Don't have link but was a good read
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More stuff to read
"If anyone here has not listened to the Pykes Nursery call, do yourself a favour.
Even if you have heard it before, do yourself a favour hahahahah.
The golden tonsils is gone, but will be always be remembered. My Dad loved him and listened to him…"
Even if you have heard it before, do yourself a favour hahahahah.
The golden tonsils is gone, but will be always be remembered. My Dad loved him and listened to him…"
"Sounds like a lot of unlocking taking place. Pezet must have the key 🗝️ 🔐 "
John Laws passed away today. Very sad I used to enjoy his radio broadcast. Great Aussie. Condolences to his family. Aged 90
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NRL 2024 scouting report: Parramatta Eels burning issues, roster breakdown, debutants
If Parramatta can avoid another season of self sabotage, they have the ability to re-establish themselves as premiership contenders.
The only team to beat premiers Penrith twice last season somehow failed to make the top eight, despite being grand finalists in 2022.
Now, the Eels will need their new recruits to provide competition for places and their next generation of young talent to make the step up to NRL level if they’re to emerge from an ultra-competitive group of chasing teams.
PAUL CRAWLEY breaks down Parramatta’s roster, burning issues and their expectations for 2024.
2023 RICH 100 REPS: Mitchell Moses (10, $1.05 million), Clint Gutherson (14, $950,000), Junior Paulo (18, $950,000), Dylan Brown (32, $800,000), Reagan Campbell-Gillard (42, $750,000), Waqa Blake (68, $650,000), Ryan Matterson (86, $600,000)
FREE AGENCY WRAP AND RATING
Relatively quiet in the player market but picked up some shrewd buys in experienced centre Morgan Harper and talented backrower Kelma Tuilagi.
Highly rated Panthers junior Ryley Smith joins the club, adding huge interest to the hooking debate after Josh Hodgson’s retirement.
Still on the hunt for an X-factor weapon that could potentially see Clint Gutherson (below) move to the centres long term.
Even if that doesn’t eventuate, this is a squad with enough strike power and experience to challenge for the premiership, with some boom youngsters on the horizon led by Ethan Sanders, Charlie Guymer and Blaize Talagi.
RATING: B
COACH STATUS AND SAFETY RATING: BRAD ARTHUR (2025)
Arthur has done a tremendous job rebuilding Parramatta since taking over in 2014, and thoroughly earned his contract extension on the back of the 2022 grand final appearance.
While that has since seen him overtake Brian Smith as the club’s longest-serving coach, the pressure is on for the team to start fast to avoid any unwanted speculation after completely missing the 2023 finals.
SAFETY RATING: B
LIKELY DEBUTANTS
Charlie Guymer, Blaize Talagi, Sam Tuivaiti: Guymer is a tough back-rower from the NSW Riverina town of Temora, which has proved an outstanding rugby league nursery over the years. Was a NSW under-19s representative and one of the Blues’ best in 2023. Has plenty of competition ahead of him but definitely a player of the future.
Talagi is one of the game’s most hyped teenagers who can play in the halves or centres. Has been identified as an NRL star of the future who looks to have the talent and the physical presence to make his mark soon.
Tuivaiti is another outstanding young forward emerging through the pathways who has been likened to a young Junior Paulo. Again, there is some stiff competition ahead of him but at some point an opportunity will come his way.
WHO TAKES THE NEXT STEP
Dylan Brown & J’maine Hopgood: At 23, Brown is on track to play his 100th NRL game in round 1. Despite a disappointing club season, Brown finished on a high with a superb game in the Kiwis’ Pacific Championships win over the Kangaroos.
The issue is that a week earlier, Brown was hardly sighted in the lead-up loss to Australia.
But that final was another match where you watched Brown thinking this bloke has the potential to be the best five-eighth in the game if he ever really wants to be.
Hopgood has been a revelation after coming across from the Panthers where he was Isaah Yeo’s backup, but almost instantly put himself in the Queensland Origin conversation after a tremendous start to the season. Has an exceptional work rate and his ball-playing ability is top shelf. Would not surprise to see Hopgood go to another level with a full NRL season under his belt.
BURNINGS ISSUES
1. Can Brad Arthur finally be the coach to end the Eels’ premiership drought?
The difference between the very good coaches and the great ones is determined by premierships. That’s why Jack Gibson will always be remembered as Parramatta’s greatest coach, even though this will be Arthur’s 11th season in charge.
So it’s no wonder some fans are growing more restless as the seasons roll on. Although, there is no denying Arthur has been tremendous for the club; not only building a top-class NRL roster, but the talent coming through the pathways system should set up the Eels for years to come.
What Parramatta fans crave though, is success now. With a team featuring Mitchell Moses, Gutherson, Paulo, Brown, Shaun Lane and Ryan Matterson, the pieces are there for a title assault.
