contracted to our middle third at present, it was why I placed such a focus on defence and being able to contain the dominant forward packs that our competitors have, while also matching them with some firepower and size of our own.
Your questions re Wenty are well-founded, and I have to agree with both you and Sixities in saying I too am guilty of expectations of our reserve grade side. Given that we will see a number of players with real and genuine first grade experience (50 games+) playing for Wenty at any given time, I think we’ll see much more professional outfit playing for Wenty in 2018, especially when one considers all of these players will be full-timers in the First Grade squad – time will tell, however.
Good comment col. Agreed on that one. I just hope they have improved or we will not be in the top 4; let alone 8. Question for me is, Will Scott be playing? Will Evans be in the starting 17 and if so, what minutes will he play? And TRex…? I know he is on minimum wage or so but he could be an X factor. Vave and Matagi need to improve as well.
Mitchy, as always injuries will have their say. Injuries impacted Scott’s season last year, not to forget Terepo.
I can not hope Scott is back young man. Terepo is fine and will do well. Tough as.
Oops meant I can only hope Scott is back.
I think Scott will be a key player for us, but I wonder in what role. Realistically he is the smallest of the pigs, yet he lacks nothing in as far as ability, courage and leadership qualities, the ideal captain that is part of a team, be it with a C next to his name or not, a player you generally cannot name in your team somewhere but where and when to play him?
If I understand the way BA coaches the team, and that is hard for me as I only see TV games and not privy to other aspects of the teams, he pretty well wants players to be big minute players, IIRC it was Matagai that BA pushed to play above himself when Scott and Pritchard was injured, and Matagai rose to the occasion, it showed to me that he could well suit more time on the paddock as well as most of the other pigs. The aspect to me as I think loosely on that episode and those who will take roles on the bench, along with the utility position, and who of all the players are able to play at least 30 minutes in the first half and then a hard finished last 15 minutes. That allows for a total break of 35minutes including the half time break.
The need is under those conditions is a player who can come off the bench without playing any time until the last 15 or so minutes – injuries aside. I would look at that position for Scott, only 15 minutes at the end? Yes! as by that time the opposition and our team have had the forwards mix as per usual with their long minutes, and a fully fit and refreshed Scott would be a game changer in that arena, although he may well be rested at key times of the year which could allow the likes of Niukore a chance to show his wares in the main squad.
For me, I would like to see Scott used sparingly through the year overall and have him in shape for the end of year matches where his experience will be vital for the team. I would also actually rotate him with Gower, while Gower is not the aggressive type like Scott, we lose nothing when he’s on the paddock either. In fact if used wisely both could go around again in 19 as good backup players.
Well said Col, big minutes or fitness as I referred to it in my tally system, are a big part of BAs coaching philosphy. It’s not just enough to have intensity, it has to be sustained.
Beau Scott is one player who can do that, is one of our most experienced players and is one of the few premiership winners in our squad. His leadership is a vital cog in our system, but your suggestion to manage his minutes and games across the course of the season has a lot of merit, and if applied, could prove a shrewd strategy.
Then players like Gower and Terepo who you and Sixities both mentioned are also in the mix. It’s damn hard to leave anyone out of our 17 and it’s great that we have so many likable players who will bust themselves for our coach and our fans – worlds apart from where we were 5-6 years ago.
Well thought out peice Clint, lots of options for BA. Wow if BA could put that starting 17 on the paddock consistently this season we will do well. Personally think Semi coming back is a long shot for now but Kirisome can fill that gap.
A Jennings/Hayne centre combination on paper would be the strongest in the comp.
To have guys like Peni, Taka, Gower and the young guns Niukore & Stone busting their gut for a spot in the starting 17 really adds a lot of depth and would imagine some tough decisions around the selection table.
I would imagine that there will be some interesting conversations around the coaches’ table before round 1.
Thanks Anonymous, much appreciated comments and glad you could stop by.
Stranger things have happened, and we never know, but for now, Semi’s return was just an indulgence of my imagination and desire to see the most devastating backline in the NRL. Guys like Kirisome and George Jennings will be up to their eyeballs in challenging for his vacant wing spot, and both are more than adept at replicating his yardage game.
As I said above, it’s damn hard to leave anyone out of our 17 and it’s great that we have so many likable players (on and off the field) in our squad.
Great read as always.
Most of the mainstream journalist would be envious reading your writing excellence and in depth research. Keep up this excellence.
Brad T has impressed me with his ability to make metres when needed in the last few years. His ability to ball play and play anywhere in the side is very unique. He also uses his height advantage under the high ball. I can see him using his footwork to make metres while his ball playing will attract more defenders leaving opportunities for his team mates to exploit.
He is a genuine footballer and I can see him in that top 17.
What do you think?
