Eels Blogs

So upon doing a blog a while back about the future kids of this team, i was thinking about who makes the grade and who they replace if they are to replace anyone. As we have good players coming through though some sit behind better players who have another 5-10 years of their careers left. So i am going to go through some players and perhaps say who they could replace or if they may need to move elsewhere to be able to get game time.

Sean Russell: Primarily a fullback by trade, though has been trained as a winger for obvious reasons. Gutherson is here for the distant future and Perham is the 2nd string Fullback, so Russell must by his time as a winger to get experience. He has the height and size to develop into a competent winger. The issue moving forward for Russell is, where does his future lie in our team moving forward? Both Simonsson and Dunster are signed up til 2024 & 2025 respectfully, Gutherson is signed til 2025 and is captain. Could Russell move to centre to replace Blake who is off contract in 2023. Russell is 20 this year and of course would not want to wait around too long for an opportunity. Russell seems talented, but not as much to force his way into a team full-time. His break may come at the expense of Dunster being out, giving Russell perhaps a good 10-12 rounds of footy. Though i fear Russell is going to be one that has to go elsewhere in order to fulfill his potential

Jakob Arthur: Before the mob sharpen their pitchforks and say "He shouldn't have a future here", whether or not you think he should he is going to due to BA and how others in the club view him it is fact. But Moses under contract til 2024 (should be longer) and does not seem to be going anywhere after that unless his performances fall off a cliff, D Brown signed til 2023 is where there is a light for JA fans. Honestly though D Brown was going to decline his option to test the open market, however he decided to stay true to his junior club. Parramatta love Dylan, unless he has a subpar 2022 and 23, or takes massive money (1.1-1.3 million) elsewhere he will be at the club for the future. Where does that leave JA? Moses will be moved for him as the club and fans love Moses and he still has age on his side. D Brown is exactly the same, so what happens to JA? Perhaps a position swap en route Ryan Matterson who moved from full-time five-eighth to the back-row. Now, JA is not as big as what Matterson was at 20, same height roughly but weight and size is different. Could JA play in the back-row? maybe convert to centre like Burton? could he slot in at 14 as a tweener (tweener is a player of no position, do not know where to put them but put them in). JA has a future as long as BA is here but where is the wonder. I think 2024 JA being the 6 next to Moses is possibly the most likely scenario but i do not know.

Samuel Loizou: This one is a bit more cut and dry, he could very well replace Blake at centre in 2024. Loizou is raw, very raw; he has had some troubles with injuries that has stunted his development somewhat though possess a wonderful football physique that allows him to have speed and size to play either Fullback, Wing or Centre, also being able to occupy the 6 role. Though i may be a bit quick to rule out Blake on re-signing past 2023, Penrith money stops and is he worth the 500K his overall deal is? it depends on how good Loizou is. Loizou is a centre, is not 20 until Christmas day 2022 and will need 2022 and 2023 to develop and take over at 21 if he is too. That is if Blake is not re-signed, if he is well that is great as that will mean he had a good 2022 and 23.

Ky Rodwell: Sort of a cult hero, with his no fuss hair and mo, looks like a tradie coming off the job site to play a game of footy. Rodwell is a brick that will have to have his legs, not one but both, torn off him to stop him moving and even then he would crawl with his arms to make an impact. Rodwell is facing competition with Makatoa, Greig and Ogden in the squad, with RCG and Paulo keeping the two Prop spots until 2025 at least. So where could Rodwell's big break be? Nathan Brown is off contract in 2023, now i remember Poppa saying he believes Rodwell does not have to skills to play Lock, and perhaps he doesn't or maybe he does, depending on how we play our Lock moving forward. I liken Rodwell to a bigger Ray Stone, he came through the juniors and reps playing Lock and Prop, so i do see him as an possible heir to Brown, being contract til 2024 he will be here once Brown's deal is up. Rodwell of course can get a spot on the bench for the next few years, but if he is to make in roads in the starting team that Lock spot is more likely his best chance, unless (touch wood) Paulo or RCG get hurt long term.

Brendan Hands: One player in this list who's future really depends on his 2022 season; Mahoney leaving, Hodgson in being the only hooker contracted past 2022. Options? well Hands has a wonderful opportunity of being groomed to be the full-time start past 2024, if he can get his foot in the door this season. If Rein or Mahoney go down, Stone is the player that will be used as the back-up, unless he is hurt to which depending on how healthy the starting hooker is BA would use 4 forwards with someone like Cartwright being the makeshift hooker in attack or Dylan Brown. Hands could also just be a good no.2 to have in your system for the future, though Hodgson is only signed until 2024 and more likely he will move into a coaching role at Parramatta in 2025, who will be the hooker? in house or purchase? remains to be seen but Hands has the opportunity to be the future, or perhaps Matt Arthur who will also be touted to be the new hooker when he turns 20 in 2025.

Luca Moretti/Jock Brazel: Possibly one of the most wide-open groups of the lot, Second-row. Lane off contract 2023, Papali'i leaving to Wests, Matterson off-contract 2022, Cartwright off-contract 2023. There is not real investment on a second-rower at the moment. Now Moretti, is more of a middle forward but can play in the back-row, and Jock Brazel is a back-rower. Both have an incredible opportunity to become the future 11 & 12 at this club moving forward. Lane could re-sign, Matterson depends on how he starts the year but i do feel the club is a bit lukewarm on him at the moment. Cartwright based on his 2021 playing time is seen as a situational player more than a starter. Our depth is not great after that if Moretti is a middle forward only to Eels coaches, Brazel is only 18 so he will have years of development still ahead of him before even making the 21 man squad in the top grade. But at the moment neither Moretti or Brazel are sure fire players to put in as replacements. 

So basically those are my thoughts, it may sound like me previewing these players again though more so who will they replace as every year a new junior hits the scene for us to watch and monitor let's hope our junior system leads to bright Parramatta future.