The Cumberland Throw

Eels miss their boy George but show forward progress is the plan

A flurry of news caught the the attention of all Parramatta fans yesterday as NRL.com reporter Michael Chammas led with the story that the Eels were close to brokering a deal for South Sydney prop George Burgess worth $1.8 million over three years. The blockbuster deal would have seen Burgess join the Eels immediately for the 2019 season to headline a revamped forward pack alongside Junior Paulo. Unfortunately, the deal would fall through with George choosing to stay with his brothers and roll the dice on earning a lucrative deal elsewhere.

Still, this was the clearest indication of the recruitment strategy moving forwards; build this thing inside-out and and from front-to-back.

That isn’t to say that the Eels would turn their nose up at premier talent in other positions if they were to become available at the right price but adding both consistency and explosive play-making ability to the forward pack has clearly been identified as a key moving forwards.

The near-miss for newly established Head of Football Mark O’Neill is unfortunate but the vision should not be faulted. A consistent ruck platform is almost always one of the hallmarks of a premiership contender and a recruit like George Burgess would have simultaneously augmented the Eels’ forward pack from Day 1 while also acting as a bridging piece to facilitate the development of young players like Oregon Kaufusi and Stefano Utoikamanu.

So where does this leave the Eels as we head into the 2019 season?

We know that they have a considerable chunk of their 2019 salary cap still available at their disposal following the departure of Corey Norman. However, there is no guarantee that the Eels will be able to spend it externally on a difference maker in the forward pack given that we are but three weeks out from the first round.

Resources would have already been allocated towards promoting Reed Mahoney and Dylan Brown into the Top 30 for this season but there is also the consideration towards looming extensions for both these young men and potentially the likes of Clinton Gutherson, Mitchell Moses, Daniel Alvaro and Tepai Moeroa.

Still, we live in an era of unprecedented salary cap and roster volatility. Even as I blog this short piece the Cronulla Sharks and Wests Tigers are still under investigation for alleged salary cap breaches levied against them by the NRL in 2018. The player market could be blown open on any given day and the Eels are at least positioned to make a play for any premier talent that is forced out by the pinch of the salary cap.

Corey Norman (St George Illawarra Dragons), David Klemmer (Newcastle Knights), Shaun Johnson (Cronulla Sharks), Josh McGuire (North Queensland Cowboys), Jordan Kahu (North Queensland Cowboys), Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (Canberra Raiders) while the media are also speculatively billing Robert Jennings (Wests Tigers) to move on in the coming days.

David Klemmer stands out as the biggest miss there for Parramatta but it should be remembered that we did not have the requisite funds available at the time as Corey Norman was still on our books. Klemmer himself also professed a need to get out of Sydney.

Ultimately, we now have a sound recruitment strategy that if executed well will build around key pieces that are already at the club. In that light, who do you think the Eels should identify as a key recruitment piece for 2020? Or is there someone that you think will be available this season? Do they revisit the off-contract George Burgess or is there another forward that you think could be the difference-maker for the Blue & Gold?

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56 thoughts on “Eels miss their boy George but show forward progress is the plan

  1. Eel Nut

    Forties, mate I was really hoping for Marty Taupau to come our way! That whole saga and speculation has gone really quiet. I think I read he is staying at Manly. I hope I’m wrong!!!

      1. Forty20 Post author

        Given the current state of the NRL it is hard to put much stock in Taupau’s statement – even if the declaration of loyalty is admirable. It could however lead to potential anti-tampering issues (ironically from the fallout of Dylan Brown and the Warriors) if Manly and Taupau are now both happy for him to see out his contract.

        1. Boki Swervin Mervin

          I believe its all a smoke screen. I believe he will be here in 2019 at some point. We have the cash necessary for that this year and in subsequent years. I believe he is the main priority.

  2. Milo

    Personally I do not know which other prop but Burgess would have been ok at the RIGHT Price and as someone experienced mentioned to me the $$$$ being floated around seemed high. Tapau imo was way too much in what was rumoured.
    I still think another exp dummy half is the way to go but who? No idea.
    I like that we went after Burgess again.
    I wonder if rumoured cap issues for some clubs may help us?

  3. Craig

    I think it’s great if the GBurgess ship has sailed. Too many $$ for an inconsistent prop. We ought be going after the sharks who may have to drop a player in the next couple of weeks. The younger Brailey at hooker would be best, then promote Utoikamanu to top 30 (and probably drop A Davies out of 30) for a healthier squad. Possibly too big an if there though.

    1. Milo

      Good points though Craig. An up and coming prop / hooker would both be good IMO. I sense there is going to be some movement within parra this season with the amount of players coming off contract.

    2. Colin Hussey

      From my perspective George has the least ability out of the 3 brothers, has also been suspended too much for my liking. I would rather see our young guns given more a go for the top grade than signing Georgy.

