For much of this pre-season I’ve highlighted the inspirational contributions of the Eels younger brigade. I make no apologies for that. They’ve added a new dimension to the preparations for the year ahead. The tight bond and determination of these players has added a transfusion of energy and positivity to the Old Saleyards headquarters.
In retrospect, I’ve provided very little insight to the work of the established players. Maybe I’ve taken their efforts for granted. Maybe they’ve been overshadowed on the training paddock by these youthful intruders.
Today it was impossible to ignore some of our seasoned campaigners.
In a session which consisted of skills development, attacking drills and opposed footy, a number of the experienced players stood tall.
Go Munz!
Manu Ma’u provided a reminder of his aggressive running and underrated passing game. One particularly powerful charge at the line resulted in a try as he got his arms free for the offload and put the support player across next to the posts.
Tepai Moeroa was playing a middle role and presented a difficult target for the defence with charges that showcased his pace and step. His 110kg frame is larger than the 2018 version and today continued his impressive pre-season.
Mannah on the charge.
Tim Mannah was heavily involved in today’s contest as he demonstrated how to earn a quick play the ball on the back of strong hit ups. He also backed up the play to score a try.
Blake Ferguson was a steadying influence in defence, keeping his team mates focussed with his talk. His carries are replicating his form for the Roosters and he can be heard mentoring others on positioning and how to take runs.
On a side note, Fergo makes for an interesting study on the training paddock. He has the capacity to switch from focussed and inspirational mentor and leader during the tough grind, to joker during the down times. I see his presence as a major influence in 2019.
The defensive commitment is etched on their faces.
At 22, Marata Niukore is still new to the NRL but he was another to shine this morning, and just like Tepai, his pre-season has indicated further development in his game. An impressive break and offload in this opposed session resulted in a try assist for the Cook Island International.
The defensive collisions were big, and Daniel Alvaro featured in a number of these. But it wasn’t just the big hits. There was desperation on the try line as the Gold were determined to hold their line intact. There were a couple of sloppy moments in the Canberra trial so the commitment evidenced today was a positive sign that the team are working to restore a defensive grit.
Brown finds support on the back of his break.
But even with such a positive session for certain individuals, the most impressive aspect of the morning was the support play. In my opinion it was the best of this pre-season, so much so that it unexpectedly caught my eye.
To elaborate, I wanted to watch today’s training from an individual perspective – to write a report which shone the light on the outstanding performers from the day. And this happened.
However, virtually every half chance or line break was backed up. And the result was an impressive collection of tries. Yes it was just an opposed session, but the habit of support is a winning one – and I’m hoping it’s going to become addictive.
And for those who question the challenge of opposed sessions, some insight was provided by Chris Lawrence when speaking on Triple M last weekend. Questioned about the secret trial between the Tigers and the Dogs, he said that it was good to take on an opponent who didn’t know your plays. When taking on team mates in opposed sessions, the breaks can be harder to come by because the plays are known, the alternate plays are also known and the individual player traits are embedded in the memory banks.
There’s few surprises playing against your own.
Can the Eels deliver more of their training track form to the playing field this year? The upcoming trial against Panthers is still just that – a trial. However, I’ll be looking for moments in the trial that are indicative of the direction the squad has worked for during this pre-season.
Fans will get to see whether the players can deliver encouraging signs against their opponents this Saturday night.
See you there.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Thanks Sixties. I’m really looking forward to the Panthers trial this weekend and it is so good that the trials are finally being streamed.
I’ve read so many of your off season reports and something I’ve read that keeps popping up quite often it seems is,’Brown made a break down field’. I am excited to see how this kid handles the rigorous nature of NRL footy week to week and his talents on show.
Also, it’s great that Fergo has become a leader and settled in so quickly. I wonder if Minichello was a big influence on Fergo, barking orders from behind regarding positioning for some years?
I doubt it seeing Minichello retired before Fergo joined the Roosters in 2015.
Ahhhh, good point.
Fergo has certainly come of age since he joined the Roosters however, for whatever reasons culminating in him getting winger of the year last season.
Mini has been heavily involved in coaching while Fergo at chooks. I think that’s what he was referring too.
