As an outsider, watching the preseason thus far is like trying to put the puzzle pieces together.
There’s no Mitch Moses, Zac Lomax, Isaiah Iongi or Jack Williams, and key players like Dylan Brown, Bailey Simonsson and Will Penisini are still involved in rehab.
The backline stars that most expect will take the field in 2025 are yet to impact the training track, and as a consequence I can make no assessment of how the squad is performing as a top 13. As we hit December, that should change with players hitting their return dates during the month.
Mind you, the younger players are experiencing the intensity of an NRL preseason and the development that comes with it, whilst the more experienced in the squad are also on a learning curve of their own with the different approach to this preseason.
In essence, there’s plenty that I’ve yet to see. And yet there’s much that I have.
Focussing on what I have noted, let’s begin with the staff and their approach.
Conditioning to date has been vastly different. In his profile interview with Eels media, Head of Performance Blair Mills explained that the program that he’s developed for Jason Ryles is not a traditional one of straight line running, but instead will be footy dominant.
He further explained that GPS data feedback will be used to drive the intensity and the volume of the work, and therefore forms the basis for managing loads.
How does that manifest on the training track?
The football time is maximised by incorporating conditioning in the various drills and games. Field sessions occur every day, and the light load and heavy load days are discernible via the inclusion or absence of the games and drills that place greater demands.
Footage of Mills at work is also available in that media, and it shows him monitoring the loads throughout the session. For those unaware, the GPS units worn by players on match days and training days track data such as the distance covered and the percentage of maximum output that they’re working at, and for what period of time.
Outside of conditioning, the coaching so far has been about attention to detail. I’ve previously described the scaffolded learning being highly observable throughout sessions, be they focussed on the individual skills of the players, or the combinations between them.
Skills
Each drill builds upon the previous, and the difficulty level of the drills, simulations or games increases till players hit their current execution limits. From there, the next learning point can be identified.
For an observer like myself, I’m nowhere near getting a complete picture of the team – just a snap shot of attacking shapes and defence techniques. What’s been revealed has been aspects of ruck play, edge attack, and movement and positioning of markers and A and B defenders. Precision with these being a key factor.
Though all of this is simplest of foundations, they are the essential building blocks for what Ryles has repeatedly referred to as a “reset”. They need to execute these before further development can follow. Moreover, there’s also the messaging about some key effort areas and the mental focus required to get them right.
Maybe the coaches are themselves solving a puzzle. Be it about the individual players, the squad as a unit, what will work and what won’t. Whether they are seeing more in the team or the individuals than they previously knew. I’m also curious as to whether any adjustments that have already been made to the plans made before the preseason began.
Tuesday was one of the low intensity days. I’m confident that the players were pleased about that, given the hard manual labour they’d undertaken during the day in the current heatwave.
The fellas pose for a photo during their work in Parramatta Park (photo credit Eels media)
The focus on these lighter days like these seems to be all about skills. Passing technique, creative passing improvisation, simple games and unopposed attacking shapes formed the core of today’s session.
As new plays were introduced, the players literally walked their way through them and then provided feedback to Ryles about what they were learning. All players are being encouraged to find their voice.
Extras rounded the session out and featured targeted skills practice – catch and pass, kicking, fielding bombs, and executing line drop out kicks.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Hmmm I know for a fact that the Broncos went from a traditional hard old fashioned training regime to a scientific GPS data driven program with disastrous results.
They have now returned, under Madge, to a more traditional driven regime.
There is obviously a need for GPS data but basing a total training program on this data is a receipe for disaster.
Hopefully, the GPS data forms just a brick in the building.
I trust Ryles keeps a tight rein on Mills.
The proof will be in the final product.
Spark, I think the issues at the Broncos have had more to do with player attitudes than conditioning methods. The other aspect is that although the methodology is different, the fitness testing methods remain fairly standard.
You are correct Mr Sixties. Some of those Bronco lads thought they have a place in the heavens. Maguire will sort them out.
Question – the use of GPS systems – am I correct they are attached to players on the field when playing to determine effort etc. Now a problem with BA was his poor use of the bench. That has already been established and debated.
Can the GPS system determine when a player has passed the point of useful contribution due to exhaustion? If yes – then would coaches use it for bench interchange in a way that benefits the Player and the team?
I think you’ll find the data tends tend to confirm what the coaches already seeing with his eyes rather than shape tactics and strategy. The data itself is largely meaningless, or at least arbitrary unless you attach a particular quality, good or bad, to that data.
To answer your question, yes. The players have a GPS monitor in a small pocket at the back of their neck in the jersey.
I agree with Brett, the ebs and flows of a game would make the data rather arbitrary.
However, one would assume that the data returns and the analysis is getting better and more meaningful as technology increases.
It’s only until attach a significance to the data that it becomes valuable. So for example, you might look at how many times a player runs at full speed, that data by itself is relatively meaningless, it only becomes valuable when you attach context. Is he running fast in a kick chase or is he running fast because he was being lazy in defence and was caught out of position and is now scrambling to catch up ? The data could be the same, but one is good the other not so good.
I personally think this is what the Bunker should be redeployed to do, provide coaching staff that information in real time.
Zero, the responses from others have pretty much summed up what I would have replied. In games it’s all about context. Similarly in training, it’s constantly monitored as certain drills or activities are taking place – and with all players engaging in the same or similar work, it therefore has immediate context.
Thanks 60s for your efforts really appreciated.
Cheers Tanky
Thanks sixties much appreciated.
Cheers MB.
