Months of rumours, hype and discussions have come…to fruition? Yes indeed, Spencer Leniu – long linked to the Parramatta Eels – has finally been locked in by the Blue & Gold after securing a release from the Sydney Roosters and inking a 4-year deal with Parra. Leniu becomes the third recruit for the Eels ahead of their 2027 campaign as he joins Jarome Luai and Jaydn Su’A as the Eels look to breach the Top 8 next year.
Sixties and Forty20 finally get to talk about this topic with certainty and clarity as they look at what Leniu will add to the Eels as well as the latest news on other fronts with the club looking to compete with the Brisbane Broncos for the services of gun recruitment manager Peter O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan gone to the Broncos. Daniel Anderson anybody?
Yes anything to get rid of Mark Oneill. He has consistently failed.
We now need to sign an elite centre badly and for this season!! Must get the most out of our one year five eighth! Bradman Best now looking likely for a stay at knights – get your cheque book out parra!!!! Latrell or Bostock are mandatory in the circumstances. Dont let us down.
I must admit I was confused that we were openly in the market for O’Sullivan while MON is still employed.
At best for MON it would have meant a demotion, at worst he would have had to go.
So even though we didn’t get O’Sullivan, does this mean the Eels are actively looking to replace MoN?
Yeah good signing and until confirmed it could’ve been another one….gone.
Guess the head of footy role will be a key appt. Great to have the Rush joining us and I’d be happy with Ando back home. Cameron also but it seems to be not happening from some reports.
Good appointment Mike Rush, maybe with his pommy experience he can lead us to the next Herbie Farnsworth or Sam Burgess. It can only be positive.
Busy couple of days for the Eels
The other week I questioned whether Beach was serious about becoming a good NRL club again. I believe they’ve made the right decision here. Rush cultivated and sustained success over a long period. From overseeing the development of some very good SL players: James Graham, James Roby, Jonny Lomax, Tommy Makinson and Jack Welsby. He also brought in young coaches who had success at his club and eventually in the NRL. Again he knows what success is and more importantly he knows what rugby league success is.
Then Spencer Leniu. Is it the signing I was hoping we’d make at the start of the year? No. But after paying attention to him more as it became a rumour we were going to sign him I began to see a player that was better than his numbers might suggest. He may have only played 20-30 minutes a game for Robinson’s roosters but those minutes were all quality. I’ll take the GF for example not only did he force out 13.5m per run he made it so it was difficult for any knights player to bring him down that it earned his team a six again and a penalty. Defensively he only attempted 9 tackles missing 1 but 1 of them was mightily important forcing an error giving the roosters possession on the knights’ line. And then what the stats can’t show you. After a Spencer Leniu run the roosters are able to attack, the line is disjointed and with how quick his play the balls are there’s a chance the defensive line is retreating. I don’t think we’ve had a player of this capability since Fui Fui.
2 elite signings that know what success is
Plenty of commentators are calling for Sam Walker to be selected at 7 over Mitch Moses. In my mind this is on a par with with those wanting Reece Walsh over Tedesco. Queensland commentators and coaches have never seen a Queensland player who wasn’t superior to his NSW equivalent.
My firm view is that Walker did nothing with the Roosters dominance in possession provided by their outstanding pack in the GF. Thought that the game winners were Whyte. Tedesco, Marky Mark and Leniu. DCE did the vast majority of the kicking including the winning field goal. Sam Walker played low key like he had just come back from injury.
Reece Walsh has been inconsistent all year whereas Tedesco has been a standout. That includes the GF.
Let Walker play. I make no apology for this because the less time Moses has on the park reduces his chances of sustaining an injury. We went him fit and well which, for most of the Eeks fans would be a fading memory the last time Moses gave us twenty games in a season.
Lenui may well prove to be a good signing, but one wonders why he got limited game time. Does he have an attitude problem? Why do I think Sua will be the better signing. Is it possible those in charge might think Burton is a better signing than Best who is injury prone? Bostock would be long odds against coming to Sydney.
Certainly we are running out of options. We should consider Luai as a centre for his one off cameo season and persevere with Volkman as five eighth.
Zero 58 you will probably get your way. The last time Mitch played for the Kangaroos, Harry Grant was the 9 and Dearden got all of the first receiver ball. Tomorrow night I am guessing Munster will get it.
Mitch should have a quiet night.