Welcome to the first edition of “Bumpers Up”.
Towards the end of the NRL season, I introduced the “Sixties Mind-Trip” column. The goal was to cover a range of topics from the previous week of footy. It was proving a popular format with our readers, but I felt that a little fine tuning was in order.
The first order of business was to take myself out of the title and make it more reflective of its rugby league subject matter. And so we have “Bumpers Up”.
You might still consider my opinions are “trippin’”. but there’s always something going on in footy or with the Eels and I’m going to have my say.
I welcome your opinion in return.
Origin Eels
It wasn’t a winning campaign for the Blues, but having four Parra players in the squad can only be a positive for the club. These blokes have now experienced the preparation and hype involved for playing on arguably the biggest stage in the game.
Our Origin Eels – image credit Eels media and Jane Mortimer
Reagan Campbell-Gillard was not new to an Origin Camp, but for him and Nathan Brown, Clint Gutherson and Junior Paulo, the 2020 experience would certainly leave them with a determination to return to that arena in 2021 and change the outcome.
The Parramatta Eels are aiming to establish themselves as a destination club – one that players, sponsors and fans want to be associated with. The 2020 Origin series has proven that wearing the Blue and Gold can be a pathway to higher honours. That’s a huge fillip for the club as it strives to achieve its goal.
Freddy Fit For A Full Time Footy Gig?
Still on Origin, what is the future for Brad Fittler?
There’s been talk about whether he wants to continue in the Origin gig or maybe even have a crack once again at an NRL head coaching role.
Freddy dipped his toe into the water with the Roosters over a decade ago. After taking the helm as a caretaker coach late in the 2007 season, the legendary player immediately lifted the performances of the team and was rewarded with a three year deal.
The short term results for Fittler were brilliant. A top four finish in his first full season vindicated his approach to coaching. Unfortunately the results didn’t go his way the following season, and he exited the club with a year to run on his contract after his side wrapped up the wooden spoon. The following year Brian Smith took the Roosters to the Grand Final.
Since 2012, Freddy has focussed on representative coaching, first with City and then with the Blues. His alternate methods seem to resonate well with the short term coaching of elite players who enjoy an approach which is different to the demands of regular season footy.
Though I believe that Fittler made some costly errors in his selections for certain positions and in his use of the bench in the 2020 series, I hope he remains in representative coaching rather than club football. Freddy has been a breath of fresh air in the Origin arena, but a full time NRL gig with its array of demands is vastly different to managing and motivating the game’s best for a brief period each year.
Just quietly, the Blues Origin series wasn’t helped by the NSW media hyping the “worst ever Queensland team” tag. It might have helped with some clicks, but the Maroons were the real beneficiary in the motivations stakes.
Some journos should be on the Canetoad’s payroll!
A Message Of Gratitude
It’s been said before, but we can’t wrap up a season without thanking the players. I wouldn’t like to imagine this year without sport. In some respects, life feels like it’s approaching something close to normal on a local level, but the bubble for NRL players kept them in a form of lockdown for such an extended period.
The promo before things went crazy
Of course, those conditions extended to everyone inside the”bubble” – coaches, trainers, physios, team managers, support staff. Importantly, we can’t forget the top 30 players who never got to lace on a boot this year. They had to keep training and living under these restrictive conditions without having the opportunity to showcase their skills or push for a spot.
In many respects, football people lead privileged lives. But as we saw with a couple of “breaches”, grabbing a meal with your partner could become front page news because of the potential to shut down the Premiership.
Like other businesses, staff at NRL headquarters, at clubs, at media organisations and broadcasters, at apparel manufacturers, basically at a raft of organisations associated with the game lost their jobs. Whether some were much needed rationalisations or not, there were people and families impacted and this should not be forgotten.
Of course, the footy wasn’t the same for fans. We went from no access to grounds, to restricted access. Many members pledged their fees regardless of attendance, regardless of their own circumstances during the pandemic.
This has been a time when those associated with the game pulled together to ensure that the NRL could remain a strong and viable professional code. Special mention to the Warriors and the Storm for their relocations and sacrifices.
Mind you, I do feel dirty thanking the Storm for anything.
NRL Schoolboy Cup Champions
Earlier this month we witnessed the final of the NRL Schoolboys Cup and congratulations must be extended to both Westfield Sports High and Patrician Brothers Blacktown for overcoming the challenges of a bizarre year to reach the decider.
