The Parramatta Eels put in an impressive performance on Thursday afternoon, defeating the St George Illawarra Dragons 28-6 in their first trial hit out of the year.
The Eels started the game with NRL-experienced players Joey Lussick, Isaiah Papali'i, Keegan Hipgrave, Tom Opacic, Michael Oldfield, Oregon Kaufusi and Will Smith all on the park. While one game rookie Haze Dunster also started the match.
Parramatta's lack of NRL experience faced off against a Dragons side boasting Andrew McCullough, Tariq Sims and former Eel Daniel Alvaro. Those three players alone accounted for roughly 540 NRL appearances.
The Blue and Gold were directed around the park early on by Jakob Arthur whose kicking game worked Parramatta into good field position. However it was the Dragons who would score first following a break down the Dragons left edge.
Will Smith then warmed into the game and took control, becoming perhaps the most dangerous player on the field late in the first half.
An injury to Michael Oldfield saw Jordan Rankin take the field before shifting to fullback after junior Sean Russell was withdrawn.
Eels fans would have got a look at a number of highly touted juniors including the aforementioned Arthur, as well as centre Will Penisini who looked dangerous at times with the ball in hand and physical in defence while winger Matt Komolafe acquitted himself well when he took the field.
Isaiah Papali'i was perhaps Parramatta's best throughout the game as he combined hard running, footwork and good defence to look every bit the fine NRL prospect the Eels recruited.
Also deserving of praise was hooker Joey Lussick whose sniping around the ruck kept the markers honest and he held his own in defence. It doesn't appear as though he'll be challenging Reed Mahoney at this stage, although he looms as a very viable backup should Mahoney be injured or selected for higher honours.
Rankin was perhaps the biggest surprise performance-wise for the Eels after he shifted into the halves in the second half and directed the side around comfortably. He earnt repeat sets, set up tries and marshalled his side admirably.
It's hard to take much out of trial games. The Dragons were horrendous with their ball control and gave away 14 set restarts. The Eels were fairly good with their ball retention and defended pretty well, especially early on when they absorbed some goal line pressure.
The match gave fans a bit of an insight into new recruits like Papali'i and Opacic who was solid in his hit out.
No doubt some players who will start the year in NSW Cup saw an opportunity to show what they could do like Rankin and Will Smith.
It's expected a more experienced side will be fielded for their next trial match against the Penrith Panthers.
Replies
I posted this on the other blog but may as well do a copy and past here:
Will Penisini looked good last night and might solve that centre position problem at Parra. Opacic may be the safe option for round one but Penisini could be a future star.
The thing with Opacic is that he struggled to make the first grade squad's of weaker sides in the cows and the broncs. With Penisini, he's already a leader of his Kings footy club, his highlights real is excellent and he scored a try that not many could have in yesterday's trial match.
Early days but I really hope we see him in first grade soon.
Completely agree, he looks a load of talent wish he got early ball the only one that he did he made them look silly and scored
As for opacic he is a solid centre but yes your 100% right he struggled to make them two teams and can you see him matching it with the centre's in the top sides? Cause I can't, rather use penisini looks a jenko clone
Jordan Rankin in the centres. Also is a goalkicker
Rainkin or Opacic should do well in a good side but I reckon we need a game breaker in the centres to round out the team, which is probably why we are changing K Staggs. I think Penisini is potentially a better prospect in the team if we don't land Staggs.