Rookie Watch 2023 concludes with a look at the NSW Cup squad and who could emerge from reserve grade to boost the Parramatta Eels in the NRL next year. Fans will be familiar with young talents like Sean Russell and…
Eels Pre-Season Training – December 19, 2022: Footy Feast Finishes Final Field Session
Up to now, my preseason training reports have taken the form of a weekly summary. With a collection of NRL players yet to return, and minimal opposed contact work, it was the best format to adopt. However, this final field…
Super Saturday – A Massive Day Of Eels Pathways Trials
It was a massive day on Saturday for Parramatta’s junior pathways with action aplenty at two venues. The Harold Matthews, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale squads took the field against the Raiders in Goulburn. Quite a number of players…
Eels Pre-Season Training – December 12 To 16, 2022: King Gutho Still Wears The Crown
Just when you think that his domination of Eels conditioning must surely be approaching the end, Clint Gutherson never fails to dispatch an emphatic reminder that it will take an extraordinary human to out-perform him on the training track. So…
Eels Pre-Season Training (NRL & Flegg) – December 5 to 9, 2022: One Club Philosophy In Action
Over the years, TCT has been able to report on the commitment to pathways of BA and the NRL staff. I’ve lost count of the times that I’ve seen them at Junior Rep matches, from trials all the way through…
Bumpers Up – December 7, 2022: That Premiership Window
I’m stunned by the number of pundits prepared to write off the Eels chances in 2023 well before a ball has been kicked in anger. Such opinion is mostly based on the number of forwards who departed the club at…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 28 To December 2, 2022: The Squad Lifts As Hodgson Watch Continues
We are now four weeks in and this collection of new faces at Eels training is settling in to a rhythm. Given that many are young pathways products, new recruits or upgraded contracts, I’d suggest that after this week…
Bumpers Up – November 29, 2022: A Clearer Future?
For most NRL fans, the start of every preseason brings renewed hope for what lies ahead. After typically winding up the season before with “maybe next year”, we find ways to see the promise in the future. After hitting the…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 21 To 25, 2022: Hodgson Impresses
Though many established NRL players remain on annual leave, preseason training got a little more intense this week with the return of more of the full time squad. Much anticipation has surrounded the arrival of English international Josh Hodgson. At…