Everything I’ve heard around the club, indicates that the players named in the various media reports on the ‘great Parramatta cull’ are pretty accurate, so let’s assume those to be accurate, and examine just how many places in the Parramatta roster there will be left to fill and where those might be.
Fullbacks
Jarryd Hayne obviously has a lock on the position, assuming that’s where he and Ricky see as being his best position for the team. Given Will Hopoate’s ability to switch from centre to fullback, I doubt we’ll invest much depth in trying to cover for Hayne. I’d like to see us retain Jarome Mackenzie, who I believe will give us cover at both fullback and wing and Mitchell Brassington will graduate from NYC and probably earn a second-tier contract. I can’t see Mullaney being here next year.
Outside backs
A lot here depends on how the club views Jacob Loko next year. I’ve made my feelings clear on this matter, but I’m going to assume that we’ll keep him as a centre. That gives us three high-quality outside backs in Loko, Morgan and Hopoate. You could make a case for another outside back, particularly if you don’t think Sio is up to it. And of course, if Loko is to be viewed as a second rower, I think we would definitely benefit from another senior centre/winger. In Sio, Toutai, Mackenzie, Radrada and Wiliame, we’ve got a decent set of second tier players who will be much better for the experience they get this year. One quality centre/winger would definitely benefit the squad.
Halves & Hookers
I’m assuming we’re going to persist with Sandow in conjunction with Norman, especially given Sandow’s name has not been mentioned as one of the players on the outers. Obviously hooker remains an issue. Pritchard and Zach Clay are strong emerging talent, but you shouldn’t be carrying rookies into your top 13. The more I’ve thought about it, and it runs totally counter to my initial thoughts on the matter but Jeff Robson may shape up as probably the right player for us as starting hooker. He’s tough and competitive, he’ll give Stuart an alternative to Sandow if our starting half doesn’t perform as well as providing a bit of direction and experience from dummy half. The end of season form of Pewhairangi and Parata would probably decide whether we need to look outside of the club for depth.
Second Rowers
Second row is the problem position with Parramatta completing a near complete wipe-out of their second-row ranks. What is quite clear is that Stuart wants hard-running, powerful second rowers. We’ll likely show a deal of faith in our juniors - Kelepi Tanginoa and Pene Terepo have probably shown in recent months that they’re good enough to play NRL, but at this stage both are probably bench quality. I believe Pauli Pauli could also follow Terepo in being shifted back to second row and Fraser Masinamoa is good enough to come into calculations. It’s this depth amongst our young players that likely convinced Stuart to cut a swathe through our older forwards. However, that still leaves the 11, 12 and 13 jerseys to fill. Joseph Paulo may be the only senior second rower to survive, but he’s probably best served coming off the bench as well. Clearly Gareth Hock is a must signing. So unless the Eels are looking at a re-positioning for Jacob Loko, we should be in the market for two more second rowers and they need to be starting 13 class.
Props
We’re pretty solid up front. Tim Mannah, Lee Mossop, Darcy Lussick, Fui Fui Moimoi, Mitchell Allgood give a solid five experienced props with Junior Paulo and Pauli Pauli to provide depth.
Summary
The emergence of Parramatta’s young brigade, was always going to mean that the Eels were in a position to re-adjust their roster - casting off second-tier players, replacing them with cheaper, younger players and re-investing those savings in a couple of quality NRL players. But that’s the important thing to realise here - in my opinion you won’t see the club bring in a huge number of outsiders as most players will have their positions filled by the emerging juniors.
While it will depend on who is available, I can see us looking for four more players of starting 13 quality - one outside back, one half-hooker and two second rowers. If we struggle in the market, we could probably get by with just two more recruits - the half/hooker and another second rower.
Replies
From what I have seen of Norman this season, he does quite a fair bit of their play making. A lot like Hayne when he chimes into the back line and let`s the defenders decisions decide for him which team mate he will pass to to score the try. He also kicks across field for team mates to score tries too.
Norman does this far more consistently for the Broncos than Sandow and Kelly have been doing for Parra.
