The Cumberland Throw

Eels Pre-Season Training – January 11, 2019: Nowhere To Hide

Friday Footy. You gotta love it!

A solid chunk of opposed work looked to be on the agenda when I arrived at Saleyards today. The referees were in attendance, with Russell Smith supervising, and the players were going through their passing drills as I exited the car.

Just two days before, the squad had worked through one of most gruelling sessions I’ve witnessed in recent seasons. This had followed the conditioning and beep tests on Monday.

The planning for this pre-season would sort out who was buying into the work ethic demanded for 2019. Arthur and his staff had scheduled two of the most physically demanding weeks of the pre-season on either side of the Christmas break. There was no easing off going into the break, there was no easing into the return.

The players are either totally in with their attitude to this work or they won’t feature this year. There’s nowhere to hide.

And though footy looked like being the focus of this session, the physical questions continued to be asked of the squad.

This was no easy session to write up. There were aspects that I wasn’t happy about. Watching the coaches and their responses, it was obvious that they found fault. However, I also know that they were pleased. More on that later.

Read the Play Son

The drill being executed at the beginning of the session could have been interpreted as ball skills and attack. Quick hands saw the ball promoted within a corridor. The position of the hands was critical.

However, as the ball reached the last pass, the players had to quickly transition into a defensive position and immediately make defensive decisions about the play being run at them by the next group. There was plenty of communication from the coaches, both praising and correcting what they saw.

Why?

The players’ urgency, then choices, was either shutting down or opening up the attack being run at them. Just like in a match, players have to transition quickly, or make decisions under pressure. This was preparing and testing for that.

At the same time, those attacking with the football were given a distinct advantage, and it was interesting to observe how they played what was in front of them.

The Opposed (Or The Good, The Bad and the Funny)

There was a touch of refereeing royalty today with the “Gavs” on duty – Badger and Reynolds. I might question these whistle blowers and their decision making from time to time, but they are fit bastards. Whenever the opposed work broke for conditioning, the refs joined in – even if they didn’t always do the full hitting the ground components.

Salmon

The squad was split into Red vs Blue. Red was looking like first team choices, but with a disclaimer. There are a few players in rehab at the moment – for various reasons. There are the well publicised (see Ferguson, Smith and Brown) and the minor niggles from training that are given time out from full squad work. I won’t list off the players because I prefer to steer clear of discussing injuries that I’m not qualified to comment on.

Regardless, you can assume that players like Fergo and Browny will be in the run on team. But the flow on effect is that players missing from opposed sessions impacts the positions played by other players.

The Good

There are physical, and head questions constantly being thrown at this squad. Are they tough enough physically and mentally to handle it?

This pre-season, the effort on effort has been phenomenal. When the execution hasn’t been good enough, they’ve been physically penalised.

And the reason is simple. Small moments switching off in concentration has immediate and significant consequences in the NRL. It’s a message that BA emphasises in sessions. Last season also rammed that home!

The players are training to be winners, not survivors, of contests. Will this translate to match days? Last season has me cautious, but there is something very positive and very different about this group.

Today, the Red team were obviously a class above the Blue. To be fair, the Blue had many players out of position.

Moses and Brown.

The opposed itself was more contrived than match conditions. Sets were repeated, with and without opposition. Coaching feedback was given when necessary. It was obvious that there were specific plays being drilled today, and if it wasn’t good enough, it was repeated.

The Red forwards impressed with their combination – both in attack and defence. They dominated physically. The spine was sharp with the ball and the talk was very loud. Mahoney, Moses, Brown and Gutho are looking the goods.

My highlight moment was delivered by a player in Blue. With a high ball heading his way, and the chasers all over him, Ethan Parry executed an Aussie Rules above the head take right on the try line. Superb stuff.

The Bad

The Blue team looked a bit disjointed. Combinations were difficult to achieve.

Go Gowie!

The reasons weren’t hard to find. Players were out of position and there were orange shirts (no heavy contact) amongst them.

All of this translated into clunky play and a bit too much dropped ball. As players are able to return to opposed work, this will be remedied.

I must give a special mention to Gowie. He was filling in around the halves for the Blue team and I’m sure he enjoyed every moment of it. Our veteran forward possesses genuine ball skills.

The Funny

Maika Sivo.

Our recruit from the Panthers finally joined in with the opposed session. He’s still wearing an orange shirt and is probably a couple of weeks away from full contact.

But you can’t stop a footballer from what comes naturally.

