Are the Eels on the cusp of some big news?
Since the last Bumpers Up column the club has added Mitch Rein to the 2022 roster and there are rumours linking a couple of quality backs to the squad. Not much leaks out of Eels HQ these days so it’s not easy to get confirmation about what negotiations are taking place. To be honest, keeping tight lipped is a far more professional approach.
Given that there are only a couple of top 30 places available, the most anticipated news revolves around the retention of key players for 2023. In addition to RCG going to market and Marata reportedly fielding massive interest from the Warriors, Reed Mahoney’s name has been added to departure speculation during the past week.
Of course, we’d all like to think that the risk of being disowned by his Parra supporting parents will keep “Cash” in the Blue and Gold, but the opportunity to earn exceptional coin back in his home state might yet have a say.
We can probably expect to be much clearer on these issues within the next four to six weeks – at least we hope we will be.
For now there’s no shortage of other news to discuss.
Bumpers Up!
Matto In The Middle?
Without question Ryan Matterson is a class player and a quality human.
When Matto was brought back to the Eels for the 2020 season, the club had succeeded in recruiting a fringe Origin back rower and an outstanding community ambassador. The latter was exemplified when he was named as a finalist in this year’s Ken Stephen Medal.
The 2021 season presented its challenges for the 27 year old, having an extended stay on the sideline with concussion after the round two clash with the Storm before copping a late season suspension.
Matto
When Matterson returned to the side for the finals clash with Penrith he did so as a middle forward playing off the bench.
This is where it gets interesting.
Matto played 42 minutes off the bench and registered 135 running metres (39 post contact). Although this was a one game sample, it compares very favourably to his season average of 101 running metres as a back rower.
In that final he brought energy and power in his carries in what was an extremely physical contest. He also completed 25 tackles in an impressive display. He had replaced Nathan Brown after only 26 minutes – and we have since learned the reasons for Brown’s struggles.
With the contracts of both Marata Niukore and Reagan Campbell Gillard up for grabs come November, the decision about Ryan Matterson’s deal suddenly takes an interesting turn.
At 194cm and 109kg, Matto has a frame which is large enough to play in the middle – certainly big enough to play in what is an ever evolving lock position.
In fact, with a background in the halves during his pathways years, he possesses the skill set that coaches seem to be looking for in a roving lock role.
In contrast, Nathan Brown plays more like a traditional middle – thriving on big collisions with his opposites or charging in behind the ruck. He also has an offload that keeps the defence guessing.
Perhaps Nathan Brown will assume responsibilities as part of a middle rotation with Paulo and RCG in 2022, whilst Matterson begins to transition towards being a lock middle forward.
The selection decisions for 2022 become interesting following Isaiah Papali’i’s breakout season in the back row and BA’s preference to use Niukore on an edge.
And moving forward, should one or both Niukore and RCG decide to part ways with the Eels, a successful shift to lock by Matterson might be cause to bring forward contract negotiations with him.
The off field wheeling and dealing over the next month or will prove to be very interesting.
Browny Is One Tough Bastard
If anyone doubted the toughness of Nathan Brown they need to have a long hard look in the mirror. Actually, I’ve been doing a bit of that and the shaggy-(grey)haired reflection staring back at me is not a pretty sight!
Our favourite Cyborg, Nathan Brown
It’s just been revealed that the Eels enforcer played a chunk of the season with significant injuries to both legs. He’s recently undergone surgery on his right ankle and will next have an operation for a fractured left foot.
In retrospect, it’s been remarkable that Brown was able to play with such injuries. Though I wasn’t publicly critical of Nathan’s form, I will admit to believing that his better days were behind him and that extending his contract might not have been a wise choice.
Instead, I’m now looking forward to watching our favourite cyborg rip into his work in 2022.
My apologies for ever doubting you Nathan.
Kellyville Development
With lockdown now ended and the preseason getting closer, I decided to drop into Kellyville Park on Saturday evening.
As seen in the footage, work on the two additional fields is nearing completion, bringing the total number of fields at the complex to five. When I was last there, construction was still underway with the grounds being levelled and irrigation and drainage systems being laid.
For those who haven’t been there recently, the newest fields are closest to Memorial Ave and replace the original footy field and it’s adjacent car park.
There’s still plenty to be done, and the next stage will involve the construction of a grandstand which will convert one of the fields into a match venue for Junior Rep teams. That will be followed by the Centre of Excellence.
Exciting times ahead.
Junior Revamp
The Parramatta and Canterbury Bankstown Junior Rugby Leagues have announced that the two districts will combine in 2022 for competitions for under 13s through to A grade and Open Women’s.
There will be no change for the age competitions up to under 12s with each district retaining stand alone competitions.
