CENTRE OF EX C EEL ENCE
THE PARRAMATTA PRODUCTION LINE THAT HAS PRODUCED STARS OF THIS GAME IS ABOUT TO BE TESTED LIKE NEVER BEFORE, WRITES DAVID RICCIO
THE saying inside Parramatta HQ goes: if you work hard enough, you can drive in with a hatchback and drive out with a Hummer.
Production inside the Eels football factory, where no-names are turned into millionaires, has been on high speed from the moment the club fell short of its first premiership in 36 years.
The Eels have recognised their assembly line is about to be tested like never before following the departures of grand-final heavyweights and factory graduates Isaiah Papali’i, Reed Mahoney, Marata Niukore and Oregon Kaufusi. Such was the progression, on-field influence and skill level of the quartet, a growing list of critics believe their departures to rival clubs in 2023, will lead to Parramatta nosediving down the ladder.
We’re about to find out.
The Eels’ proven system that propelled all four players from obscurity and into a position of signing the biggest contracts of their lives is on the verge of spitting out the next crop of hatchbacks hoping to be Hummers.
Offered a chance to develop and progress their football after false starts elsewhere are the latest members of the Eels’ football factory, J’Maine Hopgood (Panthers), Matt Doorey (Canterbury) and Jack Murchie (Warriors).
However, it’s a former schoolboy rugby union star from New Zealand with stints at Storm and Newcastle under his belt who wants to emerge first from the conveyor belt.
Little-known Jirah Momoisea, 24, will get first shot at replacing Papalii on the right edge for Parramatta in the club’s opening pre-season trial against Penrith on Saturday night at BlueBet Stadium.
“I was taken by the group of boys the Eels had here and the success that they have had with developing players,’’ Momoisea said.
“I wanted to try to become part of that.
“I was ready for a fresh start.
“At this stage in my career, where I’m still building and trying to learn, when you see players like Marata (Niukore) and Ice (Papalii) and what they’ve been able to do under the coaching of Brad (Arthur), it’s exciting.
“I’m keen to keep learning and see where it takes me.’’
Signed by the Eels for 2023 and 2024, the athletic backrower has played just eight NRL games since making his first-grade debut with Newcastle in September, 2021.
He was originally scouted by Storm but only ever played for its under-20s side in 2017 before linking with the Knights reserve grade side in 2018.
After two years of NSW Cup, a severe achilles injury in the pre-season of 2021 followed by the suspension of the NSW Cup competition due to Covid culminated in Momoisea missing 18 months of football and crucial development, capping his opportunities to his total of eight NRL games.
Truth be told, Momoisea’s rugby league experience doesn’t expand much further, having grown up a schoolboy rugby union player and First XV captain for his Auckland high school, St Paul’s College.
It was same school that also produced Kiwi legend Stacey Jones that Momoisea wanted to be an All Black.
“I grew up my whole life playing rugby union,’’ Momoisea said.
“I was a flanker and lock for as long as I can remember.
“My dream was to be an All Black.
“I was going through the Auckland Blues (Super Rugby club) system but then, suddenly, I got overlooked.
“St Paul’s was predominantly a league school, so in that last year of school, I just wanted to try it.
“From there, some doors started to open up.’’
Accepting an offer from Storm, Momoisea had just turned 18 when he said goodbye to his mum and dad and moved to the Sunshine Coast.
It indicated the constitution of the 193cm talent.
From the Sunshine Coast with Storm, Momoisea landed at Newcastle Knights after the NRL abandoned the national youth competition (NYC under-20s).
Momoisea said that he soaked up the chance to learn from the game’s biggest stars, while giving an insight into the differences between Newcastle and Parramatta’s pre-season training sessions.
“I was learning heaps off (Knights forwards) Friz (Tyson Frizell), David Klemmer, Tom Glasby and Aiden Guerra; it was great to be able to pick their brains,’’ he said.
“It’s different to Newcastle but I’m loving Parramatta.
“It was a bit of a shock when I first came into the Eels squad in those first couple of weeks of training.
“It took me time to get used to the level of intensity that they have at Parra.
“But once I got going, I started to find my feet.
“I’ve still got work to do to increase my fitness levels, that’s what the Eels demand of you. But I’m going to go after it like never before.’’ — with Jen Dawson and 3 others.
Replies
I don't see it, sorry to be pessimistic but Brad relies so much on forward momentum and feild position. We saw when rcg and Paulo came of we struggled, and that's with a pretty good bench. And now without the 4 thousand dollar man, matto, we are going to be pushing it uphill for the first 4 rounds and imo, on the edge of the 8 throughout the season.
If the bush coach can get these new guys up to standard quickly, and somehow be around the top 4, he should be regarded as an elite coach. A 2023 gf by the bushie with these circumstances and sign him up for another 5 years. For mine we are going to be either 8th to 10th. And that could mean the end of ba and son. Co.
Im just preparing you E of 66, so when its happening, you won't be crying in your cornflakes every morning
Chiefy, it is not as though you have a record to rest on.
The article was about a young man's journey and coming to Parramatta, get off your whining whinging arse and join the rest of us in hoping he goes well.....
If you could put your Coca-Cola glasses and read my post again ploops, I did say if Brad could manage to get these new players up to high standards and have the team in contention, he could be regarded as elite . Maybe you need to see opsm again plops maybe this time turn up sober lol
No. You never said Brad. You said bush coach.
There isn't much you do see.
I see this totally different.
You've got another year of the halves being together you've got an attack coach in Barrett who wants to see his halves touch the ball more.This tells me that there will be more subtly in how we play our footy this year.
This also tells me BA understands he has to be able to adapt his plans around how the team plays also.Otherwise what's the point in bringing Barrett in here in the first place.I think BA understands that his halves are the key to getting this team over the hump the fowards will be the vehicle to help that not the be all and end all.The addition of experience with Hodgson in the pack helps.
Its all about growth for the Eels,continual improvement teams don't get better by staying the same.
I think you are right Coryn on Barrett. For once we have a boss in attack. Since 2014 it was Murphy & Gentle, then Murphy ran it sort of himself with Joey Grima. Then Ryan Carr and Murphy both worked on it until now where Murphy is still there but Barrett is the boss of the attack. BA said himself that Barrett will be running the offence and am excited to see an actual coach for the halves there for them every single day instead of a come and go when they please mentor like Joey or Ennis.
See this is the thing we can't necessarily replace what Papali'i brought so why would we try to.Its a pointless exercise why not try something different put in guys that can do a job for you and adapt our game accordingly.
Bad coaches will try and do same same with less to me this just isn't smart we need subtle adjustments and that's what I'll think we'll see.
There's no doubt Brad has had some very good success in improving forwards who were pretty much no names. We'll see