I still remember traipsing along to St Mary’s League Stadium to catch Parramatta take part in both the Harold Matthews and SG Ball grand finals in 2010. The Harold Matthews team were heavily favoured to take home the grand final, having gone through the rest of the season undefeated. Some were suggesting it was the best junior side Parramatta had fielded since the famous side that featured Hayne, Inu, Keating, etc. However, they were defeated in a see-sawing battle by Penrith, who to me, looked to have the better set of backs. Where the Eels impressed though were in the forwards with their two big props Frazer Masinamua and Pauli Pauli, and in particular a second rower who literally made my draw drop - Kelepi Tanginoa. On one memorable occasion I saw him make 10 metres literally carrying three defenders, who simply could not bring him to the ground.
I’m always cautious of getting too excited about big kids who dominate the juniors, as it’s often more a matter of them being physically more mature and when it comes to men playing men, they don't have that same advantage. But sometimes you see just incredibly strength, and that is generally a trait that does hold through all the way to NRL. Later in the day, at the SG Ball grand final I saw Jacob Loko brush off four defenders with a mix of fends, bumps and brute strength. Of course Loko will line up alongside Tanginoa in a side that could represent something of a generational shift as a number of our bright, young juniors start to contest for first grade positions.
Rumours floating around Parramatta also suggest that Vai Toutai could replace Ken Sio. Toutai played wing during that 2010 SG Ball grand final. I’ve been told that Pauli Pauli is knocking on the door and is likely to be the next prop called up if one of our top four goes down with injury. Zach Clay was a young 15 year-old playing up in the Harold Matthews team as interchange hooker, and anyone who saw NYC on the weekend, would have seen just how good he is.
If you get one or two of any junior side go onto play first grade for you, you’ve done extremely well. I reckon Kelepi will be the first of four from that Matts side. The SG Ball side could rack up its second with Toutai with Matthew Eisenhuth remaining a solid chance of progressing to make it three.
I really like the look of our juniors. Many Eels fans were despondent last year when our NYC team struggled, however, it was largely ignored that the majority of that side were SG Ball boys playing up. If you follow NYC closely, its generally the sides made up mostly of 20 years olds that do best, never mind, fielding mostly 17 and 18 year olds. If Parramatta had not pushed those kids up, Tanginoa would last weekend have perhaps being playing his first NYC game. Instead, he’s lining up for NRL.
When judging the performance of Tanginoa, it’s important to remember he only just turned 19 this month. However, the progress of these young kids is going to make a big difference to how we recruit over the course of the year. If Tanginoa shows he is already up to first grade standard, it will make the failed signing of Josh Papalii a non-issue, and result in us being able to spend money to spend in other areas. Pauli Pauli could do the same on the prop-forward front.
Of course, they have yet to prove they are up to that challenge. One only has to case our minds back to when Jack Afamasaga and Weller Huaraki came through into the NRL with big booms on them, having dominated the lower grades. Both failed to establish themselves as NRL regulars.
However, I like that Ricky Stuart is willing to throw them the challenge. You don’t know if they’re up to the step-up until they are asked to make it, and with the Eels in a critical stage of our future recruitment process, given we have so many players off contract, it’s important to get an idea as to whether we should be betting on the kids or making plays for more established players.
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Exciting times at Parra, i know a lot of people whinged about playing these kids up in the Under 20's last season but it looks like it's starting to pay dividends. The side last week looked bigger across the park and much more commited in defence against a still vastly more experienced Warriors team.
I hope so Phil, and i really hope ricky uses this year to introduce plenty of the youngsters to 1st grade, we have nothing to loose and plenty to gain by doing so, and i think ricky is the right guy to instil some confidence into these young guys, im just so happy that we have ricky, im feeling so much more confident about our future with him as coach, there is light at the end of the tunnel now.
I read on Wikipedia that Marmin Barba is headed to Gold Coast Titans this year. Is anyone able to confirm this?
that was ages ago, Robisms. Yeah he's with the Tightasses and good luck to him, too
http://www.titans.com.au/playerprofiledisplay/Titans/Marmin%20Barba...
What a shame Barba went away, would have been good to see if he matched his potential in the Blue and Gold instead of at another club.
Great read Phil as usual.
I find it really interesting what Ricky said when questioned about Kelepi's debut. While Ricky believes it is probably a little to early to bring him in being so young, he knows that he is physically capable of handling it and that he wouldnt even consider it if he wasnt physically able to lif to the challenge.
I hope for Kelepi's sake he has a positive first crack in FG and just in case he doesnt that it doesnt hit him to hard to much mentally.
What I also find interesting is that Ricky mentioned that there is another 3 players who will most likley be in the same position and make thier NRL debut this season so he already has his mind set on a few young fellas. I was thinking Pauli Pauli and Tautai, perhaps even Terepo unless he is reffering to Semi or Api etc.
Good read Phil.
The thing I like about blooding young players is that you know they are special if they look good/comfortable in there first few games.
I thought Pat struggled a bit last year when he played FG, but if Kelepi has a good game (doesn't have to shine) you know you've got a keeper. The boys who are going places go well no matter where you put, others struggle stepping up a grade but some do eventually get there eg Morgan (not that he's there yet).
Like the year Inu & Hayne came into FG, I enjoyed that alot.
Think back to the triple crown of the eighties - Parramatta was essentially made up of seasoned juniors.
Phil could well be on the mark with this which could also mean better times ahead.
As usual time will tell!!!
1. Corey Ma kelim 2. Jeremy King 3. Carlos Lopa 4. Danny Fualalo 5. Ben Fiso 6. Robbie Kamoto 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Frazer Masinamua (c) 9. Kaysa Pritchard 10. Pauli Pauli 11. Kalausa Leha 12. Kelepi Tanginoa 13. Chad McGill 14. Zach Clay 15. Jordan Latham 16. Lomio Mafi 17. Christian Kagiassis 18. Tepai Moeroa 19. Nicholas Galatoulas 20. Jack Delaney 21. Nathan Rumsby 22. Jordie Hedges 23. Tepai Tepu-Smith
Not a bad line up at all I think it is fair to say that more than 2 will definitely pay first grade.
Kelepi being the first then possibilities would be Pauli Pauli, Frazer, Zac Clay, Tepai Moeroa, Mitchell Moses ( although with the Tigers) then possibly Kaysa Pricthard and even Chad McGill.
The ball team that day was:
1. Chris Ulugia 2. Vai Toutai 3. Trent Jennings 4. Jacob Loko 5. Jacob Gagan 6. Jason Whebe 7. Jason Seage 8. Junior Paulo 9. Dean Blackman 10. Michael Inskip 11. Matthew Eisenhuth 12. Joseph Ualesi 13. Jake Lewis 14. Troy Errington 15. Luke Fishburn 16. Josh Batalibasi 17. Josh Neale 18. Stefano Takafa 19. Cameron Picker 20. Sione Hehepoto 21. James Tuitahi 22. Jarrod Azar 23. Zacc Douglas
From here we obviously have Loko and Vai should the rumours be true. Eisenhuth is another while Gagan and Seage are now at Manly.
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