Before commencing this report, I have a request to any content creators who read these updates.
I don’t mind content from The Cumberland Throw being used elsewhere. However, it’s common courtesy to provide credit to the source. I know that this hasn’t been happening.
With that out of the way, it’s on with this update.
Conditions at Kellyville today were literally the polar opposite to yesterday. The temperature was at least 12-14 degrees cooler, and a light drizzle replaced the blazing sun.
Perhaps that’s why the coaches extended the field work by around half an hour? The crazy thing was, it looked like a number of players still wanted to keep going. More on that later.
After warm ups, a couple of games of touch set the stage for this extra long session.
Next, whilst the outside backs practised fielding attacking kicks, the rest of the squad worked through some attacking shapes with Nathan Brown.
Nathan Brown prepares for this drill
A bit of left side vs right side opposed on both fields (NRL vs NRL, Cup vs Cup) was followed by 13 vs 13 opposed. The sets were only 3 or 4 tackles, and there was no kicking, only a turnover on the last.
It seemed like the goal was expansive play rather than working through set structure. With the number of players involved in full training now exceeding 30, there was plenty of player rotation in this drill and in what followed.
Next on the agenda was NRL vs NSW Cup in red zone attack and defence. Please note that the aforementioned player rotation continues to provide opportunities for those competing for spots to push their claims.
The first period of play had the Cup in possession with NRL required to do relentless defence on their line.
For the most part they responded extremely well, shutting down spreads, offloads and kicks, until a terrific ball from Luca Moretti in contact found Dean Hawkins in support for the try.
Isaiah Iongi (image credit Eels media)
When it was their turn in possession, the NRL team flexed their attacking muscle. The tempo was fast, which should be old news to any supporters who’ve attended the two open training sessions. Isaiah Iongi will be instrumental in this aspect.
At first there was some impressive goal line defence from the Cup.
But the constant possession and territory involved in this drill was always going to be challenging. Firstly Moses found Tuilagi with a superb pass and the big back rower charged over for the try.
Not to be outdone, Ryan Matterson threaded a ball to Gideon Kautoga on the other edge for the try, then a simple spread to the left allowed Sean Russell to stroll over in the corner.
The licence to improvise was in full swing when a tap on from Dylan Brown soon led to another try.
Finally it was time for specific defence drills. After work on individual technique there were some big collisions as players hit the ball up at pace into the contact.
After about 15 to 20 minutes, things were then switched over to the attacking side of the contact, with Bumpers Up deployed to bounce out of defenders, and ball runners charging through bump pads and getting into good play the ball position.
As per usual, the morning was wrapped up with extras. Of interest, a number of players remained on the field for an extended time after most of the extras had been completed. It was raining, the session had already gone a bit longer than expected, and yet these blokes eventually had to be told to finish up.
How good is it when the players are so committed to improving their game!
Work ethic in action.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Thanks as always for these insights!
And it’s just flat out rude for those content ‘creators’ to disrespect this site and your hard-work by not crediting you lot, hopefully they take a hint and do better.
Cheers Mike. It’s not everyone, in fact I appreciate those that do because it helps to get our content out to more eyes. But when it doesn’t happen, it’s not good. Shout out to our followers who called out a certain journo a couple of years back.
Thanks 60s for bringing back the reports. I’m really loving them. It sounds like Moses and Brown are moving to another level… are the eels the dark horse this year I wonder. Gideon Kautoga is a name I’ve heard running around with the NRL boys. Someone to watch? Is two powerful impossing ball running back rowers the plan??
I can’t wait to see that forst officia team sheet
Kenny, I expect Parra to surprise people, esp those tipping a spoon finish. As for team selections, the pack and bench are still hard to determine what’s happening because there are still quite a few players in genuine contention.
I’m looking forward to Gideon getting a run in the trials. Looks like a handful running hard on an edge.
I think he’ll get that opportunity
Nice to hear Iongi is being used nicely in our attack, for anyone who watches his lower grade games he has a lot of talent and good passing skills and good decision making close to the try line. I predict he will either step up a lot of tries / try assists in 2025 or at the bare least have a high number of try involvements. It sounds like sixties is giving us tips here that Ryles has him heavily involved in our attack. Panthers barely used him in their attack in his NRL Debut game. Possibly to keep his debut game plan simple.
Are you seeing them practice iongi supporting players like grown up the middle a bit incase of offload or line break sixties?
I notice the roosters and storm like their fullbacks to be there in support a lot. You see Ryan paps and tedescos support game is unreal. I had a thought this is possibly part of why Jason wanted a faster fullback. So he could implement this style of game for parra.
