Welcome to PARRAdise, Mark Gasnier!
Given there are now three former star Dragons players on the coaching staff, and a current Kangaroo from the Gong making his way to Parra, a new moniker of Eelawarra might be apt.
The news about Gasnier joining the Eels has been all over the media in the past week, and today I was able to watch the legendary former Blues and Kangaroos centre ply his trade as a specialist coach.
It was a busy session for Gaz who was laser focussed on the Eels backs. Moving around the squad as they worked through their drills, his praise for different players was audible.
Gasnier in his Eels coaching gear (photo credit Eels media)
However, the plaudits were often followed by individual guidance, as he’d proffer advice to fine tune their timing, positioning or choices about the lines run. It was very well received by the players.
All of this continued the theme of this preseason – attention to detail.
Today began as Fridays often do with the squad split into backs and forwards.
The forwards worked on the basics of getting through contact – bumpers up, palms, hit and spin etc. The drills graduated from single to multiple defenders and eventually included offloads.
During this time the backs honed their kicking and catching skills – a variety of both.
A couple of competitive games followed, one of which involved improvised attack from tap backs.
Tap back
Two players caught the eye during this game.
Joash Papali’i impressed with his footwork and evasiveness. With very little room to work in, he was mesmerising to watch.
The other player was Richie Penisini, and it was a bit of fun that he executed that left the coach giggling. After his turn at beating a defender he followed through with a back heeled chip kick and regather. I might have seen this done some time ago by a certain Eels superstar.
Richie in mid air with this step (photo credit Eels media)
After a further ten minutes working on passing skills, the focus shifted to defence line movement. There appeared to be minor differences to the positioning of the defenders and how they moved for the different location of the play the ball, and the drill was repeated numerous times to get the details right.
From there, the defence line was put to the test against an attack throwing different shapes at it. The attacking shapes were just as much under the coaches’ microscope, and Gasnier provided his share of input for the backs.
Yes Foxx, it was a sweet play (photo credit Eels media)
In one memorable moment a peach of a pass was delivered to Josh Addo-Carr whose run was timed to perfection. It was only a simple training play, in a limited space, but watching the Foxx hit top gear in space up the sideline was a thing of beauty.
At a point during the session, a number of the backs completed sprints (40 metres?), that appeared to be timed. I can’t add any details as they had wrapped up by the time I noticed.
Session done (photo credit Eels media)
The session wrapped with ten a side opposed shapes through the middle. It was not quite full contact but players were taken to the ground. The improvement in Woody’s mobility was tangible as he made some back to back tackles and impressed with his capacity to get back into position.
See you at Fairfield on Saturday.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Great Report.
Glad to hear about Grieg. I really hope he has a massive pre-season. He could really be a smokey to replace RCG and start for us if he gets his fitness and 2022 form back. It would allow for Paulo to play off the bench which I believe is his best position.
Also good to hear about Gasnier helping our outside backs. I do not want to be critical off the past since we have moved on, but it feels many of our outside backs lacked the skills and knowledge in defence and attack. Whether it is a player or coaching thing idk. But simple catch and pass, hole running, finishing or reading defences were awful so hope Gasniers advice helps fixing it.
EA
We know the connection between Ryles and Gasnier. I wonder whether Gasnier and Wisemantel moved in the same circles at any time during Gaza’s time in Inu in.
By any chance, do you know if any juniors are training with the cup team?
Perhaps: Alamadine, Twiddle, Talatina, Piakula, Lokeni, T Brown etc who could not get a full NRL pre-season.
I saw a few of those fellas at Flegg training earlier this week. Most of the players that you’ve named are likely to start the season in Flegg so I think there’d be more benefit in them training with Flegg for the preseason. A couple of them might get some NRL training time in 2025 too.
Plenty of time to elevate them during the season.
Id love to see Emu step up and take his place.
Also look forward to Ionghi vs JPap. The battle for fulback.
I think JPap will go all out to take it from Ionghi.
Yet to see Iongi at training but Papali’i is definitely creating an impression.
Sixties I’ve watched Papali’i play in lower grades and highlights of his games on YouTube even before we signed him as a potential star player of the future.
Has he been an evidently talented player just watching him play? As in you can see his raw ability to give defenders issues, and that left foot step, etc,
He does have pretty good speed too from memory.
Has he been a bit of a stand our so far in regards to a young new player showing positive signs?
Do you think he is big enough to come on to the field as a 14 and break a game open? It’s hard for me to compare his size because I haven’t seen him next to say brown, etc. he has sizzling foot work and good speed,
I wonder if Ryles could stick him in the middle when defenders are tired like Melb & QLD do with their X factor players which can sometimes open the games up. I understand he prefers fullback. But he is ridiculously talented, he can probably several roles effectively.
Muz, I think he could play 14. He could cause some issues for tired defences.
Like PJ Marsh once did for us during his first stint with us.
These training updates are great. Thanks so much.
Joash papalii is a freak woody. He just hasn’t came back 100% yet from memory since his past injuries whilst at dogs. If he can remain healthy, he could debut next year. He has so much raw ability, if we can harness it he could become one of the best young players at parra inside 3 seasons.
For anyone who hasn’t watched him, he is young and very raw. But he is the type of player who can create something from nothing, best 3-4 defenders, even make line breaks from his own goal line. No parra players at cup or ball level I’ve seen possess the raw ability J papalii has. He is a freak.
Iongi just looks bit more matured and a bit more of a meter eater. Joash is possibly a NRL star of the future. Iongi just looks a bit more matured and experienced going off nsw cup games, but papali’i will be breathing down his neck for certain!
Ive watched plenty of his highlights. He is a freak.
Ryles said no position is guaranteed. He will push Iongi all the way.
Read that Ryles is the new fitness freak of this pre season.
*Ryley Smith
That he is Woody
That’s awesome. I don’t much about Riley smith. What position does he play? Yeah that’s good it’s a shoot out. It will help iongi and papali’i push themselves.
Ryley is a dummy half. Was one of the best in Flegg in 2024.
If as expected Laurie Daly is anointed as the next Blues SOO coach.
Does that mean MM’s aspiration to play further SOO games is over?
After all Daly did label him a flat track bully!
Surely not John!
With any luck John we don’t lose moses during origin. He cooked a Broken back the other year in it, this year a season ending torn bicep. At his age now, and his tendency to get injured.. we desperately need him to play most games this season at parra. I think mitchels presence will be even more important now with gutho gone.
Muz MM presence in the team has always been critical. He is a key element to our success.
I am pretty certain he will want to play SOO regardless. He will see injuries as part of playing NRL.
Thank you for the report Sixties. Well put together and informative.
Appreciate the kind words
Eelawarra. Great imagination.
I live in the gong as well.
Forty might have been the originator of that in a text to me – I told him I was appropriating it
i wont tell anyone
Thank Matthew 🤣
Anyone know why Ofehengaue is wearing the white and red polka dot jersey – at Fairfield and previous ?
And Riley Smith was in an all yellow jersey. – he also is looking like the fittest player at the club . Looks the goods.
Yeah, tour de France
Ryley is the overall leader.
Ofehengaue polkadot forward leader perhaps (or king of the mountain)
A great innovation so everyone can see and it makes it even more competitive
The Prince of Kellyville.
Way to go before he becomes The King.
Recognition of work done. There are a few shirts. I don’t won’t to spoil any Eels media disorder I’ll leave it at that.