The kid is tough Grunta. We’ll let him find his feet, but he won’t lack toughness.
A positive update Sixties, thanks. Good to hear improved communication, leadership, players backing up and, the personal development of some of our key players. The Penrith trial becomes al itmuss test; can the Eels convert training form into game form?
DDay, when are we catching another game together mate?
Looking forward to catching up at the new stadium
T was agony watching the team failing to execute what they trained for on a weekly basis last year. I think the pre-season has helped their self confidence and I’ll address this in my pre-season wrap.
It will be interesting to see how both sides approach this upcoming trial with the perspective of them playing against each other on 16th March.
The Panthers side was announced overnight and they look very stable in the sense that they have not added much.
I suspect they will working through well known motions and looking to settle themselves into a warming up the engines process.
Our side will be more disjointed with the stability in a playing together sense much more important, not in terms of a scoreboard result but working together offensively and defensively.
My guess is first graders from both teams will probably only see 20 or so minutes before subs turn the game into spotting the individual, rather than the scoreboard opening up. It would be nice to win just to give us some confidence and self belief.
That first 20 minutes will tell us something about how they are looking as a unit.
I hope we blood a lot of the younger players and look to “store” the older players like Mannah, Taka, Gower etc to maybe play against the post 20 minutes formation.
Ah well, it is a trial for us supporters as well, as supporters the trial never seems to end LOL
Pop’s i have often wondered if coaches chat before trials to discuss teams about fielding stronger sides for part of the match. It would not surprise me and makes some sense.
I am the same and just want to see the halves and dummy half take control as much as they can with the forwards being dominant; there will be huge pressure on penriff this season, and Gould too! Hope Ivan Cleary does not need another break because he is too tired…
I think they’ll get longer than that Poppa. They have deliberately given them more trial time this year. Also, there’s an ISP trial that will see the fringe players get game time. I’m guessing at least the first 40 minutes for top 17.
I would hope our top 20 will get about 60 minutes. I don’t believe there is any more than 20 left in the frame for the top 17.
I also reckon the coaches, having a bit more to choose from this year will have less reliance on “Fringe” players having to make up 1 or 2 of those 17. Players who will be picked in that top 20 will be the only ones considered for the 1st round of the NRL comp. The ISP players pretty much know who they are too, so it would serve them best to be playing together developing combinations that showcase their claims to be next cab off the rank for NRL.
It’s a fair call Rowdy, as far as minutes are concerned, BA might even make that decision during the match. If he’s seen enough he might take them off. Then again, some players might request more minutes.
superb insight again Sixties and i look forward seeing the forwards play with some added bulk which we missed last season. I cannot help but think the referees stifled the playing style that teams like us wanted to play in 2018 due to the number of stop and start games.
The interesting note are those 1%ers in support play; communication; numbers in defence; things the v good teams have ingrained in them…..footy is not and should not be a difficult game to play and to keep things simple is imperative.
On another note i look forward (maybe) to hear the NRL findings into alleged cap breaches with Cronulla, Wests and of course Melb who have been alleged to be over $500-600 k over the cap……as no doubt consistency will be the key word along with transparency.
Cheers Milo. Refs interpretation of penalties around the ruck definitely impacted the Eels going into the season with lighter forwards. Stop/start due to penalties suited bigger forwards.
Don’t start me on the cap stuff! 😬
That’s great to see some support play in the team. We have definitely lacked that over the past few years. We have the players who can do some damage on the back of second phase play with their pace and agility so we should be using this to our advantage. Parra are never going to grind away a victory in the Melbourne mould so it’s good to see some tactics that work for us.
I don’t think we steered away from it in the past by design. That said, we’ve looked much better in that aspect in recent sessions.
A very good read sixties, I will be sitting in front of my computer/laptop for the match atm, as the other main computer was cooked in the lightning strike a couple of weeks back and waiting for its replacement.
There is more I suspect in this report than what is actually said, and it reads well, without looking in to more than is expressed. I actually wonder how much of the new plays will be on show in the trial owing to the main game a couple of weeks later? without giving too many game aspects away?
I will be looking for the team announcement with interest after seeing the squad put up by Penrith, its a good squad and will be a tough game, however with their loss of Kikai they may not want to go too hard at this stage to lose more players.
