It’s hard to believe that the Eels pre-season is nearly over. Next week the team will be preparing for the first trial at Kogarah. Earlier this week, a short camp down Gerringong way continued the summer with a difference. Some of the benefits of the venture south were immediately there to witness.
I spoke to some staff and players about the trip and they were all glowing in their praise.
When they hit the field today, the squad was very upbeat and physical. And the timing couldn’t have been better, given that Fox Sports were there to film their NRL promos.
Fox Sports filmed the session for their promos
Footage was taken throughout the session, from warm ups to opposed, and the cameramen got brilliant access.
Back-tracking a little, there was a field session held on Monday morning at Kellyville. It was relatively light, with the halves working on their kicking skills, the back five practising both attacking and defensive catches, and the forwards going through their systems around the ruck.
The squad apparently departed to the south coast on Monday afternoon, and from the photos on Eels media, it looked like there was an opposed session on Mick Cronin Oval on Wednesday.
Today was all about the footy, though only about a quarter of the time was spent in contact opposed. For the remainder of the session the squad rotated between unopposed sets, unstructured footy drills, two hand touch, and skills.
Sutton and Henderson
NRL referees Gerard Sutton and Phil Henderson were in attendance with Sutton assuming the main ref duties.
Opposed Notes
* Bailey Simonsson made an important early defensive play to shut down what looked to be a certain Cup try. A last tackle kick by the Cup team was regathered in the catching contest and a final pass was all that was needed for the try. But Simonsson came charging across in cover to dislodge the ball just as it was about to be thrown.
* There may or may not have been a try to Sivo after a terrific left edge play. Shaun Lane got a one handed offload to Simonsson, who then put Sivo down the sideline. My view of the finish was obstructed, but I thought it was scored. Play was restarted on the quarter line, though I’m not sure that was a ref call or a coach’s call.
Opposed action
* A sensational try was scored by Will Penisini after a great break by Gutho. Moses loomed up in support of the King and then chose to kick ahead towards the wing of Sean Russell. The winger did a great job of diving for the ball just inside the sideline then offloading. Will backed up to score the try.
* Overall, this was a highly competitive opposed session from the Cup team. In addition to their defensive efforts, they created some opportunities in attack and only good reads from the NRL team shut it down.
Notes From Other Drills
Unstructured Attack/Defence
There were two different drills conducted simultaneously on the left and right sides of the field. It looked to be approximately six on six or maybe seven on six in each.
The drills differed in the starting positions of both the attacking and the defensive teams. It was rapid fire, unstructured attacking football that required scrambling defence. The players were particularly boisterous during these games, so perhaps bragging rights were on the line.
Two Hand Touch
The squad played two handed touch footy a couple of times during the morning. The game was played across the field at both ends of the ground. Defenders had to drop out after a touch, giving an increased advantage to the attacking team. They could rejoin the action when their team gained possession.
Two hand touch game
There was too much going on to catch everything but a couple of highlights for me included an intercept try to Haze Dunster, a chase from Dylan Brown on Haze soon after to stop a try and another big chase from Brendan Hands to run down Matt Doorey.
The morning concluded with a few simultaneous skills – edge plays, middle shapes and footwork.
Edge drill
Bring on that first trial.
The season is rapidly approaching now.
Eels forever!
Sixties
‘ There was too much going on to catch everything..’
Despite this you do an impressive job- thanks. Martin
Thanks Martin. It isn’t easy when there are multiple simultaneous drills or games, especially on different fields, away from my vantage point, with anywhere between 30 – 36 players.
Understand you are reluctant to promote the younger players given they have yet to play agst men, but as a broad question are they noticeable and competitive. Sanders we know can play, are the forwards as a unit in the mix so to speak.
This is a very good group of pathways players. There are potentially more NRL players in one group than I’ve seen in any recent group. I will suggest that by the end of the season, there will be 2-3 NRL debuts.
How did Hayley look running into some space for the try? I’m hoping he has recovered some pace after the injury.
I meant Hayze of course. Stupid autocorrect.
Haze is running much better than last year. I’m not sure whether he will ever get his full pace back, that’s only something he and the medical/training staff can answer. He looks much bigger. I’d suggest he might have topped 100kg.
Sixties, how is Ethyn Martin going? He is very raw but is he making his way into Cup teams, training with the 1st team cup team?
Hopefully we will see a fair bit of him on Saturday and not just for 10-15 at the end.
LB, like all of the elevated pathways players he’s held his own training at this level. But the best answer you can get will be found in this week’s trial.