It’s been a while hasn’t it! Over six weeks have passed since the last Bumpers Up column, and though there’s been no shortage of news in rugby league land, time has been a precious commodity. Now that I have your…
The Spotlight – An Early Call: Round 1 Eels Team List
Wouldn’t it be fun to have a Parramatta version of Punxsutawney Phil, the famous American groundhog that predicts the start of spring. Picture an Eel in an aquarium, (cue alliterative name ideas) tempted by three types of bait. Which will…
Bumpers Up – January 1, 2022: Welcome To The New Year
Happy New Year! If there was the perfect time to turn that greeting into reality, then surely 2022 qualifies for that honour. We don’t have to think too hard to come up with reasons to be negative about what the…
The Spotlight – Omicron And Rugby League
There’s an elephant in the rugby league room and it goes by the name of Omicron. The latest variant in the COVID pandemic is wreaking havoc across Australia with NSW “leading the way” after hitting 5 digit numbers of infections…
The Parramatta Night Before Christmas
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and throughout Western Sydney, No Eels player was stirring, not even Reed Mahoney; Their kit bags were tossed in a corner somewhere, I’ll wash the gear later, they’d told Sults without care; King Gutho…
Bumpers Up – December 22, 2021: Santa vs The Grinch
Which festive season character is having the greatest influence on the Eels? During this pre-Christmas period it’s felt like the visits from Santa and the Grinch have been so frequent that there must be some type of loyalty program in…
Eels Pre-Season Training – December 17, 2021: Highlights Edition (An Abdication?)
The intensity meter remained on high at Kellyville this morning as the Eels completed their final Friday session of 2021. A members open training event is scheduled for Monday, but if the coaches wanted to wind up the year with…
Eels Preseason Training – December 15, 2021: Game On!
Parra’s preseason is now getting real. I apologise to any players who might question how the kilometres in their legs don’t count, but when the sessions start to include serious opposed work, it’s game on for me. Call it my…
Bumpers Up – December 14, 2021: How’s The Ledger Looking?
Last week was one of the better weeks for our mighty Eels. Four Eels were officially welcomed to the club, albeit with one not arriving until 2023. More on that later. So where does that leave Parra? Can we declare…
Eels Preseason Training – December 13, 2021: New Subject Or New King?
It was a toss of a coin for the biggest news to emerge from Eels training today. Was it the arrival of recent recruits or the potential dethroning of a reigning monarch? Let’s begin with the first sighting of Bailey…