Just last week I told you about the squad being divided into four teams at training, with each named after a former player.

This Parramatta Eels club, like all NRL clubs, stands on the shoulders of those who have gone before. Be they past players or officials, such recognition is both essential and well-received.

Jason Ryles is building the culture of a club that honours its past. As such, there is more to this training nomination than just using a name.

The current players have to research the former player whose name is carried by their team. A leader/representative makes contact with that player to learn what they can.

On Tuesday, one of those former players visited training to meet “his team” and to watch the squad go through its paces. That former player was the multi premiership-winning John Muggleton, and the current player that contacted him was J’maine Hopgood.

Muggo is introduced to the squad. His “team” is just to his left

I had the pleasure of catching up with Muggo before and after training. John has been a guest numerous times at our Parra Leagues appearances, and he has an astute footy mind that I’m always keen to learn from. More on his impressions at the end of this report.

Gideon Kautoga returned to the field today, whilst Jack De Belin is expected to arrive at Kellyville on Wednesday. This means that apart from Junior (rehab) and Foxx (back on leave), it’s all hands on deck.

The jubilation of winning a warm up game (Image via Eels media)

The session commenced with defence. The focus was initially on footwork and it then developed into contact on bump pads, and 3 on 2 filling spaces drills.

Whilst the squad worked through this, three players completed their Broncos Run.

Isaiah Iongi, Will Penisini and Gideon Kautoga ended up finishing within forty metres of each other. Isaiah set an early pace and established a bit of a break, before Will ran him down in the closing twenty metres to win by about half a metre, whereas Gideon maintained a steady pace to finish under 40 metres behind them.

Next up, the squad was split into three rotating groups for left edge and right edge attack/defence, with two teams competing and the third undertaking conditioning runs.

Another quick fire game/drill followed, this time it was seven on five (five defending). It was a case of unrelenting/unstructured ball movement trying to catch out a scrambling/pushing defence, with Sam Moa barking at them to fill spaces, push up or across, or chase.

Sam Moa behind the line barking at defenders as the ball is spread

Simultaneously the rest of the squad was engaging in sets of what I’d call modified “Malcolms”. As they moved up and back on the field, there were certain points where they’d hit the turf, like in a Malcolm, but not as frequently.

Again separated from the backs, the forwards then continued their specific upskilling with hit ups using “bumpers up” and fends, along with offloads in contact.

Ryda Talagi breaks away

The backs ran shapes before the squad came together for what I viewed as the very first instances of full field width 13 on 13, not with take down contact, but with bump pads used by defenders. The sides were mixed, so there wasn’t really an indication of a top 13, but the main feature was the pace that it was played at.

Finally, a couple of players dropped out of each team as the opposed moved into a more compressed area, with all defenders hitting the ground after each tackle. The pace was relentless, with the timing of the periods of play controlled by Matt Jay. I therefore viewed this drill as having a significant conditioning function.

Looking ahead, I’m keen to see more team based opposed work so I can better gauge individual form lines. Without question, the skill level of the squad has improved on last pre-season, and the self confidence of the younger players is palpable. But who will take the next step?

Session done, it was time to grab Muggo’s impression of the morning.

“There’s a reason that the order of directions on a compass is read out as north, south, east, west. In footy, you need to get the north-south happening before you hit the east-west. I like what I’m seeing in that regard.”

Nailed it.

Eels forever!

Sixties

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