Wednesday, February 18, 2004
Ballina Trial Report
Unfortunately, 1EyedEel was not able to get to the Ballina trial but I almost feel like I was there after "True Eel" gave members of the Parra Eels official Bulletin Board an extensive run down on how the team and many of the individual players went. Here's a run down of what True Eel thought, including his rating on every player on the night. (My obversations in brackets)
Luke Burt: Looked dangerous in attack, was safe and was often seen "barking orders" from the back. Rating 7. (Would appear will start the season as first choice fullback).
Wade McKinnon: True Eel said he "played very, very well" and in fact rated him higher than Burt on the night. Rating 8 (I think McKinnon is going to pressure for a first-grade position all year.)
Matthew Gruska: "Safe, without being flashy". Rating 6
Wise Kativerata: : Rating 6
Eric Grothe: Had a boomer of a game. "If he can keep his mind on the job and his body in tact, he will become one of the most damaging and potent wingers or players in general in the game this year. He was simply that good - power, strength, speed and even maturity - an awesome combination" Rating 9 (Isn't every Eel fan wearing an ear-to-ear smile right now!)
Jamie Lyon: Killer had limited time. Rating 6
Junior Langi: Rating 6
Luke O'Dywer: Was listed to play at second row but played most of the game in the centres. Not overly big, says True Eel but showed "no fear at all and made aggressive runs and was effective and aggressive in defence". Rating 7
Daniel Wagon: Also had limited minutes. Rating 6
Adam Dykes: Looked good, his "speed and fitness [were] back and was a leading light when training and when on the field. Rating 8
Michael Witt: Looked confident and willing to try things. Rating 7
Chris Thorman: "Played OK", but missed some tackles and took some poor options in attack. (Did lay on a try for Burt with a short grubber) Rating 6
James Webster Played "really, really well" at hooker, scording a try, helping to put on another, while was in enthusiastic and tackled well in defence. Rating 8. (Smith seems to really like Webster's attitude. May play in a lot more first grade games as interchange hooker than people think this year. He is certainly very nippy in a PJ Marsh kind of way).
John Morris: Rating 6.
Jeremy Pai: Played lock, looked out of place and missed too many tackles. Rating 5.
Nathan Cayless: True Eel was impressed with his leadership and said he played "great" in his first game as a second-rower, despite not having an awful lot of minutes. "Was committed to Parra winning throughout the whole game like it was a final"> Rating 7
Michael Vella: True Eel didn't say much about Vella but rated him highly. (Won the Parra "strong man" competition earlier this year, suggesting he's work hard in pre-season training and may return to the kind of form that saw him represent Australia this year) Rating 8
Adam Peek: Rating 6
Craig Stapleton: Really solid and reliable, said True Eel, making good runs and good hits. Rating 7
Corey Pearson: Impressed 1 True Eel in his first run in the Blue and Gold, who rated him as one of the best three Parra players on the field. Rating 9.
Fui Fui Moi Moi: Describe as a "rock ape", who made good yardage and put on some big hits.
Mal Kafusi: Like Moi Moi, big and made great yards. True Eel said "these two could be great, really giving Parra the size and raw power they have been lacking for some years".
Cannings: A big unit who runs like a bull and was about the best forward on the park. Rating 9. (This guy is going to be a star no doubt about it, made a bust and then sprinted 40m to score a try.)
Justin Tsoulos: (The big boy copped a minor shoulder injury). Rating 6
Chris Armit: Rating 6. (Was given a rap in other circles for some of the big hits he made.)
True Eel said Parra "dwarfed Cronulla all over the park", especially with the big forward pack who hit and ran hard. A lot of dropped ball and too many missed tackles. Gave away too many penalties and lacked some execution in attack but given the chopping and changing that can probably be excused. And quite obviously, we have amazing depth this year.
What a great start to the year and once again big thank you to True Eel for taking the time to give such a detailed report.
Unfortunately, 1EyedEel was not able to get to the Ballina trial but I almost feel like I was there after "True Eel" gave members of the Parra Eels official Bulletin Board an extensive run down on how the team and many of the individual players went. Here's a run down of what True Eel thought, including his rating on every player on the night. (My obversations in brackets)
Luke Burt: Looked dangerous in attack, was safe and was often seen "barking orders" from the back. Rating 7. (Would appear will start the season as first choice fullback).
Wade McKinnon: True Eel said he "played very, very well" and in fact rated him higher than Burt on the night. Rating 8 (I think McKinnon is going to pressure for a first-grade position all year.)
Matthew Gruska: "Safe, without being flashy". Rating 6
Wise Kativerata: : Rating 6
Eric Grothe: Had a boomer of a game. "If he can keep his mind on the job and his body in tact, he will become one of the most damaging and potent wingers or players in general in the game this year. He was simply that good - power, strength, speed and even maturity - an awesome combination" Rating 9 (Isn't every Eel fan wearing an ear-to-ear smile right now!)
Jamie Lyon: Killer had limited time. Rating 6
Junior Langi: Rating 6
Luke O'Dywer: Was listed to play at second row but played most of the game in the centres. Not overly big, says True Eel but showed "no fear at all and made aggressive runs and was effective and aggressive in defence". Rating 7
Daniel Wagon: Also had limited minutes. Rating 6
Adam Dykes: Looked good, his "speed and fitness [were] back and was a leading light when training and when on the field. Rating 8
Michael Witt: Looked confident and willing to try things. Rating 7
Chris Thorman: "Played OK", but missed some tackles and took some poor options in attack. (Did lay on a try for Burt with a short grubber) Rating 6
James Webster Played "really, really well" at hooker, scording a try, helping to put on another, while was in enthusiastic and tackled well in defence. Rating 8. (Smith seems to really like Webster's attitude. May play in a lot more first grade games as interchange hooker than people think this year. He is certainly very nippy in a PJ Marsh kind of way).
John Morris: Rating 6.
Jeremy Pai: Played lock, looked out of place and missed too many tackles. Rating 5.
Nathan Cayless: True Eel was impressed with his leadership and said he played "great" in his first game as a second-rower, despite not having an awful lot of minutes. "Was committed to Parra winning throughout the whole game like it was a final"> Rating 7
Michael Vella: True Eel didn't say much about Vella but rated him highly. (Won the Parra "strong man" competition earlier this year, suggesting he's work hard in pre-season training and may return to the kind of form that saw him represent Australia this year) Rating 8
Adam Peek: Rating 6
Craig Stapleton: Really solid and reliable, said True Eel, making good runs and good hits. Rating 7
Corey Pearson: Impressed 1 True Eel in his first run in the Blue and Gold, who rated him as one of the best three Parra players on the field. Rating 9.
Fui Fui Moi Moi: Describe as a "rock ape", who made good yardage and put on some big hits.
Mal Kafusi: Like Moi Moi, big and made great yards. True Eel said "these two could be great, really giving Parra the size and raw power they have been lacking for some years".
Cannings: A big unit who runs like a bull and was about the best forward on the park. Rating 9. (This guy is going to be a star no doubt about it, made a bust and then sprinted 40m to score a try.)
Justin Tsoulos: (The big boy copped a minor shoulder injury). Rating 6
Chris Armit: Rating 6. (Was given a rap in other circles for some of the big hits he made.)
True Eel said Parra "dwarfed Cronulla all over the park", especially with the big forward pack who hit and ran hard. A lot of dropped ball and too many missed tackles. Gave away too many penalties and lacked some execution in attack but given the chopping and changing that can probably be excused. And quite obviously, we have amazing depth this year.
What a great start to the year and once again big thank you to True Eel for taking the time to give such a detailed report.
