Eels in the media

[Lemon Squash]

I think Bevan just came through at the wrong time.

If he was a 21 year old going into season 2025 he would be among the new prototype of the modern fullback that's emerging. The smaller/electric types (Kini, Walsh, Taupiki, Faalogo etc).

When we turfed him Gutho was just making the 1 position his own. He didn't have the age/experience to go into the halves at that stage of his career.. We chucked him on the wing at a time where it was dominated by big power athletes which Bevan wasn't and he got dominated.

I would have loved to have seen him come back to the NRL 1-2 seasons ago but I think the time has passed him now.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm not saying it was Arthur's fault - I'm saying that he could have tweaked how he handled French, or worked out a plan to hide him from the defensive line.

French, himself, needed an attitude adjustment - something which would have benefitted French himself, and the club.

Arthur was seemingly unable, or unwilling, to to do, and maybe it's because he wasn't in his long-term plans.

I'm not here to have a go at Arthur.

It is a shame, though, that French's career at the Eels ended how it did.

He clearly had some flaws to his game, but he was probably worth persisting with, had someone been able to get him to fix his attitude.

If French was good enough for the NRL, surely he would be back by now? He’s been in the UK, what five or six years? I think the nature of the game suits him over there. I doubt Gutherson would be as effective in the UK, but he is still an NRL player. French isn’t.

 

[the phantom menace]

“Who is more foolish? The fool or the fool who follows him?”

Obiwan Kenobi

Which came first, the chicken or the egg?

Stephen Hawking

 

[T.S Quint]

If French came back to the NRL he’d be getting rag dolled just like he was years ago. That’s why he’s still overseas playing a reserve grade-calibre competition and no NRL teams want him.

Steve Menzies was playing over there when he was like 40 years old or something. f**king Rangi Chase was their player of the year at one stage.

I have absolutely zero regrets that he is gone from the Eels and I would t want him to come back, not even a little bit.
BA did nothing wrong dropping him to Wenty and then releasing him from the club. Anyone blaming him for French’s shortcoming are just delusional and biased.

 

[the phantom menace]

Talagi reminds me a bit of French.

Bottom line is no matter how good you are in attack, if you can't defend you'll eventually be found out, and there's no place for you in NRL.

Will be watching Blaize's future "progress" with interest... I predict some time at Hull KR in his future.

 

[Eelementary]

If French was good enough for the NRL, surely he would be back by now? He’s been in the UK, what five or six years? I think the nature of the game suits him over there. I doubt Gutherson would be as effective in the UK, but he is still an NRL player. French isn’t.

Possibly.

It's also possible that, given his display of poor attitudes in the past, NRL coaches don't want to take that chance with him.

We will never know.

But I'm far more excited to see Lomax, and Addo-Carr, in the Blue and Gold.

 

[Eelementary]

If French came back to the NRL he’d be getting rag filled just like he was years ago. That’s why he’s still overseas playing a reserve grade-calibre competition and no NRL teams want him.

Steve Menzies was playing over there when he was like 40 years old or something. f**king Rangi Chase was their player of the year at one stage.

I have absolutely zero regrets that he is gone from the Eels and I would t want him to come back, not even a little bit.
BA did nothing wrong dropping him to Wenty and then releasing him from the club. Anyone blaming him for French’s shortcoming are just delusional and biased.

Btw I never blamed Arthur.

French had a lousy attitude - I just mentioned that, had he been in Arthur's plans, he might have been able to kick French into gear.

Que será, será.

Certainly much more excited that we have genuine, world-class backline players in The Fox, and The Pool.

 

[Angry_eel]

Talagi reminds me a bit of French.

Bottom line is no matter how good you are in attack, if you can't defend you'll eventually be found out, and there's no place for you in NRL.

Will be watching Blaize's future "progress" with interest... I predict some time at Hull KR in his future.

Hence why, Dylan Brown is so well-paid and well-respected. I think he's average as an attacking half but his defence is amazing.

