Eels Blogs

Unlike our first grade team at the moment our Under 20's are just finding ways to win their games. Even with a few of our superstars out we're seeing a few players stand up in their absence and really make an impression.

1) Corey Makelim- Again I feel really bad for saying this as I believe he deserves more wraps but Corey had another solid game. I think the best thing I can say about Makelim's strength is that he has little weaknesses in his game. Whilst he isn't genetically blessed like most players he can still produce better games more consistently than most players. But he doesn't have that X-factor that you need from smaller players like Barba or Milfdord, he doesn't have lightning speed or mesmerising side steps.

2) Leva Li- Scored 2 very easy tries early in the match and dotted over for a 3rd later on in the match. He's a capable player no doubt but he's been outshone by both Goodall and Lavaka this season. He can push through most initial contacts and make metres after that but he just doesn't have the talent to be a starting winger although wouldn't be a bad addition to a team if they want a handy back up winger.

22) John Folau- I believe this was one of his better games all year. Even though he didn't score any tries he set up Lavaka beautifully for either his second try of the evening after drawing in 2 defenders he threw a flick offload out to Lavaka who steamed onto the ball and scored an easy try in the corner. He ran hard in tackles making a fair few metres and absolutely crunched the Souths centre in 2 tackles, 1 that prevented the ball from getting past him and the 2nd made the player drop the ball. He also looked a bit trim in the blue jersey, not sure if he's dropped a few kgs or it was just the angle but he seemed to be able to get his hands on the ball a lot more and was a lot more lethal.

23) Fabian Goodall- Once again he stepped up to plate and delivered at left centre. He ran hard with the ball and his decision making in defence wasn't bad but I can't help but to think he's just not suited for centre. He doesn't have the silky moves you want from a centre and is instead a bash and barge sort of player and with his speed that means imo he is best suited to the wing. If his turn and chase wasn't so good I think he'd end up in the forwards.

5) Halauafu Lavaka- Once again the hulking winger finds his way to the try-line multiple times in the one match, I believe his 2 tries this week makes it 21 for the year. He also took a nice kick in defence and whilst under pressure from his opposites he was able to make 40 or so metres. The one try he could have prevented himself was in the second half when South's fullback (Wearing #6) chipped over the line and Lavaka just didn't go in hard enough and South's scored a try directly from this.

6) Dylan Izzard- Didn't really notice the young half. I remember he did a few good things but he was outclassed by his halves partner.

7) Zach Dockar-Clay- Was easily one of the best overall games I've seen from the small half. He set up numerous tries with his short kicking game close to the line, he pinned South's in their half with his long kicking game and his passes were crisp setting up tries for both sides of the field. It was just an overall performance from Zach. He really stepped it up without his halves partner Matto there. What I think might have helped him a little bit was having Tyrell on his side.

16) Jordan Muna- Started well in this game and his style certainly suited the style of TTS in the opening of the match. Not sure who he received the offload from but he scored a nice try weaving through a bit of traffic to get the ball down.

9) Joey Lussick- It is great that we have at least 1 of our top 2 regular hookers back in the team and it visually noticeable when we have either Lussick or Pritchard on the field. Joey is starting to mature more with each game and his decision making is becoming better and better. I'd like to see him kick a bit more from dummy half because when he was playing in the halves he had a nice bomb on him and if he can develop a long kicking game from dummy half he could be a real weapon.

10) Tepai Tepu-Smith- Another big game from the big prop. It constantly takes 3-4 players to stop his momentum and if there's any less he can get his hands free and looks to offload. I haven't really taken notice of his defence so next game I'll be focusing on that more closely to see how that facet of his game goes.

4) Tyrell Fuimaono- What a game from the young man. Not just very workman like he also produced a bit of flair that he is known for. He also has a fair bit of speed and a few times if a centre got away he was there to clean up. Even though he did well playing in the centres you can tell his position is in the back-row. He seemed to run harder and try and get his hands on the ball more and in defence he was almost a brick wall. He chased a very high bomb from ZDC and it never looked like Souths were going to catch it, Tyrell had his eyes focused on the ball and he just had the confidence that he knew he was going to get the ball no matter what.

12) Josh Aloiai- Speaking of workman like performances Josh Aloiai continues to impress with big numbers and great impact in games. Playing on the left edge again this week he didn't look out of place scoring the first try after a crisp pass from dummy half and burrowing through the Rabbits defence. It was noted in the Big League this week that against the Warriors Josh made 172 metres from 15 hit-ups. He definitely has the high work-rate and I think his skill-set is suited to lock.

13) Jeff Markus- Played another strong game in the middle of the field. Whilst he isn't the best player for lock imo I don't think he can play any other position other than in the halves but our other halves are still skillful to displace so his position is lock and that's why he's there. I don't know how to define his game as yet but I guess he's bit of a mixture between Gower and Edwards if I were to pick 2. At times he can run hard and he has that bit of a passing game from his time in the halves.

8) Brendan Raeli- Another solid performance from Raeli. When he comes on he doesn't have a noticeable impact like a Jordan Muna or TTS but our side because a bit more solid with him there. He's developing a nice hit and spin as well as an offload. He went close to scoring a similar try to his last week against the Warriors but some nice scrambling from the Rabbits prevented him doing so.

15) Alex Twal- For only his 3rd NYC game young Twal definitely makes an impact when he comes on. In attack he loves to get his hands on the ball, in one set in the first half he took the first hit up off the kick off, another player took the second and then he was there for the 3rd hit-up of the set and he still managed to make it past the advantage line off that play. Another fantastic run he made was off a drop out he took the hit-up just before the line he put on a bit of a right step ran past 2 flat-footed defenders and then spun out of a third defender running into a fourth, he made about 20 metres off the run from where the half caught the ball and it was a nice bit of skill from the young prop.

16) Paula Kaufusi- Don't let the feminine name and haircut fool you this kid runs hard. It reminds me of a young Junior Paulo in the way he's so fearless in just putting his body into the defensive line. He is also a very big boy and I'd say is one of the biggest boys in the squad we have currently. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGeLwq7j2pw

17) Jack Anderson- Made some okay runs late in the second half when he was brought on. I don't think he'd be there if we had our full compliment of Under 20's though, he isn't the strongest of runners or defenders but he does his job okay.