The Cumberland Throw

This Week In PARRAdise – Issue 1: Getting The Monkey Off The Back

Welcome to this week in PARRAdise, a weekly wrap covering the main events of the past week for the Parramatta Eels.

In what may be a case of the football gods smiling on a poor forsaken Eels supporter, I’m able to kick things off with the before and after from a winning weekend.

This time last year, the Eels were preparing for a Round 1 encounter with the Panthers. The loss suffered in that clash would become the catalyst for a disastrous season.

With the team and its supporters desperate to put the previous twelve months behind them, a first up victory would be ideal for getting the monkey off the back.

The team duly delivered.

Here’s your week that was.

Friday

The new media king – Maika Sivo

Eels supporters, and indeed the NRL world, were treated to their first interview with Maika Sivo. In a two part chat with Kate Cardwell of Eels media, we learn that Parra’s newest Fijian winger doesn’t want to be called the next Semi. He just wants to be Maika. TCT has spoken many times with Maika, and although he’s naturally shy, he’s made some good mates in the Eels squad.

 

Saturday

The Eels and Wenty wrapped up their preparations for Round 1 with a Captain’s Run on a soggy Old Saleyards pitch. The Magpies were the first onto the pitch, going through their paces under the watchful eye of Rip Taylor, Mick Potter and BA. The Eels coach then completed his pre-match media call.

Dylan Brown and Maika Sivo are experiencing their first ever NRL Caps run, but the process is business as usual for both players who are well and truly ready for the step up. Some of Dylan’s relatives have arrived from New Zealand to watch him prepare.

At the conclusion of the session, the debutants were presented with special jerseys to mark the occasion. The staff then moved away from the team circle to allow the players to share their speeches. The Eels are ready.

Sunday

Match day! A wonderful insight to Maika Sivo’s rugby league odyssey is provided by David Riccio. We learn about Maika’s journey from a small village in Fiji to the NRL, via his Australian family in Gundagai.

Two grades of footy are staged at Panthers Stadium, with a curtain raiser of Penrith vs Wenty in the Canterbury Cup getting the afternoon underway.

With a swag of Top 30 players unavailable for various reasons, it was mostly Wenty contracted players who took the field. In wet conditions, the Magpies went down by 22 points to 12. It was a decent start to the season against a traditionally strong opponent. Ray Stone and Andrew Davey turned in solid performances for Wenty.

In the NRL, the Eels displayed composure and commitment in disposing of the Panthers by 20 to 12. In truth, Penrith only threatened the scoreboard after Jennings was sent to the sin bin. In my opinion, the Eels brutalised their opponents with their defence. Despite going into the clash without three key forwards, then losing Nathan Brown during the first half, the Eels were far too good for a team predicted by many to be the 2019 Premiers.

Dylan Brown confirmed the pre-season training form reported on this site, and suddenly the “experts” are declaring him the next big thing. It was a promising start from a young man with a big future, but let’s not forget that he’s only 18.

This round one result would prove to be a Pyrrhic victory – injuries to Nathan Brown’s and Will Smith, and a possible Michael Jennings suspension were the dark clouds on an otherwise bright day.

Monday

We learn of Reed Mahoney and his mother stopping on the motorway on Sunday night to assist an accident victim. Given Reed’s background in community work with the Giant Steps School, this was no surprise.

Michael Jennings is charged with a Grade 2 Careless High Tackle charge. He ultimately enters a guilty plea, leading to a one match suspension.

More bad news is delivered as Nathan Brown’s pectoral rupture is likely to keep him sidelined for three months. The Eels forward depth is already being tested after just one round.

Tuesday

The injury toll continues with Will Smith being ruled out until Round 8 with a fractured arm. With six NRL contracted players unavailable for selection, the Top squad is reduced to 23 players.

The team list is announced with Josh Hoffman named in the centres for Jennings and Jaeman Salmon claiming Will Smith’s bench spot. Junior Paulo returns to the front row, with Tepai Moeroa switching to lock to cover for Nathan Brown. All other players from round 1 retain their places.

