Today’s report includes feedback on the last two sessions at Kellyville.
The rationale is simple. Thursday was the Member Appreciation Day open training and signing event. The training was a little lighter than usual, and from my perspective there was not enough of note in their work to write up a dedicated report.
With at least a thousand members in attendance, significant time was dedicated to public relations, including an interview with Jason Ryles, and a signing session inside the community centre.
In my opinion, the Kellyville facility is a superb venue for such an event. The stand comfortably accommodated the crowd, not that everyone stayed in the stand.
The crowd in the stand
Plenty of kids were playing on the second field, either in the PARRAdise jumping castle or running around in touch footy with staff.
PARRAdise Cafe and its balcony, and other surrounds were also popular spots.
As for the session itself, it consisted of running mechanics, outside backs kick and catch, forwards and halves working through shapes, and edge attack and defence. The session wrapped with the halves throwing down long range kicks to the outside backs, and the forwards running plays at the posts.
In essence, they didn’t give too much away. My highlight was Gideon running great lines off Papalii.
Time for autographs (image credit Eels media)
A massive acknowledgement is deserved by the players. After a couple of hours on the training track, the squad immediately convened to the community centre for their meet and greet.
I didn’t stay for this component of the event, but I’m told that the players happily engaged with members for over two hours to ensure that all fans had the opportunity for photos and signatures.
This pushed back the next part of their training schedule for Thursday and ultimately that meant the finish of their day was after 6:30pm. I’ve written before about the respect that this squad has been giving to Eels fans. This was yet another example.
Moses meets some happy fans (image credit Eels media)
Friday
If Thursday was a light session, then Friday was anything but that.
This was all about the football contest, the arm wrestle. With the players hitting the training track in their jerseys rather than training shirts, there was an early indication that their preseason was going up a gear.
It should be noted that some key players sat out this session. A big week awaits in Lennox Head from Sunday, so there was no need to get involved in the planned contact. One of those was Ryley Smith, so Meni Luke was called in to play dummy half for Cup.
Ryley Smith (image credit Eels media)
After warm ups, the squad rolled through their ruck shapes under the watchful eye of Nathan Brown. This was at about 3/4 pace, unopposed, but Brown was quick to address something that he wasn’t happy with.
Next was red zone attack and defence, with Cup first to have extended possession. Moey Alameddine crossed early for the Cup side after quick hands created an overlap. From there the NRL defence tightened up before Apa Twidle broke the line later in the drill, and then Jake Tago scored after Fletcher straightened the attack, with quick hands right creating the space for Tago.
Opposed in action
The NRL in reply were very sharp with Matt Doorey splitting the defence twice in running great lines, whilst Bailey Simonsson crossed after a decisive right side shift. Shout out to Richie Penisini in defence for an AFL style catch to shut down an attacking kick.
Finally, the session wrapped with the first serious contact opposed of the preseason. I noted the following
* Superb hands by Bailey Simonsson to draw in an awkward pass that was well out in front of him
* Terrific catch of a spiral bomb by Moey Alameddine followed by a powerful charge into the defence
* A huge charge by Doorey into the defence which was met by equally good NSW Cup defence to stop him in his tracks
* Tremendous pressure applied by NSW Cup in this opposed. They asked plenty of questions in attack and tackled strongly
* A brilliant scramble from the NRL defence in the left corner to shut down what looked like a certain Cup try in the right corner. Cup couldn’t have executed the play better than they did. NRL were simply desperate to shut it down.
The Cup team asked questions
This was a session where defence was the winner. If the goal of the session was primarily the arm wrestle, then perhaps this was the desired outcome. My minimal highlight notes were testimony to a day where the contact was increased, and the players delivered.
On occasions the passes were pushed but I put that down to the pressure applied. Regardless, any imperfections provided coaching points for next week’s camp.
Just on next week, TCT will have our local correspondent, Lenno Eel, in attendance for a session or two at the Sport and Rec centre. I look forward to presenting his feedback.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Hi Sixties
Do you have any idea of training days/times and Lennox? Plenty of local fans want to get down and support but no idea of timing
I can only assume it’s similar to Kellyville. On field at either 9:30 or just after 10.
Scratch the last message. Monday will be on field at 10:15
Thanks sixties
If you get a tip off about the other days this week at Lennox please let us know
Thursday 9:30am. Nothing on Friday.
Not sure if Club or player driven, but spending time mixing with the fans pays dividends in that fans more engaged plus, looking at the photo of Moses with fans, drives merchandise sales. Good promotion by the Club.
I think all parties at Parra are on the same page in that regard – management, coaches, players.
Great snaps sixties. The sparkle in the eyes and smiles around Moses, staring at Ionghi (penny for your thoughts young fella), a grandstand full of current and future true believers at a training run, and Mr 110% Ryley Smith. and some football too!
Cheers BDon. There’s a vibe, a positive one.
Great report again. You’ve mentioned in previous reports that the forwards appear more skilful compared to last year at the same time. Do you have any other comment on the comparison between the squad this time last year and now?
Pete, we are playing faster. It’s like the coaches were able to start from a higher base this preseason.
Mr Sixties Ryley Smith – he appears to be a little slimmer and taller. Could that be an optical illusion?
It was good Bailey got a mention but nothing about Kelly. Is he still settling in or waiting for Lennox Head.
Ryley had put on weight during 25. That was his goal.
Kelly still settling in. He wasn’t in the opposed in this session.
Does anyone know – what’s behind this story about Newcastle and Luca Moretti? We’re we prepared to enter into some sort of deal? Was one of their players involved?
Small rumour was going around about Moretti going to newy this year.
Got shut down earlier though.
It’ll be an absolute load of **** if the nrl step in and try force the lomax transfer, especially after a blatantly disrespectful offer like the storm just did.
The RLPA says that it’s disrespectful for clubs to tap players on the shoulder and get them to conform with the club’s need to swap them for a preferred player.
PVL needs to understand that it’s disrespectful for players like Lomax to tap clubs on the shoulder to swap for a deal that they perceive is better than the one that they are on.
PVL sees the Storm as a big player in the NRL given that they are a one team town. However he needs to be aware that Eels fans expect that they receive the same treatment as a Storm or Broncos or any other club in the NRL.
I get a sense that they do not want this to go to the courts. It’s hard to see how any court could rule in Lomax favour based on the information we have so far around this perfectly legal contract. I see this as a well considered decision by the Eels.
The Storm cheated us out of a title with a team blatantly exceeding the cap. Now they are calling on Vlandys to cheat us out of our entitlements re Lomax.
We should go to the last trench on this one.
Hear, hear Noel. The disrespect shown to Parramatta by the Storm is not a one off. When they first beat us in a finals game Glen Lazarus carried on like a pork chop, the 2009 salary cap GF as you mention, including a fake 2009 premiership trophy while celebrating old boys day when playing Parramatta and a token transfer fee offer for Lomax which has all the sincerity of a politician’s promise during an election campaign.
The Storm have been a cocky outfit since day one – the Robbie Kearns face masks being another example. I feel it’s ownership structure and knowledge that the NRL needs a Victorian footprint provide it with a distinct advantage when it comes to situations such as the Lomax one.
*may have been a Rodney Howe mask. I do tend to get a red mist descending over me when discussing Storm.
Likening Lomax to the kid from Wests Tigers is a blatant calumny. 19 years old versus current Australian test player; a few months to run on a contract versus three years. If the kid was worth $165000omax is worth $800000; if we were interested in money, which we’re not.
Calumny – perfect word Noel! Agree wholeheartedly with your comment around dollar values as well.