Eels Blogs

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          Coryn Hughes > Hell On Eels January 12, 2026 at 10:18am

          

          Onething I look at when I see juniors is there physicality and competitiveness.

          If they can stand up physically they've got a chance they have.

          If they can't it's an uphill battle.

          Competitive you want the guys who get upset when they make mistakes and hate losing even little things.If there's a game of whatever it is that guy wants it there character traits I look at.

          Throw the highlights out the window we have to dig deeper than that.Kids who come from deprived backgrounds and have had to work for everything there whole lives.

          JFH Moses Leota that's what Riff were built off in the middle.

          We found Manu Ma'u Danny Wicks guys who had no business resurrecting there lives but did.Guys who've overcome obstacles in life these are the types I'm looking for off the park.
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            Hell On Eels > Coryn Hughes January 12, 2026 at 10:54am

            

            Coryn, spot on. Absolutely on the money. That’s exactly what Ryles will be looking for in the trials.

            Just one caveat: smaller spine players, and generals, with strong footy IQ might not jump off the page athletically or physically but are hyper-critical. They might need protectors. They're probably at their best late 20s-to mid 30s, a bit bulkier and mentally mature, when their muscle mass and bone density is at its peak, despite dropping off in fast-twitch acceleration and explosiveness. 

            You can get that good balance elsewhere with older players like Dylan Walker. He can handle the physicality in the middle but has good footy IQ. Even the Fox has good footy IQ for a winger, communicates on-field, and has helped Sean Russell.
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              Poppa > Hell On Eels January 12, 2026 at 12:21pm

              

              yeh, that point Coryn made about competitiveness...... noted Lincoln Fletcher beat Smith in the Bronco's run the other day (TCT) and that smacks of it, Smith doesn't lose much!
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                The Badger > Poppa January 12, 2026 at 1:28pm

                

                "Bronco's run" ...???
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  DYNASTY.LOADING January 12, 2026 at 2:37pm

  Kelma is not a first grader