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After a quiet few weeks to start the year the news cycle finally kicks up a gear with a sprawling, exhaustive and dare we say old school piece of rugby league journalism as Brad Arthur sits down with Paul Crawley. The Tip Sheet is all over it as Clint leads Sixties and Forty20 on a thorough analysis of the interview.
Sixties brings the latest from the junior representative trials and NRL preseason as Clinton Gutherson continues to impress in his return from a knee meniscus injury.
David Nofoaluma and the Wests Tigers have parted ways with the embattled winger reportedly accepting a $300,000 severance package. What led to this? Where will he land? In the NRLW, the Sharks continue to shore up their squad while the Titans have locked up a talented forward for 3 years.
Another interesting discussion around the NRL and the supporting teams and players, looks like we are on the right track , although we do need a signing that could take us to the next level, again that’s a decision for the CEO and HOF, and we patiently wait.
Your comment on the NRLW of “watch that space” in relation to recruits is an issue, we see most clubs that finished in a much superior position to the Eels, consolidating and improving their rosters, what does that say about the attention given to the Eels NRLW. The club really needs to become more active and start to garner support for the girls after last seasons performance. Hope we are not in for another season of inexperience and losses, given the amount of interest that was initially generated. Too many players left and that really left the side subject to fail and suffer big defeats even though the team tried hard, they were just not good enough. Disappointing so far that the NRLW continues to fiyunder the radar at the Eels, not sure where the issues are but they need addressing.
Don’t worry there. Steve Georgallis is already very active.
Great to hear Russell is bigger, at 97kgs that will help massively with rucking the ball out. He was getting the mechanics right later on in the year. Having this extra weight will mean he can carry more momentum into tackles
He might just have the year we’ve been waiting for. Given the injury set backs, it’s understandable.
With the young stocks coming through in the outside backs, and the emergence last year of Russel really solidifying a spot on that right wing in my position, it really makes me question the extension of Sivo last year. Don’t get me wrong, when he’s scoring tries it’s always fun to watch, but do we really see him score many tries where he’s given a lot of work to do other than maybe using his size to get past (or over) defenders close to the line. From memory sivo is on decent coin and was retained for an extra 3 seasons as an aging winger who has showed regression in the past few seasons. His defensive reads have never been perfect, though he can absolutely flatten attackers, and most importantly his yardage game has destroyed us in games. Hopefully he steps his game up this year, because if not Parra may be desperate to help him find a deal either in overseas rugby or even the super league.
HP, it’s a fair call. We know what Maika can do at his best. We need to see that best in 2024.
I liked BA’s comments about MA. The whole JA fiasco has made BA rethink on how to not only bring in his sons but any junior in general. Granted JA was a lot different as his is BA’s son and even if he was an Origin player for example some would still not be happy.
But you can see the confidence and growth he has received from how Jake dealt with it and now is at Manly, sort of in a proud way but knowing too he is in for it again with Matt but it will be better as both Matt and Brad know exactly what to expect so they can combat it better.
I am looking forward to seeing how Matt goes in 2024 in either Flegg or Cup as I think he is a special kid, but it is great to see how it seems BA is not going shield MA. Plus Matt seems to be a great kid off the field with a very level head and that is due in part to BA as a father. I remember hearing once he wants his boys to be gentlemen first and great players second.
Added to that, his enthusiasm over Harper seems really promising.
For the Flegg halfback I read that we’ve signed Zac Hunter, formerly of Penrith and spent a year in England playing low level rugby league over there for the Anglian Vipers. Turning 21 this year and can play either fullback or in the halves. I wonder if we see Apa Twidle or Lindsay Munro play alongside him until one of the SG Ball halves are ready?
The Vipers fans speak highly of him.
Nice to see the club getting juniors from other clubs too, stockpiling talent.
Maybe BA has his bench utility already seeing he does not want 2 x hookers.
Blaize might be his man!
Could cover halves, centres if there is an injury.
Gutho gives a hooker a 10 min rest at dummy half and Blaize covers fullback or Simmonson or Russel goes back to fullback and Blaize covers them.
If you have to move players around like a jigsaw puzzle in order to accommodate your utility 14 you should not have a 14. I like the idea of Talagi possibly being a 14 but not if you have to move players around to fit him in.
Gutho to Hooker will kill our attack as he is an important attacking weapon for us.
LB, that’s why my predicted line up bracketed Hands with Woody – three forwards plus a utility or four forwards, that’s the choices.
Yeah if there is a 14 it’s Hands or a 4th forward but from BA’s interview he stipulated he prefers one Hooker.
The trials will be the indicator, but I’m sticking with Hands being the most logical utility at the moment. Blaize’s time will come soon enough.
Hopgood can play hooker. So keep Gutho at fullback. Matto can play lock.
Some great points raised in this tip sheet.
For me the differences in Morgan and Bailey are quite strong.
In defence Bailey struggles reading defence in the centres but is quite strong with his one on one tackles.
Morgan reads defence lines very well but is not as strong in making his tackles.
It will be interesting to see who gets the spot.
In regards to keeping Ethan Sanders I think it probably came down to not that we have Brown and Moses more that we could not of kept both Blaize and Ethan with the money on offer from other clubs.
Ethan may turn into a Cooper Cronk or he may be a Kyle Flanagan, it’s too early to say.
Blaize ability is more easy to see as he has flashy brilliance and apparently loves the eels so I think the recruitment department are doing the right thing by locking him up long term.
Tony