 

[Noise]

Hence why, Dylan Brown is so well-paid and well-respected. I think he's average as an attacking half but his defect is amazing.

His defect being alcohol

 

[Angry_eel]

His defect being alcohol

His defensive hands become attacking when he's on alcohol

 

[hineyrulz]

His defect being alcohol

And Norks.

 

[the phantom menace]

Hence why, Dylan Brown is so well-paid and well-respected. I think he's average as an attacking half but his defence is amazing.

Exactly, Brown's not/never been a weak point in the front line defence, which for a half is a great quality.

Moses has come along in leaps and bounds on that front too.

 

[Eelementary]

Hence why, Dylan Brown is so well-paid and well-respected. I think he's average as an attacking half but his defence is amazing.

I think Dylan has a good short kicking game, and a good short passing game.

But his long kicking game needs work, and his running game has become predictable.

He's still a top line 6, though.

 

[Twizzle]

And Norks.

let he who is without sin.....................................................

 

[Johnny88]

Sport Confidential: Ronald Volkman completes emotional NRL return with Parramatta Eels​

Almost 12 months to the day, Ronald Volkman’s world came crumbling down, left in rugby league limbo after an infamous medical saga. Now the utility has been handed an NRL lifeline.

Almost 12 months after his NRL career seemed over, Ronald Volkman has been granted an NRL lifeline after signing with the Eels.
Volkman began his first day at Parramatta on Thursday after passing an intense medical on the same shoulder which almost ended his career prematurely.
“I don’t think there are any words to explain how excited I am honest,” Volkman said. “This year has been tough for me. This is a good way for me to get my foot in the door. I’m just excited.
“It’s been tough. I don’t wish it upon anyone to be honest. It’s been a real journey for me. A dark path you could say. I’m just happy to come out of it.”
His decision to link with the Eels on a 12 month deal comes almost a year to the day where his world came crumbling down.
Volkman was left in rugby league limbo after the move to St George Illawarra did not eventuate because of an injured shoulder.

Ronald Volkman passed his medical.
It left him in the wilderness and uncertain if he would ever add to the five top grade games he featured in at the Warriors.
“It’s pretty to crazy to think that it’s almost a year on,” Volkman said. “I thought coming back was going to be a bit of a longshot.
“I gave up on footy. I stopped watching it. I had to get my head in the right space to try and give it one more crack. I’m here, I’ve put myself through some hard training to get my body back to a good enough condition to be able to do a pre-season.




“It was in July when I started training. I started doing some training with Huss (El-Achrafi) at Final Round Gym. Before that I didn’t want to train at all but he made it clear that I needed to get in the right head space. As I was doing that work I was getting my shoulder rehabbed and by the time September came around I wanted to give it one more crack.”
Volkman had considered joining the Sea Eagles but instead signed with Parramatta. He said his shoulder is feeling strong.
“I’ve done a bit of tackling,” Volkman said. “I’ve jumped in to my brother (Henry’s) training. The body is all good.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/subscribe/news/1/?sourceCode=DTWEB_WRE170_a_TWT&dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailytelegraph.com.au%2Fsport%2Fnrl%2Fsport-confidential-ronald-volkman-completes-emotional-nrl-return-with-parramatta-eels%2Fnews-story%2Ffc56fc2ccc5931c1c7dc11b0f98c8caa&memtype=anonymous&mode=premium&v21=ULTRALOW-Segment-2-SCORE

 

[Gronk]

Haze Perham is on a development deal with Broncos for 2025.

Sharks lock down young gun; huge move casts doubt over star’s future — Transfer Centre

Sharks lock down young gun; huge move casts doubt over star’s future — Transfer Centre

www.foxsports.com.au

 

[Johnny88]

Parramatta Eels welcome Clint Gutherson replacement Isaiah Iongi​

Star Eels recruit Isaiah Iongi – the player poised to replace longstanding fullback Clint Gutherson – has undertaken his first day of training with the club.


