‘Drums start beating’: Legend’s grim Eels call as $1.25m boost can’t hide glaring problem
The Eels had to prove they weren’t perennial finals flops last year, and now it’s about silencing several critics who have declared their premiership window closed.
Parramatta made their first grand final in 13 years last year, but key players have left and questions are being asked of their premiership credentials in 2023.
“I don’t think Parra will do much this year, I think last year was their chance. Someone has to drop out and I think it might be them,” Bryan Fletcher told foxsports.com.au.
The Eels have retained star halves pairing Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown on long-term deals, but their forwards depth has been depleted.
The departures of Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers), Marata Niukore (Warriors), Oregon Kaufusi (Sharks) and Ray Stone (Dolphins) have left some big holes in the pack. Nathan Brown is also expected to leave and Brad Arthur’s men will face further struggles in the opening rounds without Shaun Lane (jaw) and Ryan Matterson (suspended).
“Losing Lane hurts. There’s a few teams this year that are really good teams but with a few injuries could find themselves in trouble quick - and I think Parra is one of them,” Braith Anasta said.
“Losing a leader like Lane at the start of the year is tough because getting that momentum early to take the pressure off your team is really important.
“If you don’t start fast the drums start beating and things can get negative real quick.”
Parramatta have gained forwards Josh Hodgson (Raiders), J’maine Hopgood (Panthers), Jirah Momoisea (Knights), Jack Murchie (Warriors). But skipper Junior Paulo believes their success will ride on the back of Moses who he has tipped to win the Dally M Medal.
Anasta emphasised Moses will have to go very close to claiming the top gong if the Eels are any chance of ending its 37-year title drought.
Moses, who has until April 1 to activate his option for 2024, will earn $1.25 million a season under his new Eels contract — making him one of the highest-paid players in the NRL.
It falls just short of the Tigers’ four-year offer which was said to be $1.3 million a season.
“Re-signing Mitch is massive because I know for a fact the temptation at the Tigers would have been huge because they had a budget to go for him,” Anasta said.
“So for him to knock back his old club and his old teammate in Brooksy and the potential to earn more money there is huge for Parramatta because they need him.
“He’s everything to them, if they’re any chance of winning a premiership in the next couple of years it’s because of Mitch Moses, it’s a big scalp.”
STRENGTH
Forward pack. On paper the Eels have one of the best and deepest forward packs in the competition, even allowing for the key departures of starters Isaiah Papali’i and Reed Mahoney. Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Junior Paulo are one of the best prop pairings in the game and the Eels’ built their grand final charge on their platform up front in 2022. The club have recruited well in bringing in Josh Hodgson at hooker and J’maine Hopgood, Jirah Momoisea and Jack Murchie to give the side depth in the pack should injuries strike. Shaun Lane and Ryan Matterson are coming off their best seasons in first grade and will push for Origin selection in 2023. Nathan Brown fell out of favour last year and has been tipped to switch to the Tigers, but at his best he is an excellent player and worthy of a spot in the 17. Between their recruits and regular first graders Makahesi Makatoa and Bryce Cartwright as well as promising young gun Ky Rodwell, the Eels have one of the deepest forward packs in the NRL.
WHO’S UNDER PRESSURE
Josh Hodgson. Hodgson has done it all in the game, but he has only averaged 10 games a season since the 2019 grand final after a series of injury setbacks that threatened early retirement. The 33-year-old has impressed since arriving at the Eels, but his two year deal is only guaranteed for 2023 and the pressure will be on him to prove to the club he is worth investing in beyond this season. Hodgson is also filling the void left by one of the club’s stars in Bulldogs recruit Reed Mahoney. With over 300 appearances across the NRL and Super League as well as 23 Test matches, Hodgson has the experience to help the Eels. But time will tell if his body allows him to make the impact both he and the club are hoping for to keep them in title contention. Adding to the pressure on Hodgson is that the Eels are light on for back-up at No.9 with Mitch Rein and halfback Jacob Arthur their only real options if Hodgson goes down.
THE RISING STAR
J’maine Hopgood. 2023 recruit Hopgood comes to the Eels from arch rivals the Panthers with just 10 NRL games experience since his debut in 2021. However, Hopgood is highly regarded and would have played a lot more first grade were he not stuck behind Panthers skipper Isaah Yeo. The 23-year-old lock is eyeing a starting role at the Eels after the departure of Isaiah Papali’i and at the very least should nab a spot on the bench. Eels skipper Clint Gutherson is expecting big things from Hopgood in his first year at the club. “I think J’maine Hopgood across from Penrith is going to be massive for us,” Gutherson told foxsports.com.au. “He got a few games in the last couple of years and coming form a winning culture at Penrith he just brings what it takes to win. He works hard. He runs hard. He plays tough and that’s what we need in this team is a tough player to go after the game and I think he is in for a breakthrough season.”
