Eels in the media

[Happy MEel]

Some crazy NRL.com merkin has called for Drown to immediately partner Johnson in the halves for the Kiwis. The kid’s a talent but he has played 3 NRL games FFS and his body is already struggling with the demands of 1st grade footy.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/04/10...utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=NetworkContent

 

[Gronk]

Some crazy NRL.com merkin has called for Drown to immediately partner Johnson in the halves for the Kiwis. The kid’s a talent but he has played 3 NRL games FFS and his body is already struggling with the demands of 1st grade footy.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/04/10...utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=NetworkContent

FMD there is a long road to travel before Dylbo plays rep footy. Madge Maguire is still the Kiwi coach ? As if he will select a rookie like that. Anyway how many kids have been the "next big thing" and then gone missing. <waves to Connor Broadhurst>

 

[84 Baby]

Some crazy NRL.com merkin has called for Drown to immediately partner Johnson in the halves for the Kiwis. The kid’s a talent but he has played 3 NRL games FFS and his body is already struggling with the demands of 1st grade footy.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/04/10...utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=NetworkContent

Victor Radley should thank our shithouse defence for elevating him to superstar status. Jamie Buhrer 2.0

 

[Bazal]

Victor Radley should thank our shithouse defence for elevating him to superstar status. Jamie Buhrer 2.0

I am so glad I'm not the only one who doesn't get the hype.

Deadset the kid is the second coming of Nigel Plum. Sure he hits hard, but he pretty much does absolutely f**king nothing in attack most weeks

 

[Poupou Escobar]

FMD there is a long road to travel before Dylbo plays rep footy. Madge Maguire is still the Kiwi coach ? As if he will select a rookie like that. Anyway how many kids have been the "next big thing" and then gone missing. <waves to Connor Broadhurst>

Played in the 2012 under 18s Origin match against Gutherson, Moses, Tanginoa, Pauli and Frazer Masinamua.

 

[Bazal]

Played in the 2012 under 18s Origin match against Gutherson, Moses, Tanginoa, Pauli and Frazer Masinamua.

Well, like Meatloaf said....2 outta six is pretty average.

 

[Gronk]

You’re going to be disappointed mate. The only one we have goes Parra ch ch ch, Parra ch ch ch.

 

[84 Baby]

You’re going to be disappointed mate. The only one we have goes Parra ch ch ch, Parra ch ch ch.

Na Niukore has 2 or 3 variants.
Mannah Time?

 

[84 Baby]

I’m sure there’s some fish based songs out there too

 

[Noise]

 

[Joshuatheeel]

There is a duck song, they swim like fish....

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Crunch time for Gutherson and Eels
Parramatta will gather on Thursday for a meeting that is likely to result in an offer to off-contract captain Clint Gutherson.

The future of Gutherson and halfback Mitchell Moses will be atop the agenda at the club’s fortnightly recruitment and retention meeting - which will include coach Brad Arthur, general manager Mark O’Neill, recruitment manager Peter Sharp, chairman Sean McElduff and chief executive Bernie Gurr.

It comes after O’Neill addressed the entire playing squad on Tuesday to provide clarity to many of the 14 players who are off contract at the end of 2019, and ensure the uncertainty around those players doesn’t impact on the team.

Gutherson and the Eels have indicated they want to continue their relationship, however the club is yet to determine whether the skipper is worth the sort of money his manager is currently after.

He knocked back an offer from the club before Christmas, believed to be around $500,000 a season, in the hope of increasing his value in 2019.

His red-hot start to the year has no doubt elevated his price tag, however the Eels have their concerns about paying top dollar despite the fact he is the fullback and captain of the club.

One of the discussion points will be whether the club would be acting irresponsibly by assigning a large chunk of their salary cap to a player who has had two ruptured ACLs in his young career.

Raiders v Eels - Round 5

While no one at the club can deny Gutherson’s work ethic, commitment and desire to helping Parramatta return to finals football, they believe his potential is capped given the limitations his injuries have placed on his body.

In the past the Eels have often splashed the cash to keep or lure players to the club, however new management is determined to spend responsibly, but also ensure the players at the club want to be there for the right reasons - not just the money.

The club, in consultation with Arthur, have also decided to put discussions about the coach’s future on hold until June.

