Eels Blogs

There has been a lot of speculation on the site regarding Hayne’s replacement for next year but I’m really getting a bit excited over the competition for spots in our forward pack. From news on the site and in the media it seems likely that Parramatta will announce the signing of Choc Watmough and Danny Wicks as early as this Thursday. Where will this leave us for forwards next? 

Hooker 

Nathan Peats 

Looking to one of the most promising up and coming hookers in the game. He was touted as a potential origin call up when Farah went down injured early in the season. Unfortunately Peats went on to injure his knee and has since had surgery on both his knee and his shoulder. There was a definite change when Peats was in the team and I think most would view him as the likely starting Hooker for next season, barring any impediments to his recovery. 

Played 10 games, scored 3 tries, 380 tackles, 563 metres gained. 

Isacc De Gois 

After Peats went down with injury, and our back up hooker in Pritchard also suffered an injury, Parramatta were in dire straits. Having used Edwards as a replacement hooker in our round 2 match against the Roosters with disastrous results, Parramatta looked out to find a replacement for Peats with many at Parramatta hoping we would pick up ex-eel Kevin Kingston from the Panthers NSW Cup team. However, along came Isacc De Gois. De Gois made an immediate impact and proved to be a very handy replacement for Peats playing the remaining 12 games of the season. It seems that De Gois will remain our backup hooker for next season, but given Peats injury and his lack of regard for self-preservation we may see De Gois playing a role in the 14 jersey next year. 

Kaysa Pritchard 

Kaysa had a run of injury throughout this year only making one appearance in first grade. Which I must say was quite bizarre, being a ten minute run in the last game of the season. Either way Kaysa still made starts for the NSW Blues U 20’s origin and continues to show developing brilliance at Hooker. I’m sure in the coming years he will become a regular in Parramatta first grade, but for now it appears Kaysa will continue to develop in the Holden Cup and the NSW CUP. 

Props 

Tim Mannah 

I think Tim Mannah can be summed up in one word. Consistent. Tim regularly cops flak for not having that aggressive streak that you really need in at least one of your props, however Mannah has continued to be ultra-consistent in 2014. Tim played 22 games out of 24 sitting out two due to an injury caused from a chicken wing tackle which didn’t even make it past the match review committee. It is unlikely that anyone will take Mannah’s starting role off him considering he averaged almost 120m, 10 hit ups and 24 tackles a game. It would also be expected for him to retain the captaincy for next year. 

22 games, 537 tackles, 2624 metres, 230 hit ups 

Junior Paulo 

Junior made a very easy transition into first grade this year to cement himself as an incumbent starting prop alongside Mannah. With his first proper season in first grade, Paulo had a very successful season averaging almost 100m a game. My one critique would be that Junior is liable to give away an early penalty or two which can often put Parra on the back foot early in the game. If Junior can clean himself up in the ruck (or at least be sneakier about it), he will make an exceptional prop either starting or off the bench. 

16 games, 1 try, 294 tackles, 1571 metres, 148 hit ups. 

Darcy Lussick 

After a very successful 2013, Darcy really didn’t have the same effect this year. A lack of discipline saw Lussick have a couple of stints on the side-line. As a result, Darcy didn’t seem to get in any sort of groove and fizzled out this season leaving some questioning whether he was worth his price tag. I enjoy Darcy’s aggressiveness as it is something our pack has been missing, however he needs to be smarter about it. I think we will see Darcy return to the bench in 2015, and hopefully he can recapture some form. 

14 games, 226 tackles, 827 metres, 85 hit ups 

Peni Terepo 

Peni Terepo also had a successful transition into regular first grade this year. As with Peats, I think Terepo has a certain disregard for his own self-preservation, hitting the line with speed and power. As with Junior Paulo, I think Terepo also has a propensity to give away cheap penalties in the ruck and needs to remove this from his game, or be sneakier about it. Also he still has a couple of errors in his game and has coughed up the ball at critical times this season. Terepo is a work in progress and if he can tighten up his ball security and his discipline he will be a very good bench prop. 

