Off season?
What off season!
There’s certainly no rest for the wicked on TCT. But when it comes to NRL footballers, it’s an eight week break and then the pre-season kicks in with all the good stuff, like conditioning runs.
Blocker Roach once famously said that he didn’t see the point in 400 metre runs as he’d never scored a 400 metre try in his life. Nobody had!
We can all nod and smile at the every-man logic of an old school footballer, but there’s no escaping the truth that rugby league remains a physical contest, and holding an advantage in conditioning goes a decent way towards winning the contest.
How will the Eels shape up?
There are significant staffing changes to the athletic performance department that directly impact the pre-season.
Adrian Jimenez and Lachlan Wilmot have both moved on.
Lachie’s departure was expected as he was planning to take on a new business venture. He’s a thorough professional, and a good bloke. My knowledge of the sports science involved in professional sport, including “prehabilitation”, has certainly been enhanced through the time that he afforded me at training. We all wish him well.
Fortunately, Brendan Inkster was already on staff and he’s stepped up to take on the Head of Athletic Performance role.
Adrian Jimenez has moved to a role with the Dragons.
When I first found out about his departure just after the season ended, I had my concerns. Cuzzy was a hard nosed, hard working, strength and conditioning coach. He delivered results. Adjusting to losing both he and Lachie would be a challenge. After all, the 2019 season saw a very healthy squad for most of the season, and only one player in the top 30 was unavailable during the finals series.
However, the acquisition of Trent Elkin allayed my concerns, and after watching the first field session today, I’m convinced that we’ll continue to see quality outcomes for the players.
And so to today.
The post season representative schedule means that there are NRL players yet to begin their annual break. Consequently, all clubs will have some players who will be late starters to the pre-season. Parra will be no exception.
In today’s group of about 14 players, Andrew Davey was by far the oldest. RCG was out on the field but was not involved in the conditioning work that I observed. Those with NRL experience included Ray Stone, Oregon Kaufusi, Jaeman Salmon and Ethan Parry. Otherwise, this was a rookie group.
As expected, there was a strong conditioning component to this morning’s work.
The players ran a variety of distances, up to 1.2km. Without giving details, the mental aspect was delivered in messages to the players. I’ve previously written that the next step in the team’s development was all about what happens between the ears, so that was sweet music to me.
Surprisingly, today’s group was straight into ball work, with shapes run off the play-the-ball being the focus. This was taken further when the team went to extras – footballs were everywhere.
Catching The Eye
The hard slog begins.
Though the entire group had arrived back in tremendous shape, Stefano Utoikamanu and Oregon Kaufusi impressed as two big blokes physically ready to take on the hard yards.
Kyle Schneider has added size to his frame since this time last year. Given that he’s gained at least 12 to 14 kg of muscle, it was not surprising for this to be noticed.
The new faces included Dave Hollis, Sam Hughes, Harry Duggan and Johnny Fonua.
The group was rounded out by Haze Dunster and Rhys Davies.
Final Note
I enjoyed the positivity of Day 1. We were welcomed back by staff such as Craig, Mick, Murf and BA. Though the rigours of the work was etched on the players’s faces, the smiles of the footy staff told the story of the day.
Only four months till kick-off!
Eels forever!
Sixties
Images courtesy of Eels media
Can’t believe they are at it again already. Great to hear from you again Sixties: Good to see some of the young players out there. That is a lot of weight for Schneider to put on. Must have had a growth spurt and pumped a bit of iron.
Interested to watch Hollis and Hughes. Didn’t they play in an SG Ball trial recently. There was another forward we recruited from Toowoomba earlier this year. Forgotten his name but any word on him
Do you mean Isaiah Vailalo? I believe he will be staying in Queensland to finish his schooling.
That Queensland was Isaiah Vailala a17 year old
Thanks for that. Sounds like the player I was thinking about.
Good work by Kyle
AHH! Pre-season, greetings and welcome back.
Thanks sixties for edition 1 of the 2020 season ahead, brief but exciting really, as the team begins to go a ladder position higher.
A special welcome to RCG to the eels, go well and put the doubters to shame big fella.
I have to agree with you regarding the loss of the two trainers, and I know you often mentioned and spoke highly of Lachlan Wilmont during his tenure but trust he attains to the next level he’s seeking, but when I read of Adrian’s move to the dragons I have to admit to disappointment as he seemed to bring a lot to the eels, and will certainly be someone to help an opposition team.
When I read the report of Elkin signing on and how he had used his time out of the game for further work and development of sports science, and putting that together with his abilities shown at the sharks, along with him be exonerated from the peptide saga, I was happy with that appointment.
New blood or transfusion always helps, I have but one hope of another change though, and that is to get a new defence coach for 2020.
Sorry to finish on what may seem a negative but, unfortunately I don’t think this past years one was up to the task.
I think we took quite a few steps forward in defence during this year, especially compared to last year. There were a couple of unfortunate scores, but given the new combinations that had to learn how to read each other in defence, I’d like to think that they will improve again this year.
Agree 60s. The inclusion of a quality centre in Blake and MJs return to form helped improve our D but we still lack that mental toughness to hang in or grind out a win when the going gets really tough. Hope Elkin learnt how to work on their mental state in his time away from the game.
Btw was there a reason Adrian left?
Come on col , you always end with a negative. Last to 5th must have improved somewhere, and defence was part of that !!!
Anon, I would suggest you have a check in the mirror in regard to your comment.
I don’t always end with a negative, but like everyone we all have opinions, or views. While I agree with what 60’s said in reply, my comment regarding the defence is in a small way similar to what sixties said regarding unfortunate scores.