Highlight video of Brad T for 2017.
https://youtu.be/6tf4x_ryOIA
Thanks for your comments Eddy, your words are very humbling.
Brad Takairangi is, as you so appropriately described, a footballer – and I love that about him.
Moreover, you can see playing for the Eels means a lot to him personally. He has a blue and gold heart that he wears on his sleeve, and he’s a real fan favourite because of that.
Can I see him in our top 17? 1000000% yes! The highlights video you linked in your below comment showcases how effective his footwork is around the middle third of the field and I can absolutely see him coming on and creating havoc. I think Phil Gould once said he’s one of the few blokes in the NRL who could probably play in every position on the football field and do a job for you.
If Takaz doesn’t play in the backline in 2018 and his transition to the forward pack begins, I can absolutely see him assuming the utility role off the bench to cover for backline injuries and playing as an edge forward in later stages of the halves. You need only see the highlights of his time at five-eighth throughout his career to realise the damage he can produce around tiring forwards.
Excellent stuff, Clint. The certainties I’m tipping for our middle are Mannah, Brown, Evans and Alvaro (and obviously Moeroa after Edwards comes on). That might only leave one spot. If T-Rex gets fit he’ll probably be in the 17 somewhere too. If he plays exclusively on the edge that pushes Moeroa into the middle full time, plus Edwards might spend some time in the middle too. It’s very exciting.
Thanks Pou, much appreciated mate.
100% agree with you on the certainties there Pou, and I think it’s because like our coaching staff, you and I have a defence first approach to our forwards (and team for that matter).
If hypothetically, one or maybe even two spots were available for middle forwards, who would you err towards? And why?
Edwards could definitely spend some time in the middle, but I drifted away from him given the combination he and Moses developed on the right edge in the back half of 2017 – I think we’re onto something there.
Yep, Kenny Edwards’ attack would be wasted in the middle. Assuming we go with those certainties (Mannah, Evans, Brown, Alvaro, Moeroa), I would prefer to see one or more attacking specialists round out the team – T-Rex as a middle forward plus Vave. We have enough good workers to carry a monster in the defensive line. Taumalolo is one of the laziest defenders in the NRL and his team does ok. I think if we could get a combined 60 minutes out of Williams and Vave we would have enough punch in the middle to take pressure off Moses/Norman.
However I think we’ll carry a dummy half on the bench (maybe Smith) which only leaves room for one big man. So I’m leaning towards T-Rex on the bench with Alvaro and Edwards.
Great team clint but Will Smith 4 me will b on the bench 4sure
I love the Will Smith love around here, and rightly so Malcolm, he’d be a great inclusion.
Who would he be at the expense of, in your opinion?
I’d be more confident of a top 8 finish this year if we had another big man in the middle. Williams has done absolutely nothing for at least 4 years now and similarly Evans hasn’t shown much for the last 2 years and couldn’t even make Roosters team for their last game last year. Based on that I don’t expect either to provide much this year but hope to be proven wrong.
Trouble is Parra have Mannah, Alvaro and Terepo who are clones of each other, solid players but players that won’t win you a gf but won’t lose you one either. However we firstly need to get there and we never will with them as spearheads. The unfortunate fact is none of our other middle forwards will either.
Just imagine if Semi came back (big if I know) and Hayne returned to near his best, our backline would be one of the most potent in the NRL. However our lack of any power middle forwards will only hinder their performance and will continue to do so until rectified.
No doubt Glenn that it’ll be the question that hangs over our 2018 campaign, until an unequivocal solution presents itself. I don’t think it’s necessarily that we need another big man in the middle, but more a question of if the big men we have can produce the style of game we need.
Many fans I’ve chatted to want a Jason Taumalolo style forward in our middle because at present, it feels like that’s the missing piece. This is potentially true, but Jason Taumololo is also a rare talent and a million dollar player. If there were more players like him, they wouldn’t be worth $1m a year and they’d cancel each others ability out. That being said, would Jason Taumalolo help us towards our premiership aspirations? You better believe it.
Additionally, there has to be that style of forward available for us to even try to recruit. As such, if they aren’t available, our hands are tied until they do. What we have at the moment is a forward pack that is very strong defensively and wins the ruck to a point where our halves can produce points. They do a very good job already and we have players who can evolve, mature and become that spearhead style of forward. However, as you have rightly pointed out, these are no certainties at this point.
Nonetheless, we must play to the strengths that currently exist in our pack (and team for that matter) and that worked pretty well for us in 2017.
Trouble is Clint even last year I didn’t think our forwards dominated, imo they held strong without ever dominating like Roosters and Cowboys did against us last year. And this year we have lost our greatest attacking weapon in Semi so the forwards have to be even better.
Unless we can produce that dominating performance from the forwards on a consistent basis we’ll never be one more favoured teams to contest a grand final.