21 games, 1 try, 356 tackles, 1366 metres, 125 hit ups  

Lee Mossop 

Mossop came to the Eels as a Ricky Stuart special signing. Having played off the bench for England in the World Cup, Eels fans were hoping Mossop would provide some starch in the middle. However, Mossop sat a large postion of the beginning of the season out recovering from shoulder surgery. After finally getting on the paddock, Lee let the media know that the NRL isn’t as tough as the Super League. Following that statement Mossop copped a season ending shoulder injury and a large amount of pie in the face. Lee Mossop was very disappointing this season and has earned the nickname ‘glass shoulder’. Hopefully after a full off-season and strengthening of that troublesome shoulder we will see Mossop make an impact in 2015. 

Games 3, 58 tackles, 191 metres, 20 hit ups. 

Second Rowers 

Kenny Edwards

Kenny Edwards stormed into the first grade squad this season after an off season pact with Manu Ma’u to make the first grade squad. Edwards, showed a handy offload and some hard running, proving that he has a spot on the left side of the field, even picking up a very valuable try in our round 24 encounter with Manly. However an off-field indiscretion left a sour taste in some fans mouths with Edwards punching a punter in the face after offering to shake the man’s hand. Hopefully Edwards can keep his head in footy and stay away from the pub as he makes a very hand second rower. 

18 games, 1 try, 402 tackles, 1334 metres, 120 hit ups. 

Manu Ma’u

In one word, Manu Ma’u is tough. An ex-con who has turned his life around and worked hard to achieve a start in first grade this season. The second rower made an immediate impact on the squad with his hard running, hard hitting defence and aggressive style of play and averaging over 100m a game. We can only hope that Ma’ has an injury free season next year as he is one tough bastard. 

13 games, 1 try, 340 tackles, 1381 metres, 102 hit ups. 

Pauli Pauli 

The young bloke had a very promising start to his NRL career this year. Like Pritchard, Pauli Pauli featured in the under 20’s origin this year for NSW. Pauli has shown fleet of foot for the big bloke he is, as well as a very handy offload as evidenced in our mid season match against the Bulldogs. I think Pauli Pauli will have a place in next years team, but may still need some time to develop his defence, and at times his ball carrying can be a bit loose. Beyond that he seems to be a very promising prospect and hopefully will get more than half a season again in the top grade next year. 

17 games, 3 trys, 224 tackles, 1228 metres, 113 hit ups. 

Tepai Moeroa 

There isn’t too much to say about Tepai that hasn’t already been said. He has juggled competitive rugby as well as an nrl career and shown real dedication and perseverance to be rewarded with a 3 year contract at only 18 years of age. With big wraps Moeroa came to first grade around the middle of the season and had an immediate impact. Built like a brick shit house, hard defensive hitting and the ability to run great angles in attack is Moeroa’s game.  Tepai has shown he can handle 1st grade but I think he still might spend some time developing next year either in holden cup or NSW cup. We can only hope he has a long career at Parramatta! 

9 games, 3 trys, 229 tackles, 539 metres, 60 hit ups. 

Lock 

Gower 

Many questioned the signing of Gower at the beginning of the year and I was one of them. After an inauspicious start against Manly where he was pinged for not playing the ball square Gower has really come into his own in the team. A tough bugger in attack and defence he provides a real bit of starch to the Eels very young squad. Was rewarded with a contract upgrade and deservedly so. Barring Watmough’s signing, I wouldn’t mind seeing Gower starting at 13 as he is a very versatile forward. However he can be play second row, or prop if required. 

22 games, 448 tackles, 1633 metres, 174 hit ups. 

