Did you realise that in just eleven days the Eels will play their first official trial of the 2025 season. Or should I say, play their first match in the Witzer Pre-Season Challenge.
If you can’t wait that long for some footy, the first match of that “Challenge” takes place this Friday when the Panthers play the Raiders.
The count down is most definitely on.
Which means the field sessions are starting to become very specific, and I’m just that bit closer to wrapping up these reports. Remember, I don’t provide any details about training once the season commences – for obvious reasons.
For now, the content will continue and it was an impressive Monday session.
The skills work was what you’d come to expect. Which meant that following the warm ups, it was time for passing, bumpers up into contact, and marker movement into tackles.
Markers into the tackles
Following that, the squad split into two groups for position specific drills. The outside backs practised quick hands under defensive pressure, whilst the forwards and halves ran through their standard shapes.
With the skills component behind them it was time for the scrimmage work to begin. It was all red zone based, and my appreciation is extended to the coaching staff as they ended up conducting this part of the session close to our vantage point!
The focus was equal parts attack and defence and involved relentless last tackle plays. It was NRL vs NSW Cup, with each side being given extended time as either the attacking or defending team, before swapping over.
Great take Will!
Different options were explored, and it covered the gamut of kicks or running plays. It was interesting to watch the defensive responses as the attacking team simply followed one last tackle play after another.
The coaches found numerous teaching moments for the players too – positioning, lines run, shapes, targets. I won’t go into what was addressed but I enjoyed hearing the specificity of the feedback delivered to the group.
There were plenty of questions asked in attack but it was the defence which impressed me the most.
Across the entire drill, which extended for the rest of the session, only two tries were scored – one by the Foxx for the Cup team, and one by Luca Moretti for the NRL team.
Will Penisini – image credit Eels media
The communication/talk was good and the defence line and the individuals responded well to a variety of attacking plays. One highlight was the rapid reflexes of Dylan Brown who somehow executed a clean catch on a kick drilled into him at close range.
This response was typical of what the players produced time after time and I want to emphasise that the options taken didn’t seem to be telegraphed.
Luca Moretti
Eventually this red zone scrimmage expanded to each team receiving four tackles building into the final plays. My favourite moment had nothing to do with the football, and involved a bit of fun between the players.
Sean Russell had cleaned up a kick into the in-goal with pressure from the chase of Richie Penisini and others. As Sean hit the turf, Richie gave him a silly facial, with both laughing. The other two chasers then came over to haul Sean to his feet.
It was a brief and insignificant exchange, and yet it said plenty about the 2025 preseason vibe.
And about the connections in this team with the countdown now on.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Easier to write my name this way now, I like how you’ve shortened it. Great report again and thanks for all you do. Seasons getting real close how bloody good.
On that note, how far away is the highly anticipated round 1 predict
GG – you mean team list prediction? I’m not sure that it will change too much from before. I’ll see how this week pans out. There’ll be team lists next week for the trials. Maybe I should get my prediction out before then?
Yeah mate that’s what I meant. I’d love to see a predicted lineup from yourself, especially as we are likely to have a heavily rotated team for the first trial
Thank you for all the reports over the summer, TCT. We are very lucky as a fanbase to have access to information and observation gleaned from training. I’m sure there are a hell of a lot of supporters that read though don’t comment. I’m sure the majority share the same sentiment as I.
With thanks, Jye.
I am one of those readers, i read all these reports and appreciate the insights, I never comment because most of the comments ask the good questions. but these reports really gets me keen for the 2025 season and feb 14th cant come sooner.
Liam, I’m getting keen myself – I want to be able to compare their development to other teams.
Cheers Jye. The number of readers to each report usually falls somewhere between 2.5K to 4.5K – that will give you an idea of the difference between readers and comments. I’d probably struggle to read all the replies if every reader of TCT responded. We had just under 104K site visits in January.
Great reporting yet again sixties , the thing that has got me excited is the complete change in body shape of the players and how fit they look , paulo , greig and tualagi look to have lost 10kg each , some have put on an incredible amount of muscle mass and really only a few seem to of stayed similar in shape , I’m anticipating no fitness fade-outs this year
It’s been a totally different approach, non traditional, that appears to have yielded big results.
I echo Liam’s comment, I access the site every day for a read but rarely comment, hugely appreciate these insights. Bring on 2025
Cheers Jimmy.
Thanks Sixties and appreciate this again.The weather was v warm yesterday and I noticed the slip, slop and slap from the players
How is Ryley Smjth going as DH?
I had a brief chat with Arthur M S at the fan day and he was very good and appreciated the fans response at the day Hope he has an injury free season like Richie
I’ve tried to ease back a bit on the focus on Ryley. I don’t want to increase the burden of expectation on a player approaching his first full season out of age football. He’s made great progress and made full use of this preseason. If he hasn’t impressed the coaching staff, I’d be stunned.
how are the likes of Brock Parker Tony Matele & going ?
is Reece Alderton still there
Reece came in to the training squad last season but wasn’t part of the preseason. He’s not involved in this preseason and I don’t know of he’s still with Wenty.
Brock Parker has had a solid preseason, interrupted part way through by a period in rehab. It was his first full preseason. Toni Mataele has enjoyed his best ever preseason, and might even be higher in the pecking order than many expect.
Good to hear about mataele – he has the right body shape + agility to do some damage in middle off the bench. Just needs to be injury free and pack a good attitude
Thanks Sixties. WOW, 11 days. Who’s counting😀
Me! 😁
Tks sixties, time flies, seems like yesterday you cranked it up for another season, and The Greatest series from Chris has given followers the chance to throw their minds back. Some of the names are big memory joggers of people and events. Quietly looking forward to the second row series, that one really gets me thinking.
Just on the current squad, who are the main talkers in the forwards?
Junior, Joffa, and Matto seem to have a bit to say, but I don’t always pick up all the talkers. There are often days where the talk is so big that I can’t pick who’s doing the most.
Eleven days Mr Sixties – thank you for reminding me. My heart rate and blood pressure is now on the rise. Looking forward to the kick off. I am very confident we are in for a big season. We are the smokey.
Your reports are great – to be truthful I can’t quite get enough of them. Thank you for speeding up the off season.
Cheers Zero. Spoke to a few players today. They are counting down the days too!
Love the inside into the training sessions,bring on the NRL season;jlooking forward to watching Isiah Iongi play,and the speed of this backline has now,this roster is a top 4,excited about the combination of Moses and Lomax will bring,who ever the right winger will be,fox or Russell,will get highest try scorer.
Jamie, we had a chat with Isaiah today. He is looking forward to playing alongside the boys too.