It has been an agonisingly long time since we have been able to talk about junior football on TCT in a meaningful way. COVID-19 put the kibosh on all forms of rugby league midway through March in 2020 and while we thankfully managed to salvage the NRL season, junior footy wasn’t as fortunate. That all changed yesterday when the long hiatus was finally ended as the Parramatta Eels hosted the Canterbury Bulldogs (and Wests Tigers) at New Era Stadium in the first preseason hit-out of the year. Staying true to their reputations, the footy-starved degenerates of TCT were on hand to get their first looks at the classes of 2021.

Thankfully, the footy gods seemed to share TCT’s eagerness yesterday as the sun shone down brightly with the accompaniment of a welcoming breeze in Cabramatta. Perfect conditions for rugby league. Of particular note, the Harold Matthews and SG Ball made their format debuts in new competitive paradigms (Under 17s and Under 19s respectively) as the entire structure of junior pathways systems across the NRL and NSWRL shifts to accommodate the lost season.

Parramatta ended the day with 2 victories, 1 draw and 1 loss and a truckload of encouraging play from their young squads. Let’s get into the takeaways from a long afternoon of preseason action!

Harold Matthews Trial vs Canterbury Bulldogs (3x30min)

Parramatta Eels 24 (6 tries) draw with the Canterbury Bulldogs 24 (6 tries)

SG Ball Trial vs Canterbury Bulldogs (3x30min)

Parramatta Eels 36 (9 tries) defeat the Canterbury Bulldogs 0

Tarsha Gale Trial vs Wests Tigers

Parramatta Eels 0 defeated by the Wests Tigers 8 (2 tries)

Tarsha Gale Trial vs Wests Tigers

Parramatta Eels 8 (2 tries) defeat the Canterbury Bulldogs 4 (1 try)

Harold Matthews Takeaways

Starting Line-up

1. Patrick Spence

2. Cooper Sinclair

3. Charlie Guymer

4. Declan Murray

5. Josh Lealaiauloto

6. Terrence Lafai

7. Ethan Sanders

8 (25). Sam Tuivati

9. Yehya Ayache

10. Myles Martin

11. Domenic Destradis

12. Saxon Pryke

13. Raffaele Destradis

Parramatta run out to a strong early lead in the first third of play. Tries to Declan Murray, Myles Martin and Josh Lealaiauloto came on the back of crisp and clean ball movement as the Eels confidently attacked down both edges. Ethan Sanders and Terrence Lafai combined well in the halves during this stanza while Patrick Spence chimed in smoothly down the left edge from fullback.

The players shake hands after the draw.

The Eels looked extremely polished through the first 30min of play but started the second third slowly. Canterbury capitalised on a string of errors and poor clearing kicks to dominate possession and territory leading to a run of four tries in their favour. The two teams traded tries in the final third of play resulting in the eventual draw.

Sam Tuivati and Myles Martin were standouts in the ruck. Martin has garnered praise on this blog before so it comes as little surprise that he featured prominently in this trial. Tuivati shone as Martin’s counterpart as he displayed terrific athleticism in attack and defence through long stints on the field. Perhaps the most impressive aspect of his play was his drive and leg-speed through contact as Tuivati regularly powered through multiple defenders for considerable post-contract gains.

The props might have been the headline acts in the forward pack but the back row of Pryke and the Destradis brothers got through plenty of work and served as foils to the big men up front. What these three young men give away in size they make up for work-rate and hustle

There looks to be a glut of riches in the backline for the Matts. Josh Lealaiauloto has the signs of a powerhouse winger in the making down the left edge while his inside man in Declan Murray was a standout performer in the few games that were played in 2020. Charlie Guymer is transitioning from the halves to the centres on the right edge but he defended well yesterday. Partnering Guymer on that side was Cooper Sinclair, a rangy and athletic winger who gives the Eels a towering target for attacking kicks. All four played well against the Bulldogs and even more encouraging was the fact that Suliasi Aho and Cody Parry featured in the later game and will genuinely compete for a start.

