Anthony Watmough is a bloody good footballer. You don't rack up 14 NSW appearances and 16 Test jumpers without being able to play footy.
But I have no doubt Watmough is at Parramatta because of what he will bring to the club in terms of mentality. And you can double down on that with the signing of Richie Fa'aoso as well.
Both of these players worked under Brad Arthur when he was assistant coach at Manly. Both have been around the game for a long-time and both have won premierships. And it will be these these two that Brad Arthur will expect to set the tone for how his young forward pack approach the game.
Without question, the Eels have some of the most naturally talented young forwards we've had for many years. Tepai Moeroa, Pauli Pauli and Junior Paulo are probably the best three forward prospects we've had since Hindmarsh, Cayless, Vella and Ryan burst on the scene. Add in there Manu Ma'u and Kenny Edwareds, who may be older but are similar in terms of both inexperience and talent, and it's a new generation of forwards who may be hulking down for Parramatta for the rest of this decade.
However, as good as they are, last year they sometimes got worked over by older, more experience packs and while they more than held their own against some of the best packs in the comp, they also never really dominated any of their opposing forwards.
What Watmough and Fa'asos will bring is experience, aggression and the mindset to not just compete but to dominate. And they will need to, as well. There is massive depth in the Eels forwards ranks next year and if you're not playing with the kind of mentality, physicality and drive that Arthur will expect then you'll be back playing reggies.
If the bar is raised, it might have a flow-on effect to some of our other senior forwards as well. Might Tim Mannah get that extra bit of edge that has to-date probably prevented him from being considered one of the game's elite props and will having a pack of blood-thirsty big-boppers allow Darcy Lussick to re-discover his inner-mongrel?
Take a good look at that forward pack that Parramatta takes into 2015 because I think it's going to be a group of names that we'll retain as our engine room for quite a few years to come. It was just missing that tough edge and experience and with Watmough and Fa'aoso coming on board, I think it's pretty much a finished piece of work.
There's certainly all the talent, size and power required, and if they can learn to intimidate and dominate opposing packs, the Eels backs are definitely going to have a platform to work from.
Replies
Can you give us one more blog on Watmoughs signing. I think we need one more to crack 100.
Says the bloke who created another Team list blog
Still sceptical on Pauli, I reckon he will suffer a bit of 2nd Year Syndrome.
I reckon where Pauli Pauli goes is going to have a massive impact on our season. We are going to miss X factor with Jarryd Hayne not there and Pauli Pauli has the most X factor of any other player in the side.
2nd year syndrome is generally related to players getting worked out by opposition teams, and I think that when youv've got a guy as big, mobile and skillful as Pauli Pauli that can be very difficult.
I was a bit disappointed how he finished the year not so much with his performances but when he dropped back to U20s rather than dominating, he played more like he thought he was above it.
I couldn't agree more. This is EXACTLY what we needed for all the reasons above. But I think it will open the door for other high profile players to want to play at Parra. Just needed someone to break the shackles. Thanks Choc.
lol was just stiring up people wasnt meant to be a serious blog.
ha
Serious question. Do you still wish we had kept onto Loko? He has no future as a centre but still could make it as a forward. Would you have him on the bench? I think the only person he could've replaced would be Edwards. All the others are indispensable.
Same goes for Tanginoa really. We have so much depth at second row that carrying 2 injury prone players on overs really isn't feasible. Guess we won't know if we stuffed up until we see both on them playing 1st grade next year. But that is a big if they are playing 1st grade.
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