Before diving into today’s report, I wanted to let supporters know that star Eels NRLW recruit Keilee Joseph called in to Kellyville this morning.
The former Bronco was checking out the CoE and enjoying the cafe with Eels staff. Keilee will be a tremendous acquisition for the club.
Monday morning means a new set of Tour De Parra shirts for the week ahead and there were no surprises.
Kelma Tuilagi – Gold
Teancum Brown – White
Jack Williams – Spots
Lincoln Fletcher – Green
Kelma has started the preseason with a bang. As reported a couple of weeks back, on return he set a PB with his Broncos Run and has set himself for a big summer. With the competition for edge spots heating up this pre-season, he could steal a march on his opponents.
But how about Teancum Brown!
The rising Eels middle forward has earned a shirt over three consecutive weeks, with the Spotted, Gold and now White awards in his keeping. I pointed out in the first couple of weeks that the eye test said he’d turned up for his first NRL preseason ready to go, and the coaches obviously feel the same.
It was to be expected that the 2025 Ken Thornett Medallist, Jack Williams, would earn a leading shirt or two during the preseason, but it’s a huge congrats to Lincoln Fletcher for making an early impression.
The 2025 SG Ball half is extremely fit, as witnessed by those who attended the open session on Saturday. He will be wearing the Green this week in recognition of his speed and power/energy on the training track.
Just on the Saturday session, it was right up there in terms of intensity and questions asked of the squad. I’m told it rated at least a 9.2/10.
Today was a solid couple of hours to ease the fellas back into the week.
“Come on coach, call the winner!”
A series of kicking/passing relays started proceedings, and as per usual, the competitive element had the players looking for bragging rights over team mates. There were some photo finishes that I wouldn’t have wanted to call, and joy of winning each was the equal of match day try celebrations.
I would have categorised what followed as a skills session.
Once the warm ups were completed, the group split into forwards and backs.
The forwards drilled hit ups with a fend, and bumpers up, then adding a support runner and finally running full shapes at the line.
Meanwhile the backs worked on their running mechanics with a focus on strength and acceleration (hurdles, weights, etc).
Simultaneously Moses fine tuned aspects of his short kicking game.
From there the outside backs separated to work on their AFL catching technique with Wisey donning his favourite turtle pad.
The turtle pad getting a workout from Moey
Moses was joined by other playmakers as they honed their attacking kicks.
At that point the forwards also rotated to running mechanics similar to what the backs did earlier, whilst the outside backs practised those spectacular, yet essential, corner finishes.
Heading for the corner! (Image Eels media)
Defence line movement, unopposed shapes, then opposed shapes, rounded out the session before the obligatory extras.
This was a session where Joash looked very sharp and Kelma continued to impress.
It looks like Joash has no intention of handing over his first grade jersey without a fight. With competition arriving from the outside with Pezet, and internally with Talataina, there was uncertainty amongst supporters about the role that Papalii would play in 2026.
Joash Papalii (image via Eels media)
But as he did last year, the live wire back has simply shifted the pressure back on Ryles to find a place for him somewhere in the 17. If Joash continues to follow the advice of his father Pele to “add value” to the team, it will be difficult for the coach to ignore him.
As for Kelma, there will be a hard luck story or two when the pack is named in round one. Judging by this early part of the preseason, Tuilagi wants to remove luck as a factor in selection.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Thanks Sixties for the work you do!
It is a fantastic sign to see/hear Kelma coming back fit and motivated. The fight for spots will be brutal for 2026 with your reports on Teancum Brown among others is making me more and more comfortable with our forward stocks.
How would you say the depth outside backs are faring? Anyone given you an indication that they will be pushing for a starting spot? Is Joash being utilized as an outside back by any chance?
Joash appears to fit in as a spine player in skills work and drills. I think we must add to outside back depth – we need an NRL experienced back up or two
I’m really hoping we see the very best of Kelma this season. He teased us this year with glimpses of what he can bring, but I really want to see 24 games of game breaking edge forward play from him this season. And I want to see Iongi live in his hip pocket, when he’s not living in Junior’s that is.
Thanks Sixties,
An encouraging report. It will be interesting to see if Jack plays middle or edge I feel like that will be a key decision that shapes the pack.
Personally I think he and Kitione should start on the edges with Kelma used of the bench for impact. All 3 of them are going to be absolute handfuls for opposition defenders
I like Jack Williams on an edge. His footwork and pace are terrific. We do have a number of forwards who can play either edge or middle.
Like i said previously I was there at Fairfield. Lincoln Fletcher is the new Eels fitness king on that day anyway. At this time lat year it was Ryley Smith leading in every run, whether it be 200m, 400m, broncos. But this time, Lincoln out gunned him in every run. Lincoln was sometimes 10 or 20m ahead of Ryley and just kept him there.
Teancum Brown did well in those fitness runs aswell, he’s huge. He looked bigger than Sam Tuivaiti about the same height but Brown’s upper body is JWH like.
The training was different to last year’s, more emphasis on attacking formation and running straight, and less on contact
Definitely still contact work during the week Chiefy but there are definitely different shapes being thrown into their work. As for Fletcher, he’s got pace and can maintain it. It will be interesting to see if he can take Ryley’s Broncos run record. There’s a bit more to the 1.2km run with how players bring it home.
Any sighting of De Belin or Iongi, or any other players to return from annual leave sixties?
I didn’t see either in Saturday
Iongi’s back. Saw him in training on a fb post
See Tuesdays report just posted.
If Kelma’s defence can pick up and match his attack with improved fitness and then with Williams hopefully getting a preseason on the edge and KK improving all the time, that leaves us with 3 very good and very different 2nd rowers to rotate. Not to mention Guymer and the young brigade coming through.
It will be nice to see some signings announced. I agree with Sixties that a quality outside back would be very nice.
If the club is able to secure Kaloamatungi we will have two KK’s in the team, Interesting.
I am excited to see what Katoa brings this season. He was really firing late in the season prior to the injury that ended his year.
I see that Bellamy has signed Jack Hetherington. I’m not surprised – I believe that he is a player of enormous potential value; I’m sorry we didn’t think him worth an offer.
I was guttered for Joash when we signed Pezzet. The way he finished the season was next level for intensity and effort. He does everything so fast. I just hope things will some how work themselves out and he will see plenty of first grade this year.
I smell a very good season on the horizon
James, it won’t be for lack of trying for Joash.
Is it true / confirmed that Jake tago goes into our top 30 , probably a great guy but if he’s in line to play wing particularly when injuries hit well really give that spoon a shake
That would be a massive admission that our ceiling is very very low.