This is the day that I’ve been waiting to report.
The day when both Maika Sivo and Blake Ferguson stamped their presence on an Eels session.
What do we want from our wingers?
Energy, power and metres in the kick returns. The ability to finish tries or even turn half chances into four pointers. Good defensive reads and tackle executions. The defusing of a range of attacking kicks.
It’s fair to say that based on those metrics, Haze Dunster had established an early lead in the battle for a wing spot during this preseason, but today the incumbents stated their cases in no uncertain terms.
Maika had already signalled some intent about the season ahead. Though he’s never starred during conditioning work, the big Fijian would easily be ahead of his fitness levels from previous preseasons. His performances during previous opposed work had been very solid, without being outstanding.
Ferguson had been in a different scenario to his wing colleague. Whilst Sivo joined this preseason from Day 1, Fergo had only commenced his work after the festive break.
However, after building through the first couple of weeks of training in 2021, Fergo fairly exploded into the session this morning.
Ferguson chasing down The King
In a gruelling hour of running that commenced the day, the high profile winger positioned himself on the heels of Clint Gutherson and set about staying there. Anyone who’s watched the King in action knows that this is no small task. Ferguson literally busted a gut in doing so, and there may have been a slight re-appearance of his breakfast at one stage.
Other noteworthy conditioning efforts were supplied by Jordan Rankin, Haze Dunster, Jake Arthur, Dylan Brown, Isaiah Papali’i, Oregon Kaufusi and Ray Stone. Dave Hollis also deserves some praise. The big prop has surprising pace over sprint distances and does a terrific job in finishing amongst the main pack during the longer runs.
Junior Paulo, Nathan Brown and Nathaniel Roache were on a slightly modified load. Big Junz looks incredibly fit and moved effortlessly through his runs.
A couple of NRL referees were on hand to officiate today’s 13 on 13 component. In a display of great restraint I kept my opinions to myself. After all, even if they were wrong, the calls could only go Parra’s way.
Like earlier sessions, the longer that the contest went on, the more intense the contact became. The kick returns were particularly willing.
And so in referencing kick returns, we return to the performances of the two wingers.
This was when Maika first raised his hand. Every carry from the winger into the collision was full of energy and purpose. This is exactly what we need to see from the Eels crowd favourite this year. Sivo lookEd for work as he charged in with perfectly timed injections in attack and defence. He was ultimately rewarded with a try from superb work inside him by both Arthur and Gutherson.
Fergo in full flight to the corner
Not to be outdone, Ferguson lifted the stakes by crossing for two tries – each requiring a powerful burst to convert the opportunity. His first left fullback, Jordan Rankin, needing a few minutes to recover. This may have been just the training track, but it was a reminder of what the former Origin player can deliver when near his best.
When you’re close to the action of the big powerful wingers in full flight, as we were today, you get a fair idea of the challenge facing any defender. The sound of their feet thumping into the ground is only bettered by the noise of the collision. In each of today’s tries, there was little doubt that Fergo was not going to be stopped.
A couple of other moments worth mentioning include a try to Rankin off a Moses kick, and Bryce Cartwright creating a try by engaging multiple defenders.
Defensively, Dylan Brown provided a massive highlight. On the back of a couple of clever offloads, Mitch Moses burst onto the ball close to the posts and looked certain to score. Then, as quickly as he burst into space, he hit the turf with a thud – Dylbags had cut his legs out from underneath him with a scything tackle.
After just on two hours the session wrapped up – not a bad way to start the week!
Eels forever!
Sixties
Great read and good to hear the two big powerhouses standing tall. Looking forward to see how things take shape leading up to our trials.
We were only a few metres from Fergo as he charged at the line – see photo. Really powered at it. And Sivo’s charges carrying the ball was back to 2019 vintage.
Well! that affectively shoots to pieces what I posted yesterday in the last blog.
i saw that after this was posted! 😁
Who is the player on the official site wearing the red singlet? In the last photo. Standing next to waqa Blake?
The player in the red shirt is Matt Komolafe, he’s a decent sized winger who’s come through the system with the development players, a local junior getting a chance to do an NRL pre season.
Another great read, making the off season bareable
Cheers Dazboy
Sixties you got me with the Headline, “Fergo and Sivo star”. That was a must read headline right there.
I think that I have put this story on here before. I was lucky enough to get into the sheds in 2019 after a game. The first player I saw as I walked in was Sivo.
He looks like he is carved out of granite. I was looking at him and trying to work out how to tackle him. It was certainly not in my capability and never would have been at any age I care to think about
And he’s at his most damaging when he uses that frame like he did today. Here’s to a better 2021 for Sivo.