At least from weather reports the temps of last year will not be as high.
I’m with you about the two teams not showing all their cards in the trial Colin.
Yes mate, I’m leaving some specifics out for obvious reasons. Another report this week might be difficult as I’m conscious of what I write.
Sixties, maaate. Just write up something imaginative and entertaining that is hypothetical and sounds like us except for players making runs out of their regular position or skill set. That will keep us fans happy and hopefully induce some quizzical interest from the Riff! And don’t tell anyone I suggested it eh?
😁😁😁😁😁
I think that whatever plan level they work to will reveal mostly that the eels are a different side to that of season 2018. Its likely to put out as a grind away match so as the first roumd match plans are very much different. Main thing other than that is for the whole squad to come through injury free.
With only 18 named in the squad, I am wondering if any of the ISP selected players will get a run on, more especially those who have been NRL players.
Hearing of the support play is encouraging. It does not matter if the eels win or lose the trial this weekend. It matters if they have that ferocious and frenzied defence that was the hallmark of the 2016 and 2017 BA sides. The confidence and offense and success flowed effortlessly. Did not see it even when they won last year and, to be honest, did not see it in the recent trial. If BA manages to bring that back then success in the long run is guaranteed. I guess this trial will go toward seeing if that defence returns or if it’s another hope-for-the-best year.
Disappointed to read about Kaysa taking time out of the game. I wish him all the best for the future.
Not many have given much more than kaysa ,small frame ,huge heart,wish you well kaysa .
I have to add my sentiments too. He’s given everything of himself for the club, with no regard for self preservation. Inspirational for his team mates.
I’ve been out all day and to come back and read this news saddens me big time. I really wish Kaysa all the best for his future, and hopefully once he gets his health back he is seen in the eels colours again.
Maybe when he gets his health sorted out a season in SL may be an ideal step for him and he could learn a bit over there.
I am one of his greatest supporters and believe he has been maligned by many so called eels fans, and he gives more to the side and club than many of them.
Keep Strong Kaysa. Keep determined as you can make it.
Well said Colin
I’m on board with this reply Craig. The conditioning work has been based on defensive movements and demands. I think that they will sort the marker issues from the Raiders trial and return to that tougher style.
Hey sixties really enjoy all your information u provide for us fans, a big thank u, let the footy begin it’s been a long summer .Can u tell me Kaysa Pritchard is still in our top 30, does this mean we are in need of another player before any nrl deadline .. thanks
My understanding is that Kaysa has been granted time away to make a decision. That means he remains in the top 30.
Disappointing, the situation we r in 60,s we can’t afford this, it’s another i Degois situation, which was swept underp the Carpet fans
Well not really comparable to IDG Ray. Isaac’s situation was more complicated as he struggled to come back from a trial injury.
That said, I believe that we need a decision around Kaysa ASAP.
Great write up Sixties. Has Fergo done any training in the centres or is he viewed predominantly as a winger?
Been out on the wing Jetta. I believe he could fill a centre role if the team needed it, but his value is those metres to get sets rolling.
I see. Is this the same for G. Jennings? Could he play centre?
I see the centre role as being between Taka and Salmon, with Parry an option later in the year. I see Gennings as a winger only.
My sentiments precisely Sixties, although there may be an opening there for Will Smith to be a hypothetical selection in the centres if injury commands later in the season because he is then an alternative option for interchange during the game at hooker, FB or 5/8?
Will Smith is not a centre and will never play there.
Will Smith “HAS” played there during this preseason in contact sessions Anon and he went surprisingly well setting up his wingers and support players. Which is another reason why they play him in #14.
I have no doubt he would be able to set up his wingers well. He has got ball playing ability. It’s the defensive side of things that he could not handle in first grade. Centre is the hardest position on the field to defend in and that is why he will never play first grade there.
I think we have to stop having trials vs Penrith Panthers b4 we play them in Rd 1. It makes no sense they will know our plays n ours there’s we need the teams to play against each other later in the yr not Rd 1
We didn’t play Penrith in a trial last year Rev. But this year is puzzling.
