And so it truly begins. Today was day one of the preseason for the full Eels NRL squad, and they took to the training track alongside the younger players who had started their journey last week. I didn’t operate off…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 11, 2024: Gutho’s Final Visit
Attending Eels training this morning presented me with an unexpected opportunity – the chance to say thank you and farewell to Clint Gutherson. It wasn’t until he entered the complex with a “hey fellas” that I realised he was walking…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 8, 2024: Defence, Defence, Defence
Yesterday I titled my training report “The Learning Curve”. It wasn’t an attention grabbing, “clickbait” headline, but on reflection it perfectly described these early days of the preseason. Here’s why. For the players it’s self-explanatory as they are a very…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 7, 2024: The Learning Curve
What a learning curve these young Eels players are experiencing. As I mentioned in yesterday’s report, the pathways fellas are being given every opportunity to succeed. When I arrived at Kellyville this morning, the field markers told the story of…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 6, 2024: Welcome Joash Papali’i
Thirteen became fourteen today when Joash Papali’i made his first appearance in Eels training gear at Kellyville. And the Bulldogs recruit didn’t waste any time in becoming a voice in the group. A number of games, or competitive elements, were…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 5, 2024: Continued Focus On Skills
Day two of preseason training fell on Melbourne Cup Day and though the players weren’t sent off on a two mile gallop, it would turn out to be a longer field session than day one. There were no additions to…
Eels Pre-Season Training Report – November 4, 2024: New Beginnings
Walking in to Eels preseason training today, I didn’t know what to expect. Perhaps there would be an element of that for the players too. In the eleven years that I’ve reported on preseason training under Brad Arthur, there were…
An Open Letter To The Eels Squad
As we approach the first day of the 2025 preseason, a fresh start is upon you. For those returning, many of your mates from previous years won’t be training alongside you. Those new to PARRAdise will have completely new bonds…
The Spotlight – Parra’s Roster And The Shape Of Things To Come
The band-aid has been torn off in PARRAdise! Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s release, Maika Sivo’s confirmed move to Leeds, and the seemingly inevitable shift of Clint Gutherson to the Dragons, have underlined the changing profile of the Eels roster. All of these…
Editorial – Chris Barrett Uncovers Roy Spagnolo’s Support For “Make Parra Matter Again” Group
Yesterday, the Sydney Morning Herald published an article by journalist Chris Barrett which investigated the links between former Parramatta Leagues Club and Football Club Chairman Roy Spagnolo and the Make Parra Matter Again (MPMA) group. Barrett revealed that Spagnolo has…