When a player wearing an orange shirt carries the footy, the players will call out orange as a reminder for tacklers to just grab the player. The player in orange will then surrender.

In one play, Maika took the ball in a hit up, and powered through the grab to burst into the clear. There were a few chuckles as he was brought back to play the ball where he was grabbed. We also had a bit of a laugh with him about it afterwards.

You have to admire that instinct!

Week one of 2019 done and dusted.

The first trial is only a few weeks away. Can you feel it yet?

Eels forever!

Sixties

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53 thoughts on “Eels Pre-Season Training – January 11, 2019: Nowhere To Hide

  1. Matthew Sweeney

    Thx for the great coverage Sixties. Now that you’ve been up close and personal to Maika can we get the comparison with Semi. Hes listed as shorter than Semi but heavier. Does he have that x factor purely from a physical pov ? Do u think he has comparable speed to Semi ? Apparently we recently beat Canberra for the signature of an 18 yr old Fijian boy and he is being spruiked as the next Semi. I was hoping that would be Maika this year.

    1. sixties Post author

      You’re welcome Matthew,
      I never believed the listed weights for Semi. Google the images of Semi from training sessions and try telling me he was only 100kg. Ethan Parry is big, but nowhere near as big as Semi and he’s 99/100kg.
      Maika is a specimen, no doubt, but Semi was bigger in my opinion. Pace? Hard to say. He’s fast, but I haven’t really seen him sprint against our fast players as he’s been in rehab.

      1. Matthew Sweeney

        Thankyou. I agree it’s been a beef of mine that clubs seem to systematically undervalue player weights. Is this for clandestine type measures? I think semi could have been just as effective if he were a yard or 2 slower. He seemed to always score whilst running away . He was imho one of the most gifted players ever. He always took the right option and could set ppl up beautifully and to think he was late to the game.

        1. sixties Post author

          What would take anybody by surprise this pre-season is the size of the players. Our pack is much, much bigger. I’ve even noticed Lane has added size to his frame.
          Semi was certainly a rare talent Matthew. That late entry to the game meant he was still learning to read opportunities as well as make better defensive decisions. Imagine where more years in the game would have taken him! His best years were definitely in front of him.

          1. Matthew Sweeney

            Your passion for rugby league
            reminds one of the avid punter observing with steely eyes the horse flesh from the bird cage , lol. The fact Brad has given you his imprimatur so to speak to observe training in close proximity says a lot about both of you. Thanks for pointing out the part about the players being bigger , that is the real interesting stuff to me. I guess last year has tempered for most of us how we assess our training performances given that in some respects theres nothing new under the sun in regards to training and so all other clubs are probably working just as hard utilizing proven modern techniques. In saying that your characterizing of jimenzs methods show that old school Billy John stone style hard yakka has its place.

          2. sixties Post author

            Matthew we are very fortunate to be able to watch the team train and to get to know the staff and some of the players. There is an element of trust in what will be reported.
            Of course all teams have their hard yakka, challenges and new methods with each pre-season. Parra’s has been different every year. That’s the challenge for every NRL coach.

  2. Anonymous

    You note the importance of being winners not just survivors and I think this is spot on. This has to be the default thinking. Superb fitness and a very strong mental approach is needed to achieve this. With it comes belief and the combination of all of that (skill also helps) brings results on the field, especially in the back end of games.
    Thanks for the report, love it!

    1. sixties Post author

      Cheers Anon. Mentally, the players lost their way last year. They weren’t strong enough in their belief in each other. It wasn’t a case of blaming each other or turning on each other. But it was a case of not having enough faith in either themselves or the bloke next to them when the going got tough in matches. That’s a recipe for losses,
      I’m looking at doing a post dedicated to the differences thus far in training, attitude, and linking match day performances from last year.

      1. Big Derek

        That’s an interesting observation on trusting each other. I went to watch the Sydney Kings last night, and even though it’s an indoor stadium, it would be of benefit to have someone from the club see how it should be done and how professional it is, and the buy in the get from the fans, very beneficial.

        Spent a little bit of time pre game with some Eels fans, to be honest they are looking forward to the new stadium, but have extremely low expectations of on field performance after last year. Seem to be disappointed with recruitment and the number of journeymen players in the squad we have rather than the junior up and comers . Tried to explain how the younger players would be given the chance etc, but still unhappy. Expectations are very mediocre.

        The club really needs to more in the media and pump the team up, I understand if they read TCT they would see where it’s all going, hopefully there will be positive news ahead of he season..

