Fridays are my favourite day of the preseason weeks.
There’s a healthy mix of conditioning via M runs and defence line movement, and a touch of footy skills with various games.
More notably, the squad has been bringing the boom to the defensive drills. There’s some serious contact to finish off each week. And why not? After all there’s a two day break to ice the bumps and bruises.
I’m not sure how popular Ms are with the players, but regardless of how training is changed up year upon year, they’d be expecting to add kilometres to the legs in some way or another. Those GPS devices won’t be fooled.
The beauty of the M runs is that all of the players are running together, so it’s possible to compare most of the squad’s fitness.
Gutho was in a complete class of his own today. It shouldn’t surprise, but just when you think that he might be easing up, or others are getting his measure, the King finds another couple of gears.
Ray Stone is just relentless, and were it not for Gutherson, he’d be in competition with Jordan Rankin to lead most of the runs. It’s clear that Rankin is the complete professional. This is his first week of the preseason and he’s consistently in the top three during the Ms.
I’ve decided that Dylan Brown is the new Corey Norman of the training track. Before you think that this is a criticism, Norman always finished in the top half dozen in any fitness drill, but he’d never take on Gutho. And throughout his career at Parra, he impressed with his capacity to find an extra level to push past players as fatigue kicked in.
In his first year or so in the NRL squad, Brown would try to break Gutho. He infamously found himself on a drip in hospital in 2018 in that endeavour. Like Norman, I reckon Dylbags is more circumspect in his approach to conditioning runs.
The first half of the morning session featured the squad alternating between games of two hand touch footy and M runs. It was relatively non stop.
Oregon
Two games were played simultaneously on two fields, with teams of 8 a side. On the far field I noted three long distance tries scored – with Shaun Lane, Elie El Zakhem and Samuel Loizou each having the opportunity to showcase their pace.
It must have been a day for the big blokes to shine, because Makahesi Makatoa and Oregon Kaufusi also made long breaks in their game on the field adjacent to my viewing position. Maka opened up down the right wing, with Oggy splitting the defence down the left. Oregon was backing up his sprint work from Wednesday!
Mid way through the session, the squad transitioned into their regular defensive drills.
Each Friday, the squad has been focussing on defence. They don match jerseys and get serious with the contact. Every week seems to be a lift in intensity from the week before.
It’s a drill which seems to focus on everything from speed of the play the ball to defensive positioning, movement, and contact.
Flying high
The tackles were brutal. The sound of the hit, combined with the expelled air from the lungs, left little doubt that these blokes meant business. Ball carriers were driven backwards – there was no easing players to the turf.
There was a tremendous mix of praise from the coaches and the players themselves for jobs well done. I mentioned the influence of Gutho and Moses, but more of the group seemed to find their voice today.
A solid period of extras concluded the morning, with the backs focussed on kicking and catching skills, and the forwards working on their passing/linking.
Another week done.
One more to go before the Christmas break.
PS – I keep getting asked this question, so to save people from messaging me, Junior has been at training.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Nb – any quality photos are by Bocko, Eels media. Ordinary images are via my toaster phone.
Loving the updates from México mate! Keep them coming. Go Parra!
You’re welcome
Thanks 60s. What is with all the centres?
we have Penisini, Waqa, Simonsson, and maybe Scott – all who should be in the starting side.
Yes, Ive thought about that, can they react to a slick shift, read a decoy, count the numbers…Wile, that’s what we should be asking…it’s been our biggest failing as a contender. I know Penisini can, Waqa improved out of sight, Scott can, need to see Simonsson.
I guess it’s better than the alternative
While Simonsson has played centre I would think that the club see him as a winger at this point.
It is a way off but I would be surprised if Penisini and Waqa are not the starting centres come Round 1 at Commbank stadium.
Simonsson seems to have a good offload – better than Waqa. And it seems instinctive and quick, where as offload is not in Waqa’s immediate thoughts and is pushed late. Not sure what Simonsson’s defense is like though.
I agree his offload is a problem. The other issue I have with Waqa is his instinct to cut back inside all the time
What the team looks like in round 25 will be interesting with all of the options available in the backline for 2022.
The only one I am confident about is Penisini at right side centre.
I’d agree with you at this stage John
Is it called options?
I was not criticising- more just wondering how it’s going to pan out with the outside backs next year and the plan moving forward. We definitely seem to have good depth now in our backs.
That we do.
Thanks again for the update.
im really looking forward to seeing how Bailey shapes up against our current outside backs on the training paddock.
Muzz, even though Bailey is young, we needed a bit of experience given the youth coming through.
Love your reports and observations Sixties but please don’t ever compare Dylan Brown with Corey Norman again …. you’ve left me scarred for life.
Any updates on the Curtis Scott signing?
