Week one of the preseason wrapped up this morning with a surprisingly footy focussed session. It’s not that “footy” hasn’t been part of the early preseason in the past, but there was some genuine physicality today.
More on that later in this report.
Before providing a run down of proceedings, I promised to write a quick profile on external players added to the Eels preseason.
Firstly, local forward Toni Mataele has returned to the Eels. The young forward had shifted to the Knights for the 2021 season and reached NSW Cup level.
Ball work.
Image courtesy Bocko Eels media
Hooker/half Brendan Hands joins the Eels preseason from the Penrith Panthers. Soon to turn 22 years of age, Hands was behind Api Koroisau and Mitch Kenny in the Riff’s pecking order.
Luca Moretti can play middle or back row and joins via the Roosters. He played Jersey Flegg for the Roosters as well as NSW Cup for the Bears in 2021. He’s a dual schoolboy international and looks to be a fit unit.
Finally, winger Turoa Williams joins from the Bulldogs. The son of Jason Williams was a member of the Dogs 2021 SG Ball team and was selected in the City under 18 team in their match against NSW country.
The Friday session had already commenced when I arrived. The squad was just finishing some conditioning, and Oregon Kaufusi, Elie El Zakhem and Ky Rodwell impressed with how they finished the runs that I witnessed. It’s always good to see forwards stepping up in the tough grind.
Next on the agenda involved plays on both sides of the ruck. The passing wasn’t quite as crisp as Wednesday but I suspect that was due to defensive pressure. To be honest, it was difficult to determine whether the focus was on attack, defence or equal parts both. There was certainly praise for defensive pressure which broke the play down.
The session concluded with defensive drills.
Players actually donned jerseys for this work. Given that the training shirts are very different to match gear, and they were looking at match type contact, this was understandable.
Contact! Another quality image from Bocko
Starting with a period drilling individual technique, specifically the contact area, the players then broke into small groups to work on the process from tackle collision through to how the defenders peeled off from the grounded player.
I was quite surprised by the intensity. Then again, if defenders aren’t committing as they would/should in a game, will they get what they need out of the drill?
That aside, any ball carrier that hit the line with intent demanded to be met powerfully. My vantage point wasn’t great for viewing the entire squad, but from what I saw there were a couple of standout moments.
Samuel Loizou was one of the standouts. He initially caught our attention with heavy contact as a defender. Later, as a ball carrier, he drove his body into the defence and won the collision, dragging his opposition over the line.
Another to impress with his contact was Josh Tuipulotu. Josh is not heavily framed but he put his body in the line in the collision. It also wouldn’t come as a surprise that Dylan Brown didn’t seem to mind a bit of physical stuff.
Final Word
Today marked the first occasion that I witnessed Paul McGregor and Simon Woolford at Eels training. After taking the opportunity to welcome both to the club, we were fortunate to spend a few minutes speaking with Paul.
Paul is impressed with the Eels facilities and is very positive about the Eels. To be honest, he’s an engaging bloke and it was enjoyable chatting with him about footy in general. People in footy circles have often spoken about what a good bloke he is. It’s easy to understand why.
It will be interesting to learn more about his role as the preseason unfolds.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Which position was Loizou playing in when you were impressed by him, Sixties? Thanks for another great report.
Just drills mate. Not positional. But he was taking on some big blokes.
Thanks mate
👍 👍 👍
Another good report ‘appreciated’ by the starved footy fans. Fans shouldn’t panic about what will happen in 2023..worry about THIS season. “One door shuts, another opens”..Players will relish the chance to be given an opportunity..just like Ice was given in 2021…Glad to see Germ getting involved in the training. Tell him “Parra’ said g’day..He’s a good mate….and a bloody good bloke..
Will do mate. And you’re words are wise Parra Pete.
Parra well said “one door shuts another opens”.
2023 is a long way off. There will always be players looking for an opportunity. Whether they are young kids coming through or experienced NRL players.
By the way that is how we got Papali’i in the first place.
Good recruitment
Yes John. Yes
Good to have good news, and that is with players showing intent at training.
Thanks sixties for the update and good to have a glimpse of RL as preps for the new season arrives.
I hope that Oregan can really step up for the club, with our losing 2 forwards, even though for 2023, I think Oregon will show his value next season and be ready for a solid future with the eels. I actually would like to see him in the back row. Rodwell could be a huge gain for the club also.
As Parra Pete says above, one door closes another opens. As he’s a local junior and he took some big steps forward last year, I’d be happy to see Oregon kick on further next season
I would be looking at CHN from raiders who seems to be dropping down the pecking order. However he does seem to have some off-field issues. Alternately there is RFM from the doggies who also maybe dropping down the pecking order with the signings of TPJ and Kikau. RFM and CHN are both bulldozing backrowers like Papa and Marata
Absolutely, CHN and RFM would be great signings and well worth chasing.
Interesting to see Mataele return ,watched him through junior reps and certainly looked as if he had the ability to take the next step. Certainly had the physique, hope he has added to it as there are opportunities for these type of forwards.
With those departures for 2023 there will be.
How is Naiduki going? Hope to see him develop well. A wing spot for him is well and truley open with Sivo injured. Alternately BA may shift Blake to the wing and Opacic to centre.
Also do you know of any gun backrower coming through our junior system. I know Elie El Zakhem is there, but I have not seen much of him.
Naiduki he sure does hit hard in defence. Scary hard.
He was hitting some form before lockdown wasn’t he!
Early days in preseason to give an assessment of that nature about Naiduki. He started to have strong form in NSW cup mid year. Keep a watch on Jock Brazel in Flegg.
What’s the depth of promising junior parra forwards like? Seems like the younger group of players (loziou, penisini, Arthur, naiduki, Russell, komolafe etc) are all backs. I’ve always thought parra either struggled in developed their own elite junior forwards or had the elite ones pinched by other clubs (stefano, keppie etc)
Although I will note brad and team are really great good with taking forward scraps from other teams and plugging them into the system
If you’re asking who are the forwards in this young group, I did list most in the first report – Oregon, Ray, Jontay, Peter, David, Caleb, Ky, Elie, Maka, Wiremu, Jayden, and today I added Toni and Luca. Apologies if I’ve omitted anyone.
So many new faces. I am sure we will get to know them all in time.
Has Brown filled out a bit, has it affected his speed?
Not that I noted
Thanks Sixties,
I’ll take anything as a positive after the news of losing some very likeable players…
I’m hoping we have a nice conveyor belt system with players fitting in to needed gaps in the future…
There’s always someone to emerge. Like a Ice or Marata. Let’s monitor Luca.
I watched a video clip off Luca and he looks very promising, he had an Angus Crichton look about him, runs hard, tackles hard.
That he does!
Hi can someone please tell me is Ray Stone Stay with us
He is.
Anon, I’ve listed him in the Wednesday report.
Turoa Williams and Luca Moretti hmmm names to keep very safe
To monitor.
Great report mate as always. I am very disappointed withe the loss of ICE but as you and others have said he wasn’t even a topic of discussion this time last year.. WE just need to keep bringing kids through. It will be interesting to see big GREIG get through a full Parra Pre season. He has some skills, great size. Just needs to adjust to the speed of NRL.
WE will no doubt pick up a later comer from other clubs come January…. Just feel we need pace and we need another winger….
Looking forward to the reports from now on. Take care and thank you legend.
You’re very welcome Paul. Greig is definitely one to watch, and we should start to see players like Rodwell, El Zakhem and Hollis push to take the next step.
As for pace, I think we’ll add to the roster with an outside back or two.