2019 is looking like it will represent a generational change for the Parramatta Eels. A number of its elder statesmen, who most notably, took the club to a top-four position in 2017, had a disappointing last season and are off-contract for 2020. At the same time, the Eels have a host of promising youngsters coming through, not to mention a war chest to fund a raid on the market for 2020.
Let’s take a look at those players who will need to produce big 2019 season to earn another contract at the Eels. Can any of these warriors hold off the emerging young guns?
Michael Jennings
According to reports, Jennings has an option for another year at the Eels. My information is that is not correct and his option was only for 2019. If that is accurate, Jennings is off-contract and at this stage, his time at the Eels appears limited. Ironically, though, it looks a fair chance that all three Jennings brother could be at the Eels this year. If that’s the case, could it rejuvenate Jennings and motivate him to win another contract. Even if he does return to somewhere near his best - are the Eels willing to trust that he won’t fall back into the lackadaisical, disinterested player that was demoted to Wentworthville last year?
Under threat from: Salmon, Parry, Aukafolau
As of yet, we don’t know if any of our young centre prospects will be able to progress to senior football - so it’s likely going to be a matter of whether there is a better buy in the market than Jennings. Brother Rober Jennings could even displace him if he ends up at the Eels in 2019.
Josh Hoffman
It’s hard to imagine that at one point, Josh Hoffman was being touted as the next big Queensland star. However, is entire stint at the Eels has been a disappointment and seemingly only trusted as a winger, his size has worked against him, and his finishing skills even disappeared last year, bombing a fair number of tries you’d expect any NRL winger to finish off. It’s hard to imagine Hoffman extending his Eels career, given the number of wingmen at the club and the juniors coming through.
Under threat from: Leleisuao, Dunster, Sivo
If Blake Ferguson locks down one wing spot, you’d like to think one of our younger wingers can do the job that Hoffman has done on the other flank. Hoffman would have been on tidy coin, so it looks an easy way to re-distribute the cap towards more important positions.
Manu Ma’u
Whether it was his injuries or the fact that he’s just getting older, Ma’u didn’t have the same level of impact last year, which seemed to make his error-rate more noticeable. Nobody can question the commitment or aggression from the Tongan forward, who has arguably been Parramatta's’ best performing second rower over the past few years, but can he maintain his performance level as his body gets older?
Under threat from: Niukore, Faingaa
I really like both of these young second rowers. Niukore has already proven his worth and Fainga'a didn’t look out of place when he stepped up for Fiji. They could make it tough to find a place for Ma’u.
Brad Taikarangi
He’s never been the most agile of centres, but turning 30 this year, his days in the backs appear to be over. Shuffled between the forwards and backs last year and certainly his future looks to be in the second row. Taikarangi does provide X-factor and gives you make-shift cover across a number of positions - if you had an eighty-minute hooker, he really is an ideal bench player. However, his work rate for a forward is questionable and he was another who just seemed to be trying too hard to prove his worth last year. The Super League could shape up as a better option for Taikarangi.
Under threat from: Stone, Niukore, Faingaa
Ray Stone looks the most direct comparison to Taikarangi as a utility forward but the reality is Taikarangi is probably also competing for a second-row spot and will have to prove himself on that basis.
Tim Mannah
This is going to be the toughest decision for the club. Mannah is Parramatta’s longest-serving player and, despite what some will say, he’s put his body on the line for this club for more than a decade. His career seemed to get a shot-in-the-arm last year when he moved to the bench and he’s still an effective prop in that regard. The number of concussions he has suffered in recent years is worrying and there has to be some doubt as to how many years he can play at this level given the battering he’s put himself through as an under-sized prop. If they can find a more suitable contract level (and his long-serving status may help that) the Eels would have consider whether they can find a way to give Mannah a farewell contract.
Under threat from: Utoikamanu, Kaufusi
I’m also bullish on both of our young props and I expect they will pressure Mannah even this season.
Comments
To be fair, if it was any other club maybe for the exception of Gold Coast, these players would of been moved on a long time ago. What it is though is nobody wants these players so we have had to keep a hold of them.
You notice when other players are leaving a club say Easts, Canterbury, Souths etc, people are interested. Nobody wants our players.
I guess our biggest issue may be who will be coach in 2020.if that decision is left too late then BA will be making recruitment decisions for a team that he is no longer coaching.very interesting year ahead indeed.
Gower - definitely his last season
Manu Manu - Tries very hard, but I've never seen a back rower make as many mistakes in attack as Mau - has to go
Takairangi - must go no matter what.
Mennings - has fallen away completely
Hoffman - another BA special. Signed this bum for 3 seasons absolutely ridiculous length for an average footballer. Spent the majority in Wentworthville and will again don the black and white wenty jumper on 300k. BA must have been smoking pot when he signed Hoffman.
Tim Mannah - the only player i feel has a slight chance of earning a one year deal at most. I would however cut him in favour of youth.
"Ma'u has to go." Woah there, hold your powder son. I think he's got enough runs on the board to be given a shot at earning another contract. He only played half the season last year due to his facial injury and prior to last season was one of our best and most consistent threats on the edge. The fact he is one of the first picked for Tonga should indicate his quality.
He's got a contract until the end of this season, so let's see how he goes before just dumping him.
On Gower, he's said as much that it's his last season.
On Mannah, I'd really like to see him used as that third prop off the bench. I feel that's where he's always played his best. I don't mind bringing the young guys through but they do need an old head in the side and I don't see Junior or Kane Evans being that type of mentor and player.
We need to find that balance regarding bringing through the youth. You throw too many in at once and you end up with an inexperienced, essentially Under20s side. So if you hold onto Mannah and Ma'u, provided they have good seasons, then I think you've got enough experience to really bring through the next generation. You take Ma'u and Mannah out of the side and your forwards don't have a single player over 30. I think your next oldest player is Kane Evans at 27 and he isn't exactly in our Top 17 consistently.
Funny thing is, Gower showed up most of our forwards last season Chiefy. He may be older than most, but it just goes to show how average our pack is.
Gower was our saviour so many times and our season could have been even worse without him believe it or not.
Has to get some coaching gig soon, one smart cookie.
Taka has talent but injuries means he should be gone.
Mennings isn't bleeding Parra, never will. Gone.
Mannah needs SL like SL needs him.
Hoffman. Since he got his perm, his performances have wained. Too many chemicals in the perm I'm thinking. Whatever the case, he needs to be playing soccer.
What's the latest regarding salary cap compensation for long-serving players?
Would I be right in saying that only Tim Mannah and Peni would qualify? Does Junior qualify even though he left?
The NRL website isn't very clear on this. It's $200,000 per club for the veteran player allowance. By the way I think this is the figure for last year. The NRL site says the allowance can be used for players the club has developed, players that have spent eight years or more in the Top 30 at the club or have spent 10 years in the Top 30 across the NRL.
So we could probably claim it for Tim, Mennings, Tepai and Peni.
These players should have been moved on long ago with the exception of Mau. Sentimentality should have no place in giving Mannah a 'farewell' contract. He needs to be extricated from the team as part of our much needed cultural change. Mannah has become accustomed to losing and accepts it. It's no coincedence that he's been involved in three wooden spoon teams. HE MUST GO.
Mannah's also one of only four members of the team to have played in a grand final.
And..?
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