While the boys in blue & gold put together some impressive attacking sets throughout the game, Sanders and Lafai will need to hone their long-kicking games. Canterbury clawed their way back into the game partly due to lacklustre clearing kicks from the Eels and this facet of the game will prove crucial in closely fought contests during the season proper.

SG Ball Takeaways

Starting Line Up

1. Freeman Forsythe

2. Caleb Coroneos

3. Daniel Readon

4. Jabriel Kalache

5. Zadourian Nevili

6. Joshua Chappell

7. Keahlan Bray

8. Larry Muagututia

9. Drew Lloyd

10. Taylor Mauala

11. Jock Brazel

12. Maximus Tupou

13. Vlado Jankovic

The contrast between the SG Ball and Harold Matthews squads was fascinating to witness from the stands. Where the Matts were bold and expansive, the Ball were much more direct and conservative. That isn’t a criticism, mind you. The Eels executed their game-plan superbly and completed their sets with phenomenal efficiency. Canterbury were simply overwhelmed under the crushing weight of Parramatta’s consistency over the three 30min thirds of play.

Jabriel Kalache had a terrific game with the ball in hand. Kalache, who is equally at home in the centres or in the halves, proved to be a handful for the Bulldogs to tackle throughout the game enroute to scoring the game’s opening try and setting up another. He would go on to score the final four pointer of the game as well to cap off a brilliant start to the year.

The action is underway!

Josh Chappell and Keahlan Bray controlled the game nicely. Chappell was the steadying hand for the most part, kicking strongly and linking up with his outside men in a timely manner. He attacked the line early and often and nabbed a try for his efforts. Bray chimed in with some incisive runs back behind the ruck and scored a try backing up some quality lead up from Kylan Mafoa.

Taylor Mauala was relentless through the middle and gave the Eels plenty of impetus early on in sets. Larry Muagututia worked well as his offsider and the two gave Parramatta a stable platform up front. While the two big boppers laid the base of the win, it was the bench that brought the juice. Mafoa (mentioned above), Malakai Va’inga, Francis Tuitino and Junior Wright all had impactful stints from the sideline.

The Eels might potentially be lacking in outright strike power in this grade given that the like of Jakob Arthur, Sean Russell, Sam Loizou, William Penisini, Caleb Tohi, Peter Taateo and Matthew Komolafe will likely be assigned to more senior grades. That said, their concerted team effort yesterday was exactly what I wanted to see from the line-up. If they can carry that sort of attitude into the regular season they will give themselves a shot in any given game.

Tarsha Gale Takeaways

Today’s squad included Tamerah Leati, Ameena Kanj, Hannah McFayden, Chelsea Austin, Tahleisha Pugh, Lucie Whitehead, Jacinta Tui, Danielle Keller, Katalina Vave, Loreen Luamanuvae, Jada Toevai, Summer Brown, Losalio Payne, Kristen Cawthorne, Eloisa Steve, Martha Fui, Shannai Vakai, Summah Terare, Lorijocacha Masame, Lei Lani Tua, Taimani Kolomati, and Ruby Jean Kennard. Demia Pritchard, Quin McVey and Rosalea Lea were unavailable.

The 2021 season shapes as a huge one for Parramatta in the Tarsha Gale. As the popularity of rugby league surges among women and girls, the Eels have also enjoyed a record turnout during their trialing and selection process for the 2021 Tarsha Gale.

Tarsha Gale action

Their first trial produced encouraging results for the players and coaches but it also left them with plenty of teaching points. The Eels coughed up too much possession against the Tigers, placing the team under heavy defensive pressure as result. To the credit of the girls they defended admirably to keep to Tigers to just two tries.

A feature of both games was the strong contact through the collisions, which the coaches will be extremely encouraged by given how early it is in the preseason. This was accompanied by good scramble efforts of all which combine to suggest that if the girls can polish their control of the football they will be in good stead in 2021.

They picked up the intensity in the second trial against the Bulldogs to secure a win but improving completion rates will definitely be a key focus moving forwards. Still, it was a positive first showing for the girls and I look forward to seeing what the regular season holds for them.

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