It’s back on Parra people. Our mighty Eels have returned to the training track after a two week re-charge of the batteries. The countdown to the opening round has started.
The period after the Christmas break is my favourite part of the preseason as the competition heats up for first grade places. In 2024, there will also be competition for NSW Cup positions in a year where youth might just begin to make its mark.
A couple of rising stars won’t be involved this season, after injuries to Artie Miller-Stephen and Richie Penisini cut short their 2024 before it even began. Outside of them, those currently in rehab are moving towards being ready for round one.
Something else to note if anyone drops in to Kellyville.
At this time of the preseason, BA usually gives an opportunity for players to push their claims for selection. Seeing a player in a particular spot in the NRL team doesn’t mean they have won the job.
This week, Gutho, Junior and Woody continued their rehab journey. That also gives others the opportunity to train in their spots.
Monday’s return session was very light and didn’t warrant a dedicated post. I have therefore included it in a combined report with Wednesday’s field session.
Monday
The squad was split into backs and forwards for the majority of the morning.
Skills work dominated as the backs drilled their catching and kicking skills. The focus looked to be on attack and included chasing both high balls and grubbers into the in goal.
Hey Mitch
It was more system based with the forwards in their drills. They practised their basic ruck work, then extended into set starts and attacking shapes in the red zone.
Things wrapped up a little earlier than a typical Monday with the coaches easing them back into their return to training.
Shaun Russell climbs for the catch
Wednesday
There was a notable lift in the conditioning load today, with Elkin getting the kilometres into the legs.
Splitting into “NRL” and “NSW Cup” teams for the session, the two groups worked separately for skills and systems practice, then came together for conditioning and opposed play.
Most notable was the encouragement from the players in rehab, as they cheered and praised the efforts of their mates.
After warm ups the two teams worked unopposed through their shapes. There wasn’t really much to learn from this. It’s about familiarising them with the basic systems and calls, and developing some new combinations.
Conditioning runs and ball work followed (over an extended period) before the squad again split into the two teams. At this point it was left side vs right side as they drilled both attack and defence.
As time marched towards the two hour mark, there was finally some full field opposed footy. It was more grab than full contact and it seemed very systems based – working to points on the field and defending against it.
The morning concluded in the same way that it began – with unopposed attacking shapes.
Final Comment
These were not sessions of any notable moments. There was not enough free flowing football to find any standout players or highlights.
Those who have shone during conditioning work throughout the preseason picked up where they left off. Again no surprises there.
A very fit looking Junior
As far as individual updates are concerned, though they have been in rehab, both Woody and Junz look to be in very good shape. Woody might even be the leanest he’s been since joining Parra.
Lean and mean Woody
A final shout out to Haze Dunster who is running freely and hopefully enjoys better fortune with injury in 2024.
Eels forever!
Sixties
(Individual player photos courtesy of Eels media)
Excellent update. Good to see some conditioning and systems work.
Cheers Martin
Russell is looking like he is growing into his frame.
Good news about Haze.
It might surprise people how big Shaun actually is.
You mentioned some NRL v Nsw Cup opposed team drills. Any insights into who might nab the vacant left centre and right wing positions in the NRL team?
Mark, Simonsson and Harper are both being given every opportunity for the centre role. I’d also tip last years wingers to get the nod to start the year, but we’ll see what happens over the next few weeks.
On the NRL website they have adjusted the top 30. Blaze Talagi is no more listed on the top 30 or even development contract. So perhaps thats why O’Niel said there is one spot left. Shame that its him not on the top 30 rather than Tevita.
Can you confirm this? It will be a real shame because Blaze is my favourite junior coming through by far.
From memory that don’t even list Blaize as a Development contract player. It gets very confusing doesn’t it. I can’t confirm anything as I don’t work for the club, but I have him listed in the top 30.
I thought Blaize is on a development contract which now means he and others on development contracts could potentially play nrl from round 1?
Great report Sixties!
Was Blaize training with the nrl squad or nsw cup?
Cheers,
Tony
Blaize has been apparently training at fullback in nsw cup … Gutho heir ????
It wouldn’t matter whether it’s Blaize or anyone else in the NRL fullback spot. Gutho will be fullback when the season starts. That said, I’ve already tipped Blaize to play fullback in NSW Cup. There is an opportunity there that could be taken by either him or Apa Twiddle and I believe he’s ahead of Apa.
PS – you see all sorts of fills of vacant spots at training.
Happy New Year! Both having The Playwright and Penisini the Younger injured is a blow. Both have great potential could have played first grade this year.
I’ll start the countdown to game one soon.
Looking forward to it Shaun
Arthur Miller-Stephen, he does sound like a playwright. or a serial killer
The Playwright…10/10. AKA Mr Monroe.
What happen to young Penisini?
Acl
Injured his ACL a couple of weeks before the Christmas break – now officially confirmed by the Eels
Is it just me or is the amount of people in rehab worrying. We were banged up last year coming into season and seem banged up again. It also defies credulity that junior had a toe operation AFTER his boxing and not before. He’s a footy player first and foremost…
Hopefully some younger players step up this year as we sure do need them
The major injuries are to Richie and Artie. They are likely to be the only ones missing in round one. There are always players in and out of rehab during the preseason, but most were already known before this preseason began.