The victorious Pats squad celebrate
There were around a dozen Eels pathways players involved in the campaigns of the two schools, with the Blacktown side and it’s nine Eels juniors emerging victorious, 22 to 16.
Led by Jake Arthur, the Pats squad included fellow Eels Sean Russell, Sam Loizou, David Langi, Bailey Nouredine, Blake Martin, Jontay-Junior Betham-Misa, Maximus Tupou and Myles Martin.
For Westfield, young Eels Vlado Jankovic, Caleb Tohi and Cooper Sinclair can also hold their heads high.
My apologies if I’ve failed to mention any other Eels pathways players involved.
The encounter was one of the most physical schoolboy matches that I’ve ever watched, but importantly it was played in the type of spirit that was a credit to the players, their schools and the game of rugby league.
Eels Pre-Season
During TCT’s interview with Parramatta’s Manager of Football, Mark O’Neill, we were informed that the first players will be returning to training on November 30. We can expect the younger players doing their first or second pre-season to be involved in this early start.
A return to training is just around the corner
The majority of the Eels NRL players will then return on December 14, and complete just one week of training before breaking for a couple of weeks for the Christmas and New Year period.
Of course, this is simply following NRL and RLPA protocols with the mandated leave periods. The late finish to the 2020 season has resulted in returns that almost fall into the festive holidays.
The Origin players won’t return till some time in January. It’s not ideal and leaves them with a very short preseason, but every club with representative players will be in the same boat.
The Tip Sheet
Mark O’Neill (Photo by Matt Blyth/Getty Images)
Thank you to everyone who has listened to, shared, or expressed their opinions on TCT’s recent interview with Mark O’Neill.
It’s been terrific to have so many messages supporting our endeavours to bring you closer to what’s happening at the Eels. We thank Mark and the club for such access.
Our podcast was also fortunate to feature the insights of Bernie Gurr during the finals series. We were particularly grateful to be able to share the perspective of a rugby league professional with a lifetime of involvement. Thanks Bernie!
The Tip Sheet will continue through the pre-season and into next year. We promise to be bigger and better. The listening numbers are literally growing on a weekly basis, and we thank Rob and Clint for their contributions to the pod.
Thanks for taking the time to read this first edition of “Bumpers Up”.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Great article ,re mr fittler couldnt agree more , coaching for 6 to 10 weeks with a hand picked best of the best compared to fulltime 24,7 365 days a year with a salary cap , welcome to real world of nrl .
Any club that wanted to go down the path of having Freddy as a full time coach would need to be aware of the huge difference between rep coaching and NRL coaching.
Glad its back Sixties; and the origin was a disappointment, and I hazard to say would Qld have lost this game without their fullback? or would they have toughened up? I think they would have.
I hope our origin boys come back after due rest and bring some more game type management to our team as this is needed; not withstanding the additions / changes possibly coming to the backs (if any).
It will be interesting to see which juniors come on up and make an impact over the off-season and then in CC next year, as I hope we continue to bring in youth, particularly the good ones coming up.
It will again be the longest off-season on record, it always is.
Sixties you need to let me know closer to the days pls as I would like to make a special trip down if I can.
Definitely mate. It seems we’ll get our first look at the players who will be joining the squad on Nov 30. Like the 2018/19 preseason, I reckon they will make an impact in pushing the established players in conditioning work and that creates terrific competition and energy in the preseason.
Good article to finish the year on 60’s, I watched the school boys teams go head to head and thoroughly enjoyed it, for school boys it was as tough a game as I have seen in many NRL games and some quality players in both sides, well done fella’s.
The only comment on Freddy and the Origin match is why on earth did NSW fall for the pre game rubbish especially the comments regarding the worst maroons team in origin history, if anyone wants to know where the blues lost the game it was when that dumb comment came out publicly. The best way to lose a game is with putting your opposition down especially when they have a solid team with experience on the field and in the coaches box.
Next time keep mouths closed until the competition has been won.
Colin, that schoolboys match was a ripper – really worthy of a final. Considering the range of ages, all the players can feel proud. How good to know that there were so many Parra boys involved. It felt like a return to the past.
Do the media think that Queensland need to be fired up to compete in Origin? Have they not learned anything over 40 years?
How will the media go next year in the SOO mouthpieces? No wonder the toads in their kingdom and even in controlling the movement into their land of ??? and the ex lawyer leading them are pent up with everything going their way.