Glenn, as I reflect on this debate and heading into the new season, the big thing that is needed by each and every player in the team, and especially the forwards is that they need to be committed to the task of the season ahead.
This topic of commitment often comes up and the way the game is played these days means that no member of the team, and again in the forwards can afford to go missing in both attack and defence. Each year the game seems to change and get faster and stronger, with teams trying new tactics to slow down the opposition in order to dominate them, at the same time conserve their own energy for attack, any lapse by a single player in the defensive line will often be the difference between winning or losing.
Such things as brain snaps by some players, giving away dumb penalties and the like will cost the team big time with penalties against the team putting them on the back foot. This is one huge area the eels need to clean up this year, and that’s a gimme I believe. If the forwards can hold their own and get on top of the opposition pack, I believe we have the backs that can win more games than we lose.
In this area of discipline for the forwards is where BA needs to lay down a hard hand and law to them, and make it plain to them, especially those off contract this year what he expects of and from them if they want to have their contracts extended. Other words he needs to lay it on the line to all players what he expects of them and what the team as a whole expects of each member.
Great read Clint. I have enjoyed the conjecture it has inspired also. Here’s a bit more!
With regards to our new recruits there are a couple of things to get into perspective.
1. I don’t recall BA not being able to get the best out of any recruit who has had the benefit of a full preseason with us. Most have been lesser footballers prior to coming to the Eels.
2. Many of BA’s recruits have been doubted by the fans, nothing has changed there.
If we look at the prior, career high “best game performances” of our recruits this year we find outstandingly high levels for TRex, Hayne and Kane who in my opinion was best forward on ground in the Aussie v Fiji warm-up match prior to RLWC (have a look if you doubt it). If 2 out of 3 of these blokes reproduce their best we will be a much improved footy side. If they all 3 return to their potential? We can book our GF tickets because that pack we be a bunch of real baaaad aass brutes who could “hold a bull out to piss” as the old saying goes! What a platform for the likes of the following.
It goes without saying that in our backline we have the potential to match our glory days, with creative halves, a colossus in the centres JH paired with a speed machine MJ who is a great defender, good selection of wingers to choose from and a better fullback in Gutho.
PS; yeah OK, I am a little biased, but hey, I’ve waited a long time.
Personally, I really love the idea of having Taka as our utility at 14 with Cam King playing 80.
If you get through the game with no injuries you have 4 big bodies coming on fresh constantly in a forward rotation of the coaching staffs choice.
An injury any where in the back line is covered seamlessly by putting Taka at Centre and having the luxury of Hayne Guth and French more than adequately being able to slot into any spot needed.
Which only leaves an injury to King at dummy half which I’m sure at a push Taka or could cover or if not put Guth at hooker and Hayne back to full back.
As such, I would probably have your same team with Taka on the bench in place of Edwards.
Both Terepo and Vave to me were below their best in 2017 however I am expecting them to be fitter for 2018 and as such have good years. If only for depth but would not be out of place in the 17
I like the thought of T Rex in the middle. His size speed and offload making him a bit of a poor mans Fifita. Of course he will need to get fit and back to the form of a few years ago
As I have said before to be able to use a Utility BA will need to get more minutes out of the middle men than he did last year. Kane Evans last year did not play big minutes however saying that I agree that he would have been recruited for a reason. I also got a sense that the Roosters did not persevere with him last season knowing that he was off to the Eels. They did miss him in that last game
Wow what a read well done.
My forward pack would always have brown and peni in it.
I would love to see timmy drop to the bench i reckon he would be more effective with his leg drive coming in after the openimg 20 his best footy was 09 and 10 ehen he came on after cayless and fui i think a return to thst role as a senior player would strengthen the side after alvaro evens and brown do the 1st up work peni snd timmy build off that of course scott adds what he will from the bench to tighten things up
If my memory is correct Mannah did start a game off the bench in 2017
Good reading this post clint. Didn’t realise we had that many middle man or forwards.
Gee wiz.
My forwards for rd 1 will be as is.
8. Alvaro
9. King
10. Mannah
11. Manu
12. Scott
13. Brown
14. Smith
15. Evans
16. Vave
17.moeroa.
Reserves.
Kenny
Gower
Stone
Matagi
Teripo.
Any chance Nathan Davis could learn to tackle and be a middle forward. At 195cm he looks pretty solid.
Chiefy, you cannot compare that blunder by the coach in having Kaysa an Beau on the bench in the finals, which was his worst decision ever. It defied all logic to have two players who had been out injured for so long as replacements for such an important and vital game.
The factor of those two players being chosen would not have been as bad had they played before that game as it was they were out for how long prior to it? Their fitness overall and match fitness told on them, besides the aspect that BA chose Pritchard for such a late and short stint did nothing for him or the team.
Had both not had such critical injuries both would have been in the team right through.