With the Eels possibly in the market for a quality five eighth I have been thinking about past #6 signings and the huge hopes us fans had . Adam Dykes came to the Eels with massive expectations. Unfortunately it didn't work. Another massive signing was Kieran Foran and for different reasons that didn't go well. I guess we could say the Jason Smith and Jim Dymock signings worked out successful, however, those signings were related to the ARL - Super League war. I have probably missed a few more horror five eighth signings. I guess the times have changed from when I was playing junior league. As a kid, players like Brett Kenny, Wally Lewis and Terry Lamb had most kids wanting to wear the #6. These days you rarely see the best juniors playing five eighth. Half-back, fullback and Hooker have become the glamour positions. From the early 80's and into the 90's your best attacking player was generally your five eighth. Now that player is usually at fullback. Today's five eighths aren't even your best ball players. These players are at half-back and if you have a second ball player he will be either hooker or lock.
Replies
Bring back Corey Norman 😂
I heard some interesting comments from Matty Johns regarding five eighth play that might help Papali'i. His comments were about Darren Lockyer and how he struggled when he first moved from fullback to five eighth. He was saying that Lockyer was playing too fast when he first moved. After a while he changed his game by slowing down his play. Fullbacks generally play fast looking for space, whereas five eighths do better slowing down and making defenders commit to them so it provides space for their attacking support players. The really good ball players have the ability to play slow yet they appear to have all the time in the world. Im not sure I've seen enough of young Papali'i to know if he has this in his game at this stage. The young half-back at the Dolphins is the best example in the game now of playing slow and fast when needed.
Good points!
The one thing that was a concern for myself and a few here was defence. He is very capable in defence, he is not a liability. He has that sorted, now just needs to fix other areas of the game. Will Ryles just go down the route of having Papali'i and Talataina fight for the 6? Or will he buy say Pezet?
One thing you can guarentee about Papali'i is that whatever Ryles wants him to do he will make sure he does it. He looks like a sponge and high energy.
I hope I am wrong LB because I am not a Pezet fan in fitting our side. That said I feel that Ryles has a very good insight into this kid and he may have him wrapped up already.
Of course I will change my view if we get him....LOL
PS The way we operate and the relationship with Ryles not giving anything away makes me think we would have no idea until it happens.
Parra have been chasing game changing five eights for many a year. In the70's they signed NSW rep Graham Lye, followed by Australian Rep Dennis Pittard from the premiership winning Rabbitohs both were underwhelming as Eels.
The Eels stocks began to rise with the signing of John Peard in 1976.
good memory for a Camel herder CE.... well put old mate.
John Peard was a very underated player in terms of his revised memories of his time at Parra, wonderful player in the Easts 74/75 premierships and came to Parra and went within a "beesdick" of securing Parra's first premiership in 76. This period was a great one for Parra and gets clouded out by the 80's success. We should have won in 76 and 77 and they will be talking about another great Parramatta era.
I will always have fond memories of him.
Thanks Poppa but I'm the original Cumberland not Cumberland Eel.
sorry mate, ce is in his eighties, so you maybe young cumberland lol
Have to disagree on Pittard Cumberland . We won our first ever First Grade title with Pittard at 5/8 in the 1975 Wills Cup final. I was at that game at the Sports Ground with my Dad and a few school mates. Pittard then steered us into tying for 5th in the Premiership proper leading to those wonderful midweek playoffs for 5th place in the semi finals (final 5 then). Pittard had his centres changed regularly throughout the year by coach Provan with Porter and Sulkowicz I think in the Wills Cup final but Mal McMartin in the semi playoffs. He also had different halfbacks as they juggled between Kolc and Reynolds........but we did have the wonderful Kolc/Reynolds/Quayle scrumbase move which I wish we still used. Can we get another Ray Higgs?What a great time it was from 1975 onwards. Peard and Price changed everything in 1976. If only O'Reilly had stayed then we win 76 and 77.
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
-
6
of 7 Next