Anyone with more than a passing interest in rugby league understands how fired up supporters can be about news or events in our game. I’ve certainly been no stranger to mixed emotions over the past couple of weeks. There’s been…
Eels Pre-Season Training – February 5, 2021: It’s A Full Dress Rehearsal And Oregon Owns It!
A full squad of referees. One team in the Blue and Gold, the other in the white alternate jersey. There’ll be no contrived play simulations. No handing the ball back to one team because the coach reckons the other team…
Bumpers Up – The Fake, The Fields, The Force, The Footy
Welcome to the first edition of Bumpers Up for 2021. For those unacquainted with this column, expect my take on the latest Eels news, be it from mainstream media or exclusive to TCT. In turn, you can return fire on…
Bryce Cartwright – Eels Seek Bonanza From Low Risk Gamble
Few recent signings have triggered the mix of reactions quite like the Eels acquisition of Bryce Cartwright. From the overjoyed to the disappointed and even the “time to delete my social media posts”, most Eels supporters have openly expressed their…
The Eels Roster – A Further Analysis
Recently, I’ve written and spoken about the evolution of Parramatta’s NRL roster. In doing so, the changes since 2017 have been referenced. However, there’s an amazing statistic that I seem to have overlooked. Only two players from the current squad…
Bumpers Up – Christmas Edition: Trials, Farewells, Partnerships
Christmas is almost upon us, but that hasn’t stopped the Eels world from turning. So forget the old red and green decorations, there’s Blue and Gold to add to your tree this week. Announcements have literally arrived on a…
Eels Pre-Season Training – December 17 & 18, 2020: The Selection Puzzle Continues
Holidays already? With only three weeks of the preseason behind us, the festive break brings a fortnight hiatus to Parra’s 2021 preparations. But if anyone thinks that the players put their feet up over this period they would be very…
Eels Pre-Season Training – December 14, 2020: Moses Leads The Way
Mitch Moses take a bow. On his first official day at Eels preseason training, the Eels half set the leadership standards required of a senior player. In total, eight more players joined the Eels squad this morning. Moses, Waqa…
Bumpers Up – New Rules, Eels Tributes And Life After Footy
Whenever I hear or read about committees being created, I cringe. It’s not that I oppose change, it’s just that I am wary of committees making significant recommendations based on the opinions of a select few. And when you have…
Eels Pre-Season Training – December 10 & 11, 2020: Look Out Gutho!
We’re at the end of week two, the time to settle in before the “veterans” return is over, so why not take it up a notch? That seemed to be the attitude of the players, and they probably exceeded…