Welcome to the first edition of Bumpers Up for 2024.

I have been particularly busy with compiling training reports, but with the Eels venturing to a training camp down south this week, I’ve been able to finally get stuck into this post.

There’s quite a bit going on with the preseason getting to the pointy end, Junior Reps round one in the rear view mirror and the Leagues Club election in full swing. Along with all that we have the introduction of a new rule and a possible crackdown on another. Did I mention that there’s an Eels signing to announce?

Let’s get the yardage happening in all of that and more. Bumpers up!

The Footy’s Back

The opening round of the Junior Reps competition kicked off on Saturday, and there are now four grades of elite junior competitions with the inclusion of the Lisa Fiaola Cup in the full season schedule.

This means that there are under 17s and under 19s competitions for both males and females.

Round One produced a mixed bag of results for the Eels.

On Saturday, both of the girls teams were dealt heavy defeats by the powerful Bulldogs outfits. Canterbury have invested heavily in identifying and recruiting talented female players as they don’t have a wealth of local players to choose from.

The reward for this direction was a place in last season’s Tarsha Gale Cup grand final. On the basis of their opening round victories, they can expect strong seasons for both of their elite junior female teams.

As for the Eels, there were opportunities created in both matches but set completions were a major issue on the day. Consequently Parra’s defence in each game was constantly under pressure from a Dogs attack enjoying a glut of possession.

On a positive note, keep track of Eels Lisa Fiaola Cup winger Nikita E. It’s a memorable name and her pace will leave an impression this season. She burnt the turf in her try doubles, one of which was a 90 metre effort.

Junior reps were back last weekend

The SG Ball and Jersey Flegg matches were staged at Eric Tweedale Stadium on Sunday. Parra hosted the Warriors in their inaugural appearances in these grades, and with the New Zealand team travelling on a Saturday we can expect their fixtures to be played on Sundays this year.

Parra recorded two strong victories, 34 to 6 in Matts and 32 to 20 in Ball, but the scores are not indicative of how competitive the Warriors were in each game. They will trouble teams.

The Eels Matts team were very impressive. In what is now rugby league 101, the forwards won the middle in a ferocious contest, whilst the spine did their job off this great platform.

Fullback Cyrus Bloomfield has some serious wheels, and he showcased this in a long range try off a scrum, and later in a long break off an inside ball on the edge of the ruck. Halfback Lincoln Fletcher backed up a strong debut with some impressive angled conversions.

In the SG Ball match, the Eels scored three late tries to overhaul a six point second half deficit. Better completions were the key to the fight back. The defending premiers have a host of eligible players who have been elevated to Flegg or the full time squad, and this has created the opportunity for more young players to push into Parra’s pathways.

Earlier on Sunday, there was an under 16s Development squad game between the Eels and the Bears. Parra got off to a cracking start with two tries in the opening eight minutes.

From there, the completion rate fell off and the Bears fought back to lead three tries to two. Parra threatened to break the game open numerous times, but handling errors thwarted their efforts. A try in the final two seconds of play levelled the scores in what was a get out of gaol result and an excellent learning experience for the home team.

Downtown Crackdown

In what could be a sign of what awaits in the NRL, a number of downtown penalties were awarded during the Harold Matthews Cup on Sunday.

The Eels received a penalty when the Warriors kicked long at the end of their first set of the game. It led to the Eels scoring a try. Another penalty was then blown when Parra got to their kick following the restart. On the back of that, the Warriors got across for their opening try.

These were not the only penalties for that infringement in the game.

Could it be that refs will be on the warpath for similar offences in the NRL? It wouldn’t surprise.

Unfortunately, the track record for rule crackdowns is never the road less travelled. How often have we seen a rule policed heavily for about six weeks, only to have offences increasingly ignored as the season progresses?

I’m not suggesting that the rule should be changed, though it was a rule that got a mention in the Telegraph’s recent Coaches’ Poll. What we do need is consistency in the application of all rules throughout the season.

Rule Changes

When it comes to overall rule changes, I’ve had my fill. We’ve had far too many in recent seasons and this year will be no different with the introduction of the kick re-start rule.

For anyone unfamiliar with this new rule, teams will no longer be penalised if they attempt a short kick off to compete for the ball and the ball fails to travel ten metres or goes out on the full. (Edit – it is now similar to a scrum differential. The receiving team gets a tap on the ten metre line, or the line ten metres from the kick). It applies to line drop outs, 20 metre drop outs and kick restarts at the halfway mark.