        1. sixties Post author

          I know you would have explained about the juniors in the squad and the impact it’s had Derek. I’m also sure that you would have explained how incredibly young the group is now. Gowie and Mannah and Jennings might be the wrong side of 30, but you need that when you have very young players in the squad.the Eels will start with a 21 year old dummy half, an 18 year old half and a 20 year old centre. I’m expecting the 19 year old Kaufusi to be in the 17. Blokes like Gutho, Moses, Tepai, Browny, Polar, Junior and Marata are all still young blokes too. Yet they’ll probably be the senior players come 2020!

          1. Big Derek

            Thanks, that’s correct, but last year sucked the life out of expectations.
            Interesting story, my daughter got her membership pack, slapped the sticker on her Apple Mac, it expired the next day, she hopes its not some sort of sign . The Apple Store at Castle Towers will undertake the investigation 😀

          2. John Eel

            Sixties I expect that you won’t remember but a year or two ago we had a discussion on player experience and the number of NRL games that a team needed going into each game. You told me that you worked it out on the 17 whereby I worked it out on the starting 13

            Somewhere I have a USB with about 3 seasons of data on it outlining the success of this metric in predicting successful teams.

            So many Eels fans see that success will come simply by introducing the exciting juniors. However this will only happen if they are mixed with experienced players as well

          3. sixties Post author

            I recall it well John. Even back in 81 when Parra won with their young stars, there was the mix of old hard heads like Edge, O’Reilly, Price, Stevens, Cronin.

        2. colin hussey

          BD, one of my concerns for this upcoming season (& I really only have a couple) and heading the list is the negative aspect of many of the eels fans/supporters regarding this year. WHY? maybe because we only have signed two big names, but then there is the criticism on no juniors yet, when unknown names are thrown up as coming through our junior pathways systems, that is ignored along with the put down of some because they don’t fit a specific mould that they want.

          Being cautiously optimistic for me is the lowest I will go for the season ahead as I for one have a feeling that its going to be a good season, with more wins than loses. I actually believe we will be pushing for the 8 but may just fall short, and I reiterate just.

          Having experienced the highs and lows in being an eels supporter now for years, that date back to the 50’s with my eels family members, lows are high in numbers but the highs are really highs, especially premiership wins, and I see another one in a short few years.

          I like very much what I am reading and the photo’s posted of training seasons along with the video highlights are the tonic we should be looking at as a whole.

          1. sixties Post author

            I have no issues with our recruitment at all.
            Why?
            We lacked a big forward – so we recruit Junior.
            Lacked second phase – recruited Lane.
            Missed Semi’s carries from backfield – recruit Fergo and Sivo.
            And yes Colin, you can’t please some with juniors. They complain that we don’t promote juniors. Here at TCT we’ve been banging on for about two years that there is a wave coming. We asked supporters to be patient because we couldn’t promote juniors that weren’t good enough or ready. Now Parra have the right juniors who are ready or on that path to NRL – Brown, Kaufusi, Parry, Dunster, Schneider, Fainga’a and the Utoikamanu brothers were added to the full time squad for 2019. And there’s about five or six players sitting just below that ready to come through in 2020/21, with some 20s graduates likely to be on Wenty deals for 2019 too. And people still aren’t happy.
            I’m not ready to predict 2019 results yet, but I think the right boxes are being ticked.

          2. rowdy roddy

            Great Report Sixties.
            Your response above to recruitment is astute. Considering the time you, 40/20. Parrathruandthru spend monitoring our junior rep squads? I would have to say that your optimism regarding the kids coming through is warranted indeed. The programs that BA has set in place to nurture and produce these juniors is exactly what a “Development Club” needs to do. It hasn’t really happened at Parra since Brian Smiths’ tenure.

          3. sixties Post author

            Thanks Rowdy. Having eight young players who have a history together join the full time squad together is such a significant change. The changing of the guard.

          4. colin hussey

            Mate, I’m confident that the right boxes have been ticked, and likely only the start. A good year and one with enthusiasm from all players both young and older I believe will not just bring supporters and fans back but, it will also bring respect for the eels back to where it should be, and that is not just from opposition teams supporters but more so from the opposition teams themselves.

            Should that happen, then it will also boost the confidence of the eels overall.

        3. John Eel

          Derek interesting point you bring up regarding the Kings. This is the third season for Andrew Gaze he was having trouble with the team ethic in the first 2 seasons.

          This season he turned to Paul Roos as a way to turn it around. He credits Roos for some of the success that they have had this season. Of course having Bogut there has helped a bit also.

