2020 NO janitors allowed

I can see a coach having a learning curve, but that is what lower grades are for. Why would anyone be stupid enough to hire a coach on a learning curve for 1st grade, oh yes, we are talking about the Eels here, only they would do that.

Should be an OK game. Eels by 14.

Stefano Utoikamanu should be dropped. He's not going to win the Eels a premiership and like you say, he's leaving.

I don't think the Eels were ever professionally run, the success in the 80's happened because of so many good players and a brilliant coach. It just all came about at that point in time rather than the club producing that team. One day a young Brett Kenny and a few others turned up at the Eels because they grew up in the area, Price and Cronin were already there and coach Terry Fearnley was impressed with a young Sterlo and got him to Parra. Probably not much effort went into all of this, it just came about with a little effort.

NRL.com

Late Fonua try helps Eels snatch draw in Bega trial

Parramatta snatched a 22-22 draw with Penrith after scoring a late try in Saturday’s EISS Super Sapphire Trial Tribute in Bega.

It was a fitting result for a game that was much more than a trial as Eels and Panthers players visited the fire-ravaged Sapphire Coast.

Up to $5 million was injected into the local economy and a capacity 5000 crowd packed the home ground of Bega Roosters for the historic match.

With the Eels enjoying majority support, the crowd rose to their feet as rookie John Fonua scored with just seconds on the clock to level the scores.

Until the last minute try, it appeared that early errors would prove costly for the Eels in the opening exchanges, with winger Blake Ferguson unable to hold a pass with the tryline open and Mitchell Moses kicking out on the full.

Penrith halfback Nathan Cleary made the Eels pay when he crossed for the opening try in the 13th minute after stepping Reagan Campbell-Gillard and beating Clint Gutherson.

The Panthers had the chance to extend their 6-0 lead but centre Brent Naden dropped the ball over the line.

Moses initially appeared to have saved the try when he held up Penrith winger Josh Mansour after a cut-out pass from Jarome Luai but the former international managed to flick the ball to Naden.

Another error, this time by star winger Mika Sivo, gifted the Panthers another try in the 26th minute.

Winger Brian To’o scored in the corner after Penrith had shifted the ball quickly following Sivo’s knock-on from a rocket pass by Gutherson near the Eels line.

However, the Eels gained momentum before halftime and Moses sliced between two defenders to score in the 34th minute after Naden was penalised for impeding Ferguson from being able to contest a bomb.

The Panthers hit back after the halftime break when Mansour won the race for a grubber from five-eighth Matt Burton, who replaced Luai at the interval, to score in the 47th minute.

Cleary converted but Penrith’s 16-6 lead was short-lived after Moses chipped and regathered his own kick to score a stunning 50th minute individual try.

Eels hooker Ray Stone then levelled the scores when he dived on a fumbled in goal kick by Patrick Hollis to score in the 60th minute and Jai Field converted to put Parramatta ahead for the first time in the match.

However, Penrith rookie Brendan Hands regained the lead for his side in spectacular fashion five minutes later after bursting into space and standing up Eels fullback Will Smith.

With the clock winding down, Eels replacement Marata Niukore put John Fonua for a try with a late off-load and Field missed the conversion from the sideline.

Arthur challenges Moses

Eels coach Brad Arthur challenges Mitchell Moses to take control of the competition’s youngest spine

Parramatta don’t have many weaknesses this season, but Brad Arthur has challenged Mitch Moses to step up and lead the way to help the Eels avoid a potentially crucial pitfall.
Paul Crawley, The Daily Telegraph
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Brad Arthur has no fears about Parramatta going into this season with the NRL’s youngest spine — but he has challenged star halfback Mitchell Moses “to step up” and own it.

And Fox League expert Braith Anasta reckons the often maligned Eels playmaker is more than ready for the challenge, with Anasta rating Moses “the most talented No.7 playing the game right now”.

Ahead of Saturday’s first serious hitout of the year when all the big names take part in the trial against Penrith in Bega, Arthur explained why he doesn’t see the average age of Clint Gutherson (25), Dylan Brown (19), Moses (25) and Reed Mahoney (21) as an issue.

“The plus to that is that we can really mould them to the way that we think best suits our team and our club,” Arthur said.

