Imagine being involved in recruitment and retention at a development club. On the one hand you risk criticism for your club either not producing enough local first grade products or losing young talent to other clubs. On the other hand,…
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…
From The Stands – June 1, 2022: Trust, Patience And The Journey To Long Term Success
The importance of trust, and the ability to be patient, are evident in most walks of life. Watching our game last Sunday, it hit me that for all the strides our club has made over the past 6 years, both…
The Spotlight – May 20, 2022: Matterson A Must
The Parramatta Eels have reached a critical point in their roster management. In the eyes of many supporters, an upcoming retention decision will be making a bigger statement than the decisions made in late 2021. It involves the man who…
Instant Reaction – Eels Secure Mitch Rein
The Daily Telegraph is reporting that Parramatta Eels have secured their first recruit for the 2022 season, former Titans dummy half Mitch Rein. In my recent Bumpers Up column I discussed the club’s pursuit of the off-contract Titan. Most supporters…
Bumpers Up – August 27, 2021: The Victory And The Challenges
Finally the Eels returned to the winners’ list. There was no street parade. No dancing in the streets. In retrospect we should have taken our last opportunity to perform some sort of victory jig outside of our front doors, because…
The Spotlight – August 23, 2021: The Truth About The Parra Fade Narrative
What is a narrative? Basically it’s a story, or a telling of events, that can be either factual or imagined, depending on its purpose. Then there are those occasions when fiction is strangely interpreted as fact. Any actor who’s been…
The Spotlight – Painting A Roster Change Picture
Over the past month and a half we’ve been inundated by Eels roster news. Departing players were announced, and newly contracted players have been added in relatively quick time. As Eels fans we collectively thank those leaving the club…
The Spotlight – Building A Successful Roster: Evolution or Revolution?
Question time. With the Eels 2021 roster approaching its finalisation, how is the squad looking? Does it look like a successful roster? How is a successful roster created? What defines success? Addressing the latter question first, the simplest definition is…
The Spotlight – Pushing The Advantage
“In football, if you’re standing still, you’re going backwards fast.” Jack Gibson The master coach applied this philosophy to his passion for innovation in rugby league. Yet, at a most basic application, its truth can be found in the yearly…