          With regard to your point about the supporters being negative about the coming season it is reasonable given the negativity toward the Eels on social media and the media in general.

          You have to search for the real information and not just follow the thoughts of those so negative. It helps to read TCT

          1. sixties Post author

            Thanks John. To be negative would be to discount everything that we’re witnessing in this pre-season, and just focus on last year. To be foolish would be to ignore last year and believe that change will come without hard work or a different approach. I’m reporting on the training as it happens, acknowledging the good stuff, & noting any concerns. I’m making no bold predictions at the moment.

  3. colin hussey

    The players are training to be winners, not survivors, of contests. Will this translate to match days? Last season has me cautious, but there is something very positive and very different about this group.

    Sixties, great report, I love the above part of it, especially that last sentence as that is what I was referring to in a previous post.

    Wonderment and realistic expectation.

    1. sixties Post author

      Thanks Colin. I think it’s well worth exploring in a dedicated post. The building blocks are definitely there, but last year has me wary. So I want to explore the differences I’ve noticed, as much for myself as for the readers.

    2. Bob jay

      Every junior thats joined the squad has brought the same ingredient to the team , enthusiasm and its infectious.

  4. Anonymous

    Wonderful report as always 60s mate!! Really looking forward to the young spine & their growth together!!

    1. sixties Post author

      Cheers Anon. It’s fantastic that supporters like yourself use the word “growth”. That’s what we can expect from such a young group.

  5. Milo

    Thanks again sixties; its good to read while I’m in Mexico (Melbourne).
    Interesting as i am more upbeat about this season than last tbh. I dont have much expectations tbh and really hope we develop strong combinations around the spine with less injuries and simply want our forwards to lead the way with the halves owning the team. Having the younger players in the squad is superb and not because they’re younger because they show promise and dedication on the training field,
    Our pack needed to beef up – only hope we can add more quality where needed.
    Parry for me is a smokey for NRL game time.
    To me we have lost some players who needed to be moved on and there’s probably more who should go but that’s contracts for you.
    Part of the issue for me for the start of last season was the refs interpretations on the 10 m etc as this affected us big time. It was too late to change body types then.
    I only hope IF the wonderful NRL and their brains trust have amendments to rules or their stupid interpretations then they should have been sent to all clubs in Oct / Nov last yr and not in January / February.

    1. sixties Post author

      You’re right mate. Our size was much different last year and with the rule interpretations, having a smaller, mobile pack didn’t help. Every player is bigger in 2019, and not by a small measure.
      Hopefully the changing of the guard at the refs brings greater clarity.
      Parry and Dunster both show great promise. They might be competing for the same spot, though they have different skill sets.

      1. parrathruandthru

        I’d go so far as to say Junior is smaller than what he was last year, so not every player is bigger….but that’s a good thing and he is still the biggest we got. In case anybody saw those photos after the world cup last year and was concerned.

  6. Offside

    In some ways im optimistic about next season in that it can’t get worse.
    Im a realist and don’t expect to make the 8 but will take a year outside of the 8 if its a development year with some positives re wins and juniors etc..

      1. Graz

        I was not really caught up in all the hype for 2018. But never in my wildest dreams did I expect to finish 16th. For 2019, we will make the 8.

  7. Mark camman

    Hi Sixties, based on what you have observed to date can you please give an update on the following players and positions
    1. Kane Evans – do you see him in the Top 17 for the first game of the season
    2. OEE has an article by Buzz Rothfield suggesting he will he will spend the season in Wenty colours. I’m xalling BS but can you tell me how he is going?
    3. Reed Mahoney or Kaiser Pritchard – who do you see as being the first choice hooker?
    4. FB – Clint Gutherson or Bevan French.
    5. 5/8th?
    Cheers

    1. sixties Post author

      Hi Mark,
      1. I see Kane Evans starting the year at Wenty. I think they want him to prove a point. He’s certainly honest about how he went last year.
      2. Jennings is the number one centre on paper. They need his experience. He’s training well right now, so I think he’ll start in first grade and it’s his spot to lose.
      3. Reed
      4. Gutho
      5. Going with Moses and Brown in the halves.

      1. colin hussey

        Sixties, Gutho to centres I a fair proposition as lets not forget that is where BA said he saw him playing in when he came across from Manly. If he goes to the centres, I think it will be a better proposition if he gets the C alongside his name, and I think more dangerous there as well.

