Eels Blogs

How well Parramatta’s NYC team fare in 2011 will almost certainly be impacted by whether some of its top talent make the progression to NRL this year.

Jacob Loko and Patrick O’Hanlon will be in the top tier of NYC talent going around this year, and both are on the verge of an NRL call-up. Rory Brien could also make an appearance in the top league if injuries reduce the Eel’s depth. While those three players are in the squad, the Parramatta NYC team of 2011 look like contenders. The Eels have also recruited well, bringing in Marmin Barba and Cameron Breust to give them some much-needed spark and stability in the spine. And country boy Toby Key adds some size to the engine room.
 
Fullback
Arguably, the Eel’s two most skillful players are Jaydin Tavita and Marmin Barba and the first headache for Matt Cameron is going to be working out who fits where. Last year’s NYC team really missed Tavita’s involvement from the back and I would expect him to start the season at one. Interestingly, Marmin Barba has been listed in the profiles as a five-eighth, but has plenty of utility value and there’s a strong chance he’ll play fullback at stages of the year. Outside of the twenty is last year’s SG Ball fullback Chris Ulugia while Jacob Gagan can also play the custodian role. As such, we look to have the crucial position of fullback well-covered with quick, skillful players who can take pressure off the halves.

Wing
I doubt there would be a better pair of starting wingers in the NYC than Jacob Gagan and Daniel Tupou. Gagan has long been recognised as being one of the most talented juniors in Australia, and is playing well above his age as he is still eligible for SG Ball this year. He’s a dynamic runner of the ball and a blistering finisher, who can also play fullback but will likely spend this year on the wing. Daniel Tupou is a mountain of a lad, and at 195cm is just about the tallest player in the club. He is brilliant in the air, and that ability alone will make him an NRL contender in years to come. Josh Batilabasi will provide backup and I will expect that another talented young kid Vai Toutai will debut at NYC level this year too.

Centre
Jacob Loko is the best centre in the NYC. Along with Australian schoolboy and long-time centre partner Trent Jennings, we round out a pretty awesome set of starting outside backs. However, I’m pretty sure Loko will move up to seniors at some stage of the year - even if it’s just to go have a stint at Wentworthville to get used to playing against older players. It will be interesting to see where the Eels play Rory Brien - with the club’s website describing him as a centre who can also play lock. To my mind he’s a lock who can also play centre and he was an absolute revelation when moved to the forward pack last year. Eni Folau will provide strong depth and Toutai may also get a crack at centre during the year.

Halves
How far up the ladder Parramatta finishes will largely come down to how well their halves play. Cameron Breust comes to the Eel’s from the Raiders and is well-regarded within the club and he could provide the direction that Parramatta was missing last year. I’m expecting Marmin Barba will start at six and he provide a bit of spark, and those two look to complement each other nicely. Given they’re new to the club, I’ve not seen a lot of either player, so judgement will have to be reserved until we see how the gel with the side. We do have options, outside this pair. In particular, Jason Wehbe will be hold to hard out of the side, if only for his kicking game. He’s a natural leader and has been a dominant player in the Parramatta juniors for a long time. Cameron Picker tends to have his good days and bad days, but is a solid backup half. Tavita can also move up to six if needed.

Backrowers
A definite strength for the Eels this year. As mentioned I hope Rory Brien locks the scrum - he’s a tireless worker, who can also make a bust up the centre. Patrick O’Hanlon could well-be the club’s successor to Nathan Hindmarsh. He combines a strong worth ethic, with a big, tall frame that is ideally suited to the second row and the ability to offload in traffic. I expect he’ll play NRL this year. In many ways, Matthew Eisenhuth is a younger version of O’Hanlon. He’s also tall, and while he doesn’t yet have the physical maturity of O’Hanlon, he’s also a committed defender who can offload. We have great depth here with Kyle Fraser, I believe re-joining the squad this year. Luke Fishburn is a tackling machine and Joseph Ualesi is a powerful runner of the ball who knows how to run a line.

Front row
Peni Terepo, Ave Seumanufagi and Thomas Young were matched up against older-boys last year and we never really got a consistent roll forward last year. PJ Asiati is another Eels junior, who has already had talent but never quite put it all together. All of these blokes are capable of bending the line back, but they just need to do it consistently across the season and across the match as they can play in patches. Toby Key is a new signing from the country, and at 188 cm and 114kg he’s a big boy, who I look forward to seeing in the Blue and Gold.

Hooker
I really like Dean Blackman. He’s provides a constant threat out of dummy half and delivers good service. He stepped straight out of SG Ball last year into NYC and did a great job and he’ll be even better for that experience. Tim Crellin provides able backup. The other player you could see at dummy half during the year is Marmin Barba. Based on the limited vision I’ve seen of him, and the reports I’ve heard of his progress since joining the Eels, Barba could make a terrific 14 with his blend of pace and playmaking abilities. If Barba ends up making that move, I’d see it as a positive from a number of perspectives. He’d really give this side a new dimension, providing that spark off the interchange; it would mean Jason Wehbe has proven himself a high-quality five-eighth; and long-term I think the position is Barba’s best chance of continuing his career at a senior level.

Summary
I have no doubt the Eels will fare much better in 2011 than last year’s awful season where we strung together a dismal losing streak in the middle of the season. We have players who have already proven they are likely to play NRL, and you need those couple of class acts to be amongst the top sides in NYC. There is a strong core of older boys who have played NYC before and a new breed of talent coming up behind them, who will pressure for spots.

If our Top 17 ends up playing most of the season, I think we’re top four material. However, importantly we have much better depth this year so I think regardless of how the season ebbs and flows, we’ll be competitive all year and at least be in the running for a finals berth.