It’s obviously all about creating contests and the unpredictability in the game, but was it really necessary to introduce a rule to facilitate such an outcome?

We addressed the topic in a recent podcast. Some of the talking points included the imbalance of rewarding a team who has made an error, as well as the number of short kicks that already take place in the game.

Line drop outs usually occur because of a defensive mistake or an attacking kick which forces an error or a tackle in-goal. Why should the defending team then get the advantage of a near risk free short kick? And for those who suggest that the risk is the receiving team getting possession close to the line, it’s actually harder for the defending team to chase a long drop out and then set a defence line which normally ends up close to the 20 metre mark.

Then there is the grey area about what length of kick qualifies as competing for the ball. If a kick travels 20 metres before going out on the full, is that too far? Do chasers have to have a particular proximity to the ball to avoid a penalty?

Finally, don’t we already have more than enough short restarts without another rule.

Quite simply, I see grey areas, confusion and no need for change.

But one change that I’d be on-board with is a tweak to the interchange rule. It’s been suggested by readers in pre-season training blogs and it makes sense.

Increase the number of players on the bench to six. Only four of those players can be used (besides usual 18th man concussion replacement protocols), but by having more player options on the bench, specialist players such as a spine player or outside back could be available should an injury occur.

It saves matches being decided by injuries that cannot be adequately replaced. The game has become high impact, and players are lost to injury in virtually every match. Such a rule would help protect the contest from being determined by such injuries, but would maintain the current fatigue levels by keeping the number of players that take the field per side at 17.

I reckon it’s worth consideration.

Coaches’ Poll

On another front in that recent poll, Brad Arthur placed fifth in the list of best coaches in the NRL, with only Cleary, Bennett, Walters, and Bellamy rated higher by their peers.

In his 11th season at the helm of the Eels, it could be argued that Arthur is now closer to the end of his time with the club. Results will probably determine that.

I’ve been consistent in my support of BA, and he’s earned it. But with nearly six decades as an Eels fan behind me, my passion for the club comes first. If I no longer believed he was the man for the job, I’d say so.

BA with an Eels fan at Gerringong training

What I’ve witnessed in this preseason is a coach who continues to evolve. Eels players have recently used hackneyed phrases like the “best preseason ever”. Rather than suggesting this, I’ve reported it as a preseason which is very different to any previous year. That’s because it is. This week’s short camp down at Gerringong is the fourth off-site training this summer and indicative of a training schedule that has been tough but varied.

The result is that the squad looks re-charged. Actually, Arthur himself looks re-charged. Whether all of this positivity translates to the team’s performances this season remains to be seen.

Regardless, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed watching the preparation for the 2024 premiership. And if the players have enjoyed it as much as I believe they have, it will be the first step in returning to finals football and challenging for the title.

Chairman’s Message

Eels Chairman Sean McElduff has this week contacted Eels members with an important message. You can find it here.

Addressing aspects such as the financial performance of the football club, the Kellyville Park development, as well as club governance, it’s a welcome update for the Parra faithful. I encourage people to read it.

However, I’d also like to draw attention to Sean’s encouragement for all eligible Parra Leagues Members to vote in the current Board of Directors election.

The PLC Board of Directors make critical decisions about three licenced venues – Parra Leagues, Vikings and Dural Country Club. And as Sean stipulates, a successfully governed and managed PLC contributes to the success of the Parramatta Eels.

Voting closes at 5pm on February 23, but please don’t leave it till then. Get your vote in now. When thousands of members vote, it’s more reflective of the wishes of the membership.

Electronic voting is incredibly easy and barely takes a couple of minutes. If you are unable to use this method, and don’t have an email address registered with the club, you will have received the voting details via Australia Post.

The election result will be known on February 27 when the PLC Annual General Meeting takes place, commencing at 7pm.

News Flash

Titan Sports Management has just announced that rising Eels forward, Jezaiah Funa-Iuta has signed a new deal with the club, keeping him at the Eels to the end of 2026.

The social media post from Titans Sports Management

The 2023 Eels Harold Matts Captain is a talent, having already earned Australian Schoolboys and NSW Under 17s selection.

You can catch Jezaiah in action as an edge forward for the Eels SG Ball team this week. He’s definitely a player of the future and his extension should be great news for supporters.

Eels forever!

Sixties

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