The Rugby League World Cup kicks off this week with Eels featuring across a number of contenders. The Tip Sheet goes international this week as Sixties and Forty20 run their eyes over the field ahead of Thursday’s massive clash between the Kangaroos and the Kiwis.
The latest from Parradise includes the confirmation that Mike Rush is indeed the Eels’ new CEO but the club did miss out of Peter O’Sullivan with the recruitment guru joining the Broncos. Amidst all of that the club has revealed its 80th anniversary logo with an extra touch of gilded finishing.
The show then takes a turn as the boys face a battery of fan questions about the Eels helmed by the one and only Yoko (Oh No!).
Had a good tune in last night and did not sent a question – i really enjoyed the format of the show and it was great to see an addition off the bench, Yoko.
I thought the Q and A was interesting and some good background to the answers provided. It was interesting to hear the takes on what may occur if we make the 8 / do not make 8 etc and the coach into the future. For me this heavily depends on the support provided in terms of player acquisitions. New head of recruitment with some footy nous and skin in the game would be v good….
Will listen to the pod tonight. Interested to hear the topics covered.
In terms of the off season thus far.
I don’t know much about Rush but at least he is well credentialed – so that is a start and happy to give it a go. Wish him all the best.
I hate the Leniu signing. I know we had to do it because our roster is so bad and we were literally not going to be able to spend the cap minimum. I am incredibly wary of the guy who is willingly released by not one but two highly successful clubs.. and he is what, only 25?! it is a consistent trend we seem to have of being willing to sign players regardless of the person they are and their character, and we wonder why things don’t get better. But we’re sadly that desperate.
I see we are advertising for a new strength coach.. Meanwhile the Premiers are advertising for a Head of Sports Science… which might show where we are at in terms of our professionalism.
Still no movement on the Head of Operations which isn’t to be expected, but will remain a crutch for this club until something happens there.
40 years has taught me not to be optimistic about this club – that is just me. The character of the people our club is continuing to choose to bring in and the total lack of strategy doesn’t fill me with any more hope for 2027 than it did for 2026. Hopefully the new CEO can work some magic for 2028 and beyond.
BA, I can find other situational factors for Leniu’s career path to date. Observations from afar without any inside knowledge could indicate a high capability player in top level rosters (eg Fisher-Harris/Leota then Whyte/Collins) slotting into a depth profile where you might not quite get game time and recognition. You get an Origin jumper and think ‘I must have what it takes for more than a depth player’, and your Manager dribbles all sorts of narratives in your ear about ability, recognition, appeal, potetntial…and oh yeah…money.
I’ll leave the character discussion aside, Rugby League delivers a wide ranging discussion on this aspect, my all time favourite non-Eel ‘personality’ was Noel Kelly, he didn’t have social media, behavourial correctness, racism, etc etc to consider in some pretty ‘solid’ on field treatment of opponents. I’m thinking with Spencer that he has indicated a lower boiling point than bad character, I don’t know enough about him to sit in fair and accurate judgement in this regard.
He played well from the roosters in the back half of the season and maybe just go and watch the gf again to see what we will hope to be getting next year and there after.
Bring on Spencer we need some of his half mad aggression
A bit tough BA Sport, in my opinion. I think Spencer is a great recruitment – I believe we’ll get the best of him. I think he’s been treated pretty toughly in the past. I realise that there are racial overtones in calling someone a monkey, but right weeks! I was a high school principal for twenty years and remember some of the names I was called, in graffiti and middle-of-the-night phone calls; monkey is pretty minor.
I think we have recruited quite well, always assuming that Su’A’s knew has totally healed. Ultimately it’s down to injury rate, but if we have a lucky year and there’s further improvement in some of the youngsters I can see us challenging for the eight.
Parra fans have the 1000 yard stare
I need to see results before I can get excited, been let down too many times- might actually have undiagnosed PTSD as a result of the last few seasons
Big Bob, think anyone following Parra various forms of Trauma tbh….I was only a v young kid when we lost in 76 and 77 but the 98 era through to 01 when I was 30 was hard to take.
To ‘parra’ phrase Phil Gould; When you follow Parramatta you invite disappointment into your life.
Joe Vass, thats quite good
Moses left the field injured again tonight….looks like the decision to keep Volkmann has already been justified!
Death taxes and Mitch Moses being injured
I’ll say it again, Moses needs to retire from rep footy he’s taking up too much of our cap to have him out injured for the amount of club time he is, how is he getting selected for rep footy by the way with his injury prone record?
Sixties, I can already hear you saying we can’t discourage players from playing rep footy, well I would say Moses is a special case because most people don’t get significant injuries every time they play rep footy- seriously, is there another player that gets injured as often as Mitch
I just want him fit for the Club games at this point, he’s too banged up for rep footy and we could have someone just as good but more reliable for the same money at the club.
It’s a club first mentality that we need to take, 41 years is too long
I understand the frustration with Moses and Rep footy but I believe his rep footy career is just about over.
He wont play again this World Cup.
Next year Cleary, Dearden and Walker will occupy spaces with Latrell and others.
I think Casey McLean would be a decent 5/8 and I’m sure there are others coming through.
Notwithstanding, the fact he was injured, I think those in the know are aware that he’s not the player he used to be.
I think natural attrition will sort it out.
I think moving forward, there will have to be some hard conversations between the Eels and Moses.
The Eels will have to obviously honour the contract but if he approached the club wanting a payday in PNG, then I doubt Rush would be too upset.
I’d go further Big Bob; I’d give Mitch a couple of weeks off a couple of times a year to freshen him, sort out niggles and be sure he’s fit for the big stuff if we get there. We have Ronald Volkmann, not Mitch’s class but a very presentable NRL quality half back, too good to be wasted in Cup for a full season. I also think we’re entitled absolutely to flog Luai while we’ve got him. Mitch is top drawer but he’s 33 by the end of next season and he’s fragile; it’s a matter of coaxing as much out of him as is possible – like Sterling in his last two seasons.
If Moses wants the big cash he puts in or shoves off. No casual appearances. Tom Dearden showed how a halfback should play.