Bigger Eels face immediate test
By Chris Stedman and Ray Gatt
March 9, 2004
PARRAMATTA's thirst for a physical contest, which will go a long way to measuring the success of their new approach, will be met head-on by traditional rivals the Bulldogs when they open their premiership campaign at Telstra Stadium on Saturday.
Bulldogs captain Steve Price said his players felt the best they had for two weeks.
Price welcomed the collective return of the squad to training after players were DNA tested and questioned by police over three days last week in relation to allegations made by a Coffs Harbour woman that she was raped by a number of players on the morning of February 22 at the Pacific Bay Resort.
"We have turned our focus to football for the first time in two weeks and are desperately looking forward to the game against the Eels," Price said.
"It will be a physical confrontation. We have some very fit and fast athletes just waiting to play and meet the challenge head on."
The Bulldogs have named a new-look squad for the match, including four players making their first grade debut for the club.
While former Canberra winger Jamaal Lolesi and former Parramatta centre Willie Tonga have top grade experience, impressive young centre Sonny Bill Williams and bench prop Hutch Maiava did enough in the pre-season trials to earn their places in the squad after spending last season in reserve grade.
The Bulldogs will not lose too much in terms of bulk compared to the Eels, especially with Williams and Maiava. Rated by some as the next Gorden Tallis, Williams, 18, is highly regarded by Bulldogs officials and has been nurtured through the ranks.
A Kiwi by birth, Williams is 191cm tall and a strong 102kg.
The thick-set Maiava, who is also a Kiwi, is 183cm tall and weighs 114kg. He is one of five reserves named on the bench with coach Steve Folkes unlikely to decide who will miss out until later in the week.
With Nigel Vagana defecting to the Sharks this season and Ben Harris sidelined with injury for at least three weeks, Williams and Tonga get their chance to cement their spots as the centres pairing.
In keeping with their "big is better" philosophy, the Eels will name captain Nathan Cayless in the second row with Nathan Hindmarsh. And their major off-season buy, Aaron Cannings, is expected to partner Michael Vella up front. The selection of the quartet will ensure the Eels will field their biggest pack in several seasons.
The club opted to concentrate its off-season buying on big running forwards, signalling a shift in playing style. The Eels narrowly missed the play-offs last season for the first time since 1996.
Coach Brian Smith has opted to give Adam Dykes the first shot at halfback, believing he has regained sufficient confidence after a succession of injuries.
"He's healthy and confident and if we lay a better base for him I think he's ready to fill the role," Smith said.
"With a solid platform to work off the whole team will be better balanced, co-ordinated and confident.
"We are not budgeting for anything but a full-on encounter on Saturday night and that's what we need. We would obviously love to get the confidence that comes from a victory out of meeting a team that's capable of playing the way the Bulldogs are.
"But we can't lose either way because it will give us a gauge either way as to where we are at. We are not playing against someone who is not up to the test of matching the physical capabilities we know have."
The Australian
