“Hey Throw, you’ll enjoy today, plenty of footy.”
With that greeting I knew the session was going to offer plenty.
After warm ups there was some tackling of bump pads and also defensive footwork drills, but from there on it was footy time with plenty done with the ball in hand.
Next on the agenda was groups of nine running shapes into defenders. There was a sense of deja vu when Richie and another absolutely smashed his brother Will in serious contact.
It was reminiscent of the last preseason whenever the two brothers would come together in opposed. Richie kept making it known that he wasn’t going to be outdone by his older brother and I reckon he took that form into last years trials. Unfortunately, his 2025 season was impacted by injury.
It was also unfortunate that during the rest of this session they weren’t pitted against each other as they were both at right centre.
Defence skills early
Thirteen on thirteen opposed followed, in addition to a period of work practising the kick chase and the next few tackles in yardage. There was also some four tackle footy and a bit of left side vs right side and other footy drills.
From the footy components of the session, I noted the following:
* Ronnie Volkman stood out for the Cup side, and early on worked a play that put Richie P into space.
* Joash was involved in a terrific left side shift for the Cup that saw Araz run a great line to bend the defence
* Walker reminded us of his ball skill around the ruck for the NRL to send big Sam on a charge through a hole he created in the middle
* Confident ball play from Jack De Belin who is rapidly finding his role and combinations in the team
* The quick hands on a short blind via Jonah Pezet that created an overlap for the Foxx
* A huge hit by Luca Moretti on Matt Doorey that could be heard from the balcony.
* Superb ball from Pezet to Tuivaiti for the line break, which was immediately followed on the opposite side by a ball from Moses to Tuivaiti for another line break
* Great defence and decision making at centre from Araz
* Dylan Walker’s deft touches again provided another line break, this time to Luca Moretti
* Mitchell Moses hitting the exercise bike to allow Jonah Pezet to play at half, which also led to Joash playing on the left in this alternate combination. Mitch was later joined by a group of other players as the real Tour De Parra was on show!
* A clever kick from Joash for the Foxx the reel in before finding Samrani backing up
Now it’s the Tour De Parra, Kellyville Leg
This was a big session and I had to leave before it concluded. That meant that I missed how it was wrapped up and of course the extras. However, I reckon this report covered the main highlights of the morning.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Thanks as always for the reports Sixties – do we know when Simonsson is expected out of rehab? Plenty of talk about Russell to be the Lomax replacement, but I’d assume he’s only there in the interim.
Seany really found his feet throughout 2025 next to the Fox and I think we’d be remiss to move him away.
I won’t name the club, but I had reason to take a look at the pre-season work of another NRL side recently. Gee it looked amateurish by comparison with what The Eels currently are coming up with. Over time this culture has got to affect recruitment, retention and performance.
I do hope we’re able to retain Sean Russell, a true son of the Blue and Gold but of course it is inevitable that adding clubs inflates player incomes; if the salary cap stays static it’s probably that players will be lost – think of the carnage to our tanks when The Dolphins came in
Love that Doorey and Moretti are going after each other. I reckon they know there’s only room for one of them in the top 17 and it doesn’t sound like either is willing to be the one who misses out.
Centre and winger, 2 positions we’re really skinny in. Is there a realistic chance one of Reninisi or Nanva or even AMS can jag a spot in the team this season?
Any info on Brian Kelly also, seems to have gone very quite?
The club and most fans seem under the illusion Samrani can plug in at centre (very little that works against any top 8 side given his poor reads and lack of speed/agility). As to the other option, simonsson, he is what we have always known – a fragile, average winger. We will struggle to get out of backfield and also struggle to defend if we don’t improve on those options via player market imo
The club and most fans seem under the illusion Samrani can plug in at centre (very very unlikely that works against any top 8 side given his poor reads and lack of speed/agility). As to the other option, simonsson, he is what we have always known – a fragile, average winger. We will struggle to get out of backfield and also struggle to defend if we don’t improve on those options via player market imo