Both Parramatta and Canterbury are looking to revitalise the older age groups, with the number of teams entered dropping off and the level of competition diminishing.
Undoubtedly there is an unknown involved, with COVID restrictions impacting the last two seasons and the registration numbers for 2022 yet to be seen. However, the combined competitions should guarantee an increase in the number of teams in each age group and generate interest and anticipation about the season ahead for the clubs and players involved.
Ultimately, each district will look to this being a short term plan on the path to growing the game in future years.
The 14 round competitions will kick off in the last weekend in April.
Good News Eels
Social media followers will be aware that a number of the Parra players remained in Queensland for their post season holidays.
Hayze, Ice, Matt, Maka and Dylbags
One such group included Dylan Brown, Isaiah Papali’i, Haze Dunster, Makahesi Makatoa and Hayze Perham.
Queensland based Eels supporter, Matt Clark, posted photos on his social media accounts of these players visiting his local gym. He praised how the players interacted with the gym regulars as they encouraged their efforts and were then generous in their time as they chatted after the workout.
Matt is no stranger in dealing with athletes given his work as a boxing trainer, including high profile heavyweight Lucas Browne. He was most impressed with the conduct of the players who went above and beyond in their interactions with the patrons.
At a time when the media has been filled with stories of disrespectful player antics and an arrest or two, it’s good to know that Eels players are being good ambassadors for their club and the code.
And by the way, if anyone up in Queensland has seen Haze’s car/truck, please let him and/or the police know.
Just quietly, there’s been no shortage of social media posts from various players working on their fitness during the off-season.
The days of letting the kilos pile on during the break are fast disappearing, with the majority of players not wanting to start a preseason behind the eight ball. Competition for places is at a premium and everyone is looking to make a statement in the countdown to the new year.
I’m expecting some PBs to be set when training resumes in a few short weeks.
No Scrums?
Did anyone catch the rugby league international matches between England and France this weekend?
Staged in Perpignan, the women’s and men’s teams faced off in matches that featured the elimination of the scrum.
Not a great spectacle
The decision about scrums was the continuation of a Super League rule that was brought in to minimise close contact during matches. Personally, I’m not sure how beneficial this would have been in the battle against COVID but I guess they had to be seen to making adjustments to the game during the pandemic.
I am no fan of the reduction in scrums in the NRL, and this version of the game completely devoid of scrums was awful.
There was very little point of difference in the play – to be honest I was bored with the sameness.
Maybe the standard of the players contributed to the poor spectacle.
Even though there were plenty of players on debut in the men’s clash, I suspect that even the cellar dwelling NRL teams would have given both England and France a hiding.
In the women’s game, there was a gulf in class between the sides and the English girls seemed to be playing well within themselves. The French forwards carried the ball strongly and tried to link with short passes, but there was minimal direction from the halves and dummy half, and nobody possessed a kicking game.
I might be a bit harsh but I didn’t think that the tests were a great advertisement for the game. And if any of the Southern Hemisphere teams were watching, they would have been feeling very confident about their chances in the World Cup when lining up against either of these countries.
Canley Vale Kookas
Our most recent Parramatta Story featured the Canley Vale Kookas and if you haven’t had the opportunity to read it, please find the time to do so. A full interview with club secretary Natalie Fa’Auiga E’e is also available in the most recent episode of The Tip Sheet.
The Kookas are one of the smaller clubs in the district but they truly live a family ethos.
Junior clubs play an important role in our communities, providing a source for social interactions and friendships in addition to maintaining physical and mental health for young people.
Parra Leagues Club provides generous annual grants for every club in the district, but junior clubs need to supplement this with local sponsors and income from canteens and other fundraising. This helps to make the sport affordable for families. Like NRL clubs, you’ll see major sponsors on the jerseys of junior teams.
The Kookas have no major club sponsor and we’d like that to change.
If you’re a business in the district and you’re interested in supporting a junior club rebounding from the challenges of Covid, you should strongly consider getting involved with the Kookas.
Their contact details are available via their Facebook page.
Eels forever!
Sixties
I saw the article re Cyborg last week, with the inclip of the process he had with the bar and bone laugh time (NOT). Reading the article it really showed up the courage, determination as well as pig headed person who would not give in and say I’ve had enough!
It was pretty obvious really that he was down on form this year, but who knew the reasons? Not I says me as I put my hand up. Nathan should hold his head high in regards to his playing future, he’s not getting any younger but is still pretty much playing to his former youth day abilities.
I said in that post that I aploligised to him for doubting him as his form went, or seemed to, go down hill. To play on shows a very dedicated player worthy of every occolades that should flow his way.
I look forward to seeing him at full charge (maybe a bit less than in the past though) against the opposition, and he wont slacken off either, a player that deserves more than he takes out the opposition.
