Imagine rocking up for your first day of work and being confronted by a swarm of media filming and reporting on every move you make.
This is what returning Eel Jarryd Hayne faced today.
That’s not to say that it wasn’t expected.
Given the publicity surrounding Hayne’s contract and the recent civil action being pursued against him in the States, only a closed session would have avoided today’s media circus. Of course, such measures would only heighten the attention coming his way so the only course of action was to approach Day 1 of 2018 training as “business as usual.”
With that in mind, this report will briefly focus on the business of preparing a football team.
Conditioning
Commencing the day on the athletics track across the road from Old Saleyards (and away from the media), the players were pitched straight into a 2km time trial.
The grass was particularly long but there would be no time adjustments for the conditions.
Jaeman Salmon and Daniel Alvaro were the standouts as they led the squad home. Corey Norman and Tim Mannah also finished in this leading group, with Harold Matthews halfback Jake Arthur finishing third, just behind “The Apprentice” and “Polar”.
Beau Scott near the front of the pack.
There’s been plenty of speculation about Beau Scott and I can report that not only did he return to training today, but he finished in the middle of the squad in the 2km run – quite an achievement for his first day back.
The conditioning work continued back on the Old Salesyard Ovals with the media contingent assuming the role of “interested spectators”.
Beau Scott continued to impress as he led his group at different times during this session. It was not unexpected to see Hayne and a couple of the other returning fellas feeling the pinch. Some critics might try to make plenty from this, but Lachlan Wilmot will have these players catching up with their mates soon enough. When it came time to showcase his skills during the ball work, Hayne didn’t disappoint.
Skills
Today marked the first occasion during this pre-season that the entire squad was in attendance. Accordingly, it was the first time that the full field has been used in any form of opposed work.
Tim Mannah attempts to elude Kenny Edawrds.
After working through some ball movement drills and running some sets, the squad split into two teams for a game of four tackle, two hand touch.
With kicks concluding each set, the ball saw plenty of air for three tackles. The rapid play and kick/chase made the game as much about conditioning as it was about skills or combinations.
The number of players in action made it difficult to keep track of too many individual performances. However, we did witness:
* a Hayne intercept
* some evasive footwork from French and Smith in the fullback roles
* an impressive shift from Manu Ma’u to create pace out wide
* King providing great service and intelligent kicking
* Norman and Moses reminding everyone of their ball skills.
After close to two hours the whistle was blown.
Gutho Update
Throughout the entire session Clint Gutherson ran. He ran and ran and ran.
He ran straight lines, he changed direction, he ran more straight lines.
The man is a fitness freak.
We all know that he won’t be rushed back. His knee requires maximum rehabilitation and maximum strength before he takes the field again. Watching “The King” work, you’d be forgiven for thinking that he’ll be ready for Round 1. However, there’s still a long way to go and Eels fans can be assured that there’ll be no shortcuts.
A Final Word
For anyone who hasn’t watched Jarryd Hayne’s press conference, the few words he gets to speak about football are worth catching. He showed great composure in trying to direct the questions back to football, wisely following his legal advice.
On the topic of his team, he stated that he’s never played in a Parramatta team with so much talent from 1 to 17. Hayne talked up the skills of fellow backs such as Norman, Moses, Gutherson and French. Unfortunately the media scrum wasn’t there to talk footy, so few questions explored his thoughts about the coming season.
I’m looking forward to watching the Eels return to work tomorrow without the media throng. The absence of many players before Christmas has meant that very little opposed work has taken place during this pre-season. When the footy starts getting thrown around, the season feels just a little bit closer.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Good report as usual 60’s. I watched the midday news and then the 6pm one that was more focused on the media even with JH, most would have seen that and for me he answered it all very well. Certainly he was determined in proclaiming his innocence and we need to trust in that and wait for the result in time. In the midday news there was a bit of film showing JH training and running, he certainly did not look to be putting in a lot although that could have been part of editing, however I thought he looked… Read more »
Thanks Colin. By the time they were filming Jarryd, he’d just completed a 2km time trial across the road at the Athletics field. Yes he’s got some catching up to do, but so do a couple of others.
They have KPIs, strict ones, to meet. He won’t be treated differently and will be working hard.
I was impressed by how he calmly handled his press conference.