I suspected I’d get a reaction to that 😄
Next week is the last full week of training before Christmas. Surely we will learn more then.
Corey Norman is one thing but please don’t mention Adam Dykes.
Crikey are you ever happy or do you just constantly look to find fault , are you from somewhere else ?? To me it simply looks like we we found the answer easily.
Good report sixties.
Looking at the pic of Oregon, he certainly appears to have muscled up somewhat, which I think is a good sign for next year, need to have him signed for the future.
Read somewhere that Jnr had been given a dollies tour of their facilities. I doubt they would match what the eels have with their facilities, (how are things going with that dept?) Good to see Jnr back training and sincerely hope he’s going to be with the eels long term, time will tell.
Read a vg article from Ennis in regards to Hodgson as he worked well with him at Canberra. Look forward to next weeks report when do they resume training next year? going to be a bit flat for a while I think.
It was a good article. They break for two weeks from Monday week – that day is their open training session. I’m sure that clubs will come calling for Oregon.
The two new fields are nearly done and they will commence work on a stand later in 2022.
I read the comment on Junior getting that tour also Col, the fact is that if junior is at training he could not get over the border untill this coming Monday. I wonder how the journos get their facts?
Interesting point Poppa.
My thinking Pops is that he could well have been up there prior to return to training & looked over their facilities and all during that time pre training here. Bare in mind that he could have stayed up there prior to returning.
There is a report that has both the eels and dollies submitting offers for him, & I tend to think its going to be a hard decision either way for him. If he stays and is basically happy with staying at the eels, could he have a desire to work with the large islander youngsters as a coach/mentor to them within our districts!?
As always 60’s, your’s and forties, I mean 40’s, the site is always readable, relatable & right!!
Cheers Gil. We’ve been known to be wrong and we often approach from a glass half full, but we are, after all, Eels supporters.
I am so sorry re my last comment mate, I just watched a full replay of Parra’s last game. We are close. Not much tinkering needed.
We will be better in 2022.
8-6 for 65 minutes? Parramatta were the better side
We were so close, a touchie who had no idea he was being scammed( and ignored the rules), a trainer gets the game stopped illegally (fined $25k) just when the Panthers were shot.
I reckon we win the comp if we don’t get dudded by highly incompetent officials . Panthers rorted the system and got away with it.
This afternoon I watched the second win over the Storm. We were in control of that game all the way.
The defence was good all game. I thought on reflection Junior had a blinder, RCG did not play.
It gave me a chance to look at Penisini again. He was up against Olam and did himself proud. I think with a couple of seasons and a bit more experience he will be something special.
So Gil I agree with you. Not much tinkering needed.
We timed our form well. We copped some rough calls. Is that footy? Probably but I still have a bad taste in the mouth.
Thanks sixties for the updates and also the background with players too.
Good to hear Rankin is back, as his knowledge and experience will be beneficial no doubt.
How is Jake A going??
Sorry forgot name. On IPad
Jake going well. Short period in rehab at the moment. Nothing to worry about. Players seem to drift in and out of that during the preseason.
Cheers Anon/Milo. That’s my reply below about Jake. The website didn’t recognise me for some reason and it was posted as an anonymous.
You were like me, the Phantom. cheers mate
Interesting to see Rankin still there obviously to play the same mentor role in reserve grade that makes sense with Arthur Lui Hands Perham in the squad Rankin adds that bit of cover.
In most clubs he would be ahead of JA in the pecking order.
On JA I would love to see him bulk up and play as a skilful backrower go down a similar path to Matto neither 1st grade quality halves but with potential to be footballers
Offside, he has continued to add kilos. When he first was in the Eels pathway, he was the size of a typical half. However he is very tall and adding to his frame. I wouldn’t be surprised if he does end up in a different position, but time will tell.
For his sake I hope so
Offside, let’s put Jake into perspective. He was 18 years old and performed much better than some supporters give him credit for. His defensive stats were better than the average for halfbacks, and he scored tries and provided try assists. He’s on a journey that has him a couple of years away from being an NRL regular but he will be a very good first grader.
I agree, thought he did well as a young player who is very much still learning. I can well recall Mahoney being regarded as a speedbump in defence when he first hit grade, and JA was better than that, so I don’t get the criticism of his defence.
What’s your thoughts on JA as a hooker vs second rower? The signing of Hodgson can only be a short-term solution, so I’m thinking they believe they have an internal candidate to develop in that time under his tutelage… While most dummy halves are relatively short, Cam Smith and Damien Cook are recent examples of top players who are not.
Love your Passion for the Greatest rugby league team in History…!!!! That’s just my Blue & Gold Humble opinion…!!!! Please keep it coming as you make my day in this Silly Season… Up The Might Eels…!!!!
Thanks for the kind words Parramad. Eels forever!