Fergo, 31 and final year of contract. He’s got a bit to prove, I know one thing, he’s competed at elite level so he’s got the right instincts to meet the challenge. Good luck to him.
Our wingers were a big part of the climb in 2019, but not as effective in 2020. A return to that 19 form would help to take the team a long way.
Great read Sixties and team, thanks for the report.
I only want my wingers to be fit, good finishers and strong in defence and in the air, and consistent of course.
Hope these two can lead the way for the season….and I’d be keen to see Dunster too come in and have some time.
For mine, Dunster had been leading the contest.
So who drops out Sixties?
That’s what the rest of the preseason and the trials can determine. I think it will be intriguing.
My boy Sivo will be Better this year .He’s trimmed down a bit and he’s enjoying his training and cannot wait for the season to start.
I’m looking forward to that Anon.
Nice Sixties. Thank you
Cheers Mickey
Great read Sixties.
I must confess I’m a bit anxious about the centre’s for this upcoming year. More so than the wing position. We were really found wanting last year. Without giving too much away are there signs to settle my nerves????
I think Opacic looks very solid. His great strength appears to be his communication. That was also Jenko strength – he was a good talker out there. That said, we still need to recruit outside backs for at least the short term..
Even though Sivo was a little quiet last year ,the Tedesco knock out and try against Roosters was up there with his finest work.The lead up by Jennings created that and Many Sivo highlights, hopefully his absence doesn’t hamper Sivo this year.
Eggman, I referenced Jenko’s talk in an earlier reply. That was what he did that really helped Sivo, and Sivo spoke to me in his first year about how much that Jenko’s talk meant to him. When you are close to the play or close to training, you can pick the players who are good communicators. Opacic seems to be good.
That you have such confidence in Opacic does reassure me.Honestly I am in the dark in regards to his ability. I remember watching him at the Broncos but his highlights reel is quite empty.There were rumours of a certain centre signing from South’s who I’ll admit did excite me a little but I think Opacic deserves a good crack at first grade.I think since day One ,BAs recruitment has been his greatest strength and so if BA thinks Opacic is the guy then I am happy with it.
Eggman, Opacic looks very composed in both attack and defence – he looks like an experienced centre during opposed work.
It’s very exciting to hear that these 2 are starting to make their presence felt. I wonder how Haze might reply in the coming days and weeks as it certainly sounded from previous reports he was going to push BA long and hard in that selection.
Sixties, you’ve made mention of Opicec previously. Is he still your pick to replace MJ? Is there anyone else staking a claim for his spot?
Cheers JonBoy. He’s still my pick, and the deeper we go into the preseason without adding to the roster, the more I’m convinced he’ll get the gig. Still, there’s close to two months for things to change.
Greetings Mr Sixties
It seems things are starting to sizzle.
Fergo is a good winger who demands selection but, for me he is error prone at the wrong time.
Sivo, I think suffered the second year syndrome and should be better this year.
I hope he is coached to use that frame.
On the other hand I do like the Dunster. They should wrap him up for the future.
I think the lower grade will give him good training for first grade next year.
It’s nice the Dylan Brown has the almost perfect tackling technique. I wonder what went through MM mind when he was run down.
Keep us up to date with Cartwright’s progress.
I think with the rule changes he might be just the right fit off the bench.
Waiting for the trials then the big one first up.
Cheers. Zero58
Thanks mate. I have to admit becoming frustrated with Fergo’s handling of the ball along the ground last year. It was like he had the yips. But a switched on Fergo, as he was in 2019, was a force to be reckoned with. He was a leader at training and on the field. He lost that last year. Let’s hope this week becomes a habit.
Fergy is also playing for a contract.
That doesn’t hurt!
Great reporting Sixties, everyone is responding with delight about your enthusiasm for Fergy and Sivo returning to 2019 preseason form, as am I. We could look further into that by acknowledging the competition this applies to the centre position too. I’ll explain where I’m coming from. Two weeks ago I turned to watch the boys train at Kellyville, about half an hour after they’d finished, but was blessed to see Haze in his car when I turned around in the carpark. During our chat, Haze said he had played in the centre for most of his junior rep and U/20’s and that BA was giving him plenty of opportunity to train there and on the wing. That, along with Michael Oldfella with provide considerable competition to Opacic without considering the development squad?
Cheers mate, it’s interesting that Haze offered that. Yes he spent time at centre in pathways but has pretty much almost exclusively developed his wing skills during his time in the NRL squad. To be honest, it’s seemed to be the same this year so perhaps there’s something I’m missing?
