This is just a quick look at our off-contract stars for 2022 and players who have a player option for 2022. Just categorizing them in order on who is a priority to resign.
Players Attraction Attention from Rivals:
- Mitchell Moses
- The most important player we resign is probably Mitchell Moses. While some of us argue if he is good enough to win a premiership, he is definitely one of, or if not the best half available on the open market, other than an ageing Adam Reynolds.
- Nathan Brown
- While he is not an irreplaceable player, I put him second on the list. He is regularly there to make try saving cover tackles and often inspires our team near the end of games.
- Maika Sivo
- Given the potential some people see in Sivo, he goes third on the list. While he is not as good as Radradra (especially from long range), Sivo is quite lethal close to the line.
- Ryan Matterson
- He has been solid for eels without being spectacular. I don’t think eels should be too stressed about Matterson. Papali’I or Niukore could easily fill his role.
- Blake Ferguson
- Fergo is ageing and past his prime. Will need a great year to be resigned. Hopefully his try against the broncos is a catalyst for a great year ahead.
Playing 17:
- Tom Opacic
- Very good defensive player and if he maintains strong performances, he will be a long-term centre for eels.
- Bryce Cartwright
- If he lives up to his potential, fixes up his defence, we will be stacked on backrow options with Matterson, Niukore, Lane and Papali’i. Personally, he could push for a starting spot and eels could maybe get rid of Lane or Matterson to spend their money elsewhere.
Fringe NRL players:
- Haze Dunster
- He is biding his time, waiting for his chance to crack down a permanent spot. I think he would be a decent first grader. Perhaps Fergo was told he wasn’t wanted because Dunster is takng his spot.
- David Hollis
- Massive wraps about him. Last year would of slowed his development, but hopefully after a full season in reserve grade, next year he is able to grab a bench spot in the NRL side.
- Samuel Hughes
- Obviously not much is known of what is happening with him right now. But if he is fine and continues his NRL career at eels, him and Hollis could be our future forwards.
- Nathaniel Roache
- Everybody knows that if he gets his body right, the modern rules could really suit his game. Interestingly he is named on the bench in the reserve grade side. Hopefully his string of bad luck has come to an end and he can live up to his potential.
- Ray Stone
- I like Stone as a player but obviously these types of players normally hop around NRL clubs. Good depth but not a priority signing.
- Joey Lussick
- Stuck behind Mahoney and potentially Roache (if he stays fit). Could be forced to move if he wants to play NRL.
- Will Smith
- Not the worst bench utility, but he is good in helping about young reserve grade players
- Jordan Rankin
- Same as Smith
- Michael Oldfield
- With Penesini coming through and the likes of Dunter waiting behind our current backline, Oldfied is really there for just experience and depth.
- Keegan Hipgrave
- Another type of player who will probably just keep switching around clubs.
Youth: (Don’t know enough about these players to order them)
- Sean Russel
- Solomone Naiduki
- Sam Loizou
- Jakob Arthur
Best NRL Side 2022 - With Contract Eels Players for 2022.
- C Gutherson
- H Dunster
- W Penesini
- W Blake
- n/a
- D Brown
- n/a
- J Paulo
- R Mahoney
- RCG
- S Lane
- I Papali’i
- M Niukore
- O Kafusi
- n/a
- n/a
- n/a
So obviously a lot of resigning and signings to do as 2021 has only started. But just looking at the future of our top 17 (not depth signings). I am not saying we are not resigning any other players. This is just the team filled with our confirmed signed players for 2022.
- Fullback: covered
- Winger: We obviously need a winger. Dunster could be ready to keep one wing spot. Apparently Sivo is likely to resign
- Centre: Could maybe need a centre if Penesini is not ready yet. But I recon he maybe. Opacic should resign.
- Five-eight: covered
- Half-back: need one. Obviously, Moses is there if he resigned.
- Props: covered
- Backrow: Can use Lane, Papali’I or Niukore to fill the 2 edge spots. Not to mention Matterson and Cartwright who could be resigned.
- Lock: If Nathan Brown is not resigned, I would like us to buy another rock. I don’t believe anyone else in our team is suited to a modern-day lock.
