What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Eels in the media

yy_cheng

Coach
Messages
18,734
http://www.fansunite.com.au/2016/02/18/28072/norman-as-good-as-dce-foran

New Parramatta captain Kieran Foran has labelled five-eighth Corey Norman as good as any player he's played alongside, even superstar Daly Cherry-Evans.

Foran will link with NRL Auckland Nines hero Norman for the first time when the pair line-up for the club's final pre-season trial against Penrith on Saturday.

High-profile buys Michael Jennings, Beau Scott and Clinton Gutherson are expected to join Foran in what will be their first outings for the club.

But all eyes will be on former Manly star Foran, whose says his new halves partner is not unlike his old one.

"They're pretty similar, to be honest," Foran said.

"Corey's a phenomenal talent. He's as good a player as I've played alongside. His skillset and the way he moves is so exciting. He's just a natural footballer. He's just able to provide that skill that we need.

"We've been combining well at training. We've worked on how we want to get the team around the field, where we want to be positioned at certain times, and we're really excited about linking up together this weekend for the first time."

While the 25-year-old Foran will shift closer to the ruck at halfback, he revealed his role wouldn't be dissimilar to his position at the Sea Eagles, where he played primarily on the left edge.

The only major change is a focus on steering the team around the park as Norman hones on his trademark running game.

"I've been doing that at Manly anyway," he said.

"Me and Cherry, our roles were basically left and right. That's how a lot of teams play these days. Me and Corey, it won't be too much different to what I've been doing over the last five/six years at Manly.

"(I will have) a bit more added responsibility in guiding the boys around the paddock, but I'm not looking to change my role too much."

Foran missed the Kiwis' tour of England last November, finally allowing him to rest a troublesome hamstring that plagued his 2015 season at Brookvale.

"It's been nice to have a full pre-season under my belt. I haven't had one in a few years because I've had the representative stuff with the Kiwis," he said.

"Unfortunately I missed that, but it was a positive because I was able to get a 12 week pre-season under my belt at a new club and the body's feeling really good"
 

yy_cheng

Coach
Messages
18,734
http://www.nospam47.com/league-news/4695265-tim-mannah-kieran-foran-works-harder-than-hayne

Dumped Parramatta captain Tim Mannah has declared his replacement, Kieran Foran, the hardest working superstar he has ever played with.

Foran, who defected from arch rivals Manly in the off-season, was on Wednesday named Parramatta's skipper for 2016.

MORE: Eels announce Foran as Eels captain | The Lurker: Titan considering return to Sydney |

The classy Mannah, who wore the captain's armband in 2015, endorsed Foran's appointment with some strong praise.

"His work ethic for someone with that talent is something I haven’t seen before," Mannah told The Daily Telegraph.

"A lot of the time when you get talented players the work ethic isn’t as strong in them as guys that aren’t as talented, but he just has everything.

"He is a great example for the younger boys. He leads by actions."



While Parramatta fans will no doubt be thrilled to hear about Foran’s commitment levels, Mannah's comments appear to raise questions over former superstar Jarryd Hayne's work ethic during his time as an Eel.

Mannah hopes Foran's arrival can finally help reverse the Eels' fortunes after a miserable run in recent seasons.

"There was some years there a while ago where it was a bit of a dark time (at Parramatta)," Mannah said.

"There wasn't much of a light at the end of the tunnel."

Foran admits he too needed a change after seven successful seasons with the Sea Eagles.

"I had been at Manly since I was a kid," Foran told The Daily Telegraph.

"I had been there since I was 16. Maybe I was just getting to a point where I wanted something different.

"It was a really hard decision because I love the club and I had great mates there. I guess you start your career thinking you are going to be a one club player. It is every kid's dream.

"I didn't think it was going to happen to me but it did. I got to a point where I felt I needed to change. I needed something different. I wanted a new environment and I am really grateful for the opportunity that was thrown to me to come here."
 

yy_cheng

Coach
Messages
18,734
http://rugbyleagueweek.com.au/its-like-playing-with-locky/

THE ADDITION of Kieran Foran to the Parramatta squad has been described as “unbelievable” for Corey Norman and a throwback to when he first broke into the top grade at Brisbane and was playing in a team led by Darren Lockyer.


