The Eels seem to be clearing the decks this season with a number of 100 game veterans being allowed to look elsewhere.
Already announced to be leaving are backrowers Manu Ma'u and Tepai Moeroa. Manu will be heading to the UK Super League while Moeroa returns to union for the first time since he was a teenager, signing with the Waratahs.
Meanwhile club captain Tim Mannah is set to depart at the end of the season, either to another club or into retirement while fellow prop Daniel Alvaro hasn't been spotted in the first grade squad since round 11.
Possibly also joining the player merry go round is Michael Jennings who is in the last year of his contract, although his form so far may be enough to warrant an extension.
Alongside the outgoing players, the Eels have already begun recruiting through the signing of Penrith centre, Waqa Blake, who hopes to make his club debut in the next week or two. This season has also seen regular game time handed to Oregon Kaufusi, Marata Niukore, Ray Stone, Jaeman Salmon and Dylan Brown while fellow juniors Stefano Utoikamanu, Salesi Fainga'a and Ethan Parry have all been given plenty of game time for Wentworthville.
Where are the Eels likely to go from here?
The first step is obviously to replace the outgoing players. It's likely Marata Niukore will fill Manu's role next season given we've seen him play on the edges in almost every one of his games since his debut last year. Ray Stone and Oregon Kaufusi will likely be duking it out to fill bench spots, especially with veteran forward and super sub David Gower coming close to the end of his career. Salesi Fainga'a could also be a smokey to get a look-in early next season given he's already made his international debut for Fiji.
Should Michael Jennings be retained it's likely one of Josh Hoffman and Brad Takairangi will be released, allowing for the upgrade of Ethan Parry to a full time NRL contract.
It's likely the Eels will still enter the market for another middle forward to support Junior Paulo.
Personally I'd like to see Peni Terepo developed a little more. Whilst I admire his complete lack of self preservation, he makes himself an easy target for defences by just barreling into the line at 100 miles an hour. Funnily enough, David Gower is one of Parramatta's most effective bench forwards, averaging nearly 100 metres per game, or roughly 20 metres more per game than Peni.
Gower's effectiveness comes from his late footwork at the line and his ability to squeeze his shoulders between defenders, allowing him to pick up metres easily. It's that type of footwork I'd like to see Peni develop. At his size and strength he'll become a harder target to line up and dominate.
Apart from the middle, the Eels seem relatively set with the rest of the team, the backline, for the first time in years, will see minimal turnover, while the edge forwards will experience a refresh but won't require too much salary cap investment given the likely combination of Shaun Lane, Marata Niukore and Salesia Fainga'a are either juniors or bargain purchases.
The re-signing of Clint Gutherson and Mitchell Moses provides solidity to the spine, with Reed Mahoney also locked in until the end of 2020 and a deserved contract upgrade on the way, the Eels may experience zero spine turnover for the first time in over a decade. Dylan Brown's back injury may also have been a blessing in disguise with rival clubs seemingly going cold on the youngster and then stocking up on other off-contract halves - see the Warriors signing Kodi Nikorima.
Where do you see Parramatta's recruitment heading? Do we need more forwards or should we focus on trying to turn our current crop into gamebreakers? What about the backline? Is it time for Michael Jennings to move on, or will his experience be invaluable in developing our young centres and improving Waqa Blake?
Replies
Living here in the Riff and talking to a couple close to the penny's. RCG definitely wants out of the place and they have said okay and he is off to the Eels with the penny's paying a fair bit of the coin .is it going to happen .That i not be know .But it's pretty strong we will just have wait and see
There’s a difference between wanting out and formally asking for a release. He can agitate until Penrith are more desperate for him to leave than he is to leave.
Spot on Brett, it's a case of " I want out, keep me at your own risk or pay some if my salary to move on".
That’s what I was getting at, he can put the Panthers in a position where they might have to cut their losses given the length of his contract
Imo super , i would like to see change in the coaching staff ie : clean out to make room for David gower & mick Jennings, any other news on the French connection ?
Why a clean out, just add Jennings as the full time backs coach to work with the next generation, and Gower in the same roll with the new crop of forwards. As others have pointed out he is great at post contact meters, finding gaps and thinking with his big head, one good halves coach and we have a specialist team all working under the plan of the head coach.
What makes you think Jenko wants to retire and become a coach ?
True, I think Jenko would rather be playing than coaching at this point of his career, also he's likely able to help younger players more by playing and training with them.
No way jenko would coach lol. Beau Scott would’ve been a good coach but wasn’t into it either.
Well written mate, I reckon we need another prop and secondrower and we are set. Welsch or Arrow would be ideal. I wouldn’t say no to RCG at the right price either.
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