Holidays already?
With only three weeks of the preseason behind us, the festive break brings a fortnight hiatus to Parra’s 2021 preparations.
But if anyone thinks that the players put their feet up over this period they would be very much mistaken.
A program will be set for the squad members, based on their returns from over the past three weeks. And you know some of these fellas will regard that as a minimum.
Such players don’t take things for granted. When training resumes in January, that first round match and selection becomes more tangible. Some want it more.
Going forward into the new year, there are questions around the Eels backline and the bench. I have less clarity around these selections, and the Eels have roster spots available. Preseason efforts could be more critical than any previous year.
Here’s how things wrapped up this week:
Thursday
I’ve been asked why I watch the spine train on Tuesdays and Thursdays, rather than the majority of the squad. The answer is simple – I’m watching the craft of the playmaker being taught. And the Eels utilise one of the greatest of all time as their mentor.
Joey coaching the spine
You can watch a Joey Johns session in isolation, but it doesn’t do it justice.
The immortal does what all good teachers do – he scaffolds the learning and he’s been doing so since November last year.
Today, it was all about different passes when engaging the defence, and combinations within the spine. The goal of the session was explained and examples of current NRL players who excel in the skill, and why they do, were provided. Johns didn’t mince words about his expectations regarding standards.
The skill was practised, with adjustments and corrections made to where the football was held, the shoulder positions, hip positions and the pace of execution.
Extension of today’s learning occurred when it was incorporated into a range of plays, utilising different combinations of the spine. He explained likely defensive responses and how to either take advantage or adjust their play.
Will Smith
As I’ve reported in previous posts, the importance of communication is continually reinforced by Joey. Some players are great communicators on the field, others aren’t. But in the spine, all these blokes have no excuses. Their team mates have to be able to hear them.
There was plenty to like about what our starting spine (minus Gutho) were showing, but Will Smith looked particularly sharp. His retention in the squad was smart given his versatility across all spine positions.
Friday
Whether it was dedicated conditioning, or footy games and drills, there was no shortage of running today.
The squad alternated between their interval running, games and opposed footy simulations throughout the morning session.
Jordan Rankin
There were no surprises in the conditioning. It was a battle royal up front between Jake Arthur and Dylan Brown. Jordan Rankin maintained his place in the leading group as did Will Smith whilst Haze Dunster finished stronger and stronger as each set mounted.
Bryce Cartwright now ranks as probably the fittest forward I’ve seen in recent preseasons. If his first goal at his new club was to set a new benchmark for his work ethic, then he earns a huge tick so far.
During the first game of four tackle, two hand touch, Jake Arthur provided the highlight with a kick and chase for the try.
The young half is most unlikely to feature in the NRL in 2021 (after all he and his peers missed an entire season of Flegg and Canterbury Cup this year), so I did not expect to see such confidence. Jake has always been highly rated for his composure, game management and defence, but he seems to have added extra dimensions to his attacking game. This upcoming season of NRL training will stand him in good stead for the future.
The simultaneous games of two hand touch and Fijian touch are almost impossible to follow. They occupy the same space and it seems as if the Fiji touch players are able to join in the attack in the other game if the opportunity presents.
On a side note, these games are a clever way of building kilometres and fatigue. The action is non-stop but the players are concentrating on their game.
Relentless attack and defence drills wrapped up the session and the year. Split into two teams, each side was charged with holding out multiple attacking sets within the quarter. The contact was quite willing and I saw a bit more of the big blokes like Dave Hollis and Oregon Kaufusi laying attacking platforms.
In fact, Oregon also provided a defensive highlight, charging through at Jake Arthur as he set himself for the kick. Contact was made as the ball was struck, and he didn’t miss him. Merry Christmas mate! Arthur responded well, getting straight to his feet, whilst Oggy earned praise from BA for his hustle and his hit.
Keegan Hipgrave
The other bloke to have a couple of notable moments was Keegan Hipgrave. He crashed over for a try off a tremendous short ball by Arthur, then in defence, prevented a certain try with a great read and big contact. Again, the coach was full of praise.
As always, I’m listening for the talk in both attack and defence. Moses is relentless in demanding effort on the line, but I was surprised to hear the talk from Maika. I’m not sure that he’s renowned as a communicator, but perhaps he’s finding his voice.
At this time every year, I’m normally confident about my capacity to pick the Top 17 for round 1. That’s not the case at the moment. Maybe some readers might have a crack in their replies.
The players will return on January 4, as will my training reports.