Thanks 60’s that puts it into the right perspective as to how JH was going. I look at the photo’s of him at training and he certainly looks to have more of a stout build, remembering when news filtered out from the 49er’s the staff there said he had to lose the rugby shape and a lot of effort was put into that transition, suggesting another change is needed for him. Thing to me perhaps is that if Gutho is not ready for the early rounds and it opens up more of a spot for JH, methinks he would be… Read more »
Great report as usual. I thought Hayne handled himself well on the media today. He was very much focussed on the football and made that obvious.
What do you make of this young bloke SALMON. Even Rothfield in Sundays paper highlighted him as a starter in NRL this year. Anyone else looking impressive mate > Hows BROWN and EVANS looking ?
Thanks mate.
Salmon is on a development contract and only extreme circumstances would allow him to play – eg dispensation for injuries.
Evans was doing some individual conditioning today. Browny looked good.
Thanks again mate awesome report 👍
Cheers Mark.
Nice stuff Sixties, can you believe it’s january already?! March is closer than ever.
I’ll be very interested to see what Lachlan Wilmott can get out of JH, given his history of not being overly outstanding in the past – I get the feeling there will be nowhere to hide!
There isn’t anywhere to hide Gem. The great thing about the team is the way they get behind each other to urge bigger efforts.
60s, i would have to say Kingy would have to be first choice hooker right? He has a great kicking came and ball skils all off which Kaysa doesn’t have? Your thoughts?
Interesting to see how Norman takes Moses leading the team around this year. Mitch has real potential that is blooming where i think Norman has in fact peaked in his career i hope iam wrong but time will tell.
Captian 2018?
Scott, given that King finished the year in that role, he’d have the first shot. I see them as different types of dummy halves. King is all about providing quality service. His kicking game started to come to prominence last year and his defence is first rate. Kaysa is all about high energy. He is one of the fastest in the club over 40m, and hurls himself fearlessly into his defensive work. I see King as a game management type of dummy half and Kaysa as an explosive bench player. I think Moses doesn’t even know how good he can… Read more »
It’s not all about ball skills or kicking, especially for a bloke who defends in the middle. It’s a physical game and Pritchard leaves King behind in that regard. If we could combine them we’d have a world class dummy half. Maybe they’ll both be in the 17.
It depends on what BA is looking for from his dummy half. Good service and taking the right option is crucial for our halves, and unless you are a risky defender, it’s going to put King out in front at the moment.
Unquestionably, both King and Pritchard work hard on their game skills as well as their fitness. The competition between them, with Mahoney snapping at their heels, can only be good.
I understand that they both have something to offer but I was really impressed last year with kings service to his first receivers. Quick and precise
I think that will win the day for him
I think today was handled as well as could be by the club and I have to say I was impressed that Hayne even fronted the media and was calm and modest. It did not come across as someone who was forced kicking and screaming to do it. I also like that the club did not step in too much and ‘control’ the media conference that would have created more drama and a bigger media frenzy. I have to laugh Jarryd was always go to say nothing on the claims and rightly so and some journalists were going to ask… Read more »
Well said again Shelley.
You certainly hit the nail on the head when you’ve pointed out the culture of honesty and support at the club.
I believe that we will see a return to form from Hayne. And yes, extending BA’s contract should be a priority.
How was the comraderie between the players and Hayne?
Nothing stood out in that regard. Just one of the boys. A couple of the fellas were barking encouragement at the 2km time trial.
To be honest, with so many cameras there, and so much conditioning work, it wasn’t a typical session when it came to “talk”. For mine, the talk returned as the cameras left.
Awesome report sixties, thanks.
Cheers.
Superb read again Sixties; loved the read and the comments too from others. The media will always try and talk it up or down about JH.
Lets fast fwd to March and see where things are then. JH will be ok. BA will have his targets and if he’s good enough so be it.
For me the fwds are our key this season, besides injures.
Thanks mate. I have no concerns about Hayne either.
Incredibly, players who were rumoured to be retiring, or leaving, were all in attendance today. How surprising!!!
Frank Pritchard????
What was pleasing today was the support of the club for Jarryd, after the disgraceful article by Andrew Webster , it was time for the club to stand up. No doubt we will continue to see the biased culture of the press, as Eels fans we should stand beside our players and look forward to the season ahead Obviously the comments from Jarryd that there is a spread of playmakers across the club was encouraging as it showed a different attitude to his previous time at the club. He has time to get his fitness to the required level, back… Read more »
Thanks Derek. As you well know, we wouldn’t expect anything but support from BA and his staff. Jarryd will meet the targets set for him, of that I have no doubt. I thought he was relaxed, humble and yet somehow confident in his press conference.