Get well Cybs and look forward to your games next year.
Well said Colin. I feel bad that I doubted him – not publicly but f anyone asked what I thought of his form I was blunt in my assessment. It’s a bit of a lesson about us all passing judgement without knowing the facts.
Sixties, I admit to having doubts about him this past season, as he was still making his runs but lost impact as he hit the line.
Having surgery on both legs really highlights his strengths, even though he was down in aspects of his play. I think a lot of so called eels supporters need to really asses themselves before trying to asses him, that includes me with my early thoughts.
With him back to full strength and hopefully eased back into the team – somewhat – he should be back to his peak ready for next season especially for the end of year games. I realise that’s some time away but a fully fit and eager Cyborg is going to be hard to not roar him on.
I’ll tip a big year from him.
Interesting read about Matterson….that does make sense and I assume it could also be a potential cover when / if we lose RCG and Nioukore…..I am not sure what we may look like in 2023. Some fun and games to be had, my biggest concern for Matto was his head knocks.
Niuokore will be a loss if he goes and i don’t blame him if he does go $$ chance to maybe start and earn big but will he improve?
Mahoney is another unknown….
Milo, we will lose some players for 2022, and then some for 2023 which will be the big area for the eels.
With 5 already gone this year it does lessen the problem a bit, but the coin saved will need to go towards upgrades in contracts for 2023. Nothing as yet from the eels, but I think (hope) that we will be able to keep those we need to keep, will be something akin to walking over broken glass, I do have faith in our board in the negotiation area though, and again the hope of keeping those we really need to keep.
No doubt Col, no doubt. I hope we can not lose too many important signings, and Hooker is one of them.
E.g Niukore potentially going is good for him in terms of $$ and a possible start but how many ave gone over the ditch and improved…?
Milo, to quote a famous Kiwi wordsmith, “not many, if any”
Milo, I would t back too ma y players to improve at the Warriors. Not meant as a knock, I’m just not sure that Nathan Brown takes players to another level.
Agree sixties, Matterson had his best game by far in that last one. Hope he can carry that into 2022. I was guessing ribs with Nathan Brown, he was off-style for weeks.but does explain a few strange moments where his agility was unusually restricted.
BDon, I admit that one game is a poor sample size but he looked a natural in that role.
Use to play junior hockey on Memorial Park, Kellyville …. after we had chased the cows off on those mornings. The Kellyville boys were tough and there ground even tougher. It’s interesting to see it 50 years later.
its going to be brilliant when completed.
Ohh the irony, Matto left the eels because Arthur saw his future as a backrower ideally a ball playing lock and Matto wanted to play in the halves. We now come full circle and we could see him as a ball playing lock. I like him there, he has a good pass and offload and in previous seasons has shown a very handy short kicking game into the in goal area
We discussed Browny on Twitter, looking forward to seeing him fit next year. It is also a massive season for the young kids coming through, we have had two years of next to no Reserve grade. We may well get the injection of talent into first grade to take the next step from within, that last game of the year against the Panthers may be looked back on very fondly.
We wait with baited breath for signing news, both extensions and hopefully a new one or two.
*The Regular season
Jimmy, that lack of footy for lower grade players is very relevant. They’ve had close to two years of interrupted footy and therefore development, which for a young players progressing along pathways is extremely significant. How that impacts some or all is yet to be seen.
What i find funny is that the dogs have entered the race for reedy. They are the club that devalued his asking price at the time n we swooped in. Also they are struggling with their salary cap n have to move on cotric so how can they afford Reedy?
I think that once the Dogs name is thrown in there, it’s media talk. I very much doubt that Reedy would consider the Dogs.
I don’t believe that either Dogs or Broncos would have enough space in their salary cap for Reed.
It would take a pretty big bid to get him to either of those clubs and away from the Eels.
I agree 100%.
As the off-season signing rumours start to go crazy remember to not believe most if not all of what your hear. Much of it is from the media promoting conflict with no connection to the club.And like it that the club does not leak or background even if some other people do. That will serve the club well long term.
Spot on Shaun. Having no leaks is a good thing. We can’t control agents of players on the market, or those players, but the club can ensure that its own business stays behind closed doors. I think it’s doing quite well there.
Totally. Recently how some clubs have played out their negotiations has been disrespectful of the player. As you said, we can’t control the agents (and a few seem to be already spreading stories) but staying out of the rumour mill reinforces the integrity of the club. I can see Parra losing some players due to this but that reflects on them and their agents not the club. But it will also bring players to the club as they know the club is fair in their dealings.