    3. mitch

      I’m afraid Top 30 is dependent on salary, and Development Players moving into the Top 30 have a capped price. Top 30 is not an option of the club, but a set group of players depending on their contracts. As a result, I’d say Davey is in our Top 30 until his contract expires.

        1. panic

          I think he’s referring to Andrew Davey, a new signing from Mackay Cutters. Good second rower, plays big minutes, good defender and nice soft hands.

      1. Glenn

        Gower would be the obvious forward to drop out of the 30, he could retire and be employed full time by the club.

    4. The rev aka Snedden

      Graig from what I understand of the NRL rules is that the last player signed with a club like the Sharks in SJ has to be released as he was the last player signed. So I can’t see us going after Bailey. Sharks won’t let him go n plus we don’t need another young DH we have Mahoney n Schneider. We need to try again with GB or someone else

    5. Poppa

      I don’t understand why we would chase a new young hooker, when we have two outstanding candidates, is the younger Brailey a genuine prop as well?
      Finally Davies is not in the top 30 is he? I understood he was a Wenty purchase…..

  4. John Eel

    Forty I think this is good and I agree with your thoughts. The trick for O’Neill, without stating the obvious, will be one to get the contracts right.

    They need to be astute in the values and length of contract. This means being being mindful of what juniors are coming through.

    I think that there will always be times when positions can’t be covered by juniors coming through the system.

    If you look at the Roosters they won the GF and still made 3 big signings. Creighton, Morris and Ryan the English winger.

    I like what the Eels have done with Brown. They can go out and upgrade him now to move him into the top 30 then as the season progresses and they have a better idea of his NRL value they can extend him prior to November 1st

    Doing it this way always gives the Eels first crack at the Development players. We just need to keep an eye out for the Warriors.

    Doing it this way will mean there will be mistakes made but on Development money it won’t be so painful.

    1. Milo

      Fair call John, no doubt the Warriors will attempt to hold Brown off till later in the year and throw $$$$ huge amounts at him. Parra seem to have made a call on Brown in regards to upgrading till 2020 and then hopefully lock him up again, as long as he does well. From all reports he looks ok, and just needs some time. My issue is what happens if Moses does not have a good season?

      1. Colin Hussey

        Milo if Moses does not have a good season, then I would be looking at Gutho to 6 with Brown at 7. Moses though is playing for his future so he should go better this year.

        1. Milo

          Fair call mate; i imagine a few things will occur this season which could be good but also concerning in terms of being unsettled.

  5. Drew

    With the sharks being under investigation, Flanagan, Blayke Brailey, Xerri would be excellent pick ups. From other clubs that are feeling the pinch, Sandor Earl and Kasiono I feel would be good cheap depth buys. As for a “star” signing I would be throwing the absolute bank at Marty, give him the #10 Jersey + 850k a year. Money talks

    1. Forty20 Post author

      I like the train of thought with the young Sharks, Drew, but I am nonplussed over Earl and Kasiano is a hard pass in my books. He was a complete non-factor in Melbourne despite getting whipped into career best shape and it reeks of a trap signing.

      Since prying Pangai Jnr away from Brisbane seems like an impossibility, Taupau probably headlines the list of prop candidates. I would definitely give strong consideration towards chasing him.

      1. Eel Nut

        Guys another forward I hold in high regard is Vaughan from the Dragons. (First name escapes me). Again, he is contracted and again we missed the boat a couple of years ago when he left the Raiders.

        1. Forty20 Post author

          That was easily the most painful sliding doors moment in the last few years for mine, EN. Coming so dang close to signing Vaughan only to miss out and see what he grew into.

  6. Anonymous

    Latrell Mitchell I would chase with an open check book, he will demand a massive increase to his next contract which I believe is 2020 he is unsigned, we should make him club captain & hit him with an offer he can not say no too & Nicky baby can not match without letting talent go.

    1. Micky

      Mitchell won’t leave the Roosters for any amount of money. If Moses doesn’t work out I would be chasing Townsend from the Sharks. Watched the semi final Sharks vs Panthers last night and Townsend absolutely killed them. He has a great passing game and kicking game plus he can kick goals. Sharks keep talking up young Flanagan and Townsend is not assured of a starting berth.

      1. Forty20 Post author

        I have mixed feelings about chasing someone like Latrell and I think you are pretty close to the mark, Micky. It would probably take an insane offer to lure him away from Bondai.

        Townsend IS an interesting target however. He is a player I keep circling back to when I think about ideal foils to Dylan Brown. I would have him on my recruitment shortlist for sure.

        1. Eel Nut

          Prefer Maloney to Townsend. Just don’t rate Townsend. An honest toiler but I feel gives not enough for what we need.

