The Tip Sheet is also available on Spotify and iTunes!
It might be a Parramatta podcast but it is South Sydney who dominate The Tip Sheet in this episode as accusations of favouritism have spiralled into a full on rift between head coach Jason Demetriou and assistant coaches John Morris and Sam Burgess.
Sixties, Forty20 and Clint take a gander at the bizarre situation as well as everything relating to the Eels in this week’s news podcast. On the Parra front the boys wrap up the weekend results and look at discussion sparked on NRL360 as to whether the Eels are too conservative in their approach to the salary cap.
The Tigers are back (surprise!) after chairman Lee Hagipantelis threatened to sue the Wests Life Podcast over comments made regarding a contract offer to Mitchell Moses. They double down in the news cycle with a parting gift of…a BBQ to departing halfback Luke Brooks.
Elsewhere, the Sea Eagles have dropped Josh Schuster as the talented but incredibly inconsistent player struggles with his transition to the backrow. How does this end for the player and club?
I think we should concentrate on the eels missing the 8 rather than deflect onto other clubs.
Probably a discussion about who is accountable and who should be marched off the premises. Recruitment and Defence coach etc. We need a new assistant Hook might be good. He’ll bench or send people back to reserve grade at least. He’s not a bad defensive coach. Can’t be any worse… .Otherwise steal Penrith s Defence coach and strength and conditioning.
I mean keep Barrett and replace Antonelli
Who’s the defense coach seriously??? How can we keep jamming in and leave 20m overlaps. Its unbelievable. Astounding
I think Antonelli. Recruitment needs to be root, trunk and branch removal.
Never heard of him
Why are you still here Chief?
Needs some attention
Looking at our aging pack, Ice must be considered at 24. Im very concerned about our pack average age at around 29 or 30 next season
Ice is a must ,must
I am too depressed to look it up right now but I would be very surprised if the average age of our forward pack is 29-30
Ok, have now been through the numbers.
Average age of the current Eels forwards, including Hodgson.
25.2
Average age of forwards selected against Panthers 26.7
Good discussion points, looking at how the season fell, seems like there should be some pressure on the recruitment section of the club, understandable that there will be misses when having to replace those that were offered substantial pay increases, but the absolute unforgivable failing to recruit backs falls mainly on the HOF.
The unbalanced roster was plain to see from the beginning of the season, and yet when the some in season signings were made – strangely they were both forwards in Offenhagaui and Lussick. Whilst there are issues like TPAs hindering us compared to the winning clubs, the structure of the roster was awful.
Some wag suggested that if Mark O’Neil was attracted to the Wests Tigers job, both clubs would be better off 🙄.
If we enter 2024 without some decent recruits in the backline, unfortunately we may be looking at more of the same. Then the pressure comes in ensuring we retain and extend the Flegg/Ball players that look like future NRL players and not lose them if we continue the reluctance to compete cash wise with the vulture clubs.
If we were honest , then there needs to be changes in the obvious areas, and it still seems incongruous that our professional board hasn’t leveraged off the second largest business district in NSW.
Agree.
I think the HOF and recruitment staff all must go!
Defence needs a sterner voice. I said Hook above because he’s a disciplinarian and players would be held accountable for missed tackles. They get hooked or punted and if concentrated on Defence he’d be good. BA lacks the ability to hold players accountable so that’s where Hook comes in.
Can we do a roosters and swap out moimosea for papalii. But in all serious if there was someone we had to swap out I’d go with Lane. Not sure about his mobility /fitness for back row anymore and if his future is in the middle we already stacked in that area
Matto —-> Sea Eagles (links with Brother)
Olakuatu ——> Eels
Sivo —–> Sea Eagles
Saab —-> Eels
Davey —-> UK
RFM Bulldogs —-> Eels
Paulo —–> Tigers
Stefano or ICE ——> Eels
Dunster —-> Broncos
Mariner —-> Eels
Result: 2 fast wingers and 3 forwards that put effort in!
Still need a strike centre. Due to the poor work in recruitment there is simply not much around. A few player swaps will facilitate changes.
This list is just an idea of the sort of movement required to change the funk and lack of accountability. If someone has better players in mind please say so. It’s just off the top of my head.
I agree that we need to move players to get space and money. Here’s the problem. To move players to another club, that club has to want them. It’s my understanding that you’d have difficulty finding a home for one or two of those players that you’ve listed. Also, there is a restriction on who can take up super league contracts. It relates to playing a minimum number of NRL games the season before. I’m not sure that Davey qualifies.
Are you guys including Grieg and Cartwright in the 27/30 as I’m struggling to match that number even with adding Cini? Also currently not subtracting Hodgson just yet…
I’d love to see us add Lomax and either Smith-Shields or Staines
Greig still has fitness issues for mine Sorry but we need to cut him. We should be looking at Utokimanu
Greig needs fitness. But with a decent strength and conditioning program and decent minutes per game he’s just what we need. He’s big, strong and young. You don’t cut Greig.
Hes already had two off seasons here and now you want him to go to a strength and conditioning program???? You’re a clown mate, yeah maybe at another clubs program
A bit rich you calling anyone but yourself a clown!! Have a look at yourself!! PATHETIC!!
Sorry mate I take back my clown comment, but I don’t agree with your suggestion as emu has had more than enough time to get fully fit. He just seems to tire after 15 minutes
Tend to agree, persevere with Greig, he got a bit lost in injury recovery (just to fit in with everything else we got lost in this year). We seem to like to season these young blokes, like Niukore,but need some quicker solutions.
People are forgetting The Emu was doing well before his injury especially with RCG out injured. Fitness had improved and he was making good and hard carries. Definitely a keeper.
The roster for 2023 is in this post, with Greig and Carty in and Hodgson out. It’s 27.
https://thecumberlandthrow.com/2023/08/12/parramatta-2023-a-diagnosis-autopsy-of-the-season-part-3-what-lies-ahead/
The problems and challenges for the Eels on 2024 have been well discussed and generally agree with what need to be done to get the team back on track. That said, the drama at the other clubs is a welcome distraction.
re the salary cap, the Eels are obviously still scarred by 2016. Other clubs seem to have conveniently forgotten their past indiscretions.
Ice is an interesting one. I’d be interested in the idea of him swapping out for Paulo. Ice brings a bit more mobility and youth. And the Tigers would benefit from Paulos experience etc. But agree priority on dollars needs to be outside backs.
Isn’t Alamoti on the market? I tried to avoid watching the Dogs, so can’t say first hand, but he had wraps on him for potential? Doesn’t solve our speed issue though.
He’s useless