But don’t think that we’ll be shutting up shop on TCT. The content will continue during the festive break, so stay with us.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Credit to Eels media for some images used.
I don’t understand letting your salmon go i think he will be a really good centre
Anyone know if Salmon has been picked up by another team?
Anon and Rocket, I am not aware of him signing anywhere as yet.
Salmon has joined the riff, 1 year deal
Saw that today too. I wish him well.
In terms of what he added to the side not much point keeping him he wasn’t a good enough half and didn’t really dominate other postions to demand selection no reserve grade hurt him as he baisicly lost any chance to cement a role
A few blokes ended up in limbo due to no lower grades. I hope he finds a club. You don’t like to see blokes who have talent end up with minimal opportunities.
With this recent humid weather, I can imagine why the guys all hate the offseason, it must be torture. I guess Sivo would be lapping it up.
Sivo is a power athlete. Conditioning work is not his cup of tea.
Great insight into the boys and coaching staff doing the serious stuff while also making hard slog enjoyable for everyone. It actually seems like we are entering into a higher level of execution and expectation as a club. With all the new blood and a couple of local juniors adding not only depth but genuine NRL ready competition to the 17.
My starting side for Rd 1 would be; 1. Gutho c. 2. Maika 3. Opacic
4. Waqa 5. Fergo/Dunster. 6. Dylan. 7. Mitch. 8. RCG. 9. Reed.
10. Junior. 11. Shaun L. 12. Materson. 13. Brown snr. 14. Bryce C.
15.Marata. 16. Papa’li’i. 17. Oggy. Contact sessions and trial form will determine the order of 18. Hipgrave,19. Oldfield ,20. Hollis. 21. Will S.
The only thing I would change in this squad is Oggy for Hipgrave I think Hipgrave will cause a lot of havoc with his strong carries and his hard direct lines. But what a rotation we have with our forwards.
Genuine points of difference off the bench.
Good team Rowdy, I have a definite belief that Dunster is ready to take a wing spot, should either of the others slip.
That’s a pretty solid team Rowdy. You probably won’t be far off the mark.
Fergo 4, Waqa 5……Shaun out Papallii in……14 either Roache or Lussick
Maranta, Oggy, Lane ………then Cartright, Hipgrave, Dunster, Roache or Lussick,…..
I am hearing Matt lodge has been signed and a centre/winger…..don’t know where they fit??
I hope that its not true re Lodge.
I’m not hearing that about Lodge. How do you rate your source Poppa? To be honest, I don’t see it. Though rugby league can be a strange soapie at times.
Good read. Is Jake Arthur the kid who rounded Hayne a few off seasons ago? On hayne is there any scenario , if he gets off his charge in March, you could imagine him making a comeback for us as a bench power forward? Finally sixties, many years ago the media ran a story suggesting that the broncs made a late season surge and won the premiership putting it down to Bennet allowing Jeremy Hickman to not overdo the pre season. Then last year Bennet said parra peaked to early suggesting we worked to hard in the off season and again during the covid break. So I’m wondering if this was taken on board by Arthur and have you seen any evidence of a slightly curtailed approach so far at training. Thx mate
I’m not sixties but there’s no way the Eels or any other NRL club sign Hayne regardless of the result
I’m with you Anon. Hayne was the most gifted Eels player I’ve watched (I didn’t say best Eels player) but he’s about to turn 33, two years out of playing and training, with this high profile case now in his history. I don’t think he’ll be playing footy in Australia.
Hayne closely followed by Brett ( bert, Skippy) Kenny.
Yeah, Bert is probably an example of one of the most talented Eel players who actually realised that talent. Then again, I do sometimes hypothesise about someone like Hayne at his peak playing in the teams of the 80s. Would it have upset the team balance or made them even more formidable?
Bert was and is always the king
The original King.
There was only one King, he doubled as a mayor as well!
Speaking of Mares, watched a Manly v Parra 80S game, our forward pack was blooming marvellous, they speak of Junior being great, Paul Mares, could kick and had an offload
Paul Mares could have been anything.
I was too young to remember Thornett in his prime Poppa, but I trust my father’s rating of him as the player to revolutionise fullback play.
I saw the Mayor when he came back to the eels in his final year, he had retired and purchased a farm on the Coonabarabran road a few miles out from Binnaway, he came back as a result of a severe drought that hit the area, and the bit of coin he earnt helped him out.
In late 1969 my dad & I called in to his farm but had just missed him as he went into BNY, Dad knew him pretty well and wanted to just catch up.