An unexpected announcement from Bernie Gurr informs supporters and the media that contract negotiations with coach Brad Arthur will take place in June. This puts an end to speculation that a decision was due in Round 6.

Wednesday

Matt McIlwrick

A signing rumour is confirmed with the announcement that South Sydney dummy half, Matt McIlwrick has signed a one year deal with Parra. Kaysa Pritchard’s absence has left the Eels with only one specialist number 9 on their roster, so the experienced Kiwi will be an important addition to the squad.

The team returned to the training paddock with a light run, running through set starts and plays. The NRL and Wenty (Parra contracted) players complete their work separately and McIlwrick gets his first look at Old Saleyards.

About half a dozen players were put up for media interviews. Maika is again in the mix and I remark to him that he’ll soon be given his own show. Dylan Brown emphasises his composure for the second time in a week, this time in front of the news cameras.

Thursday

It’s an opposed session for Eels training as they build up for Sunday’s clash with the Bulldogs. Although McIlwrick had appeared the day before, this would be his first opposed session. Haze Dunster returned to the field in a confident performance.

Just the Captain’s run awaits.

 

Eels forever!

Sixties

 

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9 thoughts on “This Week In PARRAdise – Issue 1: Getting The Monkey Off The Back

  1. John Eel

    Sixties without mentioning anything specific there are so many sub plots going on around the squad at the moment it is developing a lot of intrigue. I think the next few weeks and months will be very interesting and will impact not only the rest of the season but the future direction of our club.

    1. sixties

      Are you talking about contracts John?
      There’s no doubt that being off contract can be a great motivator, and there are plenty of individuals in that boat. There will be those whose time is ending as well as those that the club wants to keep. Some that the club wants to keep are waiting to see what is happening with BA. You also have staff who are in the same boat.
      We are also getting a glimpse of the future with young players who have a “make it happen” attitude that are being given their opportunity but BA. And the players love having these kids in the team.
      Interesting times.

      1. John Eel

        sixties I just should not post late at night. It leads to laziness and error.

        You pretty much summed up my thoughts. There is something like 10 or 15 players coming off contract. their will be a lot of interest in who stays and who goes. This could be a new era in the club. Those who go who will replace them juniors, imports or a combination?

        We have Peni getting himself into trouble again how will that finish up. I hope he gets to finish the season and the club deliberate over his future at that time.

        I worry about Kaysa it would not be good to see him end his career in this way. Not wishing to be melodramatic but he has been an absolute tryer for the Eels however he is not the most talented footballer and suffered a lot of injury.

        We have two debutants so far this season. How good will they be and what is the future for them. Will any other juniors join them. It is a very tantalising prospect to see how it plays out.

        What is happening to our coach and the rest of the coaching team. Never really had clear air in the time that he has been at the club. Battled the odds for 5 years and right now he can see a good future for the club but his future as a coach is in the balance.

        A big concern so far this season has been the injury toll. It is a frightening start to the season but the players have showed a lot of metal to overcome the setback.

        Best part of the season so far apart from beating the Panthers in our opening game has been all the media experts writing us off for 2019.

  2. Gazzamatta

    Love it 60s.
    I dont miss much written in Parra World but its comforting to know that you are there at second slip ready to follow up on anything I’ve missed. As ive said before, “Too much Parra talk is not nearly enough”.
    Cheers
    Gaz

  3. Jimmy Corbo

    Nicw wrap up, I like the format and hope it continues. The win against the Panthers means nothing if we dont follow up this week. They will come out hard after last weeks flogging but if we can hold steady for the first 15 we will be fine.

    1. sixties

      Thanks Jimmy. It’s the first week of this new post, so I’m hoping to get a little bit better each week.
      You’re right about the first 15 minutes. We let the opposition dictate the game to us far too much in 2018. It’s time for us to change that.

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