Mick Cronin’s toe-poke! Just when you thought you could lock in the Eels bench spots for their Top 17, the action heated up at this morning’s training. In what was, for me, an unexpected opposed session, Stefano Utoikamanu and Kane…
Eels Pre-Season Training – December 9, 2019: The Gang’s (Almost) All Here
That’s more like It! The return of Junior Paulo, Kane Evans, Mitch Moses, Brad Takairangi and Nathan Brown meant that the squad was close to full strength today. With only Michael Jennings and Clint Gutherson yet to return to the…
Eels Pre-Season Training – December 4, 2019: Nowhere To Hide
If you’re in a full time NRL squad and looking to make an impression during a preseason, how do you put your name in lights? You compete. You compete harder than a reality show contestant fighting for screen time. And…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 18, 2019: With A Little Help From My Friends
All in! That’s the philosophy of the Eels club and their supporters in the charge into 2020. As Trent Elkin asked some tough physical questions at Old Saleyards today, there was strong evidence that the players will be all in…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 12 & 13, 2019: The Kids Are Alright
Watching training on Tuesday wasn’t in my plans. With Monday’s opener done and dusted, the next field session was set for Wednesday. The team was only due to work on basic shapes around set starts on Tuesday. However, a bit…
Eels Pre-Season Training – November 11, 2019: Hello. Hello. It’s Good To Be Back!
Off season? What off season! There’s certainly no rest for the wicked on TCT. But when it comes to NRL footballers, it’s an eight week break and then the pre-season kicks in with all the good stuff, like conditioning runs.…
Eels Pre-Season Training – Wrapping It Up Edition
With only a Captain’s Run to go, today’s opposed session wrapped up the major preparations for the Eels opening round clash against the Panthers. My training reports concluded in the week of the final trial at Penrith, but there’s a…
Eels Pre-Season Training – February 26, 2019: The Names Shine
For much of this pre-season I’ve highlighted the inspirational contributions of the Eels younger brigade. I make no apologies for that. They’ve added a new dimension to the preparations for the year ahead. The tight bond and determination of these…
Eels Pre-Season Training – February 22, 2019: Can We Talk?
After a brief recess, it’s back to business for the Eels pre-season training blog. With the team training specifically for their Canberra trial last week, I suspended my reports. The annual school blitz has been on the agenda this week,…