On that last year he still showed the class that made him one of the best fullbacks to lace his boots up, he and Dick and the team of the day deserved a premiership, at least that was and still is my thinking.
I think if the great ST George team didn’t exist, they might have gone very close.
Yes it is hard to imagine how dominant they were, one of my greatest memories was in 1962 watching Parra beat saints at Cumberland.
There was one year there in Thornett’s era that we could have made the GF with an ounce of luck. If we had we were just the type of side that could have upset the mighty saints.
It was so close you could touch it!
Sorry. that was me again, I really dislike posting under Anon
Poppa, I felt that closeness in the 70s grand finals. What could have been! But then again, would 81 have been the same euphoria if we had tasted glory earlier?
When opposed to the qld king at 5/8 8 wins to 4 losses in Brett’s favorite. Played in 5 gfs won 4 and scored a double in 4 if u count the two disallowed in 86.
Won a mid week comp, won a challenge cup. Had whippet like speed, had a skip start to his runs, could swerve upper body but if u look close he maintained a straight line, sidestep, won of the most efficient tacklers I’ve seen , could jump and diffuse a bomb, never dived when scoring a try unless he had to just non shallantly placed the ball down and walk back to position only looking back briefly to see the crow put it between the posts.
Glad we all can agree he was the king.
I have actually spoken to some younger players who didn’t know who he was. A couple of years back, BA brought in legends from the 80s like Brett to visit training and talk to the squad. I reckon that knowing the history of the club you play for, and knowing that genuine stars played for the club, should be part of every players time at the club.
Absolutely sixties. I think Kenny had a go as a coach of Wenty or Penrith and won or got to a gf. I think a lot of ppl mistakenly think Kenny is a dumbo, maybe because of his damaged voice box. I have always said he has a great economy of words, is articulate and considered in is answers.
I’ve had the pleasure of meeting him and enjoying an extended conversation. I agree mate.
I truly envy you sixties. You were in the presence of greatness. Your not bad yourself. Lol.
Ha. I’m just a mug. A mate of mine has been asked by a few people if he knows me, or can they meet me. He replies, “you’ll be very disappointed”. That’s a fair call. 😁😁😁
Your stature in the Parra world continues to grow.
No mate, just my waistline over Christmas!
Matthew, Bennett’s comments about Parra training are ill-informed and seem to have gathered a life of their own on forums. Firstly, Elkins gradually built up the conditioning load, same as he is doing this year. When they were ready, it went up a notch, and then it seemed to taper as the preseason became more footy focussed. The other factor which makes a mockery of Bennett’s comments is the COVID factor. No teams were training. The players had individual programs to follow. Also, the work at training during the season was modified according to the match schedule and season demands. Fitness wise and energy wise, the boys were jumping out of their skins by first week of the finals. They simply lost players during that first final to injury and suspension.
Cheers sixties , thanks for the back story, nevertheless I believe conditioning is a very important science in terms of timing peak performance.
Absolutely.
Hey Sixties, another great read. In your honest opinion who has been the MVP of pre season part 1, your one to look out for etc??
Awesome & as usual diligent reporting 60’s…sounds like Johns isn’t just making up the numbers on the coaching staff…hopefully our backline attack will finally show some benefits…looking forward to new year wraps.
Ace, it’s an education watching and listening to him. I’m trying to describe what he’s doing without giving away too many details. It’s not easy, because there are many moments that I just wouldn’t reveal.
Maybe make him our game time onfield trainer and use him as a second half like Alfie at the broncs, mind u it hasn’t helped their halves much
Part of Joey’s arrangement is that he remains committed to his media role and is free to criticise performances on it.
Well, I think the halves kicking game went backwards last year, we can blame Covid, but it is the one big aspect he needs to get right this year.
Finally, I would like to think they are practicing some left foot kicking, at this level halves should be able to kick field goals of either foot….not talking about the 40 metre rule either.
That skill is not widely held in League and I am not sure why, used to be a must in union which is a game I played at a poor level but I could kick field goals with either foot from about 14 onwards. its not that hard with practice….I think hayne and Inu could drop kick with either foot.
I’d be surprised if our kicking game wasn’t a feature this year Poppa. Plenty of work is put into it. That’s not saying that it wasn’t before, but the amazing stats from our kicking game in 2019 wasn’t replicated in 2020.
Cheers Dazboy. It’s an early call, and I’m going to avoid naming a rookie like Arthur, so it’s probably Cartwright at the moment. Dylan’s been very good, as has Papali’i and Roache. But if I have to name just one, it’s Cartwright.
sixties and all here on TCT, I would like to extend to all my compliments of the season, may all with families and friends have a joyous and safe Christmas, and a blessed one at least. If any are going away take care and return in good order and safety.
