If you don't follow the Eels, you probably look at the Parramatta side, can't see the name Jarryd Hayne and you immediately wipe us out of calculations. Yet, within the Eels community there is so much optimism. And I think that's because, we understand just how good our pack is going to be.
I think without question, Souths had the best pack in the comp last year. However, with the loss of both Sam Burgess and Ben Te'o, I feel they come back to the rest of the competition significantly. Burgess was the Souths destroyer and Te'o was their man main on the fringes. They do bring in Glenn Stewart but I can't help but thing there back row is going to be a little unbalanced with Stewart and Sutton both being ball-playing backrowers.
Similarly, the Roosters lose Sonny Bill Williams. They still have a very strong pack, but I can't help but think that Souths were able to highlight the fact that their forwards are vulnerable to being out-muscled. They're relying on Martin Kennedy getting back to his best to shore up their prop rotation and a number of their young forwards like Napa, Liu and Evans going on with it.
The other pack with the big reputation are the Bulldogs. It's hard to fault their pack. Lots of big bodies and plenty of experience. I do however feel that they rely a lot of James Graham for their aggression. While, he's in the side, though, I think the Bulldogs have the edge for best forward pack in the comp, at least on paper in 2015.
And then surely you'd also have to throw the Cowboys into the mix. With three State of Origins props and the game's most hyped forward in Jason Taumalolo, plus Gavin Cooper they're certainly up there, although one feels they may lack a bit of depth in the second-row.
So where do we stack up against the competition benchmarks?
We're still a work in progress but I believe that by the end of the year, our forward pack will have established itself as one of the best in the competition. I wouldn't swap our backrow of Ma'u, Moeroa and Watmough for any in the competition. All are aggressive, hard-working players who can all bust the line. With Paulo, Lussick, Wicks, Fa'aoso, Mannah, Gower, Terepo and Alvaro we have an amazing level of depth in the front row and I think by mid-season when you get a front row combination of a firing Mannah, Paulo, Wicks and Lussick that will more than match up against rivals. Tthrow in some X-factor off the bench in the form of Pauli Pauli and potential ball-players in Paulo and Matterson, and we really do have all the bases covered. With Peats and De Gois, we've also got two quality hookers.
There are questions marks there. Will Moeroa have second-year syndrome. Can Wicks and Fa'aoso make returns to football. Is a fit Darcy Lussick going to be able to get back to his 2013 form? Can Pauli Pauli's talent to be effectively harnessed. However, I also believe we have the best coach of forwards in the NRL.
However, in answering all of those questions, we have the comfort of knowing we have one of the best coaches of forwards in the NRL in Brad Arthur.
And that's why we're looking forward to 2015. No team that dominates the forwards has a bad year and I believe that's why we will exceed expectations. The really exciting thing is our pack doesn't look to have a ceiling short of being the best. If key players develop as we hope, I honestly believe our pack will be rated up there with those I led this discussion of with.
Replies
The best thing is that we are maturing as a pack on the park, the young blokes like Pauli and junior have a year of footy behind them, Tepai has a few games behind him, he wont be coming in blind as to what to expect.
To see if we are maturing in between the ears and in the heart remains to be seen, but i have faith BA is working hard on it, hes totally aware we were soft in that dept at stages last year, so much so he bought choc to help him
Tepai will be our most valuable forward this year in terms of work load, hes going to have a huge year, Tep is the glue that will bind this pack, similar to hindy he gets himself into great position in defence, and he can do the same in attack, very similar to a young Nathan, he seems to always be in the right spot, thats instinct.
Even though Mau is older he is only really just starting his career too, hes only going to get better, all 4 will only get better.
Then we have choc and Danny coming in which adds plenty or experience and aggression.
Peats is back, pretty much played himself into the best few hookers in the comp at the beginning of last year, and handy back up with degoise.
Theres lots to be excited about with this pack.
Its a good pack, the best we have had in a long time.
On our day if we can get a roll on and play for 80 minutes, our pack could out enthuse any pack in the comp imo
I expect a few big upsets from us this year.
I think we will have a very mobile forward pack and with the new 2015 ruck rule quicken the ruck up between 2 to 3 seconds faster then last season we should be in a good position. If the referees consistently enforce this new rule which will see a lot less wrestle we could move up the pecking order in a big way and the bigger packs - Roosters, Souths, Bulldogs, Warriors etc., may come back to the pack in a big way. We just need our strongest six forwards to stay injury free.
I hope your right mate, our pack is impressive compared to what we've had in the last few years. And an all new back line that stinks of potential as well. Cant wait for the season to start, im hoping Penrith have a strong team for the trial to test the pack. Good read, cheers.
Looks good for our future too with the juniors coming through! Can't wait for kick-off!!
And we have the secret weapon, old Leopard slug eyebrows.
Timmy is going to have a HUGE year, i like to liken Timmy to a fine bottle of Grange, he gets better every year and is magical on the pallet, very under rated footballer imo.
Yeh I think Moeroa will be right too. Second-year syndrome is probably a bigger factor with backs, because teams work them out. Moeroa given his age, is still growing and learning so I think its more likely he just keeps going on with it.
Forwards like Tepai though, his strengths are he's big, runs hard and tackles hard. This year he's bigger runs harder and tackles harder. Be surprised to see second year syndrome with this one.
Mwahahahaha fongy pure gold, your a very funny man.
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