Walking in to Eels preseason training today, I didn’t know what to expect.
Perhaps there would be an element of that for the players too.
In the eleven years that I’ve reported on preseason training under Brad Arthur, there were a few changes in staffing, but the appointment of Jason Ryles has seen the a complete overhaul of the coaching team.
Jason Ryles (image courtesy of Eels media)
Joining Ryles are Nathan Brown, Scott Wisemantel, Sam Moa and Blair Mills. Nathan Cayless remains as NSW Cup coach alongside other staff including NRL Football Manager Craig Sultana.
Though Ryles, Moa, Wisemantel and Mills are new faces, Nathan Brown would be familiar to these young players through his previous role at the Eels.
Day one of the preseason featured the young pathways players who are on NRL deals or contracts that involve an NRL preseason.
The more experienced players receive a longer break. Therefore, those not involved in the Pacific Championships can be expected to return to training over the next couple of weeks.
Huddle time
There were 13 players on the field in this morning’s session – Charlie Guymer (lock, edge),Richie Penisini (outside back), Arthur Miller-Stephen (outside back, fullback), Sam Tuivaiti (middle), Will Latu (edge), Ryley Smith (dummy half), Saxon Pryke (middle), Brock Parker (middle), Ethyn Martin (outside back, fullback), Jordan Samrani (outside back, edge), Jezaiah Funa-Iuta (backrow), Josh Lyn (halves) and Dom Farrugia (wing).
My apologies if I’ve missed anyone.
With only a small group of players (plus I missed the start of the session) there wasn’t much to report. The main purpose of this post was to note that Day One had taken place and the players who were in attendance. I’m hopeful of reporting some exciting news when the preseason hits full swing.
The drills that I observed today were skills based – basic draw and pass stuff, and the associated defensive decision making. It was much the same with extras. As you’d expect, the energy was good.
The swap over between drills appeared to be relatively seamless. and the coaching staff looked to be taking advantage of the smaller group in providing individual feedback
As a side note, both the players and staff were wearing the new training gear.
Day one done and dusted.
Go you mighty Eels!
Sixties
Great to see the individual feedback to the players. I like this part of the year following the training through Sixties.
Cheers Martin
The new players training gear looks amazing
Great royal blue!
Hope the jerseys are just as good
On another note, have we changed our logo???
I don’t know but it’s different on the new gear isn’t it!
And here we go…barring injuries like this year we should be better particularly in the backs
A bit to play out I feel
Can’t be another year of injuries Milo.
IT BEGINS
Indeed Gem.
Hi Sixties,
Any other SG ball and Flegg players that will join the pre-season soon?
Perhaps Alamadine,Twiddle, Lokeni, Pikauala, Lorenzo T?
There might be some on limited preseasons.
The new chapter begins!
Glad to see Will Latu in the mix here, he was having a great season before that hip drop tackle.
I’m also questioning where Mo Alameddine and Apa Twidle are?
Apa was injured at the end of the season and had an operation. Not sure where he’s at. With Mo, it might have to do with how many days a week he’d be doing in the preseason. There are contracts where emerging players get say a day a week in the preseason rather than full time.
New kits look amazing sixties. Thanks for updating us. Call me a hopelessly optimistic eels fan, but I have a good feeling about the new look and James Hardie logo. You just get feeling something good is going to happen for us moving forward with these new looks. Also Great to see AMS & R Penisini back on the field for us 💪
Yes, keen to see how both of those fellas go after a year of interruption. They both looked good out on the field. Artie was just about the fastest player in the club before his injury, whilst when we talked to Baz last year he had said Richie was impressing him.
That’s good to hear mate. I remember you saying to us last year AMS was just about the fastest bloke at our club. I will respect baz’s call there, because having spoke to baz before this years season. Baz told me Kelma tualagi is going to become a good player and he really grew later this year with game time. Baz also said Blaize will be a nrl player in future. He also gave raps to Mitch moses pre season and look at the rep season he has enjoyed. Baz is right in his assessments. He didn’t tell me directly, but his friend did mention they thought parra needed another nrl hooker. That also transpired to be true. Wish baz the best up at bris.