They the NRL have done it before maybe not last yr but they have
The NRL don’t organise trials, the clubs do. And we organised this after the draw had come out. It’s Parra/Penrith’s fault, not the NRLs
Great report again Sixties, I just saw our squads for the game against the Riff on Saturday.
I reckon that’s about the safest and strongest side we could field for this this weekend without totally negating our existing/remaining combinations. The new look “big bodies threequarterline” has plenty of tough competitors with speed, skill and strength to match Panthers. The forwards look formidable with lots of pressure coming from the bench.
We will not be bullied with this side running out. No-one can expect a free ride here either.
I disagree with your comment re big bodies 3/4 line Rowdy.
There is basically no change with the exception of Ferguson who obviously make’s a singular huge difference.
I am disappointed that Taka is there, he offers little for us in terms of strike and a better choice would have been Sivo on a wing and Ferguson in the centres with French outside him instead of Gennings.
Now this may still happen at a point but trials are for the purpose of seeing what may happen.
The backline that I just outlined has a huge X factor attack wise and the use of French outside Ferguson is a “giveme” IMO.
Sivo is arguably not ready, but that is why I would blood him now, who better than his old club to play against.
One of the critiques of BA has been his perceived lack of imagination, I really concerned that he is demonstrating that again at this point. Stephan Utoikamanu is another example, I see he is on the bench for ISP, his Bronco’s peers are playing in A grade.
If he is as good as we hope he is, he should be getting a run now with the A grade for us.
I stress these are very distant opinions from far away Qld and I really can only be corrected by my comments, but I cannot stress enough that being “vanilla” is not going to work for us this year!
Poppa, I see Taka just filling a void until Salmon is available. This means the other players can settle into their positions without the disruption of moving them around over the first few weeks. It’s good that we can test this during the trial and if it doesn’t work then change something during that trial match. I imagine Gutho may spend some time at centre as well given French is playing fullback in the Wenty squad.
Longy, tend to agree.I see Taka as a handy stop gap, in the centres as I still remember he did ok when working with Semi, who got the ball from Take as against the other centre. Also not sure how Salmon will go at either 6 as he is in the ISP trial or even in the centres. To me if French shows up well in ISP its very possible for Gutho to be in the centres for Salmon’s penalty match and Bev at fullback.
Finney, I don’t want to put the knock or the jinx on Salmon, but he has not shown us enough yet to say he is better than Taka, so I hope he shows up somewhere but I not sure how ready he is for 5/8 or centre, I note that Col seems to have a similar view.
Putting this another way is that French was never suited as a finisher last year given the backline we had…..minus Semi. I think Guth gives us a safe option at fullback and allows him to come into the game where and when ever he wants. French as a winger gives us the finish that Ferguson can attract, I think if French plays it has to be outside of Ferguson. Sivo is a must if we are going to have a top 4 side, he will be a game breaker and like Semi and even Guth when we started him on thw
The comments about Taka being handy are excepted, he has proven he can be a very good replacement at 5/8, centres, or in desperation the back row……but I would like to think we are past him for a first up role……when the inevitable injuries happen, his experience will be wonderful. I would like to see Timmy Mannah whose form is fine, take a similar back seat to blood the new forwards we have coming through, these experienced old hard heads could be beautifully placed when things change and a shorter season will not hurt them at all.
Poppa, a lot of supposition in these blogs, the issue facing the coaching staff is with the players and they wanting akin to demanding they want to play in x position, that’s not confined to French either.
I have not seen enough of Salmon to say one way or another whether he is a 3 or 6, he’s name at 6 with Wenty tomorrow night, but that match is not being streamed. He is then out until round 2 and that means a compromise centre for one match, so who goes in, Gutho for French to play FB, or Fergie so French is put on the wing?
French & Gutho have both said they want the 1 spot abd Fergie I understand wants the wing spot, or prefers it. But I have not heard or read anything from him saying he doesn’t want to play in the centres. So who knows what? I would suggest the staff an those picking and working with the team.
I asked a question before, and probably rhetorical in nature — with 18 players picked for the NRL side in the trial match, does that mean they will be the only players to run on the paddock in the top trial?
My believe is that those in the Wenty team that are in the top 30 list as found on the eels webb site will come on at various points of the game in the 2nd half but not like it was against Canberra and last year Maitland game.