          1. Forty20 Post author

            As I have mentioned in a couple of my recent blogs, it is a make or break year for plenty of the players, staff and coaches (hardly a bold call I know but it is what it is), Moses especially. I think you need to be constantly strategising for ‘break’ scenarios in that light and Townsend (or Maloney) is just an extension of that. Moses could very well stand up and let his play demand a new deal from the Eels.

    2. Poppa

      Latrell Mitchell, young, unbelievably talented is a pretty average human being. He may mature into something very special, but you have to be wary when you are buying a big name player with an even bigger ego!

  7. The rev aka Snedden

    Good read 40/20.

    I like the way the club is noticing that we need another big body n going after big George Burgess. For the $$$ being talked about it seems mad for him to turn it down.

    Considering that South’s might not offer him a contract beyond next yr. I’m shocked that he turned it down but if it’s true that ppl close to him have told him to take it then the only reason why I think he didn’t take it was because Benny said no. It will be Benny that says he can go at the end of the year IMO.

    If I was say peni or kaufusi or any other young prop at the club I’d be asking Brad what’s wrong with going with anyone of them. Yes there not tall n weigh around the 120 kilo mark but I look back at the tiger’s pack in ,2005 they won the comp with the smallest n mobile pack.

    Maybe go with the young guys but apart from GB who else is off contract after this year ?

    #Eels4life,#

    1. Poppa

      I think the real lesson here is that $$$ do not always speak if it is a club you don’t respect or want to play for.

      A lot of discussion and criticism here and on the other site is implied poor recruitment or wow too much money.

      We were coming out of that in 2017 with the excellent management and the perception of a top class coach and a very tight knit club.

      The damage that the season from hell provided to many that our problems had not gone away and we are still a basket case.

      Loyal supporters like us know more about the efforts being made and the quality that we are striving for…..the people who do not know are everyone outside of our club and unfortunately a percentage within it.
      The factions that still try to change the constitution back to the dark days being perfect examples.

      We need to be patient and perseverant as we go forward.

      I was very disappointed to read tonight that Stephan Utoikamanu’s father had been rubbishing BA on Facebook…..it does nothing for our relationship with youngsters coming through….somewhat fortunately but also not good is that Stephan is estranged from his father……but it is still a bad look from someone I am looking to be a future club captain and star player.
      No fault of the kid by the way!
      Ugly parents can be a real blight on teams and this has to be managed carefully for the good of all parties.

    2. John Eel

      The Roosters pack appears to be getting smaller each year. They have lost Evans and Napa in the last two seasons.

      1. Bob jay

        Hope not , pre season reports is one thing but training reports regarding game preparation is not on , 60,s knows better .

          1. Milo

            Could not agree more John; Sixties never reports during the season on things game prep.
            By the way Forty i can confirm Sixties was seen on the coast somewhere this week…..he seemed in good spirits!!

      2. !0 Year Member

        That explains my withdrawals this week, like an addict, i have been waiting for a fix, but alas, it was not to be…..I hate cold turkey, never again please Sixities. Hope you are well mate.

  8. !0 Year Member

    Great post Forty20. I do not know the answer, but sure as hell hope our front office is starting to work it out. As you stated, most winnning teams have powerful forwards and the analysis Sixties did on premiership winning teams having top shelf players, I see us as needing to recruit players whom are in the top 5 for their position. Fergo is a step in the right direction, but we need more. Fifita would be perfect for us, the Bob O of our time. Lets hope the sharkies have to let him go.

  9. BluengoldJim

    Jai Arrow is off contract in 2020 he’d be a great pick up. I know we’d have almost no chance but frizells contract will run out to, theres a player I’d love to see in the blue n gold.

    1. John Eel

      Both of those would be better than Fifita. Why would you invite a bloke like that into your club. He is such a divisive personality. It would be Kenny Edwards on steroids.

    2. Forty20 Post author

      Can’t fault either of those targets. You could argue there might be some redundancy in chasing Arrow if we are invested in Nathan Brown at lock but there is no denying the talents of either Arrow or Frizell.

  10. Trouser Eel

    Burgess reminds me of Penni a few years back. Feet for hands in the main but brilliant moments that justified persistence.
    Any chance of career stats of our current pack against Burgess?

  11. Anthony

    I can’t for the life of me see why we’re targeting Isaac Luke. He’s past his best and Mahoney had eclipsed him imo. What we should be targeting now is either forward depth or a right centre. That’s all we’re actually in need of now. We need to concentrate on the good young guys coming through

  12. parrathruandthru

    I don’t know where the Marty Taupau love comes from. Can anybody tell me what he has done since that personal battle with Matagi 2 years which was a few big hits that everybody seems to remember. Not worth more than $300k in my opinion, and I’m being generous. I might have a different opinion if he was younger

  13. Anonymous

    Can I ask the question were is fillia Stephano brother ? I thought he was better than Stephano.

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