Sixties iyo is dunster just making up the numbers, unless hes picked up considerable speed its hard to see an opp 4 him in the top team, a shame really.
Haze has worked incredibly hard to get back into contention. To be fair, I couldn’t assess that until they hit the serious opposed and then the trials.
Honestly I am a bit disappointed that Iongi hasn’t returned early. He didn’t play a game for Tonga so I would have thought given this is his first crack at a full time first grade role he would be doing everything in his power to ensure he has every opportunity to succeed
Dylan Brown: “FEELS LIKE I’M STARTING ALL OVER AGAIN. HE’S TEACHING US NEW DEFENCE, NEW ATTACK, HE’S BROUGHT HIS WAYS IN AND WE’VE ALL GOT TO JUMP ON BOARD
AS A TEAM”
For anyone who’s wondering or suggesting defence won’t be much different. According to Dylan he is learning lots. Look for players like Dylan brown, Sean Russel to vastly improve in 25’ in certain areas. Both of them haven’t been exposed to much training outside parra yet, they’ll thrive learning things.
Dylan brown could be anything if he had the right people driving him and directing him, I hope they can help him unlock more of his potential, because as we all know Dylan has a lot of it. It’s just about somehow getting it all out of him, we all know Dylan is supremely talented. He just coasts in games sometimes and doesn’t display the hunger of a team leader. His 24, maybe in time he will grow into that role. Mitch moses surely wasn’t captain material, or NSW & Aus rep material either at age 24. Dylan still has time to become a parra eels great, let’s hope Ryles & co can make him even better in 25’.
Muz, I reckon I’ve described what’s been happening with the type of defence drills, but Brown’s comments certainly add weight to what I’ve noted as a learning environment. I don’t think Dylan ever coasts in games, certainly no way does he in defence, and in attack he’s just never been the game manager. It has suited Moses as the dominant half, as he provided the perfect balance, but it limited the game management of the team in Moses absence. Also, I don’t think the support play around Dylan was great this season. I lost count of the times he stretched the defence and looked for support with defenders barely clinging on to him, only to find not one soul there.
Sixties your on the mark with Dylan. His defence is superb and committed and yes he was left stranded on numerous opportunities he created in attack. I’ve got a feeling that won’t happen under the new coaching regime. To suggest he coasts through games shows an ignorance of what’s actually happening on the field.
Prometheus, Ba suggested the same and often challenged Dylan saying. It’s not a knock on Dylan but rather a testament to how good he can be when he truly grabs hold of a game. He is the best player in our team besides moses. I’m offering an opinion that Dylan brown has the potential to be even better than mitchel moses, and it would be nice to see him unlock that potential in himself. He is always 10/10 in defence. If he can get better at game management and how to control a team a bit better like Luai learnt to in 2024, suddenly Dylan is up there as one of the best players in the whole comp. Thats how good he is, and if Laui could do it hopefully Dylan can too. The only half I can think of as fast as Dylan is maybe Jerome Hughs.
60’s Dylan definitely defends well. I’m suggesting he is good but could be close to the best player in the comp, he has that in him. Melb turns fullbacks into comp leading half backs, I think Dylan could do that too.
Muz, I’m with you on that. We were talking at training today that Dyl is probably the greatest untapped potential in the team. If his teammates push up in support around him this year, not only will he not be left stranded, but defences will be uncertain about what option he will take, which will make him an even greater threat.
I agree if people can support those opportunities he creates it could help him tremendously. He really could be anything. He has all the potential in the world and only 24 years old. Which is unbelievable. Moses is 30.
Sixties, can you confirm JAC was clocked via GPS exceeding the on field speed limit? I’ve read nothing in the media, I did hear the club issued a breach of contract notice.
Very good Joseph.
So long as he wasn’t booked going to get a phone charger again spark.. haha
Tks sixties. Does the club publish any info on agreed training commencement for individuals? You would think they are likely doing fitness stuff in their own time.
No they don’t. All players get tested as soon as they return so it’s in their best interest to work on their conditioning.
Yep. This “coasts in and out of games” is a bit of a fallacy. Compared to Dearden, five-eighth of the year, and known as a bit of an energiser bunny. Dylan had more try assists, the same line break assists, more running metres, more kicking metres, less tackles and the same amount of touches per game, full or close to full games only (48). This was done in a team that performed considerably worse than the cowboys.
I think people expect too much from Dylan, they expect 200m per game on top of 3 try assists and 5 line break assists. As I see it Dylan is still one of the best non-kicking halves in the game. Hopefully with a change of environment, more stable combinations and some help from his team-mates this “coasting in and out of games” line of thinking is done away with.
His stats are actually outstanding, esp given the circumstances.
You are spot on Ham, the expectations on Dyl by eels fans is mind boggling.
I am assuming that Dylan will be feeding JAC in season 2025. Plenty of attacking opportunities for JAC, backup for Dylan when looking to offload.
I reckon Mitch will get in on that too.
Eels on verge of potentially signing Volkman:
https://www.sportingnews.com/au/rugby-league/news/eels-near-signing-terminated-halfback/dffb79a3380c74a08bb48a2a
That’s our back up 5/8 right there. If we can bring him over the line. He is one of the better NSW cup 5/8’s, would be a great depth signing imo. I wonder if he can play hooker ok too? I don’t think I’ve seen him play there before.
By any chance, do you know any juniors that are training with the cup team since they are not in the NRL pre-season?
Perhaps: Alamadine, Twiddle, Talitana, Piakulas, etc