I think one of the most pleasing aspects of our recruitment, from my point of view, is that there has been a very obvious focus on young talent and assuming we can hold on to most of these blokes it really does augur well for our future.
Even come 2014 for example, we’ll still have Jarryd Hayne and Chris Sandow at a relatively young 25 with plenty of more football ahead of them. Add Will Hopoate and Jacob Loko at 21 and you have an incredibly youthful, yet experienced backline. You can also throw Tim Mannah into that mix from the forwards perspective, another who has gained experience beyond his Eels and will be a leader for the next generation of young forwards like Mitchell Allgood and Patrick O’Hanlon who are already coming through the ranks.
It’s hard not to compare the situation with this year’s roster and the ribbing we received from the league community for all of the veteran signings we pieced together. And it’s hard not to get excited about the future...
Even come 2014 for example, we’ll still have Jarryd Hayne and Chris Sandow at a relatively young 25 with plenty of more football ahead of them. Add Will Hopoate and Jacob Loko at 21 and you have an incredibly youthful, yet experienced backline. You can also throw Tim Mannah into that mix from the forwards perspective, another who has gained experience beyond his Eels and will be a leader for the next generation of young forwards like Mitchell Allgood and Patrick O’Hanlon who are already coming through the ranks.
It’s hard not to compare the situation with this year’s roster and the ribbing we received from the league community for all of the veteran signings we pieced together. And it’s hard not to get excited about the future...
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I know season 2011 was not perfect - in fact, it was far from being perfect, but as I said on many occasions, I think SK is really heading in the right direction.
For me, this was most evident in our signings. Last year our recruitment was atrocious. We lost key players before the season started and, as a result, were left to sign the dinosaurs of the competition. This year we signed up all our key young men and have made signing young players a priority.
This signing also shows we are looking forward to the future - and that's what makes me smile the most.
Great piece 1EYED. :)
its all starting to look up now - finally!!!
for the first time in a couple of years, im starting to get excited again :)
credit where its due - well done recruitment staff on these recent signings
Why? What has he accomplished as a coach so far?
Agreed EelLectric. These signings are fantastic and a demonstration that the players believe in what SK and Nolan are pitching to them (either that or we're just offering them a shite load of money).
The proof will be when we see how SK gets this group of quality players to perform week in week out in the NRL. He managed to do it over the relatively short campaign of a World Cup and Tri Nations so the signs are good but as yet he hasn't achieved results at Parra.
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