I really want to see both those guys playing NRL footy before seasons end. Even if it’s just a few games to give them a taste. During the Origin period when Moses & Lomax are likely to ge unavailable would be the ideal time I would think.
Ams has the speed to be a nrl player. I’ve only seen him play a few games but not reach full speed. Hopefully he can come back strong after his injury. I think 60’s said previously he was the fastest bloke at the club.
Thanks Sixties,
Glad to see the training back.
So am I Pete!
Awesome Sixties, thank you.
This pre-season will be very interesting, I’m looking forward to your future reports.
You spoil us mate, I really do appreciate the time and effort it takes to not only attend, but then report.
I so hope we use that royal blue on our strip and I hope the emblem hasn’t been messed with too much.
Appreciate the kind words Joseph
Love your work Sixties. Let another preseason begin.
Spiro on 2GB this morning talked about JAC joining the Eels. After talking to his player manager Spiro seemed confident that he would be joining us.
I must confess I am not a fan of JAC joining the Eels. However I must say I would back JR’s judgement of player quality over mine any day of the week.
If he does join I am hoping that I am proven to be an absolute dunce on player quality.
Thanks John. JAC’s manager is keen. No doubt.
Sixties do you know if ams is training to be a winger or fullback primarily? I remember on his debut for first grade he was over on the wing defending against the big Ravalawa.
I Hope so John. We need another nrl standard winger to start the pre season with and build those combinations.
Anyone see this? “Clint Gutherson’s camp is frustrated at the pace of negotiations with the Dragons,” Weidler wrote on X.
There’s rumours the dragons are possibly considering making a play at other players such as Ryan Papenhuzen instead. The drag-queens are also allegedly not being the Gravy train guthos manager may have anticipated with money or deal length. It’s unclear the issue exactly yet.
do you think it’s just at St George trying to lower his $$$ value because they know he is more or less desperate?
No other clubs are chasing his signature that we are aware of.
One last thing:
does gutho & his manager air every single detail to the media? This is 1 thing I will not miss about Clint gutherson. The antics of his manager.
I did suspect the deal could turn to crap. The Dragons have form in this area.
I hope not for Gutho’s sake and ours. Gutho playing for Parra next year is almost untenable now.
I wonder if Leeds is looking for a fullback.
The dragoons have a toxic reputation. Flanno going there has seemiy not improved it in this aspect I don’t know what the go is down there. But hopefully for gutho & his futures sake they look after him. He deserves a deal and to be treated fairly. Off season starting, Clint would just want confirmation.
Let’s remember he hasn’t been officially released yet, so I think that’s where the frustration will be coming from. The club is pushing him to make a decision, and the Dragons are in no hurry.
To be fair Muz, I think any big name player on big $s that might not see out their contract would attract an inordinate amount of media attention. I am a bit of a Gutho loyalist, but personally I think all the beat up about airing his dirty laundry in the media is nonsense. His approach is no different to any other player of his profile. The more common denominator is our R&R team failing to lock people in quickly enough on acceptable terms. The only time you don’t get the same media noise is when a players just gets paid what they want (Cleary, Grant, Walsh, Haas etc).
Thanks for the training report 60s. It’s funny how your reports begin the cycle of hope. Maybe all this pain and suffering is really YOUR fault. 🙂
Mick Sam ayoub is leaking instantly upon talking to dragons it looks like. I don’t think all managers leak instantly like this bloke to the same extent. I agree with you though many of them play different media leverage tactics. P.s im a gutho loyalist too, just sad & bitter the king is gone. He has been my long term favourite player besides moses.
Great to see training for new year and fresh start, feeling positive ,love the updates .sixties.