2. Why excuses won’t wash in 2024
The Eels are one of the few teams capable of beating the Panthers – which they did twice in 2023 – which tells you exactly why they should go into the new season as a genuine premiership threat.
There is no question this is a squad capable of bouncing back, after missing the top eight, to finish top four in 2024.
As long as they don’t self-sabotage like they did this past season on the back of a stack of self-inflicted suspensions that could have been easily avoided (think Ryan Matterson, Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Dylan Brown and Maika Sivo).
Battle of the No 9s
The Eels’ most intriguing positional battle will be who ultimately ends up owning the No.9 jumper. Joey Lussick is a wholehearted player, while former half Brendan Hands adjusted to his role tremendously well when taking over from English veteran Josh Hodgson.
But the wildcard in this will be young gun Smith, who potentially could be the pick of the three if the extremely gifted 20-year-old (who is also a talented cricketer) proves he is physically ready for the challenge.
CRYSTAL BALL
On paper, the Eels have a roster more than capable of finishing top four if they play to their potential.
But what complicates it is when you look at the quality of the other teams that also missed the top eight in 2023.
Which puts in perspective how tough the NRL competition is going to be in 2024, and why the Eels simply can’t afford to constantly shoot themselves in the foot as they did this past season when they were seriously their own worst enemies.
FINISH THE LAST FIVE YEARS
2023: 10th
2022: 4th (runners-up)
2021: 6th (eliminated in second week of finals)
2020 3rd (eliminated in second week of finals)
2019 5th (eliminated in second week of finals)
2024 TAB ODDS
Premiership: $23
Minor premiership: $21
Top four: $4.50
Top eight: $1.90
To miss the top eight: $1.80
To miss the top four: $1.16
Most losses: $29
Lots of X Factor players around in teams well down the ladder last year. Is X factor myth worth chasing.As the article says we beat Panthers twice with out x factor players. Panthers beat Broncos who have lots of players some would call X factor. ( Note we beat Panthers) The answer lies elsewhere.
Penrith has plenty of X factor players.
Yes Bem lots of good players in the Panthers.. What does it say about our players who have beat them quite a few times. Difficult to explain considering where we and they ended the season.
I hear what you are saying Tad, I suggest you look at it this way. Rugby league games are won by effort, discipline and commitment. All the best teams win games by grinding out, winning the arm wrestle, battling it out and defending well. The difference is when a team can do that but also make something out of nothing, in a flash, with a sudden strike. That's what actual administrators and coaches know and just don't say. The media then takes an off the cuff comment and labels it because they know it'll cause a stir.
We have all of the necessary pieces of thre puzzle, but 1, an experienced finisher with special attributes, be it speed, brutal strength, soaring vertical leaps, that's what we need, that's 'Xfactor'. Someone who makes a play, takes an opportunity and nails it.
Everyone else, including shit clubs buy that piece without all the structure around that player. JAC is wasted at the Dogs because they don't have a 7. Lomax at the Dragons, and so on.
PS. I do think Penrith have and have had plenty of Xfactor players, and they have a fresh crop coming through now, Iongi, McLean, Turuva to name a few.
JB good reply mate. Lots of variables at play in a game. Sometimes luck and the bounce of the ball, errors etc all come into play in getting a favourable score. I think if you look at the stats presented by our great pregame blogger,s you will find that defence has been a big deal as well as consistency with attitude,mind set and having a pattern of play. We have issues when we can beat a top side one week and flounder in the next week against a lowly ranked side. Would a Addo Car make a difference? I don't know. I wouldn't mind having him though.
I like the way both Broncsand Panthers play I wonder what it I would like to be a fly on the wall listening to what Hopgood had to say about training philosophy and preparation he had at the Panthers.
I think everyone in the club is looking at the magic formula. For me a lot has to do with how players connect with each other on the field.We all have different interpretations on what teamwork looks like and how we would like them to play. I think this discussion will go all through this season. Learning to enjoy the good stuff and not getting to upset at the bad stuff is the best way to handle it.
Yep great stuff Tad, hard to disagree with any of that.
I do think that there is something to say in that those epic game sealing 80m-100m efforts do something to galvanize the squad and being belief into the community. At the end of the day most of the NRL s on par or close to on par with eachother and often all it takes is some momentum and belief.
I do believe in a lot of our juniors coming though, more than I have in recent memory.
Unfortunately I think they are pretty much Fullbacks, Halves or Centres and not Wingers!
looking forward to the next 6-10 years :)
Ethyn Martin will blow the league apart
Love your optimism JB. Makes it all worthwhile to a new season. . I liked seeing some new players introduced into last year's season. I don't think we saw enough of that previously Looking forward to seeing Grieg establish himself this season.
Yep big year from big woody! He is the next cult hero of the club.
Talagi and Sanders are the real deal, all the forwards are good, Penisini brother looks good, but Martin is freaky
Richard Penisini has done his knee might have to wait a year to see what he's made of
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