Parramatta previously had the unpredictable Chris Sandow at halfback, but while he sometimes fooled the opposition the Eels’ attack too often broke down because of a lack of structure and cohesion.

Norman’s manager, Paul Sutton, says the five-eighth has spoken in glowing terms of Foran and the combination they are building at training. Foran, who made his name as a five-eighth at Manly, will play halfback for the Eels.

“Corey, when he first started, was playing with Darren Lockyer, so he had these structured teams,” Sutton tells RLW. “So it suits him to play like that and having Kieran Foran with the structure and knowing exactly what’s happening.

“Corey knows what he’s got to do – this play, that play. You could see before that, as much as he tried to implement what they wanted to do, it was just chaotic.

“He said to me it’s unbelievable for him now, where you just know that it has all been set up and he doesn’t have to worry about that.

“He says there will be situations, for example, where he knows he’ll get the ball on play four, because Kieran will go bang, bang, bang and then hit him with the ball, rather than not being sure how it was going to end up.

“I expect Kieran being there to have a really positive effect on Corey’s football.”

Norman is off contract at the end of the season. Sutton says he’s ready to negotiate when the Eels are.

Norman could be headed for his best season yet. He has obviously made a good impression on coach Brad Arthur in the pre-season, because in the absence of several experienced players, including Foran, he was named captain of the club’s squad for this weekend’s Auckland Nines tournament.
 

Twizzle

Administrator
Staff member
Messages
153,933
A new era for Parramatta began in 2015, as the club began to learn to live without the talismanic Jarryd Hayne. No longer able to rely on him for attacking spark, the Eels were also no longer forced to accommodate him.
However looking at the most granular aspect of team performance - for and against - very little changed. They scored just over a point per game less, and conceded seven fewer points over the entire season than in 2014. Where Hayne's absence was felt most was in three fewer wins, although the end result for the club was no different to his last five years in blue and gold - a bottom eight finish.
image: http://leagueunlimited.com/article-images/20160218175342-PAR-info.png

But if a new era started in 2015, it was also the end of an era, as Chris Sandow's unhappy four year association with the club came to its dismal conclusion. During those four seasons, Parramatta finished in the bottom four defensive teams in the NRL every single year. The last time they achieved such a low was in 1995. And while correlation isn't the same as causality, it goes further - in Sandow's eight years in the NRL his club finished in the bottom four defensive teams on seven occasions (the exception being 2009 when Souths' defence was bottom six). Despite polling well in the Dally M voting, there's a reason his NRL career is over at the age of 26. There is no longer room for poor defenders in the NRL; even the weakest link in a defensive line needs to be somewhat capable, or the entire defence collapses. Most people would probably agree this is a shame.
WHY THEY'LL WIN IT
Parramatta's strengths in 2016 are their lethal left side attack and a greatly improved defensive line, particularly on the right hand side.
The Eels have had one of the more potent left edge attacks in 2014 and '15, and have the same four characters returning this year. However left centre Brad Takairangi is almost certainly moving to the right, to accommodate the addition of Origin star Michael Jennings. Two time Dally M winger Radradra and recent Auckland Nines player of the tournament Corey Norman round out the left side with Manu Ma'u, who is like a sledgehammer with footwork and ball skills.
On the right will be the new additions of Kieran Foran and Beau Scott, both experienced representative players and noted defenders. They replace Sandow and Tepai Moeroa - a powerful frontal defender, but still very young and inexperienced, and lacking lateral movement due to sheer size. Moeroa moves into the middle and Scott takes over defending at the crucial right edge position on the halfback's inside shoulder. If Parramatta had conceded just eight less points per game in 2015 they would have been in the top four defensive sides. One would hope swapping Sandow for Foran would improve the defence by more than eight points per game.
WHY THEY WON'T
Parramatta no longer have any glaring vulnerabilities, such as those which plagued them in previous years (especially right edge defence). Opposition coaches will have to come up with something better than left edge shifts repeated ad nauseum when they play the Eels. However there are still a number of minor weaknesses that may cost some games and ultimately the season.
The Eels have a number of new players, and particularly a number of new key players in 2016, with Foran and Michael Gordon coming into the spine, as well as the aforementioned edge players in Jennings and Scott. Combinations aren't built overnight, and it's likely Parramatta will start the season a lot slower than they finish. Which would be a pleasant change.
Related to the number of new players is the fact that a very large number of Eels players are off contract this year. After penning new deals, players always talk about how it's nice to have their future sorted so they can concentrate on playing footy. This idea obviously applies differently from one player to the next, but across a group of 24 (the number of Eels players who have not had contract extensions announced) there are bound to be some without their minds completely on 2016. This will be mitigated somewhat by coaching and leadership, but the reality is everyone likes to know if they'll still be able to pay the bills this time next year.
image: http://leagueunlimited.com/article-images/20160218180006-PAR-squad.png

