The Tip Sheet is also available on Spotify and iTunes!
Sixties and Forty20 get their first chance of 2024 to preview the Parramatta Eels as they take on the Canberra Raiders in a trial match this weekend. Before that though, the SG Ball are in action on their lonesome in the Junior Representatives as they take on the Balmain Tigers.
Can the Ball make in 3 wins on the trot to start their season? They have fought hard for victories over the Warriors and Sharks and now get to host the Tigers at Eric Tweedale Stadium. Who has caught the eyes of the boys and how will they go about securing the win on Saturday?
Brad Arthur has named an exciting trial team headed by young guns Blaize Talagi and Ethan Sanders so what should we all be watching out for on Saturday? There are multiple positional battles to be played out in the backline while Kelma Tuilagi gets a chance to impress in the starting backrow.
Looking forward to the reports. Just locked in recording the game. Martin
Hoping to record an instant reaction. We’ll see how the stars align.
I watched all Eels tries for 2023 on You Tube just now. It really showed how well they attacked last year. There were so many quality tries
It showed Gutho had an outstanding year in attack. He was as good in offence as I can remember. Russell featured a lot at the back end of the season. He is a better player than most give him credit for.
The other thing that stood out for me was when Gutho, Brown and Moses play as a unit they are very dangerous playing off each other.
John, there were so few games that the key Eels players were all on the field together in 2023. It was a year from hell
I have been reliably informed that MM and DB played only 7 games together as a pairing.
If I wasn’t so lazy I would check the stats myself.
It sounds close enough John. Let’s go with that.
Based on Eels in the News. It appears we do not have too many friends at Zero Tackle. Pretty much everyone there is tipping us to miss the eight.
Can’t say I agree but they are the experts being paid to have an opinion. I think it’s going to be an interesting season.
One of the other interesting things this year will be what Madge does with the SOO team. He is pretty much his own man and I don’t believe that he will be tied to what Fittler did. Just how that effects the Eels I am not sure.
The “experts” not rating us is sweet music to my ears John. Sweet, sweet music.
Could not agree more!
Mr Sixties is quite correct when he said it was a season from hell. (Figuratively speaking of course). I started to read Matt Roger’s thoughts and stopped. Despite all the problems Parra experienced last year they were only one win out the top eight. An extraordinary effort. Injuries – suspensions and the first five weeks were murder. With better goal kicks they might have picked at two matches – that makes them top six.
Parra – should they keep their best together for majority of the season are top four.
Yes – read correctly top four.
As for the experts – are they really? And why do the dislike Parra – it’s almost a prejudice.
Parra is the only team that consistently held the line against the premiers. If they play every week as if it’s Penrith then the minor premiership comes home to the Eels. Let’s get this party started!
I can confidently state that knowing the trial result but not having seen any highlights the result means absolutely nothing in regards to Parra’s 2024 NRL hopes.