The way the training and sixties reports are going, I am pretty positive for season 2021 as to where the eels are heading in the comp, unlike some others on another platform (they should be on the train to birdsvile) Its good to read these training reviews and thanks to sixties and others who have input into them.
I have expressed my concern regarding our backline for next year, & until Fergo gets back and shows he’s recovered from his injury that will remain, also his inside partner, with sixties mentioning a difference with Sivo, that concern has eased and hopefully continues to do so.
What of Blake though? Have not seen his name mentioned but, he’s not the only one in that box, has he improved with training especially in the two critical areas of defence and reading where he needs to be? He has a good turn of speed and would he not be better swapping with Fergs, depending on Fergs knee though?
The missing link though may well be with MJ as to his future, can only hope that his B sample comes back clear.
Colin, May we also wish the best to you and your family too.
Waqa was part of the group that only returned this week. I haven’t seen enough of his defence thus far to make any calls. But I just don’t want to see that right side combination, however they decide to solve it.
There are at least three spots to be sorted on the roster. Centre must be a priority. There will be news early in the new year, as they have to name 29 players before the first round.
Naming 26 players in the new year will be interesting.
What are they down to now with Alvaro gone. 26 or 27 players. Could be some more new faces.
I believe that’s 27 including Jenko.
Thanks sixties, will be interesting in the new year especially if MJ is found to be b positive, will be very sad for him and family but I am hopeful that he will be ok.
Agree with you in regards the right side, in the backs, from what I have seen and read in the reports, I don’t think we have any real worries in the forwards going forward. If MJ is not in, it means we have to find a couple of quality backs to fill the roster (void?) so, I get back on the Dunster horse and believe he could be a VG player in the backs.
I reckon he’s ready.
Merry Christmas to you and your family Colin. Hope you have a great festive season and not too much Christmas cake.
Hope you have some luck with your back. If they can’t fix it surely they can find a good management plan
Thanks John. Had the trip to see the Nuero Surgeon a few weeks back now, he wants me to have two sets of back injections, one in to the bursa, the other by CT guided injections into lumba areas, have not had any real positive results from the Bursa shots, and its been a while since I have had the CT type injections, but they are very temporary at best. The surgeon wants me to go to the Sanitarian rooms with a more specialised treatment.
If that doesn’t help the Surgeon will perform a Laminectomy on the L4/5 level. Apparently showed up more in the last CT scan.
Hi Colin, Check out Deuk Spine Institute in Melbourne Florida. My son had no pain after 45 minutes of operation. No disc or anything was removed. Two yrs on he has had no pain at all in the L4/L5 area.
Thanks for the tip. I had a fusion at L3/4 seven odd years back, and have had no issues in that area, no referred pain to leg or lower area of back.
The Nuero surgeon I see is tops, and very conservative regarding surgery and he has said if the injections don’t work for a reasonable amount of time, then he will perform a laminectomy on the disc.
The big area of back surgery has advanced big time owing to the more specialised roles carried out these days especially as the surgeons generally specialise in one or two areas only rather than the old days where a surgeon was there for all things and not always great.
The Florida hospital sounds good but as we live on a pension, would likely have to sell our home to cover the costs over there.
No one in Australia could help my son so we had to take him overseas as he was only 23 at the time . Hope the best for you Colin and Merry Christmas.
Ashutosh, Many thanks for your concern, and I understand how it would be with your son, he is fortunate to have a family that is able to make such sacrifices, I would also like to extend to you and family the compliments of the season, and look forward to 2021 being a much better one, on & off the paddock.
I had a nuero surgeon operate on my back, L/5 it lasted for 4 years but then collapsed on me, IIRC it was a laminectomy, the same fellow did a fusion on my neck in 2010, and its been good since then.
When the back went on me, the previous surgeon was not seeing people outside of Sydney and he was concentrating on surgery in private hospitals, I visited several when on the Central Coast but once again none would perform a fusion up there, unless in a Private fund/hospital.
I was then put on to a Surgeon at MacQuarie Neurosurgery, as some there worked in the public system, I went to see one of them, and he is now classed as an Associate Professor, he’s a top fellow, and I would recommend him without any problems, he is Iranian but has been in Oz for many years now.
His concern for me is performing any further fusions would provide me with a lot of restrictions, leaving only 2 levels able to flex, and would not take long before my back was totally fixed especially considering the bottom neck disc area is already fused.