And that`s exactly why Corey will be training to be our number 6 in November. Not too long to go now folks.
Phil, without being disrespectful, only 2 out of the 5 juniors will make the cut at most.
You can't expect all of them to. Average NRL career is around 45 games. I think our back row is a mess. We should keep POH and Eisenhuth for another 24 months until they physically mature, or target another experienced recruit.
We should look to QLD Cup for a hooker. The quality is better than NSW Cup
2 out of 5? maybe 1 out of 10 imo turps if that.
Juniors imo are generally totally over rated, we cant rely on juniors for anything, they only way to have a strong 1st grade team is to recruit well, its the only way we will ever turn things around.
Juniors can actually be a curse, they can take up top squad numbers, take cash and most of the time never turn out to be anything, some of the teams with basically no juniors are the best teams on a consistant basis.
I believe we have the most over rated juniors in the comp and they actually hold us back rather than make us stronger.
Yeah Snake, i was trying to be generous.
Funny that Morgan was never a big noted Junior.
White boy that busted his arse and physically developed a little bit later.
If you keep recruiting Islander boys that physically develop quicker in the juniors what do you expect?
The value of a junior is their potential for development, not being a man playing against boys.
This shite is gunna keep happening in Parra.
Yes very serious mick, we rely way too much on the juniors and think we can rest our future on their shoulders, its a curse to the club not a blessing.
Most of the ones your enjoying watching now are taking up space and wont be at the club in the future, just the same as years passed.
They are a massive myth that the club shouldnt rely upon or we will be in the same place in another 30 years while our sydney rivals will have won plenty of comps buying in quality players and laughing at us n our juniors.
Wiz, I don't watch enough non-Parramatta games these days to pretend I'd have a particularly educated view, but I'd be pretty much looking for very competitive players, who you know are going to be rock solid in defence and contribute something in attack.
Again depending on Loko, but if he's still a centre I'd shoot for a solid dependable centre/winger who you can trust not to let the side down. I actually wouldn't say no to Joel Reddy coming back.
For the halves/five-eighths, based on what is on the market, I think Robson would work well as a nine/backup seven.
Second rower - again, I'd be looking for players who had shown their first grade material like Anthony Tupou and/or Scott Bolton.
Those type of players would balance what is going to otherwise be a stupidly young team.
What we have done one if ask too much of our juniors.
I've still jet to pick my jaw off the ground when I asked Stephen Kearney at the start of 2012 season, what he planned to do with the injury of Loko as it basically left the club with only one centre - Willie Tonga who as we all know was injury prone. He said he had a lot of confidence in our young centres - Morgan, Blair. Now, at this stage, Blair had just been cut from the Roosters NYC team by Brian Smith and Morgan had struggled through a patchy debut season. That's what you don't do - you don't go into a season, punting on juniors being able to make up for otherwise poor recruitment. However, if you've got a great crop of youngsters coming through, who can plug your holes without having to spread a bunch of your cap over average second-tier players that when you are using your young players in the best possible way.
So if you look at the team, I'm suggesting. Let's say:
1. Hayne 2. Reddy 3. Loko 4. Hopoate. 5. Morgan 6. Norman 7. Sandow 8. Mannah. 9. Robson. 10. Lussick 11. Tupou 12. Hock 13. Bolton 14. Paulo 15. Tanginoa 16. Moimoi 17. Mossop
I've actually only a handful of "juniors" in that first 17, but if you've got injuries there that's when I'm looking for our young kids to come through.
Totally agree Phil on your thought about relying on juniors to fill the gaps and think we will be competative, its the reason we are in the state we are.
Couple of signing changes I would make:
1. Kevin Naiqama or Sisa Waqa instead of Reddy on the wing.
2. John Morris instead of Robson at hooker, if we could.
Really like the signings of Tupou and Bolton if they were to go ahead. Bolton's a very hard worker, and Tupou is a machine with the ball in hand. Open to the Robson idea too. Reddy would make decent depth.
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