Eels Blogs

Juniors improving rapidly

Posted by 1Eyed Eel on June 28, 2010 at 9:43pm
A lot has been said about the poor performance of our NYC side but it really is worth giving credit to the new boys who are already turning this side around and last week they took on and beat a very classy and much older Brisbane Broncos side on the weekend. That side had a number of the young kids that Brisbane have been blooding this year including Corey Norman, Dunamis Lui and Dale Copley. To add further merit to the win, the Eels once again got behind on the scoreboard only to storm home. Once again, Jacob Loko showed what a freak he is. It's hard not to put too many expectations on this kid but Jarryd Hayne is the only junior I've ever seen in his class. He is 17 and at times he made Brisbane players who have already stepped up to NRL look ordinary. I'm not one for rushing juniors but he'll play first grade before he graduates from NYC. It's worth noting how many of Loko's SG Ball teammates have now made the step-up to NYC and next year is going to look a lot more promising. Dean Blackman has been great at hooker, Trent Jennings is very reliable and reminds one a little of Joel Reddy. Five-eighth Jason Wehbe also made the step up last week. SG Ball Coaches Award winner, the hard working Matthew Eisenhuth had been named to debut but didn't end up starting. I'm also led to believe that the exciting 16 year old Jacob Gagan may not be too far off a start either and there is also SG Ball Player of the Year and prop forward Junior Paulo. SG Ball players may go close to making up half of this line-up by the end of the season. It should also be said that some of the older boys have found another gear since the fresh influx of talent. Ken Sio continues to go from strength-to-strength as well. He's already played senior football for Wentworthville last year and he'll either be in our top 25 next year or one of the top second tier players. He's fast, good under the high ball, holds his own in defence and looks a ready-made specialist winger. It won't surprise me if he plays NRL next year. Same goes for Pat O'Hanlon who I've said enough about. Rory O'Brien has done OK at centre but he was a revelation at lock forward. He ran hard and had an extremely high workrate, making more than 60 tackles. With Eisenhuth, O'Brien and O'Hanlon we will have a talented, hard-working back row to complement the likes of the hard-running Peni Terepo up front. Almost all of the current side will be available to play next year and I'm quietly confident we'll go from basement dwellars to be one of the leaders of the pack in 2011. So while, it's tempting to look at this years junior results and lament the lack of talent coming through, it's important to realise that there are plenty of great young kids coming up just a year or two behind.
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  • Sharkiesboomboomboom June 28, 2010 at 9:52pm
    Mmmmmm...I am licking my lips in anticipation of our club poaching a few more of your juniors....hahaha
    • Kurupt > Sharkiesboomboomboom June 28, 2010 at 11:20pm
      No worries, we'll swap you Oak for J. Mannah.
  • SacDog92 June 28, 2010 at 11:03pm
    Also watch out for Tepai Moeroa in Harold Matts. This kid plays Union at my school at right centre and steamrolls every opponent who attempts to tackle him 1 on 1...Definitely one to watch...
  • N1cK June 28, 2010 at 11:11pm
    Good news hopefully we decide to keep them.
  • blueNgold June 28, 2010 at 11:41pm
    Good write up Phil, there is ALOT of potential first grade talent coming out of that SG ball side, whether or not they will play at Parra is another question though *sigh*

    Obviously as you have stated the three stand out performers from the older boys are Sio, O'Hanlon and O'Brien. I havn't seen him play in the forwards as yet but I actually thought he was a stand out in the centres, great defensively and accelaration over short distance, his overall instincts of the game seem top notch however. Reminds me of one J Lyon, if anyone has heard of him.

    TK Amosa shows glimpses of class but will also need to find consistency if he is to make the grade in the future.

    One more thing 1Eyed do you know what has happened to Daniel Galati, he's a Greystanes boy in the mould of Nathan Friend. From the games I saw earlier in the year he was one of the teams better players. Has he been injured or just dropped due to form?
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