It’s only early days for the latest addition to Parramatta’s brains trust, but Michael Ennis likes what he sees.
“They have got a great roster at the moment and guys coming right into their prime of their careers,” Ennis said.
“It’s an optimistic time for Parramatta. I’m not going to be one of those blokes who come out and say Parramatta are going to win the comp because so much has to fall into place with form and injuries.
“But with the roster they have at the moment, they have a forward pack as good as any in the competition. Their spine is coming into the right years of their career with Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson, the way they lead their side at training, while Dylan Brown and Reed Mahoney are young but highly experienced now.
“Their spine brings great unpredictability but also maturity.
“I think back to my time at Cronulla, having some of the youth like Jack Bird and Valentine Holmes; the Eels now have Bailey Simonsson and Will Penisini, while Waqa Blake is a highly talented athlete.
“Their roster is so well-balanced.”
Ennis has joined the blue and golds as a hookers-middle forwards coach after a stint at Canberra. The premiership-winning dummy half will provide a new perspective for coach Brad Arthur, as will fellow consultant Paul McGregor.
While Mahoney will join the Bulldogs next year – to be replaced by Canberra’s Josh Hodgson – Ennis believes the incumbent Parramatta No.9 is primed for a standout season.
“Mahoney is a high-quality dummy half,” Ennis said at the Fox League launch at CommBank Stadium on Tuesday.
“The way Reed Mahoney is training, he’s showing no signs of looking any further ahead. He’s got himself into great condition; his last month of pre-season training has been highly impressive.
“If you look at the start of the season he had with Parramatta and that period when they were flying, Mahoney was a huge part of that.
“I’ve really enjoyed working with him.”
Parramatta fell away late in the 2021 regular season, before regaining form for the play-offs. Their 8-6 loss to eventual champions Penrith in the second week of the finals has raised hopes they can go further before farewelling Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’i and Oregon Kaufusi.
“Obviously last year that agonising loss to Penrith in the finals series has given them great motivation,” Ennis said.
“Talking to the players and the coaching staff, there is a confidence that grew from the way they came out of that tough period at the end of the year. They showed great leadership and maturity to find a way out and fight the way they did in that finals series.”
Replies
Amazing what difference being paid by Parramatta can make to someone's views lol.
exactly!
Haha. Totally
lol, but honestly, Ennis is a great communicator and dissects the game perfectly, the best analyzer of the game ive seen for a while
and could easily be a fg coach had it not been for his tv commitments. I feel he's going to be a great addition and hopefully a long term place in the eels dressing sheds
Last year he was the worst of the Fox commentators tearing the Eels to absolute shreds every game he called. He was never supportive at all. eg) Play a game against say Newcastle = The entire commentary is about what Newcastle need to do and how well they're playing etc. Almost willing them to beat the Eels. It was the same in every game we played. It got so bad that towards the end of the year I simply couldn't listen to a game Ennis called, instead switching to Nine.
But lo and behold, he's now being paid by the Eels and suddenly we're a good team? Take every statement every commentator or journo makes with a grain of salt. If Isis and Al-Quaeda started a NRL TV broadcast everyone of them would call their agents to get a job there. Whoever pays the bucks gets the accolades.
Maybe subconsciously he had an angst against the eels coming from his playing days ie dogs v eels. Honestly, i didn't care to much and didn't notice it as much as others. Anyway, it will be interesting viewing and of course he'll change his spots. Ive always seen Ennis being a huge supporter of Mahoney though
Yeh he likes Mahoney
How good was that speech , Mack. I haven't paid much attention , but has Ricky ever worked since ?
What's worse than ants in your pants?
Michael Jackson
To be fair from my recollection he's always praised Parras potential and praised Mahoney the last few years and I'd say his opinion has strengthened now that he is working with these guys.
Im expecting a good year again - hopefully one that fills that dusty cabinet at Parra Leagues.
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