However if Arthur’s men continue to rack up the victories, the club is likely to reconsider its timeline and reward the coach with a new deal.

The same goes for Moses, who after a horror 2018 has showed a renewed attitude and desire at the Blue & Gold this season.

While Gutherson is the club’s priority signing, Moses has indicated to the club his preference is to remain.

The Eels have opened discussions with his manager but want to make sure his form continues on its current trajectory before committing to the No.7 on a long-term deal.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/04/11/sandor-earls-2056-day-wait-is-over/

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Brown goes back home for break
The Eels have granted star five-eighth Dylan Brown some time off following the back injury that is expected to keep him sidelined for at least the next month.

Brown went home to New Zealand to visit family and friends as he deals with the reality of the injury that has brought an abrupt halt to his impressive rookie season.

The teenager is due back at training next week in the build-up to the club’s first home game at Bankwest Stadium.

The Eels will get to use the stadium for the first time on Saturday when they train at the venue the day before their match against the Raiders.


https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/04/11/sandor-earls-2056-day-wait-is-over/

 

[Joshuatheeel]

 

[Gronk]

Crunch time for Gutherson and Eels
Parramatta will gather on Thursday for a meeting that is likely to result in an offer to off-contract captain Clint Gutherson.

The future of Gutherson and halfback Mitchell Moses will be atop the agenda at the club’s fortnightly recruitment and retention meeting - which will include coach Brad Arthur, general manager Mark O’Neill, recruitment manager Peter Sharp, chairman Sean McElduff and chief executive Bernie Gurr.

It comes after O’Neill addressed the entire playing squad on Tuesday to provide clarity to many of the 14 players who are off contract at the end of 2019, and ensure the uncertainty around those players doesn’t impact on the team.

Gutherson and the Eels have indicated they want to continue their relationship, however the club is yet to determine whether the skipper is worth the sort of money his manager is currently after.

He knocked back an offer from the club before Christmas, believed to be around $500,000 a season, in the hope of increasing his value in 2019.

His red-hot start to the year has no doubt elevated his price tag, however the Eels have their concerns about paying top dollar despite the fact he is the fullback and captain of the club.

One of the discussion points will be whether the club would be acting irresponsibly by assigning a large chunk of their salary cap to a player who has had two ruptured ACLs in his young career.

Raiders v Eels - Round 5

While no one at the club can deny Gutherson’s work ethic, commitment and desire to helping Parramatta return to finals football, they believe his potential is capped given the limitations his injuries have placed on his body.

In the past the Eels have often splashed the cash to keep or lure players to the club, however new management is determined to spend responsibly, but also ensure the players at the club want to be there for the right reasons - not just the money.

The club, in consultation with Arthur, have also decided to put discussions about the coach’s future on hold until June.

However if Arthur’s men continue to rack up the victories, the club is likely to reconsider its timeline and reward the coach with a new deal.

The same goes for Moses, who after a horror 2018 has showed a renewed attitude and desire at the Blue & Gold this season.

While Gutherson is the club’s priority signing, Moses has indicated to the club his preference is to remain.

The Eels have opened discussions with his manager but want to make sure his form continues on its current trajectory before committing to the No.7 on a long-term deal.

https://www.nrl.com/news/2019/04/11/sandor-earls-2056-day-wait-is-over/

TBH I like the concept of the retention team maintaining the roster and slotting a coach in to do a job. No more 5 year plans. No more honeymoons for coaches to "assemble their own squad". Keep the roster turning, Players signed and released on merit. Coach needs to hit the ground running.

 

[Bazal]

TBH I like the concept of the retention team maintaining the roster and slotting a coach in to do a job. No more 5 year plans. No more honeymoons for coaches to "assemble their own squad". Keep the roster turning, Players signed and released on merit. Coach needs to hit the ground running.

Except different coaches have different styles.

So yeah it might work if you can keep the same coach or find one with the same approach and style on the field. But it becomes a problem if an excellent coach comes on the market and you say "here's an offer, but you have no say in the squad". At which point he laughs at you and signs with Brisbane or whatever.

A bit of both is probably a good mix, a core of players and then any new coach has the freedom to work with the committee to tweak the squad as a whole.

