The end of January is upon us and less than three weeks remain till the first of the NRL trials.
And the focus from the Eels training track at Kellyville today? Footy, footy and then more footy!
When the Eels emerged from the sheds in their home kit, and those ever-popular white jerseys, it telegraphed that opposed work was going to feature.
The big difference this morning was that the first twenty minutes or so was under match conditions. No coaches pulling up play, plus conversions and kick offs followed tries.
From that point, the rest of the session included eight-a-side, two hand touch played simultaneously on both fields, and contact opposed football with territory and restarts determined by the coaches.
Here are my highlights:
Match Condition Football
* RCG made his presence felt early with a huge defensive hit
* NSW Cup went set for set early with the NRL team
* Blaize Talagi knocked Sivo off his feet with a terrific tackle
* Shaun Lane executed a tap back just to the left of the posts for Dylan Brown to score (Moses converted)
* Strong defence from both teams
Opposed action
Coach Contrived Opposed
The jerseys came off and the red and green singlets were on for the change to the session.
* Dylan Brown kicked downfield as part of a left side attacking raid, and Bailey Simonsson won the race to regather the ball for the try.
* Makahesi Makatoa charged over off a Matt Arthur pass, but as the prop was wearing an orange vest (no heavy contact), the try was denied as a defender got a hand on him.
* Luca Moretti crossed for a try, again off a Matt Arthur pass, and once more the try was disallowed (uncertain as to why)
* Ethan Sanders placed a beautifully weighted long range kick, with the chasers trapping Gutho in-goal.
The squad changed into the red and green
Two Hand Touch (8 vs 8)
It was impossible to follow all of the action on two fields, especially as it was full-field games and kicks were encouraged. It actually resulted in a few 40/20s.
I couldn’t determine any specific rationale for how the teams of eight were determined. It didn’t appear to be left side vs right side and the teams had a mix of positions. But it remained NRL vs NSW Cup on the two fields.
There was obviously some basis to it as the teams swapped fields, not opponents, after a quick break was called. That left them under the eye of different coaches.
This was high energy, unstructured attacking football which was very entertaining to watch. The defences had to scramble given the vast expanses and the option of kicking.
It wasn’t played for an extended time, and given the speed and relentless running required, it probably served the purpose of providing the conditioning element to the session.
Here are some highlights that I managed to catch:
* Junior Paulo finished a try with a 20 metre sprint to the corner
* Bryce Cartwright did what he does best – demonstrating the Carty Party deception skills to slice through the defence and run nearly forty metres to the line.
* Tries to Ethan Martin and Luca Moretti
The debrief
Before the players launched in to their extras, the coaches spent a period of time providing feedback to the squad as a whole. In addition to BA’s time with them, it looked like Barrett had quite a bit to say.
Eels forever!
Sixties
This is good news from a depth perspective.
“NSW Cup went set for set early with the NRL team”
Thanks
Martin
It was a very competitive hit out.
Matt Arthur has been mentioned a few times laying on tries around the ruck, similar to his form through the pathways. Obviously match situations will be the real test but sounds like he’s had a strong pre season, particularly as an attacking threat.
My question would be how is he handling the defensive duties in the middle playing against the big boys?
It’s never been an issue for him. Supporters will be able to watch him in open age in NSW Cup.
Many times in SG Ball opposition teams would send their biggest players at Arthur and he’d chop them down. Anecdotally I reckon SG Ball forward packs are physically bigger than NRL packs. What makes a first grader is technique and this is where big for the sake of big is weeded out. I noticed it this year where Tuivaiti looked a little bit bigger than your average prop in SG Ball but in Flegg and Cup he looked much bigger than other forwards.
Thats well spotted ham and true about size v skill 👏👏
Ham, that’s terrific to note for those unfamiliar with the older age groups in pathways.
Yeah MA had a match in Cup last year and only missed 2 tackles in 37 mins of footy. Kid is fearless and will handle NRL fine. People say he is too small, most Hookers are I reject that comment so much.
Not in top 30 so cant play before round 11 in any case, needs time to develop in KO cup first my opinion .
I’m not suggesting he should be picked in first grade either.
The comment is that It will be a step up for all the pathways boys going into open football and defending in the middle would have to be close to the biggest physical task, so am interested to see how this side of his game develops during game simulation against the NRL side and trials.
BP – in his one game in Cup last year he went exceptionally well. And he’s added to his frame since then
Exactly, he’ll be used when he’s ready. But the skill set, the ability to read the game and the mental strength, it’s all there in spades.
He’s been strong coming through juniors so I have no doubt this will continue in Cup. In general I’ll be very interested in the Cup side this year as a number of pathways players progress into it – it should be a much younger side than seasons past and that is a good thing for the club.
Changing of the guard BP.
Talagi putting a shot on Sivo?!?! Ik he is a strong defender but didnt expect that. I assume Talagi was at centre? Very interested how NSW Cup will line up.
He has a future! I can’t do the tackle justice in writing about it here.
Hey Sixties,
Haven’t heard much about how Joe O is going. I’d figured with a pre-season with us he’d be better for it, but how is he progressing?
E
Mr E, I’ve had quite a bit to say about Joe in the pre-Christmas reports. He’s a leader in the group and looks extremely fit. Mr consistency at training.
Amazing again mate, I love these reports and the podcast.
I’m really exciting about the young blokes coming through. I’m hoping blaze and m.athur get a debut by season end.
How are the other flegg boys going? Big Sam, Saxon and Charlie?
I also heard Saxon folded rcg at training haha
pretty sure charlie is starting backrow in cup.
Jack, I’ve been very pleased with how all of the young players have handled a full preseason, including Sam, Charlie and Saxon.They are amongst the fittest in the group and handle the skills work well. There’s a genuine changing of the guard happening at Cup level. There are a couple that might have to start in Flegg, simply due to age and numbers, but I’d say they’ll all spend some time in NSW Cup this year.
Have you noticed Jirah Momoisea at training? Is he showing anything the ‘scouts’ must have seen before signing him in 2022?
I have nothing to say there Parra Pete.
.”You say it best when you say nothing at all”……He MUST have shown something way back when!!!
He was cheap nothing more .
how is tony mataeli transitioning in to the middle i expected a little more last year while he was a big meter eater he struggled a bit in defence
Great read thankyou.
Looks like it really was match conditions with joeyL appealing for a penalty? Hehehe
And that has to be a career highlight for blaize! He must wish it was on video so he can show his kids one day lol
his height must be a real gift, sense biig things to come!
It’s heating up🔥
“Ever popular white jerseys” hahaha too funny 🤣
😁😁😁