New Signings 

Richie Fa’aoso 

Richie comes into the squad after a year off due to what many thought was a career ending neck injury. Fa'aoso is the ultimate journey man having played for the Panthers, Roosters, Eels, Knights, Storm, Sea Eagles and a stint in super league at the Castleford Tigers. Fa'aoso came off the bench in Melbourne Storms first legitimate GF win since 99. I'm each way with this signing. I think Fa'aoso brings valuable experience to a very green pack, however it remains to be seen as to whether he is fully recovered from that neck injury. I hope we see him in 1st grade at some point this coming season. 

Cody Nelson 

Continuing the trend as being the second chance saloon Cody Nelson is a recent addition to the squad. Nelson only cracked the Titans first grade squad this year at age 25, playing 8 games for the season before being suspended for punting on an NRL match. I'm not sure where Nelson fits into the mould at Parramatta next year. His stats don't look very promising, but then again similar things were said of Gower last season. 

8 games, 174 tackles, 294 metres, 42 hit ups. 

Shannan McPherson 

What seems to be another depth/experience signing is Shannan McPherson. McPherson has played 7 seasons with the Bunnies and has just finished a 3 year stint in the ESL with the Salford Devils. I'm not sure how many game he played this season but the ESL stats site says he made 187 tackles, and 584 metres with an average gain of just under 7m a carry. So not sure what to expect but at least he has plenty of experience. 

Potential Signings 

Watmough 

We have been told that Watmough will be an Eel in 2015, however there still hasn’t been an official word on his signing. I really hope we do have his signature for the coming season due to the fact that our forward pack is still very green. The majority of the blokes would be lucky to have one full season of 1st grade under their belt. Choc is a NSW Origin and Australian hard man playing the majority of this season with a busted bicep. He has been part of a winning culture at Manly and we can only hope he instils that same culture at Parramatta. Watmough averaged over 120 m, 30 tackles a game this season, and makes almost 15 metres a carry. 

19 games, 1 try, 585 tackles, 2301, 159 hit ups. 

Danny Wicks 

A potential Prop signing, Wicks hasn’t seen first grade since 2012 after serving time on drugs charges. A handy prop in his time at Newcastle and St George, recent photos of Wicks show a bulked up murder cake who has shed almost all the fat he was playing with whilst at Newcastle. Parramatta are turning into the second chance club and I don’t see why Wicks couldn’t have an impact in 1st grade and if not he would be very handy in reserve grade. 

Losses

Fui Fui

We all love Fui but even the most loyal fans could admit he had lost both his pace and power. I hope Fui is retained in some capacity as he would be a great influence on the polynesian players in the team.

Ben Smith

Crippled by injury there was a touch of sadness as to how Ben Smith eventually turned out. He did a fair whack of defensive work this year but retirement was really his only option.

Kelepi Tanginoa

A very promising prospect, many fans were left upset with his departure to the Cowboys. However with a bulk of talent coming through and Kelepi's injury woes this may not have been the worst retention decision Parramatta has made. Time will tell.

Potential Loses

Seffa Paulo

Sef still hasn't been signed at Parra for 2015 and it seems less likely by the day that he will be. It's sad that Seffa's development has seem to have stalled. I thought he showed some improvement this season with taking on the line more rather than crabbing, however with likely replacements in Gower and possibly Watmough this isn't the biggest loss to our squad.

Mitch Allgood

Mitch had limited impact this year only coming off the bench in a couple of games. Rumours are that he has been asked to find another club, but so far there is no news. His best moment was punching his old mate Matai in the head in 2013, but I really don't see him having much of an impact at the club next year if he doesn't find another club.

Conclusion

Our forward pack is still very green, however some sigings, and potential siginings in Wicks and Watmough will do a lot to shore up the defence and add some experience to the squad. 2015 looks to be a promising year up front. With a year of first grade under most of our young blokes belts the sky really is the limit and I can see us developing a fearsome pack who will be able to match it with some of the better packs in the league. At worst I hope we don't see half as many blow out scores this year.