Webster has his own biases; and this has been shown during last season. Doesn’t matter tbh Big Derek, our team will show on the field.
It must be remembered that Webster encouraged Kafusi to kneel and not participate in the National Anthem while playing for the Kangaroos
Why was that John? Doesn’t surprise me; this bloke is a good lefty.
He wanted him to follow the lead of the Black athletes in the US
I’d say that things played out rather well today: the club stood tall, Hayne was undeterred and professional, and Sixties showed the reporters how to do their job. Well done to all involved.
Thanks mate. The journos were there to look for an angle, a headline. I was simply there to report on training as usual. So I’m trying to follow how the whole squad is going, rather than one player. I have to confess, it wasn’t easy today with so much interest, even my own, in Hayne. Luckily I had some mates there to bounce my ideas off.
Great report Sixties, as usual. The culture we now talk up at Parra is something BA has instigated and nurtured. As much as I hate to say it BA brought a siege mentality to our club from his days at Manly. At least we have finally got something back from them! When you consider the depth of true 1st graders we now have which is another BA initiative, unlike in the past when we would have many past their prime NRL standard players. The selection possibilities are endless when injuries inevitably strike. Building a mix of seasoned NRL players with… Read more »
Thanks Rowdy. People have been asking me about back-up halves at Wenty. The fact is, the versatility in the backline would probably mean that replacement halves, when needed would come from the likes of Gutho, Hayne, Taka or even French. We know that the incredibly talented Dylan Brown won’t be rushed, but he will be making his way through the ranks over the next couple of years. As for BA, yes Manly was a good stepping stone. I also think those years of captain coaching, especially in North Queensland, were career shaping when it came to the battle hardened, loyal,… Read more »
A siege mentality can’t be relied on to work forever. Playing for each other will bring success and I think that is the subtle difference that BA has achieved
Nice report 60’s. The return of the prodigal son was well handled all around. For any of his detractors, Jarryd spoke well and far improved on many of the other pressers I have seen him do.
Personally I can’t wait for the time when just purely our “ footy” makes the headlines and all this other stuff gets pushed to the background.
Thanks JJ. I think the footy will speak plenty, but as Parra fans we have to expect that news will be made out of anything. It comes with the territory.
Loved all of the pre-season write-ups, including this one. Thanks sixties and TCT. The press certainly was well managed today and will need to be over the next few weeks. Josh (media manager) will definitely have his work cut out for him, but how he has transformed the way we are reported over the last 12 months, will set a solid foundation through this ‘episode’. I reckon it will fizzle and as others have said, our football will be the headline more than anything else. Looking forward to the report from the next few training sessions with the full squad… Read more »
Cheers Anthony.
Apart from one errant camera crew who followed the team to the Athletics field, the media took their allocated positions on the running track. The media time in the afternoon meant that their was a mixture of training footage and the press conference.
As a regular down there, I’d recommend that people read the Michael Chammas article about BA and the coaches and their support of Jarryd. I see it regularly, and try to report on it, but I like to read that others have reported the same.
I did read that article. Puts everything in perspective doesn’t it? The respect that guy (BA) commands is 100% earnt.
Nice informative piece. I used to watch Jaeman Salmon playing for De La Salle Caringbah – he was always dominant and a natural footballer – a genuine prospect to play first grade – wish him all the best.
Where is Salmon going to play position wise.
I watched him play 5/8 for both sharks and Nsw u18s and I’m not really impressed with him there. I think his more of a back rower with great skills but lacks in defence
I expect him to play 5/8 in under 20s. But he does have some versatlity.
Agree with the comments about Chammas was the most balanced article that I have seen.
Sixties I hope you are not causing us to supporters peak too early. Can’t wait for the season to start. Trials will do.
Keep the reports coming
Just warming up mate.
Hi craig great read again .I would like to take my young fella down to watch a training session jst wondering are they training at the saleyards tomorrow morning ?what time do they start ?
Hi mate,
Sorry I missed this reply. Check your email.
Sixties, You wrote above the squad did a 2km time trial. Can you confirm some times ran please.!
Hi mate, answered this in my latest post.