I watched no more than the equivalent of one half a game this year, & will likely be less next year.
In hindsight had the NRL really looked at programming & highlighting the game successfully the 3rd game would have been the best played in Adelaide on neutral ground, rather than game one.
Though also in hindsight it wouldn’t have happened due to their lockdown?
To all involved well done very enjoyable and informative you nailed it , looking forward to the next one. About SOO what on earth did Fittler have Brownie there for, he might as well have been at my place drinking tea with me.
Rcg , lomax an actual centre with wighton 5/8 of the year playing at 5/8 made sense , freddy and the dreamers , great band 60,s .
That band did a crazy dance that might have been appropriate when it came to describing his selections.
His use of the bench was atrocious Joe. Jake Turbo needed to be replaced in game 3 but he stayed there with nothing in the tank and no impact.
When the 2nd SOO was announced RCG was listed as #17 meaning on the bench to play, 24 hours later he was on the reserves, no wonder he came home.
In some of flappers post game 2 he gave Brownie a pretty good couple of wraps, come game 3, Nathan was treated like a snickers throw away wrapper. I wonder how motivated they would be for another origin under flappers mentoring.
I agree, his bench use and selections left me scratching my head.
Good punchy stuff sixties. Gutho played 80 minutes each game (from memory), a huge piece of experience. Maybe his biggest lesson is in the Kenny Rogers world..know when to hold ‘em, know when to fold ‘em..it’s about decision making,I”ll leave it a bit cryptic at that. Also I reckon he defended well, Capewell and Gagai are known steppers/fenders/evaders, hard to grab them 100% of the time over 3 games.
Looking back, Gutho should have played fullback in game 1. Teddy was not 100% fit and we would have benefitted from a specialist centre. The series could have been over then by game 2. I think Gutho did admirably at centre but his strength is in being an on the ball player. I can see our Origin players having an extra level of hunger going into next year.
The sorrow is that there were still enough bagging Gutho even eels supporters over at the other site.
I thought he played well in each game and when I read the points per player in the ratings, I was quite disappointed, he tried his guts out and it really has made him a better player.
The only ones bagging him colin were the ones with no idea , he was the only one driving the team .
Spot on
Its a big difference coaching the pick of the comp for 6 to 10 weeks and 3 games to a restricted 30 with a salary cap for 26 games , your not an NRL coach freddy same as big mal , dont make a fool of yourself twice .
Slightly off topic but a SOO flavour. I have a coffee most mornings at “Toast & Co” at The Entrance. Last Monday, two days before SOO the NSW coaches came in for coffee. I was not there.
Before leaving Freddie offered the owner Steph a $10 tip.
She went to the TAB and placed a bet on Qld at $3. She came away a winner. Not so much the rest of us.
P.S. For Milo and Sixties Ken’s is closed currently. Good news is it should reopen next week
HI John, hope you are well and that is a good story mate.
You will have to let me know what days you venture down there, and I will endeavour to stop in for a greeting.
Yes I heard about Ken’s he has his normal break this time of year and many people lose a few kgs….
She seemed like a smart one, and TBH I would have backed them. Something told me if we (NSW) did not win in Adelaide it was going to be tough to win in QLD. Like Sixties our bench confusing to me…..and I am happy to say that a Hasler / Toovey combination may have had the smarts to win. We need an origin coach in my view with some smarts.
I maybe biased but I thought Jr did a good job in game II and III of punching through the middle and offloading.
However there were no players looking for the pass and the opportunities were not taken up.
Disappointing at best, poor coaching at worst.
It’s almost as if they were indifferent to Paulo’s passing in preparation for the next play. There was no better example of this than what turned out to be the last play of the match. While Paulo tried to slip one last pass to Damien Cook, the latter turned his back on him to discuss tactics with those standing nearest to him.
It was frustrating to watch. They literally had no plan around second phase opportunities.
I am usually there Wednesday to Sunday around 9:30, 10 am
Hope to be up that way soon. I’ll look out for you.
Is there any substance to the story that Matt Doorey may be coming back to the Eels?
If so is this a good thing? I feel sure there must be some intel out there.
Yes agreed – I thought it was for 2021, but media claims for 2022; yes it would be good….and there must reasons for this.
I’m fairly sure he still has some fans at the club. Whether it happens I couldn’t say.