Monday, February 16, 2004
There's a Monster in my pack...
In The Sun Herald today, Brian Smith "reveals" what was already blatantly obvious to any Eels fan keeping a close tabs on Parramatta's recruitment strategy. That is, that the Eels have muscled up.
"[Smith] said his side would switch the emphasis from a skill-based game to a power-based game built around huge forwards to fall into line with what he regarded as a critical shift in the refereeing style that has allowed the teams with bulk to grab top billing," wrote Greg Prichard.
Smith was quoted as saying: "We looked for quality players who were big and now we've got 10 props and a lot of them are in the 115-120kg range.
"Skill will still be important, of course, but we've increased our size and I'm sure it will increase our intimidation factor."
As part of the strategy, Nathan Cayless is being shifted into the second row, a move that will allow Aaron Cannings, a start in the making to start at prop.
Cannings has already showed what he is capable of. In the trial game against the sharks he burst through the defence and ran 40 metres to score.
"His try showed what he can do," Smith said in a Sun Herald report. "He's about 116 kilos, and when he makes a break like that no one can run him down. He's got good leg speed for his size."
Also notable from the trial was a mention on the Eels official site of "some very big hits, including some bone rattlers by Fui Fui Moi Moi and Chris Armit".
Fui Fui Moi Moi is huge and according to some fans he's going to be a cult interchange player, in the same mould as "Tooks" was before he deserted for the Warriors.
In The Sun Herald today, Brian Smith "reveals" what was already blatantly obvious to any Eels fan keeping a close tabs on Parramatta's recruitment strategy. That is, that the Eels have muscled up.
"[Smith] said his side would switch the emphasis from a skill-based game to a power-based game built around huge forwards to fall into line with what he regarded as a critical shift in the refereeing style that has allowed the teams with bulk to grab top billing," wrote Greg Prichard.
Smith was quoted as saying: "We looked for quality players who were big and now we've got 10 props and a lot of them are in the 115-120kg range.
"Skill will still be important, of course, but we've increased our size and I'm sure it will increase our intimidation factor."
As part of the strategy, Nathan Cayless is being shifted into the second row, a move that will allow Aaron Cannings, a start in the making to start at prop.
Cannings has already showed what he is capable of. In the trial game against the sharks he burst through the defence and ran 40 metres to score.
"His try showed what he can do," Smith said in a Sun Herald report. "He's about 116 kilos, and when he makes a break like that no one can run him down. He's got good leg speed for his size."
Also notable from the trial was a mention on the Eels official site of "some very big hits, including some bone rattlers by Fui Fui Moi Moi and Chris Armit".
Fui Fui Moi Moi is huge and according to some fans he's going to be a cult interchange player, in the same mould as "Tooks" was before he deserted for the Warriors.