        1. sixties Post author

          Colin, I think it’s time for Gutho to be allowed to settle into a preferred position, and one where he can exercise leadership. That’s from fullback. I’m also letting you know what I’ve seen thus far. That may change, but he’s trained there – not centre, not dummy half. It’s an important year, contract wise too. I reckon he’d like to have clarity on where he fits into the team.

          1. colin hussey

            Not hard to agree with having him in a settled position, with the centres a bit thin unless MJ continues with his training form into the playing season itself, there comes a problem spot.

            With some talk of Gutho a perhaps for the centres, I was just referring back to BA’s statement after Gutho signed as seeing him as a centre.

            The big thing for me is that the whole team needs players in stable positions rather than chopping and changing, if I read your training reports right, there has been a reasonable amount of players being swapped around a bit I guess to get a feel for positions especially amongst the new players that have come up.

            The trials will sort it out, and I have little doubt BA already has his team pretty well sorted out anyway.

          2. Poppa

            Col, I think you saw 60’s reply as Guth playing 4 but he was actually answering question 4. Reading in between the lines 60’s it looks like you see Parry starting in the centres, I love that as it rivals what I have seen Easts and St George have done with young big strong centres.Manu, Mitchell and Euan O’Brien?

            Do you see Stephano Utoikamanu making the top 30 and can you tell us something about his brother. I am also pleased you have seen Sivo in the flesh, I was starting to worry it may have been a ghost of Semi haunting us…lol

            Finally I accept that Guth will be fullback given what you have said, where does that leave French….as a winger or fullback for wenty?

          3. sixties Post author

            No, I see Salmon starting in the centres. I think Parry will be given time in Wenty, and he will probably get his chance on the wing down the track. Ultimately he can play fullback, centre or wing.
            I’d go with Stefano for the last top 30 spot, but they don’t have to rush that. His brother, Filia, is also a prop of great promise. Not as big, but a leader amongst the young crew. The question remains his return from injury.
            Yes, at this stage I definitely see Gutho as our fullback. Can Bev force a change of opinion? Time will tell.

          4. rowdy roddy

            Col,regarding BA mentioning Gutho was a potential centre when he was brought across from Manly? There has been a lot of water pass under that bridge mate, and 2017 showed us why Gutho played most of his junior rep footy at fullback where he blitzed it as he did for us 2017 until he was injured.

      2. John Eel

        There is no way that article in the Sunday Telegraph regarding Jennings came from the club. What was said about trying to get him to walk away from his contract would land the club in a lot of strife.

        1. Poppa

          It was just rubbish journalism JE……the article was in no one’s interest other than the guy who wrote it for click bait.

          1. sixties Post author

            John and Poppa, as you know, regardless of what happens down the track, Jenko is currently our senior centre. He’ll be looking to get a new deal. Hungry to turn things around? I think so.

  8. John Eel

    I read recently that Gutho is taking his time with a contract extension. When I read this I thought of two things.

    Firstly that Gutho feels he has done his time as Mr Fixit and wants to play in his preferred position at FB. Secondly he may be looking to see what happens with BA

    With regard to French I see him starting at Wenty

    1. rowdy roddy

      Astute assessment of the hypotheticals John Eel. I would concur emphatically. With Bevan French playing fullback or wing for Wenty, we are starting to see the kind of depth required to mount a serious finals threat.

      I recall our 1980’s teams having blokes like David Liddiard, Neil Hunt and Graham Atkins playing reggies. Even Paul Taylor had to play reggies when Steve Ella wasn’t injured, who was he going to displace out of Sterlo, Burt, Crow, Ella, Growth, Hunt or Atkins at fullback?

      1. colin hussey

        The situation with our coaching position could be a heavy cloud over the heads of the team. I caste my mind back over the many coaches we have had in the past, and there’s been a heck of a lot who have been worse than BA and what we saw last season from the team, & that is not justifying the way they performed, to me the problems stemmed from cost cutting from outside the football operations side of things.

        My thoughts are that BA should be the coach longer term, but how much will be determined by the teams performances. From what I read from all the reporters regarding the training this off season, along with the photo montages on the eels webb site, I see a team that includes the coaching staff all pulling together, sure that’s been like it last seasons pre season training but the overall changes that have taken place this time round shows a different story, or chapter as the mid term changes last year showed things were on the up.

        I like others are cautiously optimistic about this coming season and the team to improve well. If that takes place then I can not see a reason for a change in the head coach being punted, again that will be very much determined by the teams performances. The fox amongst the chickens though may be the number of players off contract end of this year, and how they play for their futures.

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