Eels Blogs

If you subscribe to NSWRL TV you will be able to watch our Matts and SG ball team play in the finals.

Harrold Matts - 14th April - 10am

1. Cryus Bloomfield
2. Jeziah Tuaau
3. Andes Johnsson
4. Nathan Howlett
5. Lorima Rokosuka
6. Talen Tisati
7. Lincoln Fletcher
8. Natutasina Leota
9. Ezra Leota
10. Ryda Talagi
11. Samuel Polley
12. Michael Nauer
13. Maison Tuasia-Ong
14. Wesley Pakotu
15. Kasinga Noa
16. Ocean Noah Vaivela
17. Sanjae Ulukini
18. Billy Fanene

I will be honest. I have not kept up to date with Matts as much. We went through the season undefeated as we drew 2 games. Unfortunately, the structure of the comp means that not every team verses each other so the other top teams did not verse each other. Hence, 3 teams finished undefeated and we only finished 3rd. However, this team will definitely be our best chance of winning a junior competition this year. I have been told about a couple of top talents in this group.

The fullback Bloomfield has been amazing this year and probably eels best player. A tall fullback with pace. He is really threatening of shape. Rokosuka is apparently the best from the 2-5. The halfback Fletcher has been amazing as well. Ryda Talagi (Blaize's younger brother) and Vaivela (who normally starts) have been great through the middle. Polley has been one of the best too in the backrow. Could say he has the most potential in the full Matts competition. Athletic backrower who is playing a year above. Higher energy, good defence and runs great lines off Tisati who has also had a good season. Leota is another crafty hooker.

Unfortunately, I will not be able to watch this game, however I will definitely watch the recording.

UNE SG Ball -  14th April 11:30am

1. Ollie McCarthy
   • the club tried two players before picking and sticking with McCarthy at fullback. I simply think it is because he has a solid overall game with minimal errors and good support play. Not your X-factor type of fullback. Expect him in SG Ball again.
2. Mohamed Alameddine
   • One of four players from our SG ball side from last year. Other than Richie and AMS, Alamaddine is probably our most promising outside back coming through the grades. He is a good finisher and is really good at starting of sets as he regularly brakes tackles and gets linebreaks from nothing. I believe he will definitely go straight to Flegg after SG ball is over. A player of hope for us given our outside back struggles.
3. Corey Leigh
   • Matts fullback from last year. Similar to McCarthy as he was the second player tried at fullback before he was given a go at centre. Again used for a solid overall game. Nothing overly special about him. I expect him in SG ball again next year.
4. Devonte Vaivela
   • Played on the wing in last years SG ball final but now has found himself at centre. Unfortunately, he has not developed that much this year. He may go to Flegg given how shit the outside backs are there.
5. Dominic Farrugia
   • He has a massive boot for his conversions it is actually quiet amazing. He has massive wraps at the club for being an athelitc winger coming through. However, he unfortunately has not shown that much this year both. His meterage has slowly improved throughout the year. He was in the Matts side last year that earned rep honours. Expect him in SG ball again next year.
6. Lorenzo Tataina
   
   • Undoubtedly the X-factor and star of the side. Has come up with many clutch plays in games. Reminds me when Luai came onto the scene. A five-eight with great footwork, good show and go and decent short kicking game. He was halfback last year in Matts, however shifting to 5/8 has allowed him to just focus more on attack. Would not surpise me if he partners Lynn in Flegg this year.
7. Dylan Brettle
   
