Attending Eels training this morning presented me with an unexpected opportunity – the chance to say thank you and farewell to Clint Gutherson.
It wasn’t until he entered the complex with a “hey fellas” that I realised he was walking in. He was all smiles and to be honest, looked refreshed.
With a bag under his arm, he was there to say some goodbyes and clear his locker out. It all starts for him on Wednesday in Wollongong, and he’ll be getting a place down there due to the long distance between the northern beaches and the Gong.
We waited until he was leaving to actually say our thanks and goodbyes, and Eels fan Robert, who watched training with us, took this photo with him.
Gutho with Eels fan Robert
Today would be the last session the coaches would have with just this young group before the NRL players return on Wednesday.
The session began with the warm ups and running mechanics, before the group resumed some of the skills work of the previous week. Most of the ball work was run against a defence rather than unopposed.
Draw and pass fundamentals kicked that off, and it segued into a drill of unstructured football off the back of competing for a high ball.
Defence line movement around the ruck remained a focus as the A and B defenders worked on taking up their positions at pace, in addition to getting their spacing right.
Defence drill
Dummy half drills followed as Nathan Brown continued to build the foundations of communication between the dummy half and the first receivers/runners.
From there a fast paced game of touch followed. Played sideline to sideline, it was undertaken at relentless speed.
Finally, the group stayed in their teams to take turns attacking the try line, with the full width of the field to work in. This looked to be completely unstructured attack, and again the pace of the play caught the eye.
I was asked on the socials today, whether I had any tips for a player who will take over Gutho’s mantle in leading the work on the training track.
Ethyn Martin
Both Moses and Brown present with high levels of fitness at every preseason. Of course, Dylan learnt early on that trying to match Gutho came at a price. Before he was injured, Haze Dunster was often pushing to lead conditioning work. I’m not sure when the preseason will commence for those three players.
Though the backs have the edge with pace, there are some fitness freaks in the forwards. I’d expect Brendan Hands, Saxon Pryke, and Ryley Smith to perform strongly. Joe Ofahengaue has a strong work ethic and will take on a leadership role.
Sam Tuivaiti
All of the new players will be interesting to watch. You’d expect that a background at the Panthers would serve Isaiah Iongi well, and I’d be surprised if he didn’t front with a premiership attitude. Joash Papali’i looks fit, whilst speedster Eels pathways player Artie Miller-Stephen is undertaking his first full NRL preseason.
The next report will include NRL players, though that field session is not scheduled until Wednesday. Some of that session will likely be spent on fitness assessments.
Josh Lynn
A few questions will be answered as we move forward.
Will the conditioning be drastically different?
What will the attacking shapes look like?
Will the defensive systems function better?
How will the new combinations perform?
Which players will rise to the challenge?
Buckle in for the ride.
Eels forever!
Sixties
I must say I like the early focus on skills development. This really says to the players that this is the most important factor. Fitness can be achieved as we go through the pre-season, but it needs to have that fundamental basis in skills. I think we are going to see a much different approach to games from Parra in 2025.
Agree Longfin,
Rugby union has crisp passing and great hands left and right. I’m sure Scott Wisemantel will be drilling that. Dummy half passing will also be a focus.
Our catch and passing was often not crisp or accurate. The changes will be noticeable.
Reports were Broncos senior players went back last week and have been hit hard on the training paddock by Madge. Expect Broncos to be much fitter than last year. We need to be much fitter too! I feel we were gassed early.
Pete, the messaging to me was using this time to ensure that the younger players have the greatest opportunity to be successful. They are finding out about what the coaches regard as important fundamentals. When the NRL players return, the conditioning work will ramp up.
Pete true you see the passing and shifting on set plays in rugby at high levels it’s crisp and fast. The good players have very good passing technique too. I think a lot of NRL players have superior fitness and maybe natural talent, but often lack in those softer skills & fundamentals you mentioned. You hear Andrew johns often mentioning things like “soft hands.” Players who have rugby backround often have great ability to break tackles and great technique in multiple areas. Will Penisini is a good example of great ball running technique. You see how he lowers his body bumps off defenders, very good at breaking tackles, plus a good fend. You rarely see a young pure league player who debuts and has the ability’s he had. I think a lot of our players would massively benefit learning from a former elite rugby coach. In rugby you see them shift the ball often early, and very fast with smooth hands. This would massively benefit us if we can learn how to do this.
There’s often too many bad passes and minimal smoothness when you see our team attack and start shifting the ball, it hasn’t looked smooth or fluid for a long time. It might even be our dummy half depth being the issue. We also operated much smoother overall with Redd Mahoney’s dummy half service. He was admittedly a very good player.
I think speed will be a factor Longfin
Speed must also be a focus. Given the Recruitment thus far. Still need a few more.
Longfin it also sounds like a lot of defensive coaching details & instructions in around the ruck and line speed, which is where elite clubs do this best such as Penrith and the storm. The little 1% details, line speed, controlled defence in and around the Ruck.
This forces teams to then take more risks by spreading the ball earlier to try and gain meters, which leads to opposition dropping more balls, plus gives our defensive line more change to move up as teams are forced into going more sideways if our Ruck management & defender spacing is spot on.
If you pay close attention to teams who consistently win (say Penrith) the line speed and spacing in around the ruck in defence is near flawless.
If you watch us like speed In defence is often lagging, holes in and around or behind the ruck, due to forwards too gassed or slow to get back on side, or not enough communication & emphasis on discipline on spacing in the defensive lines.
Not suggesting a rookie coach can perform and miracle and make us elite in these areas, especially in 1 off season, but my prediction is these small 1% details will make both our NRL & cup teams become more competitive defensively in 2025.
One last thing I’ll add: after reading sixities mentioning them players playing with emphasis on speed, plus players swinging side to side.
This is another parra often get unstuck. Sides who are faster and move better move side to side against us in attack. Usually when they attack one side near try line, then swing to the other with a wide sweeping attack or attacking kick we are too slow or unable to get back across laterally to defend strongly.
From what 60’s is saying on this report it sounds like what they are working on is areas where we have not been strong. Hopefully some of the new building blocks added in these training sessions can build new habits that improve our defensive capabilities as the eels have had arguably the worst (edge) defence in the comp. Let’s hope this emphasis on defence and leg speed in all aspects of the game, lower grades and upwards, shifts our club into a new direction.
Not sure if is easy to tell but how is The Playwright looking on his return from injury? I hope he still has his speed.
I am sad to have to write this Sixties but every year I wait for your training reports with great anticipation; you are our eyes and ears at these sessions and I get excited as I digest you “word pictures” describing who was present and what had transpired.
It is only my opinion; but I feel lately the comments section has been over-run by personal thoughts and ramblings that have little to do with your day’s training report.
I found myself “flicking” past comments and that alarmed me enough to pen this comment.
I would prefer to be anonymous but if you wish to post, then so be it. Cheers and please keep it up!
Hi fellas -thanks for your report and continued work. I agree that JR is moving the team away from the BA bash and barge style of play focused on a big forward pack to a much faster style of play. I’m really happy with the signing of Iongi and Lomax and from what I’m hearing JAC as well.
I think we are short of a good, hard, young prop and I was hoping we would share Terrell May.any thoughts on who will be our props in 2025 besides Paulo and Joe O