Injuries are part of pre season no doubt but I’m wondering how underdone gutho, junior and wiremu will be for the start of season? If they return to full training soon then not underdone at all really but the injury report parra released this week suggests they will be rehabbing all the way through to almost start of season – that suggests they might be a bit underdone
Thanks for the update 60s. Hopefully more intense trainings ahead with more to report. Looking forward to the footy season, not long now until the juniors start up.
Hey Ham. Hopefully see you on Saturday.
Might be a bit difficult for me as I am currently in Japan. Reading TCT post game reports will have to suffice this time.
Have fun mate. See you when you return
Love your reports so thanks for your time and effort.
Live on GC and visited Titans training on Tuesday. Just a few observations.
David Fifita, out thru pec injury and back around round 15 so he said, is a huge human. Carrying condition because of limited training but must be around 120kg and looks to about their biggest forward atm.
Hasler has a surprisingly loud voice for his size and makes his displeasure known to all, calling out players occasionally.
Tuesday’s training was intense with small breaks between each set. Got there about 9am where their session proceeded as below:
1. 4 groups of players (1 group each side) ran around ground having 20 secs to do each side. This lasted about 10 mins.
2. Two sides of touch football, touched player drops to ground and rolls side to side, and quickly plays the ball. Trainers constantly yelling for everything done at speed. About 10 mins.
3. Tackling technique. 2 players up top locking up ball (solid hits with initial contact) while a third comes in legally and gently lowers player to ground. Can see that while going on ref delays calling release and D line can reset. About 10 mins.
4. Opposed session, solid hits and everything done at speed. At about 10 min mark short drinks break and into it again another 10 mins.
5. More running around ground. 5 mins.
6. Another opposed session for about 20 mins.
Players look superbly fit and doubt they’ll lose games thru lack of fitness this year. Reckon a top 8 side and have players to trouble many sides.
Hi Glenn
That’s a great read abt the Goldy mate. Are you on holiday or live up there?
I’ve often thought the GC need some luck and they’ll be a v good team.
Is Meninga still there???
They’ve produced some decent halves too
Haven’t seen Meninga for some time now but never attended training whenever I was there.
Thanks for the run through Glenn. There are many things that are probably similar across the teams. I watched a couple of Manly sessions many years ago at Narrabeen and I think Hasler may have been the coach at the time. What I remember from back then was the competitiveness of a couple of big name players. Made me realise about how the best become premiership winners.
has anyone seen manlys weekly training series on YouTube this year? I know the whole point of those is to make the team look good and get fan buy in but geez they look primed for a good year (hope I’m wrong on that front)
Check pt 3 who won both weekly awards
Ron, I’ve watched the videos. It’s good content. It appears that they are kicking some goals as a club. Noticed that Jake Arthur got the trainer of the week and the attitude player of the week in the same week. Having watched his training at Parra this is not a surprise.
Thanks for the reports Sixties
As some have said before we just need better discipline and defence for the year.
Injuries will always occur.
Back up half?
We need Paulo to be consistent all season and RCG to be good again as he was last season. Both DH will be better and we have some young depth.
I truly hope some of the younger brigade get a game or two over the course of the season.
Milo, I reckon that Ethan Sanders will get the role of back up half, regardless of any outcome with his contract
Fair comment – just hope we can add some depth here for the future
We have 2 established halves currently both who are on long deals. It would be hard to entice any young half to come or stay at the club whilst there’s no pathway to immediate first grade. It also isn’t as if either are going to be picked for origin so there isn’t a guarantee of playing 3 games in the year. We have to make sure we sure up halves around 15-17 years old and give them the hope that Mitch won’t re-sign after his current contract.
I don’t believe there’s a Jeff Robson type half that’s floating around that would be happy to sit in reserves for the year but I’m not sure
Ham, it’s why we will lose Sanders. Quality halves are a scarce commodity. If they are in the upper echelon, or have the potential to be at that level, they command big coin. We can’t expect Sanders to bide his time behind Dylan and Mitch and their long term deals.
Forties pick of “Slow Horses” for holiday viewing, outstanding entertainment.
Liked the discussion around Vegas. Like the US but Vegas has never been a dream destination. However going there to watch the Eels play, could be tempting.
Hi John, I’m assuming you’re talking about our podcast. There’s plenty to unpack around this trip. We have some friends of the Throw in America who are attending. It will be great to get them on the pod to discuss their experience.
Lets hope Morretti is in the 17. I think he can offer a lot and become a very good NRL player.
I for one am not sold on Joe O and don’t think we needed him.
Joe O was a bit of a panic buy. We have an excess of middles and a deficit of backs.
I’m a huge advocate of our need to strengthen the backline, but I think that in 2024 people will be very pleased that Joe is with us. He’s having a very impressive pre-season and is a genuine leader/senior player.
I wasn’t excited about the Jo, O signing, his first few games were nothing special but, he did finish the season with a bang, he was excellent in the Penrith game. He gives Hopgood a break and can cover for Junz and RCG. He is a typical BA type player.
And now he will have a preseason with us under his belt.