Good point about Ryles wanting a similar role for our fullback as Paps and Teddy. I reckon you’re spot on and as incredible as our previous fullback was, he just didn’t have speed. Long is pretty quick I’m guessing. I haven’t actually seen him in action, but he looks as though he’s pretty swift.
He is fast accelerating grunta and also good top speed. He is quick between the ears too, good passing game.
I believe his involvement will add to the tempo.
Also Really good to hear sixties about Williams doing well at training. His defensive stats in NRL are really high. He seems to turn up at 110% every week which is what parra need’s especially in our forwards. Joe ofa, Jack Williams. paulo, Luca Moretti, Ryan Matto, Sean Lane, That’s still a solid line up of middle forwards options there we have!. Has Jack Williams been training at middle can you confirm sixties? Or in a range of positions…
From recollection it’s mixed but if you recall from the Eels injury report, he was returning from rehab, so it was a limited training involvement pre Christmas. He’s now in full training
true forget that 60’s thank you
Thanks for the reports. The players still on the field after training were they NRL or Cup players or a mixture? Any clues where Paps likely to play yet?
A mix.
As always, enjoy the reports. In curious to know what role Scott Wisemantel is playing if Nathan Brown is running attacking drills.
I thought Scott’s primary role was attack?
Michael, they both lead work on attack. Wisemantel was working with the outside backs during that drill (I noted the drill but not who lead it in my report). Also, with around 40 players in the preseason squad, all coaches get involved with different drills. And if there’s a coach leading a drill with the majority of the players, it helps to have those extra eyes moving around the squad to guide the players.
Thanks for the reports sixties very thorough and informative. Mate my son and I were going to drive to Kellyville today, what is access like and will we get turned away? Thanks
It’s not really set up for visitors but you can watch from where we view, which is beside the container at the end of the modular buildings (south west corner).
Sixties
I like the previous person ,my son and I are thinking also to go and watch the Eels train soon. Could you let me know what time they start in the morning???? please
Ray
Hi Ray. It can vary mate and given that i don’t work for the club I’m always reluctant to suggest times. For example, i saw about half an hour of training today as it was a light session. However, if you get there around 9:30 you’ll either not wait for long or not miss much. But remember, these aren’t open sessions so the coaches will make decisions around times and durations without thinking about whether people will be watching.
Thanks mate for the response
Has Ethyn Martin joined the pre season?
Hi Joel, I included Ethyn’s return in Monday’s report.
Has Ethyn Martin joined the pre season training? Had a shoulder complaint but apparently had a good rehab so far
Ethyn Had a shoulder complaint but apparently had a good rehab so far
Is there any indication yet on if Jason is going for a 1 or 2 hooker 17?
When Hands came on and made it made us deadly when he was playing in a 1-2 punch hooker combo with Josh Hodgson.
Remember The first time we finally turned the tide on south’s in recent years and flogged them, was when we ran the 2 hooker set up. We looked amazing I thought with two good hookers. Hands plays incredible coming off the bench with his high tempo hooker service.
Id love to see Joash Papalii off the bench in hooker role or wherever needed in backline or halves
No ondication Muz. And who knows whether Ryles will make those sort of selection decisions based on Parra’s opponents.
Joel, I think he could be a utility 14, in the way that sides are including playmakers off the bench.
Any idea if the club are going to do a military camp training, sand dunes or any other of those insane fitness regimes? Or has Blair completely moved away from that kind of conditioning that many top clubs do?
There are certain details around training that I always leave to the club to announce. Injury/rehab specifics and significant variations to programs are two of those. If something like that is on the agenda, look for the club to put out some sort of media.
Thanks for the updates sixties.
Will have a listen to the pod with buckets tonight.
Really hope Guymer and Moretti lock down spots in the 17 this season.
How is Wiremu Grieg looking? He will need a big year.
All players are looking ultra fit, including Woody. The Buckets interview, I think, was his best yet. I also recommend the chats with Steve Georgallis and Adam Fairley. They provide plenty of details on NRLW, elite pathways and juniors. We aimed for those three chats to get Eels fans up to date across the club as a whole.
I haven’t been this excited for a season for quite some time!
Really looking forward to seeing the 17 that Ryles puts together for the season as there have been so many so called experts guessing their 17 but we have some many options now and a new slate could mean a whole new look forward pack..
Keen as
Joel, it’s still an unknown to me around the pack and the bench. I’m fairly confident that the backline is set.