Parra pack won't be intimidated in 2011

Joe Barton AAP Fri, 05 Nov 2010 09:45:24

Parramatta won't be intimidated by any NRL forwards in 2011, with Eels prop Tim Mannah saying the club's new signings will bring a mongrel edge to the monster pack.

Parramatta's forwards failed to aim up in 2010, arguably the club's most disappointing season in the past decade, but Mannah is adamant the Eels pack will not be a concern as they look to rebound next year.

Even without evergreen prop Nathan Cayless, who retired after 14 decorated seasons in first grade, Mannah is confident the club has recruited the type of characters that can give Parramatta an edge.

Firebrand prop Carl Webb has been lured from North Queensland, while former Australian representative Reni Maitua will look to rebuild his career after serving a two-year drug ban.

"Obliviously it's going to be good to have Carl and Reni at the club," Mannah told AAP.

"They've both got good reputations in the league as tough players.

"I'm a bit younger and growing up I loved watching them play so it's going to be a good addition to our side.

"They'll add a bit of mongrel to the forward pack as well which is something which will be handy in our squad.

"We're definitely looking forward to that."

With Cayless's retirement, Mannah is aware of a starting front-row spot opening up - but the talented 22-year-old, who made his NSW Origin debut this season, isn't claiming it just yet.

Despite having a bumper season, Mannah is well aware he has a fight on his hands to work his way off the bench with Webb joining representative front-rowers Fuifui Moimoi and Justin Poore in a four-way battle for the two starting spots.

"Obviously any player strives to be a starting player, but I'm at an age where I'm happy to do what is best for the team," he said.

"If putting the team first means coming off the bench, then so be it. But it's good to have a bit of healthy competition.

"At the moment there's me, Fui, Justin Poore and Webby fighting as well.

"We've got a few players striving for starting spots and it will bring out the best in us (in pre-season training) from now until Christmas.

"Personally, looking ahead there's so many more goals I want to achieve, and now that I've got a bit of a taste of rep footy, it'd be nice to get your foot in the door.

"You want to do what's best for your team and at the moment that means getting Parramatta back on track."

NRL.COM

I do agree with Tim Mannah .... I do believe we will be final 8 next year.

IF ... and a big IF Carl Webb gets back to his best, can you imagine ANY team in the NRL wanting to mark up against us with Carl and Fui Fui tag teaming for 80 minutes ....

then if Kearney smells blood .... both Fui and Carl smashing the ball up at the opposition defence ...

couple that with Tim Mannah getting better and better ....

Justin Poore getting back to his best ....

Horo getting those offloads away ....

Benny Smith and Hindy giving their all for 80 mins ...

Then Reni wanting to prove a point, MK and Mitchell trying to prove who is the best number 9 .....

IF and again a big IF they mark up we can be top 8 material .....

again .... all I want from next year is to see is Parra playing with heart and pride again .... as I could be wrong, but I really feel there wasn't a lot of that the season just gone by

but time will tell, and I will remain forever an Eels fan and forever optomistic for the next season!!

"Who getting spoon Whos getting spood .How fucking many blogs on who whose or whom getting the stuffen spoon . Im getting a massive headache .Ijust don't give a rats ass on who who's or whom is getting the stuffen spoon.I'll just go and take a box…"

Replies

The Badger November 5, 2010 at 11:18am

So what's Tim actually saying here ...Caylo was intimidated??? The rest of the pack are too nice??? After all he, Poore & Fui were there last year along with Hindy, Smith & Horo. I think they are all still going to be in the 2011 pack. What's changed?? The competition for spots now that the skipper is gone??? Surely that's not the reason for "failing to aim up" in 2010. I guess we may never really know why 2010 was such a bummer but I'm sure the speculation will continue.
blueNgold November 5, 2010 at 11:25am

For mine our forwards were the least of our problems last season. To hazard a guess I would say they won the yardage game a lot more often than not.

The problem was turning metres made into points, i.e halves and to a degree the outside backs as well.
Daniel P November 5, 2010 at 11:31am

Yeah we had some go forward lat year, but we just didn't have the structure in attack to get ball over the line. When you look at who we have in our backline we should have piled on points but we just never got it together except for about 10 - 20 mins per game, usually near the death and with us well behind on the board, it would be nice to see us come out firing next season and know that we can score points and not hoping we can.
Michael Ericson November 5, 2010 at 11:33am

100% agree - forwards were pretty good. Cayless had his best season in about 5 and everyone contributed. We just couldn't score a point in the opposition 20 because we had no structure- which is one of the main reasons Anderson got the rissole.
ELECTRIFYING MAXFORCE EELS 2014 November 5, 2010 at 2:22pm

eels pack played at about 80 % in 2010 , That is the bottom line . Our backs were disgracefull in 2010 .

I see 2011 AS NEW LIFE AND A FRESH ATTITUDE TO GO WITH IT . 2011 promises to be a ripper of a year for the eels and one to remember . The new signings and new approach is what was needed .
HH - Love You Iongi Time! November 5, 2010 at 4:08pm

LAST YEAR:
Morts was awful.
Tahu disrupted season.
Keating was terrible.
Cayless should not have played.
HONOURABLE MENTIONS: Mannah plays his heart out, Hindy inspirational & Horo makes his mark.

NEXT YEAR:
PREMIERS 2011
Give players every chance to compete and succeed as a team.
jjeel November 5, 2010 at 5:58pm

spot on!
Daniel P November 5, 2010 at 6:02pm

A premiership would be awesome, but for starters next year I would just like to see the team consistently competitive and able to score points. This year there were several games where after 10 to 15 minutes you just knew we weren't in the game.
I think some good recruitment for 2011 has given a chance to build up a great team, when it gels I don't think a premiership will be too far away.
DK Eel November 5, 2010 at 6:27pm

I do agree with Tim Mannah .... I do believe we will be final 8 next year.

IF ... and a big IF Carl Webb gets back to his best, can you imagine ANY team in the NRL wanting to mark up against us with Carl and Fui Fui tag teaming for 80 minutes ....

then if Kearney smells blood .... both Fui and Carl smashing the ball up at the opposition defence ...

couple that with Tim Mannah getting better and better ....

Justin Poore getting back to his best ....

Horo getting those offloads away ....

Benny Smith and Hindy giving their all for 80 mins ...

Then Reni wanting to prove a point, MK and Mitchell trying to prove who is the best number 9 .....

IF and again a big IF they mark up we can be top 8 material .....

again .... all I want from next year is to see is Parra playing with heart and pride again .... as I could be wrong, but I really feel there wasn't a lot of that the season just gone by

but time will tell, and I will remain forever an Eels fan and forever optomistic for the next season!!
Zip Zip Man November 5, 2010 at 10:28pm

OH YEAH now your talkn DK optomistic nuthing wrong with that mate. I agree that if parra can get this team playing as a unit and our forwards march forward we will be tough teem to beat. I think we will see a complete new structure in our game and a complete new attitude withn our playing group. parra will make the top 8 EASYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY.

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