THE UNLUCKY ONES
Bailey Simonsson, Bryce Cartwright, Jirah Momoisea and Jack Murchie. Simonsson finished last season strongly in the centres, but he could be squeezed out after the return of Haze Dunster from injury on the wing, which could push Waqa Blake back to the centres. Given his impressive showings last year, Simonsson could well hold his place in the centres, but if Blake can get his defence right he offers more in attack and the former Raiders star could be the unlucky man out. Bryce Cartwright has found himself in and out of the side last season and may struggle for a bench spot in 2023. Former Knights forward Momoisea and Warriors counterpart Murchie have impressed since joining the club, but given the strength of the Eels’ pack, they may find it difficult to force their way into the forwards rotation.
IT’S A BIG YEAR FOR
Mitchell Moses. The pressure has been on Mitchell Moses for the majority of his career at the Eels because the club haven’t won a premiership since Peter Sterling led the team to their fourth title in 1986. However, Moses takes on more than the pressure of history in 2023 after the departure of some key players, including hooker Reed Mahoney. Mahoney took so much pressure off Moses with his kicking and running games and his slick service out of dummyhalf. While Josh Hodson is an excellent replacement there will be growing pains. Moses is also coming into a contract year and is caught in a tug of war between the Eels, Tigers and Bulldogs for his signature. Whether that proves a distraction even after he decides his future remains to be seen, but even if he commits to the Eels on a big money extension the pressure will be squarely on him to deliver the club and their long-suffering fans the premiership they desperately crave.
PREDICTED FINISH
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Replies
I'm not worried about that. Other than his two ACL's he's been basically injury free. If I have to make a choice between Hodgson whose had two major injuries in an otherwise injury free career, or Turbo or Adam Reynolds who have all the reliability of a TIE Fighter, I'll take Hodgson every day of the week.
"The Eels have one of the deepest forward packs in the NRL"
Put the crack pipe down. Half of our forward pack walked out the door at the end of the season and the new half are un-tested.
We never do well with people backing us, he get arrogant. We love our backs to the wall.
Added to that why listen to Fletch who said Roosters will win comp cause he follows them? I mean yeah others in media do that also but when commentating on NRL, you need some sort of unbias. So would take what he says with grain of salt.
They didn't even mention where we were weak.
Defense around the ruck and more help from the back 5 bringing the ball out.This is where we are weak.This is what will dictate our season.This is where we need the improvement.
So supposedly I problem is all of the forwards we lost but then our strength is our forward pack doesn't know if his Arthur or Martha
We need to look at who we lost and the improvement if there is any.
Hodgson for Mahoney: Mahoney is younger and has less risk for injury and has a better pass. Other than that, Hodgson can be better.
Hopgood for Niukore: Hopgood is sort of unknown though defiantely has more upside than Niukore. Niukore is and will be a steady and handy NRL player, is he worth the 625K Warriors are paying? No, but he is a good player. Hopgood has a higher ceiling, so far so good.
Murchie for Kaufusi: Talk about overrated, media love Kaufusi, well ones i've heard talk about him. Kaufusi is a decent first grader but that is it. Murchie is the same but can play on an edge. So therefore not losing anything i feel.
Doorey for Papali'i: Easy downgrade, Doorey seems to be a steady squad player who could develop, but Papali'i is better so easy loss there.
Momoisea for Stone: Momoisea is another forward added with Stone gone, so far Momoisea looks average where Stone always looked good, when on the field. At least Momoisea will be available more, so not a massive loss.
Only other player that wasn't replaced so to speak was Opacic but could argue Cini is that and looks a little below Opacic due to experience.
So out of that, Papali'i is the only clear miss from our squad based on replacements, Mahoney maybe depending on Hodgson's stability. Can you really say Penrith, Souths, North Queensland, Melbourne or Cronulla got much better? Hardly any of them got big signings, not that they needed to. We are still in line with them.
For level of potential ability I would put Hopgood against Papali. I think Hopgood is going to be the NRL buy of the year. I believe that's a more even match up on ability then Papali against Doorey.
Then put Dorrey against Niukore, slightly in favour of Niukore but time will tell on how much we can develop Doorey.
So if you swap these 4 players around do we really lose much?
I agree with your comparisons for the rest but stone shouldn't be added to the comparison because he didn't do much last yeah.
I am more so adding it to position similarity and squad positions. Doorey had the raps and potential but never showed it at Canterbury. So far he looks the goods defensively and can run a decent line.
I know you are but I am just saying as an overall comparison forget positions.
If you swap those 2 around just for what they bring to the team it evens out a lot better. Forget positions.
ie if Jim Bob had pound of butter and Marry had 2 pound combined you have 3 pounds.
Now if Mum said Marry Job Bob needs more butter then you so swap with him. You still have 3 pounds.
That's why I pretext it with level of potential ability.
Agree Browny, Hopgood is a level better than Papallil and remember Ice is a test forward now.
No way would I swap Hoppy for any of the players we lost.....I have to see more of our new recruits to finalise the rest but the issue s are pretty straight forward, Niukure had a poor year last compared to the best he can play, I felt Kafusi did a job, without every fullfilling his promise of potential. Ray Stone is a very different proposition, if he plays the season with Dolphins and and only drops say a half doz games through injury, I will accept his as a loss, one of the few players in the game that can attack through his defence,unfortunately I think he's injury prone.
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