If you take out what I said regarding my thoughts on the defence, I think I have been quite positive overall,
Hard to believe Sivo played his last game for the year last Saturday night and some of the boys have started preseason. You described Adrian Jimenez as “hard nosed, hard working, strength and conditioning coach and he delivered results” how would you describe Trent Elkin ? I know this might be hard after one session.
You’re right Michael, it’s next to impossible to describe Trent as an individual after one session. However, the organisation of today’s session and the messages delivered to the players, was a great start. It left me believing that we will continue to see quality programs from the Athletic performance staff.
When do they head out to Kellyville?
Probably just before Christmas.
Would you know if any “Malcoms” are on the conditioning program?
Soon see.
whatsa malcolm?
They were for me shuttle runs up to the 10 m and then back to tryline; then run to 20 m and then back try line….all the way through to the 30 m, 40 m and all the way in 10 m increments up to the 100 m or try line and then running back to goal line before a final run to the try line again. From memory when i did them yrs ago they were about 1200 m or so in total distance – we did them half pace working up to sprints by the end and recovery was the run back to try line.
Killers of things but as our coach said you only get out of it what you put in……that was our version Anon.
Yes, and hitting the ground at each turn.
Thanks Sixties. I am lapping this up so thank you.
Backrow depth for me will be interesting and hooker too.
Do we know who the development players are? Or will they be named at a later date?
Also from my recollection we have 26/27confirmed for top squad. Is this correct?
Have the staff added chairs for you and co for training?
Milo I responded to your thoughts on the DH in the discussion…Eels sign Ryan Matterson. Don’t know if you agree.
Thanks John and yes i always agree with you, even if i am questioning myself!
lol
Milo, I could speculate. Sometimes they train and trial over the pre-season for that – see Reed Mahoney going into 2018. Sometimes their development involves a full NRL preseason without being on a dev contract. Until the club makes an official announcement, I’ll simply monitor which young players are there who aren’t listed in the top 30.
I’m sure that Kellyville will have a sideline deck chair for me. What? It doesn’t?
The biggest issue you have now said is that there is NO deck chair. I will speak with council for a covered outdoor area.
A COLA? School teachers like them I hear
Yes i have heard and seen that too John..
If you ask them nicely they might even give you bus fare to Kellyville.
Milo, looking at the eels team page there are 26 shown, assuming they are the contracted ones for next season, those who have left along with the development players are not shown. MJ is not shown so possible he still is to sign.
Yes mate so i can only assume some will move up into the 30 and maybe some new signings.
I just went through the training photo’s posted on the eels webb site, all the players looked in good physical condition to me, & of note and I could be wrong, but Stefano seems a bit trimmed but still looks a big person, Oregon seems to also be a bit different as well,
Of the others, I think Ray Stone has put on a bit of weight and possibly muscled up as well. RCG looks in good condition, and he adds some size to the props for the upcoming season.
Of the others Ethan Parry, and Andrew Davey also look stronger atm.
Looking forward to more reports as the full squad comes together.
Sixties has there been any news regarding how the eels reserves/Canterbury cup players will be training for next year, and how integrated they will be into the main eels structure?
Up until now as the squad was a Wenty based team, there was little info that came out from the club, and on the NSWRL web sites, the later was the primary area to find any news or reports rather than from Wentworthville themselves, especially from mid season, even as the team turned their season around and just missed grabbing the GF premiers trophy
Colin, last year Wenty had that great surge because nearly the entire 17 were NRL contract players. I think there was only 3 Wenty players in the grand final team due to the availability of the top 30 squad. Even then, those Wenty players managed to train with the team at Saleyards. I anticipate that the second tier Eels contracted players will train out of Kellyville but at a time that allows for them to work. They usually get a caps run as an entire team prior to the game. By having Eels contracted players the club will have better control over who is brought into the CC team when injury strikes.
Thanks sixties, I hope that there will be a team list of the reserves posted on the eels webb site like the NRL team now that the move is in place.
Having a number of the NRL players intermingled with the reserves in both their training and playing should help their development and play skills in a big way. Having to train and have jobs in the modern game would be hard for them as well..
I just answered my own question re the reserves, and noticed some further updating on the eels web site, where on the top of the team page there is not just the eels team but a teams title, clicking there and you get options NRL or Canterbury cup. Clicking the Canterbury cup you end up on a page that includes Wenty and eels players, its certainly this past seasons listings but was not there previously, and still to be updated.
At least I had not seen this direct link available before.
Good to hear about Schneider some more hopefully he’s in for a big season and he might be our answer for back up hooker which I’ve been wanting to see for the next season rather than signing from the super dry well of reggie hookers.
Scott, I’m still not rushing Kyle. He’s not just a talented footballer, he’s also very intelligent. Kyle has put the hard yards into preparing for this pre-season, and that has involved 12 months of gym and sprint training. He’s a longer term investment for mine. I don’t expect to see him as an NRL back up yet. His development in 2020 must involve getting used to the physical contest at CC level during the year. He might even start in Flegg before then.
Sixties…don’t put yourself down my friend. I have plenty of names for you but wicked is not one of them :-). However, no rest is certainly true. It does feel “kinda” odd having all the rep stuff just finishing and here we are starting to talk about Pre-Season already. I wish every year was the same!!!! Come on 2020!!!
Definitely little rest for the staff too. Those blokes work extreme hours.
Welcome back sixties. Roosters, Raiders, Storm all showed what the mental side of NRL means, great to see you’ve got your eyes squarely on this one. No prizes for saying the right roster helps. To me, Matterson and RCG can play high tempo, impact games. Both agile between the ears and physically. They will compliment our pack, but also lift the bar, there’s a big gap to close on the 3 teams mentioned.
BDon, I think last season proved the talent in the squad. The stuff between the ears is a huge part of going to the next level.