That includes Stefonao to get a run in the 2nd half as well,
Just guessing.
Colin I read somewhere that Salmon spent most of his junior years at Second row. Sixties or Forty may know more.
I saw him play in the centres against Parra. I know he’s played back row but maybe Ham or Forty can elaborate as to how much.
Centre will be fought out between Taka and Salmon IMO. I reckon they’ll play the top 17 for around 60 minutes.
Colin, the nature of these discussions is just that, I don’t believe the players can demand anything, other than what’s given to them. Ferguson for the sake of a trial may be happy to play in the centres……he is probably along with Guth the only one entitled to tell anybody what they want as against what they may prefer.
I am just looking for things out of the box and I should remind myself of what I have been saying all week in that not too many hands will be shown in a trial 2 weeks before the actual match against the same team.
I agree with you a lot of players other than that top 18 will probably get a run before the game is over.
We are/ I am/ just hoping we don’t fall for the stereotype trap, but realistically it is stereotype that we will play given the circumstances.
Hindsight will be fascinating watching the different tactics when they line up on the 16th March.
I suppose that one of the reasons, I would like to see these “little games” played with!
Pops we’re on the same page, thing is that I have read interviews with both Bev a & Gutho saying their preferred position is as fullback, and not sure that I have said they have demanded it, rather the word want is the strongest they used.
As this night is a trial only what I would like to have seen is the numbers should started at 1 through to 35, as it makes things easier to identify who’s who in interchange, especially if any from the Wenty branded ISP team do get a run in the 2nd half as they wont be running on with the wenty colours.
I also still believe there will not be a great expansive game plan for the trial match but the first round may and should show a variation in the game plan
Pop’s i can agree about Stephano, and guess who do we leave out? but i would have added him to the NRL squad for the trial.
Gutho is now playing around 96/97kg. A far cry from the winger who joined Parra. Fergo and Taka are big. Dylan Brown is around 6ft. He’s 18 and will continue growing. It’s not a heavyweight backline but it’s a strong/tough one.
As for Stefano, I’ve watched him all pre-season and I’m comfortable with him starting off the bench for Wenty. With rotations, it’s no different to starting. He will build into the season.
To put it into perspective Poppa, 12 months ago Stefano was playing SG Ball. He’s not ready to skip ISP, a grade he played a few games of in late 2018. His next big step will be getting a top 30 spot.
I suppose I work the link with the Bronco’s young stars Craig, Stephano was man of the match against them in the 18’s State of Origin Last Year. David Fifita was in that game and anything he did was matched by Stephano……his peer group are running out in Bronco’s top 30, David Fifita is is in the starting side (he is a backrower). I think Reed Mahoney may have been in the Qld side as well.(not positive on that).
Given the overall reliance and rhetoric given our young players, I want to see them there if they are up to it…….I can vividly remember you telling me how Stephano held his own with Junior in one of the training drills…….frankly I would prefer to see him in a NRL trial now than making a dent in ISP which has traditionally been a terrible place for outstanding young players, some develop there and some go backwards. Its how we encourage them and transfer confidence that seems to have been a weakness for a long time with our juniors. These are the one’s we are waiting for!
In saying that it is a young spine and maybe that inexperience has a cautionary tail to it.
I know I will be one out with this thinking but I like to see these discussion’s and type of arguments that can come from it.
It sort of rounds the events to a point where we are all agreeing with fingers and toes crossed.
PS No player has been damaged in the making of this post. Lol
Pops, what I see is that until the divorce with Wenty is finalised the appointment of a new coach there who is from the parra side of the ledger, those in Wenty who are really eels players are still going to find it tough, unless they put the issue that they are playing for Wenty and nor really for the eels.
In some respects they could have head space issues during this year, but they could also be training with the eels side much of the week and fill in the normal days that Wenty train on. I see potentially a year for them as being hard in many ways, but those with the right mindset and character should still shine through knowing its only for this season.
good points Col
Thank you sixties, a very good read. But my only comments today are for Kaysa Pritchard. I would hope he finds strength from the support offered to
him from Parra fans today. His health is the only important thing to consider. Best wishes Kaysa on a bright, happy and fulfilled future.