Good morning all,
This morning I had the pleasure of attending our season launch inside the auditorium at the Leagues Club. It was a great event hosted by Yvonne Sampson (Channel 9) and Peter Sterling.
The entire NRL squad was in attendance including the coaching staff as well as the Board, sponsors and elected Federal, State and local government officials.
The team were welcomed onto the stage and introduced one by one followed by a welcoming address from Chairman, Steve Sharp. CEO, Scott Seward announced a new alliance with the University of Western Sydney then Sterlo interviewed Choc Watmough one on one, followed by Brad Arthur & Tim Mannah and finally Beau Champion & David Gower.
There is a real air of confidence around the club at the moment. BA spoke that he feels this off-season has been excellent whereas as 2013/14 was rushed. The emphasis has been on physicality and mental toughness which was missing in 2014. Choc said it's the first pre-season he's had in a number of years where he's been un-injured and ready to train each day. Make no mistake, the reason Choc is at Parra is Brad Arthur, he must have stated this about 10 times. In fact all players interviewed said they want to play for Brad.
BA suggested everyone get bets on Reece Robinson as top try-scorer this year calling him pure lightning.
We have some serious big boppers in our team now. I was chatting with Sterlo briefly and he was giving Tepai some big raps. Matterson is another who had put on some considerable size in the off-season as well so who knows, he may feature in our 17 this year. BA mentioned how proud he was of where the boys were at physically calling them fit and trim. I've never heard a coach so focussed on player fitness which I think can only be good for our club.
This is a club and a team that is shooting for nothing less than finals footy this year. They're confident they have the toughness and talent to go a long way this season.
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If would permit me to be a bit cheeky after reading all that goodness, Muttman.
hahaha. I do have that effect on people
Theory: Maybe we are waiting to announce Foran's signing whereby we'll be making the point that he's being signed with a view to captaining the side going forward, so that when we announce someone this year, it will be clear to everyone that is a one-year thing. *I do believe, I do believe*
I'm really going to be interested in how they handle Matto this year. His obvious place is the roster is the utility coming off the bench and playing as a middle playmaker. If that's where the club see him, it might be useful to name him in NSW Cup and get him used to defending in the middle a bit more. If we recruit Foran, that's 13 jersey is probably his long-term position. However, I personally think the best option this year is just to let him focus on challenging Norman for the six jersey. Any progress he mades this year in terms of his playmaking is only going to improve his overall game and his value as a six as well (as well as providing another option as Foran's potential long-term partner).
New team these days. Not long ago we were -
good to see the breakfast with parras n.r.l players went off well, goz they are backing brad arthur,no doubt at all.
lets hope we do make the top 8 , or better the top 4. to win would be a dream.
good luck to all.
go parra.
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