 

[T.S Quint]

You’re going to be disappointed mate. The only one we have goes Parra ch ch ch, Parra ch ch ch.

Ha, doesn’t he know that front row is the worst place to sit.

Right Gronk?

 

[Gronk]

Ha, doesn’t he know that front row is the worst place to sit.

Right Gronk?

Actually I was surprised when I got my ticket and it's Row 3.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Every time Parramatta look like they are about to get things right, they find a way to screw it up.

It really is an uncanny ability the club should put a patent on.

The Eels have the brand new $360 million Bankwest Stadium ready to unveil next week, yet don’t have a coach or a captain to lead them into the future.

What’s worse, it looks like they are in no rush to address it.

It’s about time the club’s new general manager of football Mark O’Neill and chief executive Bernie Gurr got on with business before this goes pear-shaped.

The club also has 13 other players coming off contract this year, including Mitchell Moses, Manu Ma’u and the respected and loyal Tim Mannah.

But locking up Brad Arthur and Clint Gutherson is the key.

Let’s start with Gutherson’s predicament.

While I am not a Parramatta fan, the great Mick Cronin is.

And right now the Eels legend is with the rest of us, utterly confused as to why the club is holding out on giving their inspirational skipper a new deal.

Not only is Gutherson, 24, entering his prime, he can play any position in the backline.

Clint Gutherson is the key to Parramatta’s future. Picture: AAP
If Brad Fittler was naming his NSW team tomorrow, it would be hard to go past Gutherson for the bench utility spot.

But that doesn’t go close to explaining what he means to Parramatta, as a player and person.

As Cronin said: “I remember when he came back from injury last year, he was the one bloke who was hurting … it looked like it mattered to him. As a Parramatta supporter, that is what you want to see.”

The delay in negotiations is not of Gutherson’s doing, and it’s not Arthur’s fault, either.

Arthur had his retention and recruitment powers stripped from him last year when O’Neill walked through the door.

O’Neill has been dealing with Gutherson’s agent Sam Ayoub since late last year and they are still not close to working out a deal, despite what the club would like fans to believe.

Initially, Gutherson was tabled a two-year offer said to be worth $450,000 for the first year and $500,000 for the second. Weeks later that was increased to $500,000 for each year.

Understandably, Ayoub not only wanted a longer deal but an offer in line with Gutherson’s market value. About $700,000 a season is the figure I have been told.

In today’s market, that is not asking for a king’s ransom for the player known at Parramatta as the “King”.

There are conflicting reports from rival clubs that the asking price for Gutherson is as high as $850,000.

Clint Gutherson is entering his prime, and can play any position in the backline.
The truth will come out when Gutherson makes a call on his career.

But as Cronin said, who could the Eels buy to replace Gutherson for a better price?

It is not as if James Tedesco, Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Kalyn Ponga or Tom Trbojevic are on the market, and they would all cost significantly more.

“Usually the ones you can buy are the ones their own clubs don’t want,” Cronin said.

“And they made him captain for a reason. You don’t make a bloke of his age captain if you are thinking of letting him go.”

You’d think not.

But Ayoub has said if no deal is done by this weekend, the door will be open to rival clubs. Already three have expressed interest.

Gutherson does not want to leave, but Parramatta are playing a dangerous game. And it only leaves Arthur in a more vulnerable position as he fights to keep his job.

To a point, I can understand why negotiations with Arthur have been delayed given there are no other NRL head coaching positions up for grabs.

But it doesn’t make it right what they are doing to Arthur.

Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur is also coming off contract. Picture: John Appleyard
If Arthur has proven one thing, through the salary cap crisis and since, it is that he has the club’s best interests at heart. Like Gutherson.

And he has shown again this year that he can coach. But it is almost like Arthur is again being forced to coach with one hand tied behind his back.

Not only are the Eels playing $700,000 under the salary cap — which seems ridiculous for a club that is not on the breadline — but Arthur has to contend with 14 players coming off contract.

Yet he has managed three wins from four games, the only loss against premiers the Roosters after the Eels stood toe-to-toe with them for most of the match.

But there will come a point soon when all this uncertainty starts to have a negative impact. And when that happens, you know Arthur will be held accountable, not those above him who have allowed this to fester.

https://outline.com/kpFFv7

What a f**ken terrible article !!!

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

It's an outrage!