Sixties, perhaps the following may jolt you memory to a tense specific recollection? Haze words in reply to my questioning of him, regarding centre position play “would you like to have a run there”? were. “Yeah, BA has already given me a few runs at centre as well.” So perhaps with that having been spoken in past tense nearly 2 weeks ago that issue may well have been sufficient for BA to establish Opa as preferred left centre and Haze a real option on the wing. I had also asked earlier if he were a left centre to which he said. “Nah I played right centre in the U20’s but I would play anywhere if I could get a run in this team”. “BA said he would give me every chance to push my claims (or prove myself)”.
I certainly remember him playing centre in pathways. I reckon he’ll take any chance offered, he seems determined.
Good write up , thanks. I read gutho said haze has come back bigger this year. Just wondering if you can tell looking at him?
Haze would be just below 100kg I’d say. He got much bigger last year, looks similar this year – so anyone looking at the 2019 Haze would see a huge difference.
Cheers , thanks
Great read sixties. Thank you for keeping us all up dated with your honest opinions. Only problem I keep having is with the training shirts. I keep thinking I’m looking at the bulldogs
They are temporary. Will be in blue and gold gear shortly.
Fox Sports have announced that Bernard Sutton has taken a job working with the Melbourne Storm:
I thought he already had a job working with the Storm
Gee, there has to be some grey here John. Sutton was at times their MOM!!
Not a fan Milo?
Sutton is taking over from Smith in the number 9 jersey, continuing the Storm’s long tradition of having a referee play dummy half.
Interesting appointment.
🤣 🤣 🤣
Great report appreciated as always.
I take these with a grain of salt as we al know great training doesn’t always equal results on the paddock that been said those 2 players Sivo and Ferguson are both coming of below par seasons and will need to start strong as Dunster will be right there and ready. I wonder if much thought has gone into playing fergo or Dunster in the centres or are we locking opiacic in as 1st choice?
What’s interesting is that we are now having real competition in the backs where realistically this was shaping as our biggest problem.
Seems like we could put Fergs, Sivo, Dunster, Blake and Oldfield on a wing (injuries do happen) and likewise Opacic, Blake, Fergs, Dunster and Oldfield in the centres……Maiko Sivo is the only one that is arguably fixed as a winger, you could even include Dylan Brown as a centre option.
Yeah Poppa, great idea including Dylbags as a centre option, especially if you wanted to weaken the 5/8 position. But hey, we’ve still got Junior Paulo who is probably a half in a frontrowers body? If we play Jr at 5/8 then we could bring in one of the new boys or Marata to start upfront so we could get more versatility on the bench and lose a bit of go forward at the same time eh? Glad your still with us Poppa. The great Jack Gibson said “never let commonsense get in the way of a good yarn”.
To be honest, I don’t see any positional switch for Dylan. I’m expecting him to go to another level this year.
If you’re playing Dylan at centre who do you play in the halves? You’re also moving our best half out of a position where he touches the ball 40-50 times a game. Why do you think that’s a good idea?
I’d still like to recruit an outside back or two, short term, as insurance.
Offside, as things stand, and based on performances thus far, I’m pencilling in Opacic. I was going to say Locking in, but there’s still time for things to change.
Hi 60’s – I’ve been following your preseason reports for a few years now. Are you noticing anything different this year esp in terms of intensity and resolve. I would imagine that after going out of the finals in straight sets last year and the year before the boys will be super keen this year. Also there seems to be plenty of competition for places esp in the forwards which should spark plenty of enthusiasm.
We won in the first week of finals in 2019. We flogged the broncos.
Very true Anon. I’m also sure that the team is aiming to get past that stage this year. If we finish top 4, that’s just one win needed to do that. It’s fair to say that there was disappointment about the finish of 2020, and missed opportunities in both finals matches, but it’s also fair to say that our loss of players came at the worst time.
Mark, there is a definite surge in energy that’s come from so many new faces. There are 10 younger players doing their first preseason, as well as 7 new recruits. I haven’t been writing up much about the younger players – you can already see the reaction of punters with Penisini being mentioned in the media today. It was best to let them settle in this year. But what they have helped to provide is terrific enthusiasm. All the young blokes are busting a gut to make a statement.
Another aspect of having young or unknown players in the squad is when it comes to training there isn’t video or analysis done on them so the first graders truly have to play what’s in front of them. Whether that be with or without the ball it forces them to think
That freshens everything up.