Whilst the Eels created headlines in Sydney with their rightful decision to commence legal action against Zac Lomax, it was business as usual for the staff and players in their preseason camp at Lennox Head.
The Thursday session was a hive of activity as players were split into groups, completing a series of focused training drills across the field.
Forwards and backs took part in rotating 4-on-4 and 4-on-2 attack drills, with opposed sessions increasingly tailored to specific areas of the game.
Later on, there was a chance to slow things down in the opposed work and focus on execution and the players being where they need to be.
The field was narrowed to 30 metres as NRL and NSW Cup halves practiced attacking kicks for try-scoring opportunities, testing both precision and timing.
Will Penisini and Kitione Kautoga stood out with some of the memorable catches for the NRL team.
Opposed action (image credit RockTroy01)
Across the week, Lincoln Fletcher has impressed while guiding the NSW Cup side from halfback.
Fletcher delivered an excellent kick to Richard Penisini, Lincoln also had the chance for some one-on-one work with Mitch Moses at the end of the session.
Richie and Jezaiah Funa-Luta look confident working together on an edge with players rotating in and out of both sides.
Twelve months ago at the first Lennox Head camp, I had heard a little bit about Isaiah Iongi and thought he could emerge as a regular in first grade.
A huddle during the session (image RockTroy01)
I can see something similar in Lorenzo Talatina, whose movement and attacking instincts makes me keen to see where he is in his development by this time next year.
As the morning progressed, the main NRL squad continued their rotations, with a strong focus on forwards hitting the right lines and maintaining position.
A promising combination looks to be developing on the left edge, with Joash and Kitione building chemistry in attacking plays.
Winger-specific drills featured prominently today, with pad work designed to perfect ball planting in the corner under pressure.
Sean Russell spent more time on the wing, while Jake Tago gained valuable reps with the main squad.
Support was also on hand from Foxx, who provided guidance to Brian Kelly. The recruit from the Titans brings his own experience while learning new systems on the run having only joined the club this January.
Players meeting fans (image Lenno Eel)
The backs broke into smaller groups and practiced finishing plays and defensive techniques.
It was great to see the younger forwards responding to Nathan Cayless as fatigue set in at the back end of training.
Thursday’s session highlighted both the emerging depth of the Eels squad and the club’s focus on integrating young players into the NRL lineup ahead of the season kick-off.
RockTroy01 and family meet the Eels at Lennox Head
People in Lennox Head and the wider Northern Rivers region will have one last chance to see the team up close with a Saturday session scheduled between 730am-930am.
There should be some time for photos and autographs straight after before the team returns to PARRAdise later in the day.
Lenno Eel
Thanks Lenno Eel for this wide ranging report.
I am very hopeful for the season ahead that we will continue to see exciting improvement and results.
But now I have a whinge. I too live on the Northern Rivers but until your telling us about the open session tomorrow, we have had no easily found info on when to come and see the boys at work. I would have loved to have slipped across to get a dose.
Interestingly, some of the Titans seemed to have been in Lismore yesterday. They got all the media coverage. I guess it is more their backyard … but it’s all a pity from a Parra fan perspective. Again, Parra organisers don’t seem to realise how many of us there are in these far flung from Sydney regions.
If I wear Parra gear down town, I can’t help but get 5 “g’days” and a convo from a fellow supporter as they serve me at a counter. The lack of this Parra organiser recognition is what stopped me paying my membership.
Hi Brelogail. You’re right. Parra fans are everywhere across the northern rivers! In terms of the week. It was basically a normal week of training for them, just in a different location. That’s why it wasn’t heavily advertised for being a meet and greet or fan day. Other nrl and rugby teams have come to the region in the past, but have kept it to closed sessions.
Thanks for responding Lenno …. and yeh I remember watching Parra play a trial game at Oakes Oval … maybe 10 years ago.
No wonder the Titans are eying Oaks as a possible 1 round venue … if the lighting gets sorted. It will draw a crowd!
For Parra, coming to the Northern Rivers would be far better than the now defunct Darwin game .. and probably cause more youngsters to think about playing for us.
It wouldn’t have to be Lismore. Many, many of us would drive to Grafton say to watch a game or two or Casino. But Oakes would be sensational.
Brelogail I could definitely get behind a Titans v eels NRL game at Oakes!
I think Titans will be a lot more active in the region with Scott Sattler backed involved at the club.
I think city v country and that parra game you mentioned still holds the crowd record at Oakes.
I also remember seeing Parra play the sharks in a trial game at Ballina one year.
Good one!
Thanks for all of your work this week Lenno! Much appreciated.
Concur !
Brelogail, it makes sense with our team visiting in preseason, that if the club intended giving a game to a regional area, that it be in that northern rivers region.
Hey Brelogail,
As Lenno advised, these weren’t organised as open sessions for fans, especially with regard to the staff that are normally required to manage such events. Open sessions carry expectations in regard to photos, autographs and player time. It’s the reason why the Eels ask people to register their attendance for open sessions in the Parra catchment area.
