Talent Selection and Management

Has anyone ever had a look at our history of signing players from other clubs (eg: Kane Evans) who have performed well at their previous clubs only to go downhill at the Eels. It goes back a long long way. Add to that, how many players have performed poorly at the Eels only to move onto another club and play well.

It’s not just first grade. Jamal Fogerty was an out and out star for the Burleigh Bears only to struggle at Wenty (intrust is very even between states). He has returned to the Bears and he is again the best 7 in the QLD Intrust. Maybe Fogerty's style wasn't a FIT for Wenty (same style as first grade) but it is for the Bears. If that’s the case, shouldn’t our Recruitment guys have the ability to recognise that before we signed him?

Moses going backwards, Norman going backwards, French going backwards, Evans barley in squad, Jennings gone backwards. Foran went backwards, Sandow went backwards. We couldn’t manage Daniel Mortimer’s, Albert Kelly’s, James Maloney’s, Trent Hodkinson’s potential – lost opportunities.

Add to this our recruitment strategy that seems aimed at 28+ year old players. Scott, Watmough, Ferguson, Hayne, Hoffman, Frank Pritchard, TRex (linked to Morris Brothers, James Seg). Some of these guys are/were on big $$. Can our recruiters not recognise potential and sign 21-23 year old players? Can they not go to Fiji and find the next Semi? Just join in on a game of touch at the Outrigger Resort and you’ll find a dozen of them.

We all ask, what is wrong with the Eels– For me, its our inability to identify, attract, develop and maintain talent.

Rod, of course this is probably the main issue.

I think attracting players may play a large part to this too, we only seem to be able to pick up the ex-convict or unwanted players from other clubs.

I think the roots run deeper than identifying 21-23 year old players but instead should be focusing on players that are even younger.

What 21-23 year old player would want to come and play with our current roster, there's a common theme as you say to the players at our club and for me the biggest one is the IQ of the playing squad.

The team is being led around by the following:

- Moses who has a re-occurring hyperactive disorder

- Norman who doesn't set a good example off the field

- Hayne who's brilliant at best but has been known to have a poor work ethic

- M Jennings who doesn't justify his pay packet (like the bloke who falls asleep in the toilets at work)

It is something that is far from inspiring and won't change over time either but will only be cured by selecting the right players moving forward.

There isn't one player at the club who is worthy of building a squad around, this needs to change quickly as well.

There is no point signing these young players unless we have the right leaders in place.

"He signed with the Broncos first mate. But he couldn't start until Reynolds left (2027) so we picked him up for 2026. Otherwise he would have to stay in Melbourne. Everyone wins, except the Storm."

"I don't think they are as concerned about their reputations as some folk on here. I commented yesterday how good it is that it's all quiet since the beginning of November."

Replies

paul taylor July 30, 2018 at 12:46pm

Great blog . Unless your manufacturing your own in the style of penrith with their academy , you need to identify talent for nrl in 2-3 years. Fiji , png , North Queensland is untapped .

We appear to be fixated with islanders who are talented in the juniors and not progressing past that .

We need to firstly work put what type of football team we are and how we intend to play the game . We can’t be Melbourne storm ( been there tried that ) . I think a mixture of Souths penrith and sharks is the go . Speed man who nail opportunities and talented backrowers than can grind or show flair depending on the game situation .

We can’t seem to get this important area right can we !
- Michael Ericson > paul taylor July 31, 2018 at 7:28am
  
  We have been fixated as a club with trying to play like the storm ever since our contrasting style came off second best in the 2009 GF. I agree it hasn’t fit our club at all. It’s almost like we are constantly in 2 minds fighting our natural attacking instincts. When we get ahead on the scoreboard we go back into our shells rather than going on with it.
John Boyle July 30, 2018 at 12:47pm

Rod, of course this is probably the main issue.

I think attracting players may play a large part to this too, we only seem to be able to pick up the ex-convict or unwanted players from other clubs.

I think the roots run deeper than identifying 21-23 year old players but instead should be focusing on players that are even younger.

What 21-23 year old player would want to come and play with our current roster, there's a common theme as you say to the players at our club and for me the biggest one is the IQ of the playing squad.

The team is being led around by the following:

- Moses who has a re-occurring hyperactive disorder

- Norman who doesn't set a good example off the field

- Hayne who's brilliant at best but has been known to have a poor work ethic

- M Jennings who doesn't justify his pay packet (like the bloke who falls asleep in the toilets at work)

It is something that is far from inspiring and won't change over time either but will only be cured by selecting the right players moving forward.

There isn't one player at the club who is worthy of building a squad around, this needs to change quickly as well.

There is no point signing these young players unless we have the right leaders in place.
- robert maxwell > John Boyle July 30, 2018 at 1:09pm
  
  brad structure is ruining the eels,and some of the players are playing 1 year to long.
  
  add max and bernies cuts , and parra have 23 on there staff , other clubs 36.
  
  brad also run with 28 on hes roster of 30.
  
  they lost edwards, beau scott.
  
  max and bernie gurr , turned down a footie manager like phil guild , seems brad wanted one.
  
  reports are this all saved 8 ml , and parras $800,000 under the cap, which looks good for max and bernie
  
  but the big picture is we are running last.... no ones a winner at the eels in 2018..
  
  the fans lose.
  
  brad also to blame for not trying open footie and sticking to boring structures, last is the nrl under todd and the refs bosses seem to be really not wanting to give parra, coboys, and dogs a fair go.
  
  facts are the nrl need these 3 clubs in the top 8 bad, just look at numbers at the games huge numbers watch these clubs on tvm wake up .. the nrl needs new people to run it badly...
Bear July 30, 2018 at 1:07pm

Firstly who is our recruitment/talent scout. Secondly who currently does it best and how much will he cost ?
- Rod > Bear July 30, 2018 at 3:57pm
  
  Im not sure who it is at present. The best, Noel Cleal was considered the best there from a while but we actually sacked him at one point in a staff clean-out. It used to be a job dominated by ex-players but now, I dont really recognise any of the names. Maybe the role has changed over time, for the worse. Negotiators more than talent spotters.
Nitram July 30, 2018 at 2:11pm

I feel like this has been our problem for many years. I realise we made the GF in 2009 but we really haven't had a top side since 2005. In 2005 players improved and young players were coming through. What has happened since is downright terrible mixed with some overachieving years and one year with individual brilliance. We are the worst team in the comp and overall easily the worst team in a long long time.
HKF July 30, 2018 at 4:26pm

I think Peter Sharp is our current recruitment officer, he should be the first to go in a clean out.
robert maxwell July 30, 2018 at 4:28pm

SHARPE HAS A EASY JOB, BLIND FREDDY COULD PICK DECENT PLAYERS.
Alan Hunt July 30, 2018 at 6:22pm

It doesn't help that we have a coach who wouldn't know talent if it bit him on the arse.