It’s been an eventful few days in Parradise. Though times are rarely uneventful in the Blue and Golden West, emotions have just run the full gamut in the space of little more than 72 hours. Firstly, we had the…
The Preview – 2022 Pre-Season Edition: Eels vs Dragons
How sweet it is, the taste of footy in February. While the dedicated have been able to watch the occasional blurry, badly commentated NRL trial over the last few years via streaming, 2022 marks the first time Fox Sports has…
Bumpers Up – February 16, 2022: The Footy’s Back!
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…