On the other hand Brelogail, I have been advising of the training camp in Lennox Head for weeks now on TCT. I did so for the benefit of anyone up north wanting to see them in action. Lenno Eel provided training times too.
Thanks Sixties!
Let me just take up one of your points. Certainly, you have been reminding us that the Lennox Head training weekend is on. That is why I asked you previously about times.
My drive to the Sport and Rec facility would be 35 mins. And I have plenty on in life. I didn’t need a full blown meet and greet. I would have just liked to watch from the sidelines.
But not knowing whether they would be running the sandhills somewhere or playing golf or out for lunch left me doubting that 1- 3hrs, set aside for maybe a nothing, was not justifiable in my busyness. The only time I saw Lenno’s training info times was yesterday for today. I mostly need more notice than that. Plenty would be like me.
As you probably recall, I’m your era … a supporter for 48 years now. A little outside of Sydney thoughtfulness would make me a more contented one. I’m not holding my breath. Hence, I stopped paying my membership.
This scenario is not TCT’s fault. It is some department of the Club’s. They probably live in Brelogail St and go to Bateau Bay for a distant holiday!!
Thanks for all your work fellas. I love it.
I know it’s real early but interested to see where lane Morgan lines considering she was a scrum-half. Will she share dummy half with rueben or is she going to come put pressure on the halves? Either way big pick up, the team looks like they’ll have a big bounce back this year if all stay healthy (touch wood)
I’m tipping she’ll be in the halves Sebastian. We need impact there.
I was just now daydreaming about Kenny putting me through a gap or other such scenarios. I got to thinking how its been 40 years since we last won a premiership which is six years longer than we had to wait for our first one since our inception in 47. So I wonder if ryles has been bold enough to start thinking of a line that can match jack Gibson’s words ding dong the witch is dead.
how has Kelly been looking settling into our systems so far?
I actually think he’s a pretty good attacking player with instincts, and tbh you cannot blame him for not being known as a defensively minded player.
Nobody at the titans is a good defender, they’ve been a kind of soft belly rely on attack & throw the ball around mentality.
My feeing is Kelly is probably as good as Russel or Penisini, so it’s actually decent signing considering he probably has more X-Factor than both of them and doesn’t cost a lot.
Hi Muzz. At Lennox he spent a lot of time shadowing the Foxx to learn more about the systems
Not sure if they’ll line up as a centre wing combination or not. Bailey missed the camp due to the birth of his first child
Russell spent most of his time on the left wing.
I spoke to Brian on one of the days. He’s loving the move. Said he’s learning new things and highly impressed with how the coaches are running the show.
That’s awesome thank you for sharing that Lenno Eel
I hope Fox and Kelly make a combo partnership on one side at some point as I believe it will be a very dangerous attacking side if we end up putting them together
Also interesting regarding Sean Russel training at left wing
He does a good amount of hard dirty work early in sets, Ryles may be looking using him there to help us on kick returns playing wing + Sean’s strong defensively
My initial thoughts were that Penisini and Kelly together would be a poor defensive side (for at least a few games) and might be too risky in our first few games, against strong opponents
My belief is that the Fox could mentor Kelly to assist on defensive reads and build a good combo over there together
Awesome to hear Brian is happy and impressed, excited to see how he looks after about 5-6 games in the blue & gold in 26’
Lenno Eel it’s a wild guess …
But my guess is Bailey will miss first games due to missing lots of pre season from injuries
That and Kelly and Sean may actually be in better form than him considering Baileys had limited game time last season + this off season
That centre combo with Fox and Russell really grew on me last year.
I think he could definitely do something similar with BK in 26.
Tough to break up that fox and Russell combo, but might be best for the team long term if Russell goes back to the wing.
I think you’re right with Bailey. He will probably be the odd man out heading into the early rounds.
It’s also going to be hard to leave either Guymer or Doorey out of the 17 based on what I saw. Could be some genuine spots up for grabs in the trials.
Also interested to hear if you have had a chance to catch up with JDB.
Hopefully he has settled in to the Eels well.
Terrible decision by the Saints to cut him and I know it would still wound him deeply.
I had a chance to have a chat with the Fox a while ago and he was over the moon with the club, said something like, if I knew how good the club was, I’d have come here years ago…
(But there was a few Brahs etc in there that got me lost ! )
I know it’s all business and players are pretty tight but I do wonder how the players are processing the Lomax issue.. especially Moses who was extra tight with Zac.
Hi Spark, looked to be business as usual for the lads.
Moses looks to be happy mentoring the young halves and definitely has that competitive spirit in everything he does. He was pretty tight with Gutho too, but as you said it’s a business and life goes on.
I didn’t get a chance to speak with JDB but he was leading the way in just about every single forwards drill and th opposed work. Exactly what you want from a player like him.
Not surprised regarding JDB
He was saints best forward and his defence stats are crazy, he was still fast and mobile
Reminds me of the Jack Williams signing – I believe he will be a very good & versatile forward for us