   • Like any halfback, he is the brains of the team. Needs to bulk up a bit. Actually reminds me of Sanders a bit. Great left foot kicking game, good support play and great organsing skills. He is the captain of the side. Did not play SG ball last year but he is 19 years old. Either him or Tataina will go to flegg when SG ball is over. But Tatiana definitely has more attacking upside. Would not surpise me if he plays Flegg next year as Lynn moves into cup with Sanders probably leaving.
8. Javahn Stevenson-Hala
   • We took him from the roosters. 190cm tall. A massive prop who was injured at the start of the season. Started from the bench has worked his way into the starting side. Could make his way into the Flegg bench this year. Signed to the club for next year as well. Not sure of his age.
9. Lachlan Coinakis
   • The utlity from last year Matts side. He was stuck behind gun hooker Zadius. So Lachlan played a lot of hooker and lock of the bench. He provides great service and defence and is used in tandem with Cameliri who provides the spark of the bench. Expect him to play SG ball again next year. Do not see him playing Flegg this year.
10. Kobi Hurford
    • The 18th man from last years SG ball side grand final. Just a workhorse prop. Do not want to be rude but like a couple of others, do not see anything noteworthy to say he has an NRL future or even if he will play Flegg.
11. Jezaiah Funa-luta
    • Captain of our last year Matts side. Australian school boy from last year. Massive wraps on him at the club. This year he has been more of a workhorse player than an X-factor backrow. Could make his way into the Flegg side however, our current Flegg forward pack is actually decent. Will probably still play SG ball again next year.
12. Tyrese Lokeni
    • A good big, hard running backrower who is capable of running good lines of Brettle. Has another year of SG Ball in him which I expect him to do next year. He did have a year of footy last year where he did union. Good player but do not expect him to play flegg right now.
13. Max Popo
    • I honestly, have not seen much of him to comment. He does have another year of SG ball in him.
14. Tyson Sangalng
    • Took some time to crack into the side after being 18th man a lot. Reminds me a bit of Saxson Pryke. Good work horse that runs hard. Was in the Matts side last year so has another year of SG ball.
15. Sebastian Piukala
    • Came of the bench in the SG bal grand final as well. He plays the impact forward bench role really well hence why he is not starting. Plays with good aggression and leg speed. I expect him to make the Flegg bench once the SG ball season is over. Him and Javanah are a top prop combinaton in this comp.
16. Jai Camilleri
    • Him and Coinakis have swapped between starting and bench regularly during the season. Coinakis was injured at the start of the year to be fair. He has had some good moments in attack this year, getting linebreaks running from dummy half or scoring a trying from burrowng on the goal line. Defensively he is not as solid as Coinakis hence why he is also more suited to the bench role where he injects energy. He is the person we got over from grid iron. As I said above he could be competitng with Coinakis for a utlity spot in flegg. This is Camileri last year in SG ball. 
17. Elijiah-Shane Tapau-Taylor
    • The Grieg/Lane mix that we bought from cowboys during the off-season. Still has another year of SG ball left in him. He was injured at the start of the year so he had to be satisfied with a bench spot as our starting backrowers have been good. He will provide good impact of the bench. If everyone remembers his highlights from last year, he was a monster.
18. Mark Williams
    • Do not know much about him.
19. Dakota Kakoi
    • Started the year at centre however was overtaken by Leigh. Not 100% sure why. Was a noted signing from NZ I believe. Not sure much about him.

I know a bit more about these players so I gave a bit of a discription of all of them. However, my players to watch would be Alameddine, Tataina, Brettle, Pikaula, Stevenson-Hala, Funa-Latu and Camilleri.

The SG Ball team is probably a level below the top 3 teams this year. I would say a big contributer is the fact our best 19 year olds did not play their second year of SG ball because they are in flegg or cup. Tuivita, Talagi, MA and Richie could have played in this comp which than would have easily made us favourites to win the comp. And as you can see, most of these players are in their first year of SG ball. So it is not because we are a shit junior club. It will be a tough game with our opposition the bulldogs the favourites.

I will be back able to watch this game, so will provide information on how they are going. TCT is better for a proper live blog, while I will focus on specific moments and players.

Overall, I would say there are less future NRL players in this SG ball side than last years. A lot of them will play SG bal again next year. A couple will move into Flegg this year or next year.