The Cumberland Throw

Eels Pre-Season Training – January 29, 2018: Back Home

After last week’s camp on the beautiful Central Coast, the squad resumed their normal duties at Saleyards this morning. The feedback I’ve had about the camp was the work was demanding, but the players were able to enjoy some down time in each other’s company. There may be no major need for team bonding with this tight group, but given the late start to the pre-season for a number of players, the timing was probably spot on.

With Lachlan and his staff taking the players for the initial part of the session, we again saw the technical balance, stretch and movement warm-ups. It’s interesting to observe the smooth transitioning through the drills now that the players have become more proficient in the movements.

As the field work progressed, there was a real sense that the season is getting closer. Plenty of footy was played in the skills component, and the shapes, plays and combinations are definitely coming together. Here’s how the session was structured:

Grid Work

In what looked to be a 25m X 40m grid, a team of 5 players were given around 3 plays to score against a defence of only 3 players.

This appeared to be equal parts attack and defence. The defenders were exhorted to chase and scramble against attackers with all the advantages. The team with the ball were called on to use those advantages via creating overlaps, using field width or clever movement.

Jaeman Salmon – a tremendous prospect.

I was most impressed with Jaeman Salmon. Even though I’ve watched his talents at junior rep level, and he’s been outstanding throughout the conditioning work, this was the first occasion that his skills have been on display at Saleyards. Even in a drill such as this, his football vision and advanced passing game couldn’t be ignored. This young recruit from the Sharks is a definite player of the future.

Opposed With Contact

The match conditions stepped up during this section, with conversion kicks being taken after tries. Mitch Moses took every kick in exactly the same fashion as he would on game day. In one memorable kick from the sideline, the ball bounced off both the post and the crossbar for the goal.

Just a training session!

The hit ups were strong, as evidenced in this accompanying photo, and the blue team created plenty of opportunities out wide through fast shifts. Ultimately the blue team finished with a four try advantage over their green counterparts.

Players, with the exception of the halves and centres, alternated between the teams. Even the wingers swapped between left and right. (The Telegraph interview with BA chronicles this interchange of positions)

Two Hand Touch Football & Strike Pad Footy

A couple of versions of two hand touch were played today. The pace was frantic, almost akin to regular touch footy, but there was still structure.

With only four tackles to work with, the attacking team still gets an advantage via a constantly retreating defence and defenders dropping out of the line. I personally found it interesting to track the direction of the attack. (I won’t be going into details on this)

Similar to the grid work, the expectation seems to be that the defence will scramble and the attack will use its advantage to find gaps or an overlap.

The game with the defenders wielding strike pads had similar pace to the two hand touch. Without doubt there has to be a conditioning component because it’s played at close to touch footy pace but without the interchanges.

Of Note Today

This session marked the movement of Kane Evans, Jaeman Salmon and Greg Leleisiuao into the contact work. Obviously there are limitations regarding the level of contact permitted, but all three played significant roles in the session.

Salmon’s game sense (playing in the halves for the green) caught my eye, and he was very sharp in his movements. Kane Evans has been renowned for his pace as a prop. This was certainly on display, and to be honest, I was surprised with his acceleration.

Pritchard and King both spent time in the blue 9.

Kaysa Pritchard was given time at dummy half in the early part of the session and was typically energetic in his efforts. King later shifted into this role and continued his impressive training form.

Greg Leleisiuao looked confident today and his talk was good. He’s done some serious conditioning work since his pre-Christmas injury and he looks much fitter.

Will Smith and Bevan French assumed the custodian roles for the games, and they too swapped between the blue and green teams. BA has publicly stated that nobody is guaranteed a starting spot.

Anyone watching this session would not be surprised with that statement.

Eels forever!

Sixties

Images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels

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21 thoughts on “Eels Pre-Season Training – January 29, 2018: Back Home

  1. Jetta

    Great post Sixties. How’s Peni Terepo going? He seems to be the forgotten man at the moment. He’d be the first player I’d pick on the bench if he’s fit and firing.

    1. sixties Post author

      Nothing wrong with how Peni is travelling, but he was one of the late ones to return to training. Sometimes it’s difficult to assess the work of the middle forwards in opposed sessions. The players where identical shirts and when the play is fast and at a distance you tend to say “who made that tackle, who gave that offload?”
      So, some of the standout work happens in conditioning, and Alvaro and Mannah are machines in that department.

  2. TownesVanVliet

    Amazing coverage as always Sixties! Good to see young Salmon stepping up as he is a very intriguing prospect – can’t believe the sharks let him slip! I have also heard Dylan Brown has had a few sessions with the top squad how’s he developing?

    1. sixties Post author

      Brown is one of the most exciting Eels prospects that I’ve watched in a very long time. In my opinion he has a massive future. That said, he’s only 17, so there’s such a long way and/or time till he would be considered at NRL level. For now, let’s remember that he’s part of the Jersey Flegg squad – that in itself, for a bloke that turns 18 mid year, is quite impressive.

  3. Ecniv

    Sixties, I couldn’t see any pics of JH on the eels website of today’s training. Did you see JH at training today?

    1. sixties Post author

      A number of players did not participate in the opposed work today. He was one. Its not unusual for players to have their training work modified, depending on workload, niggles, a day off etc. I can’t answer why he or the others didn’t do the opposed.

  4. Mitchy

    Thanks Sixties for the report; always good to read and particularly the players now in the training from rehab.
    Have you noticed any size added to Evans? as he is big without having lots of bulk; and to me he could be an enforcer if added some bulk.
    where do you see Salmon playing ? position wise

    1. sixties Post author

      I believe he’s put on about 3 kgs. Talking to him before Christmas, this was his goal.
      Short term, I think Salmon will play in the halves in Jersey Flegg, then maybe ISP.
      Long term, he might just be a ball playing back rower or centre.

      1. Mitchy

        Ok, thanks mate, that’s good if he has put on some. I am backing Evans for a good year.
        Salmon has a good motor.

  5. Braeden

    Hey Sixtie,

    You were saying the halves and the centres didn’t swap but everyone else did, who were the centres ?

  6. JJ

    Great stuff 60’s always a great read. With the addition of sports science into the training regime and given your years of watching pre-seasons are there many noticeable changes you are seeing in typical body shapes / muscle mass or say greater cardio endurance across this squad compared to other pre-seasons ?

    1. sixties Post author

      I’m seeing a significant difference in the forwards. Kenny Edwards is in superb shape, Danny Alvaro and Tim Mannah look to be in the best condition of their careers, and Nathan Brown is looking very sharp. We were only talking the other day about the shape that all of the forwards are in. The real difference will obviously be seen on the field during the season, but great question mate.

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