Sixties you know of any news about matterson leaving the eels his pic comes up on the tele with the other 3. Are we moving him in to keep Marata. Also hearing lane wants out because his lost his starting back row spot. Inly problem is he Lane has 2 yrs remaining on his contract.
Where are you “hearing” about Lane? It’s amazing how rumours get a life of their own. There are several factors at play when it comes to players making contract decisions, and it’s probably worth a post.
If someone like RCG leaves, that opens up both his contract money and a roster spot. If Marata gets an offer from the Warriors that’s too good to refuse, I doubt that we would get into a bidding war. There is no point in making a mess of your cap by paying a lot more than you budget for with certain players.
As for Matto, he will be open to offers from November like the others, so no doubt that’s why he’s included. I would think that before the issues with RCG and Marata arose, the club might have expected that they couldn’t afford to keep Matto. Maybe that has now changed?
I would say that some of our senior players are likely looking for contracts that will see them finish their careers with them desiring an increase in contract length and money.
Most I would think would like to stay, but depends on their values, and the media circus love nothing more than having the eels in the boxing ring as it sells with the click bait programs.
With the end of this month, they see the previous writings about how the eels will struggle to keep X number of players owing to the cap, which gives them ammo to further have the eels in the negative news.
I am very happy that the media has no real news aside from quesses in regards to the eels.
Colin I was listening to SEN radio a week or two ago. While I can’t be certain I think it was Vossy, he was tipping the Eels to lose 3 to 4 of their current side for 2023.
I would be surprised if that was to occur. However you can’t blame these players for chasing extra money. Given the circumstances though I think that most players will weigh up whether it is worth leaving a club in a premiership window for just the extra money.
It takes more than money to lever a good player out of a good club.
John, was in the waiting room at hospital today and there was a copy of the DT there for patients, I picked it up and went to the sports page & there was the article in it refering to senior players, also in prime mention was Junior, and his future also being interested in QLD move, but he will feel the heat up there though.
Apparently according to the journo & think it was Crawly who wrote it and refers to Junior being with the eels for 4 years and on low coin he is wanting a fair upgrade to stay, and looking for a longer term contract to finish his career.
Thing is that I did not see an amount, or club, or him having issues with the club, like RCG I see both basically are happy with the club but seems the QLD area especially near the beach etc are a drawcard after the bubble. Thinking it will be a better lifestyle for him and family. I notice that Zero Tackle now has an article on him and his agent regarding the money side of things.
The aspect that he turned 27 this month and according to ZT and his agent clubs are getting in touch and so it continues.
The other aspect is that with each of the players hitting the headlines all the off contract players are also put on the list at some point in the articles.
The players themselves are basically saying little, which is something that is irking the agents. Gutho and his agent are going off as to length of contract & he is making the point more often with Gutho taking unders to stay with the club, and now wants his extra’s.
Who is doing all the complaining in public? The agents primarilly with players saying little to nothing in the media.
John, just had a browse on the RL primary news media, and found that only 2 of the sites making noises about eels players, and its primarilly targetting jnr, gutho, & Reed. Some small snippets have gone quiet re RCG, so why such noise from pretty much 3 areas?
My boss is mate’s with zac lomax n his heard that lane is the dragon’s target n not Marata. So my boss said to me have i heard about lane i said no what about him then my boss said his asking for a release to join dragon’s. I told my boss Marata is the target. My boss said that’s a smoke screen.
Interesting Rev. If Marata is signed by the eels and Lane goes to the drags, will make a good swap as such. What Lane is on is not huge but is a good amount that could be spread through Marata and Jnr as well, especially if a release happens for next season.
Colin it’s the length of lanes contract thats where the money lies it’s not how much his on.
Rev, he still has 2 years on his contract to go, the amount of coin he’s on would have him earn $900K in those two years, if he goes elsewhere for extra’s then theoretically that gives the club a bit more wriggle room for the players wanted.
All speculation ATM though.
Yes true brother hussey
Rev, I can tell you that players are often the last to know who the club is chasing.
Just passing on what my boss told me is all.
There has been a bit of talk around about Jaromhe Hughes this year. I saw one commentator rate him at No 3 in the nrl behind Cleary and DCE.
Is it just me or is he a little overrated. I do think he is a good footballer but to me he looks more like a FB converted to a half.
Good runner of the football but game management is not there yet.
Yes JE, and it just helps a lot when you play behind a pack that is rarely on the back foot, particularly if you’re a ball runner.
At 27 years old & with 3 years still on contract, I doubt that storm release him, he’s on 700K for each year, so wont be a cheap pickup.
I would prefer seeing what develops with eels signings before chasing players from elsewhere.
Could not agree more. I like the couple of signings that the Eels have made so far. This is the way of the future for our club.
This is the way that Storm and Roosters do it but we can do it better.