Eels Blogs

Evidence exhibit A 

CABE NSW Under-18s coach Michael Ennis brings you the final say of each player in his playing squad ahead of their showdown against Queensland at Suncorp Stadium.

Bradman Best

He's very talented and I'm really looking forward to seeing him play fullback. He's powerful, quick and he's physically ready to play a higher level. 

Mitchell Black

Really watched closely being a dummy-half he holds the ruck really well and he's got great anticipation around the ruck and can put blokes in behind the ruck and create momentum. Tough young kid from Newcastle. 

Sione Fainu

He's a really modern-day front-row or middle forward. A skilful player who is the brother of Manase who has a really good ability to use his footwork and power through the defensive line but also got beautiful subtleties with his ball playing. 

Mathew Feagai

His form over the last month with the Illawarra Steelers has been impressive. Big, athletic boy and it's a special moment for him to play alongside his twin brother, Max. 

Max Feagau

Another great athlete like his brother. Carries the ball out of his own end and loves doing the hard work out of the backfield and another skilful finisher. 

Siua Fotu

Absolute weapon. He's only about five foot but he's five foot and full of muscle. He runs hard and never takes a backward step. He'll lead from the front and be our energy man through the middle. 

Noah Griffiths

I really like this kid. The Storm have got him on contract and he's been on the radar and in the pathways for a number of years now. He's a really mature and controlled halfback for his age. He's sleight in stature but like all country boys, has the heart of a lion. He balances our halfback Jayden Sullivan really well

David Hollis

Big front-rower and very much like David Klemmer. He's quite lean, tall and athletic but at the same time, he's powerful and has thrived with this opportunity. He'll no doubt be another leader through the middle.

Sam Hughes

He's our 18th man who was so close (to selection) after having a great season with Parramatta. He's been good and will be ready to go if we need him in the warm-up. 

Trey Mooney

Another one of the boys who are in this side but are a year young but he's been so dominant at SG Ball level. He's a real leader and play in the middle or the edge of the bench. A great athlete whose powerful. A good kid.

Viliami Penisini

I like this kid. He's in the Michael Jennings sort of mould – well built, great footwork and short steps and really hard to contain with his power. He has a good centre marking up against him so I'm looking forward to this battle. A quality kid. 

Joshua Schuster

For Josh, he's been a standout with a lot people talking about him. He played five-eighth for the Sea Eagles but will play second-row tomorrow night. He;s a very skilful player and it's important he carries the ball strongly and gets involved in the collision because the stuff he's capable of doing will come off the back of that.

Tyrell Sloan

I really liked being able to give this kid an opportunity. He's never made a representative team and was a standout for Illawarra Steelers. He plays like Josh Addo-Carr – very athletic and a real opportunist who always around the ruck looking for opportunities and a great finisher. If he gets into the clear i know  I'll be happy. 

Jayden Sullivan

He single-handedly in stages of the SG Ball Grand Final won the game for the Steelers, who were up against a very strong manly side. He stood up in the big moments and is a crafty halfback who, much like Johnathan Thurston, has that competitive nature about him and has instincts well beyond his years. 

Jackson Topine

Our captain. He has maturity well beyond his years. I take my hat off to his parents, to his family and to the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. Within half an hour I gave him the captaincy, because he's a real leader, tough and really well respected. A special player. 

Ben Trbojevic

He's a quality kid who is really humble, respectful but a hell of a footy player. Only on the bench because I listen to guys like Ricky (Stuart) and Gus (Gould) who have coached at this level and they talk about picking their bench first. He was one of the first players I wanted in this team.  He has great versatility but more than capable of playing in the 13 and will see plenty of minutes tomorrow night. Very athletic and plays like a first-grader

Alec Tuitavake 

He's been one of the dominant forwards in the Sea Eagles SG Ball side. He's really powerful and strong, a gentle giant off the field but is a weapon when he gets on there. If we can control the ball he can be really damaging. 

Kaeo Weekes

He's a cool kid who has a lot of skill and is comfortable playing halfback, fullback, five-eighth, centre and might play some dummy-half tomorrow night depending on how it pans out. He's another player who is in the side but a year young and his combination with Schuster other players from Manly will be crucial. 

Notice how with Noah Griffiths, Storm had him under contract before letting Ennis get in his ear. Why did we not get Trey Mooney under contract before letting Ennis (Raiders coach) get to him. Trey sounds like someone we did not wont to let go - considering the type of players that we will need in several years and his talent. I don't know if Eels tried and failed or dropped the ball, but two key points from this are

1. Develop relationships between key juniors and coaching staff who have the capability and gravitas to make the juniors want to continue at the Eels.

2. Do not give the competition an opening with key juniors. Its not on the cap, pay the key juniors extra to have contracts that tie them to us. And do it before the competition can see an opening. For example, before players go to representative teams coached by smart experienced players like Ennis who will be using it as a way to identify the best juniors and recruit them.

Thinking about Stefano, the horse has not completely bolted. We should encourage him to play for us this year and give him a go in first grade. Let him see what Eels can offer and see how he goes in first grade. If he does looks like the next Payne Haas then make sure he knows that the 2021-2023 contract he has with the Tigers is unders.