Eels Blogs

Flick over to prime time Channel 9 in Queensland and you are almost guaranteed to see an ad for NRMA insurance with Sam Thaiday pottering around home making out what a good cook he is. Darren Lockyer has his mug on nearly everything from housing estates to employment agencies. And we all know Johnathon Thurston is the Australian face for Skins.

I don’t and have never  lived in Sydney so I’m not sure what type of advertising you guys are subjected to down there. But in Brisbane companies using QLD rugby league players to promote their products is pretty full on, and it obviously works.

It seems to me that the media prefer the players that have a bit of larrikin in them. I don’t want to get into critiquing every current or past players history. We all know Andrew Johns has not been a model citizen, but he has never portrayed himself as one either. The point is despite all his mistakes and misgivings he had earnt himself a job as a commentator, not sure if he will still have it next year.

In my opinion Thurston and Thaiday are great in their dealings with the media. They seem to be relaxed and candid when interviewed, answers don’t seem to be the same bland bullshit you hear about taking one week at a time etc. They also seem to be able to have a joke even at someone’s expense (Hindmarsh on Matty Johns Show) without it being taken the wrong way and people getting their knickers in a twist. Granted they both do a lot of work for the indigineous community and also with kids to promote the game. This has earnt them sponsorship deals with Skins and NRMA respectively.

So, do the Eels have anyone on our roster who is marketable? Who is appealing to the public? If you were the director of a company looking for an athlete to be the face of your brand, is there an Eels player that would cut the mustard?

I watch the coach and players being interviewed on a weekly basis during the season and struggle to find any charisma amongst any of them. Corey Norman seems to have a bit of personality but otherwise I can’t see a thing.  

Maybe they don’t have to be, maybe it’s their job to coach the football team or for the players just play. My concerns relate to third party deals and despite the best efforts of the board to secure such deals and improve our roster, maybe what we are offering is not attractive enough.

Jarryd Hayne being the gifted athlete he was combined with that aloofness fitted the bill. Kieran Foran is a good looking fella and well spoken.  Manu and Semi have marketing appeal from a visual perspective but are limited otherwise. Everyone reckons Tim Mannah is a top bloke.

Just wondering what you guys/gals thoughts are, away from the footy field are our players a good product?