KEY PLAYER
Kieran Foran
Foran has blond hair, will wear Parramatta's jersey number 7, and in early 2011 he was praised by Eels legend Sterlo as "the best young player in the game". Almost five years later and Foran has grown into one of the game's premier all round players - he is fast and strong, a quality playmaker, recognised as a leader and competitor, and is one of the best defensive halves in the NRL. Even his nationality is a bonus - Foran doesn't miss any games due to Origin. He has come over to Parramatta with a big reputation and a big price tag, and is surely the club's biggest signing since sometime in the 70s. There is probably no player in the NRL under more pressure this year than Kieran Sterling.
ROOKIE TO WATCH
Clinton Gutherson
Gutherson made his NRL debut over two years ago but still technically qualifies as a rookie; he has only played five NRL games, before suffering a season ending injury in round one of 2015 (coincidentally against the Eels). Gutherson doesn't turn 22 until very late in the season, and his large frame is just starting to fill out. This, added to his speed and balance, will see him develop into a very dangerous outside back. Gutherson will start the year on the wing, and will compete with Auckland Nines top scorer Bevan French (probably starting in the NYC) for the role of NRL fullback of the future.
PLAYER MOVEMENT IN
Mitchell Cornish (Raiders)
Kieran Foran, Clinton Gutherson, James Hasson (Sea Eagles)
Michael Gordon (Sharks)
Michael Jennings (Roosters)
Cameron King, Scott Schulte, Kelepi Tanginoa (Cowboys)
Kieran Moss (Panthers)
Rory O'Brien (Dragons)
Honeti Tuha (Knights)
Matthew Woods (Wests Tigers)
NYC Graduates
Bevan French, Tyrell Fuimaono, Alex Twal
PLAYER MOVEMENT OUT
Josh Aloiai (Wests Tigers)
Beau Champion, Richie Fa'aoso (retired)
Ben Crooks (ESL - Castleford)
Zach Dockar-Clay (Panthers)
Fabian Goodall, Halaufau Lavaka, Darcy Lussick (Sea Eagles)
Will Hopoate (Bulldogs)
Tui Kamikamica, Reece Robinson (rugby union)
Ryan Matterson (Roosters)
Eric Newbigging (released)
Pauli Pauli (Knights)
Joseph Paulo (Sharks)
Chris Sandow (ESL - Warrington)
BEST 17
1. Michael Gordon
2. Semi Radradra
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. Clinton Gutherson
6. Corey Norman
7. Kieran Foran
8. Junior Paulo
9. Nathan Peats
10. Tim Mannah
11. Manu Ma'u
12. Beau Scott
13. Anthony Watmough
14. Cameron King
15. Kenny Edwards
16. Danny Wicks
17. Tepai Moeroa

Read more at http://leagueunlimited.com/news/27289-2016-nrl-preview-parramatta-eels#8U2z2EmIMCMVqXp0.99
 

phantom eel

First Grade
Messages
6,327
Interesting opting for King in the #14 jersey, when De Gois had a mortgage on a top 17 spot last season, and people posting talk from training about how Pritchard is in the good books. I just don't see King as getting a top 17 look-in just yet?

I also wouldn't be surprised to see Alvaro on the bench in Round One, perhaps in place of Tepai at this stage of his mooted transition to the middle? Either that or Edwards taking the #14 spot (as middle cover for Peats and Watmough), and Tepai retaining a role on the edges (cover for M'au and Scott)?
 

strider

Post Whore
Messages
79,036
hmmmm ... i feel uneasy when every likes everyone ... i hope we dont have a good season and every merkin likes every other merkin .... wheres the fun in that
 

phantom eel

First Grade
Messages
6,327
It'll be just like 2005 again... :)

29a8e07f6ec1.jpg
 

Latest posts

Top