- Bench: Obviosuy needs to be filled out
Replies
Very good, detailed analysis EA. Some interesting things to think about there...
Very comprehensive mate.
I feel like this is required because teams often sign players just because they are good and on the open market. However, they often already have players capable of playing that position. A prime example would be Rabbithos signing Josh Mansour. While Mansour is a quality NRL standard winger, his signing to the Rabits was futile. Jackson Paulo looks to be a great talent and should be a permanent stay on the wing instead of Mansour. His height also gives an additional attacking threat over Mansour who is short and struggles to leap due to his ACL injury. Even without Mansour, Rabits have Taane Milne, Steven Masters and Braidon Burns as depth players in their outside backs. Personally, I thought Rabits should of been on the hunt for a quality backrower.
In relation to eels, we seem to have plenty of backrowers in the current side with Matterson, Lane, Papali'i, Niukore, Cartwright and Stone. Obviosuly you wouldn't start Stone and Cartwright is yet to prove himself, but the rest are all capable starters despite Lane's poor recent form. So, in regards to this, breaking the bank to keep Matterson isn't neccesary as personally we can easily replace him with players in the current squad and he has also been solid without being spectacular for eels. In consideration on how Dylan Brown and Moses use their backrowers, strong and aggressive line runners such as Niukore and Papali'i would suit our attack better. If Nathan Brown was to leave, I would consider moving Ryan Matterson as a ball playing lock due to his ball playing skills and offloading ability. I don't think he runs into lines hard enough for a backrower, espicially suitied to D Brown and Moses' game. In general though, I would rather we focused on retaining players such as Nathan Brown (ahead of Matterson - increase priority if N Brown leaves) and signing a strike centre (depending on how Penesini develops and Opacic plays. Waqa Blake is signed long term so I think we just need to really hopes he develops).
If Brown goes I would play Niukore at lock.
Niukore covered lock when Brown was suspended and we didn't lose anything.
In fact from memory Niukore bent the line more than Brown did.
I agree that Niukore bent the line more than Brown, but I think thats why he is more effective as a prop foward or backrower (Yes, I know everyone uses middle and edge in the modern game). Niukore running at halves would cause troubles (backrower) or he could bend the line (prop - bench). N Brown links up with Paulo very well and also in general has a very good passing game which has led to try assists. I just believe with the game evolving to be faster due to the modern rules, locks should be more agile and have a good passing game in addtion to what a prop foward has. This is why I believe Radley is the most effective 13 in the game. Tamalolo could just be in the 8/10 jersey honestly. I don't think modern locks need to be meter eaters. I think agility, instinct and passing is more valuable for locks in our contemporary game.
Good points electric
Of that list I would not keep:
Smith - Never been a fan
Stone - Ray is a trier, and can tackle, but I just feel he may be a tad too small, in stature and in weight
Oldfield - I know the bloke is injured, but I wasn't particularly thrilled when he signed.Will see how he goes when he comes back if he gets any game time in FG that is.
Fergo ( tapped on the shoulder anyway)
Lussick is an interesting one. I assume he was bought, along with Roche, as a back up for Reed. Will need to see more of him to see if he is worth kepping. I can't remember seeing Roche play, but he was not with us,, so I wouldn't have been concentrating too much.
Obviously the two main guys to re sign are N Brown and Moses. I like Mitch, but he hasn't really set the world on fire with me. He can have good games when he runs the footy, but too often he crabs across the field. His goal kicking is mostly good, so as he is the best halfback we have, he should be re signed. JA is a few years off FG, but in the trials he showed great maturity and composure for someone so young. With the right coaching, he should be good. Rankin did some nice things in the trials too. Hope he gets soms game time.
Don't know what to think about the centre positions Tom has looked solid so far. Blake, for mine, has been a disappointment. He doesn't run much, his D is iffy and he doesn't feed his winger. In 2019 when Jennings was on the inside of Fergo, he scored a stack of tries. I stand corrected, but I think, with Blake on his inside, he only scored one last year. Granted, Fergo probably had other things on his mind. I hope he has a better year this year for all our sakes
I personally think we have seen the last of Jennings, so it is good we resigned Pensini, albeit he is young. Dunster showed promise in the semi last year. I would re sign Tom.