But it still gives the Eels the NRL’s lowest average age of 23.12 years in the crucial positions of fullback, five-eighth, halfback and hooker.

It is surprisingly even younger than Canterbury (23.72), Penrith (23.74) and Brisbane (24.12).

Overall, the Rabbitohs have the oldest average aged spine (27.79) ahead of the Storm (27.31), Warriors (27.26), Sharks (27.18), Wests Tigers (27.01), Raiders (26.82), Roosters (26.68), Cowboys (26.65), Dragons (26.37), Titans (26.14), Sea Eagles (26.02) and Knights (25.92).

But while some see this as potentially Parramatta’s Achilles heel, Arthur argued: “With the help of Joey (Andrew Johns) they are really open to what we think can work best for them and our team. So I think that can be an advantage for us.

“Yeah, they are going to lack a bit of experience and maybe some big moments. But that is where it is up to Mitchell to step up.

“Instead of having four voices where they all want to take control, well, it comes back to a bit of accountability on Mitchell.

Arthur says Johns’ influence has also made a significant difference after the league Immortal joined the coaching staff as a spine consultant.

“The thing I like about Joey is that he hasn’t come in with an ego,” Arthur added.

“He has come in and wanted to work with us. Not tell us what to do.

“We sort of have similar views on how we will play at our best and that helps.”

There is huge expectation on the Eels that this might be the year they finally break the game’s longest premiership drought that stretches all the way back to 1986.

In all those years the Eels have never really settled on a long term playmaker who could truly own the No.7 jumper like Peter Sterling once did.

But Moses just might be it.

Incredibly, his 64 games in his three seasons at Parra already make Moses the third longest serving halfback since Sterling, behind only Chris Sandow and Tim Smith who both played 71 games for the Eels.

“He is the most talented No.7 playing the game right now,” Anasta said.

“The next level for him is winning a premiership, because his individual performances have been superb.

“It is now about the ability to turn those individual performances to benefit your team and get them to a premiership.

“That is the definition of a great half. Premierships and Origin. That is when you go to next level.

“Mitch turned a massive corner last year. You can see that with his maturity and his confidence.

“He is at that level now, so is Gutho, that they know they are good. They weren’t ready to win a comp last year. I am still not sure. But they are definitely closer.”

I don't take trial games serious, because there is nothing to play for except fitness and getting ready for the season, but I do agree, the Eels still have some concerns in 2020. Sounds like Mitchell Moses had a good game. Dylan Brown is a good player and a good partner for Moses, but they are both still young.

The janitor will never get the best out of this team and remember, he came from the Storm which means he is second best, because the Eels didn't sign Bellamy.

Eels v Bulldogs, Thursday week. Don't know what to expect?

this is from a guy on 1 eyed eel. To me it rings true.



The team dont have the to tool's to perform and its on BA!
Posted by Mick on March 1, 2020 at 12:08pm

Behind our sporting stars is usually a great coach. They are often former athletes, who see coaching as a natural progression after retiring. Others begin at the grassroots level, learning their craft by attending coaching courses and from more experienced coaches as they move up the ranks.Coaches must have expert knowledge about the skills, tactics, and physical training associated with their sport. These areas are typically the focus of coaching textbooks and manuals.Coaches must also be competent teachers, and there are some important lessons they can learn from classroom teachers to get the best performance from their athletes.From classroom to locker room Some formal coaching courses contain small units on teaching skills, but coaches mostly learn in informal ways. This may be through practical experience, or with the help of a mentor.I found this passage a interesting read from an article about teaching and coaching , coaches like Brian Smith, David Waite and Warren Ryan all had a teaching backgrounds - therefore they had the ability to pass on knowledge effectively giving players from all grades a footy education - is BA a competent teacher? Moses was recently quoted as saying he has never received specialized coaching did this ring any alarm bells for anyone? What other players are in the same boat? Yesterday I was shaking my head yesterday thinking Ive seen this type of performance performance before! I have come to the conclusion our team are not getting a detailed footy education, the attention to detail especially round the ruck is non existent! BA is a effort coach when this goes missing players look confused, i know this season hasn't started but something about yesterday looked very predictable and familiar