I am now 73, and the back is pretty much worn, initial damage was caused when I was a Trainee Engineman, back in those days 1964 there were no safety rails around platforms, and I fell over 2 metres onto the rail ballast. That was the start of it all, with 2 other incidents with one having me in Lithgow hospital. When I was medically retired end of 1988, and I received a copy of my rail history, there was nothing on it regarding the 1964 fall, not surprising really as the depot boss was a witness to it, and the carbon paperwork that I had to fill out with him as witness, was a demerit mark on him so, the files did not go to the medical section of the railways.
Well done Sixties, thanks for the reporting over the last few weeks. Not sure what to make of the backs for 2021, but we will know more by Jan 26 and beyond.
Our team is on the up we hope and needs to consolidate their position in the NRL and improve in a few areas. We could not have asked more from the forwards this season and yes we seemed to drop off some games, and i get we had injuries in the finals and earlier. But good teams get through this. It will be an interesting start to proceedings for 2021.
Enjoy the Christmas all and the festivities – thanks TCT
Milo
Thanks Milo. The goal is definitely Top 4. If we can sort out the backline, happy days!
Would Bennet of been saying this if Jennings Sivo Marata and Fergo were playing in that semi .i doubt it.
Absolutely true Giant.
Appreciate your constant great reports Sixties all the best to you and your family for Christmas and same to all other Throw members and supporters.
Cheers Gianni. Hope to catch up soon mate.
Good report,I really can’t see Lane starting over Cartright.I love Lanes size and strength near the line but Cartright at his best needs to be touching the ball as much as possible. Good to hear he is ripping in.Thanks for the continued content,much appreciated especially when there is so little available over the off season. Hope everyone on here has a magnificent Xmas and a Marvelous New Year.
Cheers Eggman. I’m looking forward to seeing not just how the players perform when full opposed sessions commence, but also the positions that BA plays them in.
Thanks for another thorough report Sixties. Couple of questions if I may. Obviously the MJ situation means he is probably done, I have a big opinion of Opacic after watching him at Redcliffe for a few years, he was a cut above the Qld Cup standard and has just had a terrible run of injuries during his NRL stints. I’m guessing it’s going to be Opacic and Waqa as the starting centres, but where do we go after that? Has there been any indication at training with the likes of Oldfield and Rankin running in the centres? Good to hear Cartwright has been killing it, the story on him training with Spud Carroll was interesting too. We all know what he can bring in attack, but I’m waiting to hear from you when the real opposed sessions start as to how he fares, because that has been his achilles heel in recent years.
I’m hoping that with 2 or 3 spots still available the transfer merry-go-round might throw us up a couple of surprises in the New Year. Are you able to tell us if there’s any other youngsters that may be elevated into the Top 30 or if you think it will be external signings that will fill them.
Hi mate. I’m currently rating Opacic as the best option with the existing roster. I believe they view Rankin as a spine option, probably at fullback. Oldfield is a possibility. I’ll get more of an idea as the opposed sessions heat up.
I haven’t been commenting on the pathways blokes as they are very young and it’s best not to put too much focus on them and create pressure. Jake Arthur will just have to deal with the pressure that will come for someone in his situation so I’ve been happy to write about his involvement, and given his conditioning exploits, it would have been tough to pretend it hasn’t been happening.
Cheers mate, just as a matter of interest, how many of the pathways boys are training with the main squad at the moment other than Jake? I assume it’s a temporary thing and the numbers taper off as they go back to their junior rep teams at the start of 2021. Keep up the good work, have a great Chrissy and I look forward to reading the next reports soon. PS, I’ve been on here regularly since you kicked off and appreciate the efforts you guys put in, it’s refreshing to see that you report on some of the things I’ve been banging on about on the other site and give balanced opinions. Unfortunately, those opinions have you labelled a BA hugger on the other site and the number of imbeciles that are inundating it with complete lack of common sense is starting to lessen the experience that’s for sure. Keep fighting the good fight. All the best.
Hi mate.
About 9-10. How long they stay can vary. Depends on how they go, and what the club can offer. Reed is the classic example. Got called in to do a couple of months of preseason, then got extended to completing the preseason, then got a dev deal, then debuted.
Thanks for your support of the site.
Hi Sixties
Has Cartwright shown any obvious signs of knee issues? I thought he said, whilst on the Gold Coast, that his knees were shot. Cheers.
If he’s got knee issues then he should write a book about how to train with bad knees. He is training the house down so I haven’t seen any signs of it.