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Cayless confident Eels can perform
8 March 2004
While Parramatta Eels captain Nathan Cayless signed autographs and held babies at the Eels' fan day at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday, his mind was also on the challenge of the coming weekend.
Cayless predicts Parramatta's premiership opener against the Bulldogs this Saturday night at Telstra Stadium will be tough.
The Eels desperately need to avoid a repeat of last season's nightmare start when the team won only two of its first 11 matches.
They also need some luck with injury. Experienced players Nathan Hindmarsh, Adam Dykes and Cayless himself spent much of last season on the sideline injured, which contributed in no small way to the Eels' lacklustre performance.
But Cayless is confident that pre-season training and trial matches have readied the team for testing football.
"We finished up today with a tough session and we've had a couple of good trial wins so it's been a really good hit-out for us," Cayless said.
Cayless said Test centre Jamie Lyon, five-eighth Adam Dykes and hooker John Morris looked particularly impressive and were set for a big season.
The squad's 14 new recruits are also looking good according to the captain.
"Aaron Cannings is going well, he's been playing really good in the trials. Corey Pearson's taken a leadership role within the team and he's had a big impact on the team. He's got a lot of experience," Cayless said.
Coach Brian Smith has gone for size in the signings with recruits such as Cannings, Fui Fui Moi Moi and Mal Kaufusi well over 100 kg.
The Eels' pack is now one of the biggest in the league. So big, that Cayless, who is no lightweight at 103 kg, has shifted from prop to play mainly in the second row.
"I'm really enjoying it [the second row]. I've been able to play a bit more time and I don't seem to be getting my head bashed in as much. We've got a bit more size in the team so it's going well," Cayless said.
With the team finishing out of the top eight last season for the first time since the late 1990s, the pressure's really on to perform this year.
It's a task his team's up to according to Cayless.
"I'm pretty confident we can get back up to the top of the NRL table if we can maintain our fitness and get not too many injuries in the squad, but you need luck with those things," he said.
8 March 2004
While Parramatta Eels captain Nathan Cayless signed autographs and held babies at the Eels' fan day at Parramatta Stadium on Saturday, his mind was also on the challenge of the coming weekend.
Cayless predicts Parramatta's premiership opener against the Bulldogs this Saturday night at Telstra Stadium will be tough.
The Eels desperately need to avoid a repeat of last season's nightmare start when the team won only two of its first 11 matches.
They also need some luck with injury. Experienced players Nathan Hindmarsh, Adam Dykes and Cayless himself spent much of last season on the sideline injured, which contributed in no small way to the Eels' lacklustre performance.
But Cayless is confident that pre-season training and trial matches have readied the team for testing football.
"We finished up today with a tough session and we've had a couple of good trial wins so it's been a really good hit-out for us," Cayless said.
Cayless said Test centre Jamie Lyon, five-eighth Adam Dykes and hooker John Morris looked particularly impressive and were set for a big season.
The squad's 14 new recruits are also looking good according to the captain.
"Aaron Cannings is going well, he's been playing really good in the trials. Corey Pearson's taken a leadership role within the team and he's had a big impact on the team. He's got a lot of experience," Cayless said.
Coach Brian Smith has gone for size in the signings with recruits such as Cannings, Fui Fui Moi Moi and Mal Kaufusi well over 100 kg.
The Eels' pack is now one of the biggest in the league. So big, that Cayless, who is no lightweight at 103 kg, has shifted from prop to play mainly in the second row.
"I'm really enjoying it [the second row]. I've been able to play a bit more time and I don't seem to be getting my head bashed in as much. We've got a bit more size in the team so it's going well," Cayless said.
With the team finishing out of the top eight last season for the first time since the late 1990s, the pressure's really on to perform this year.
It's a task his team's up to according to Cayless.
"I'm pretty confident we can get back up to the top of the NRL table if we can maintain our fitness and get not too many injuries in the squad, but you need luck with those things," he said.