Dean Ritchie
December 9, 2024

The post-Gutho era at Parramatta has officially started.
Star recruit Isaiah Iongi – the player poised to replace longstanding fullback Clint Gutherson – has undertaken his first day of training with the Eels.
Brisbane-born Iongi, who signed from Penrith, arrived at Parramatta’s Kellyville headquarters early Monday morning to start a new career as the club’s premier fullback.

After a nine season, 206-game career at Parramatta, Gutherson has joined St George Illawarra with Iongi ready to step into the substantial void.
“Mate, he is an exceptional talent,” said Eels general manager of football, Mark O’Neill. “He is building connections with the staff, coach and teammates. We will drip feed him into it.
“Between now and Christmas, he will get to know his role in the team and align with our club and identity.
“We’re not going to be putting pressure on him. We just need Isaiah to be Isaiah, not anyone else. That will be good enough.
“Like with any change, there are different coaching and training methodologies and (head coach) Jason Ryles has his own ideas around how he wants to play his football.”


Just 21 years old, Iongi comes to Parramatta carrying enormous potential despite having played just one NRL game – for Penrith against Newcastle in round 22 last season.
In that match, Iongi ran for 257 metres and posted eight tackle busts from fullback.
While excited, Parramatta fans are aware replacing Gutherson, who scored 96 tries for Parramatta, will be enormously challenging.
Asked what Parramatta fans can expect from Iongi, O’Neill said: “You can expect a bit of excitement, energy and enthusiasm.
“He’s pretty quick and elusive. Isaiah has good attacking skills which will compliment some of the other players in our squad too.”
Iongi was stuck behind NSW and Australian fullback Dylan Edwards at Penrith.
Initially, Parramatta felt Blaize Talagi could be their long-term fullback but when he joined Penrith, the Eels targeted Iongi, who played 59 NSW Cup games for the Panthers between 2022 and 2024, scoring 17 tries.


Iongi was the 2023 NSW Cup fullback of the year, has represented Queensland under 19s and was the 2022 Penrith Jersey Flegg player of the year. He has signed a three-year contract with Parramatta.
In October, Iongi told Nine: “There are always going to be challenges and expectations anywhere. At Panthers there was and anywhere else, too. It’s all part of the game, it’s all about how you handle it.
“You’ve got to work for it. I’ll get a good pre-season under my belt at Parra, that will help me build confidence with them. We’ll get that team bonding.”
Iongi’s first real test is expected in round one when Parramatta travels to Melbourne to play the Storm.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-welcome-clint-gutherson-replacement-isaiah-iongi/news-story/bdf99db3092a645d4ce1f131f4f97972?amp&nk=b3360f52c90a3eaff87df0a29ba8ceec-1733706024

 

[JohnStoppafarty]

Parramatta Eels welcome Clint Gutherson replacement Isaiah Iongi​

Star Eels recruit Isaiah Iongi – the player poised to replace longstanding fullback Clint Gutherson – has undertaken his first day of training with the club.

View attachment 97365
Dean Ritchie
December 9, 2024

The post-Gutho era at Parramatta has officially started.
Star recruit Isaiah Iongi – the player poised to replace longstanding fullback Clint Gutherson – has undertaken his first day of training with the Eels.
Brisbane-born Iongi, who signed from Penrith, arrived at Parramatta’s Kellyville headquarters early Monday morning to start a new career as the club’s premier fullback.

After a nine season, 206-game career at Parramatta, Gutherson has joined St George Illawarra with Iongi ready to step into the substantial void.
“Mate, he is an exceptional talent,” said Eels general manager of football, Mark O’Neill. “He is building connections with the staff, coach and teammates. We will drip feed him into it.
“Between now and Christmas, he will get to know his role in the team and align with our club and identity.
“We’re not going to be putting pressure on him. We just need Isaiah to be Isaiah, not anyone else. That will be good enough.
“Like with any change, there are different coaching and training methodologies and (head coach) Jason Ryles has his own ideas around how he wants to play his football.”

View attachment 97366
Just 21 years old, Iongi comes to Parramatta carrying enormous potential despite having played just one NRL game – for Penrith against Newcastle in round 22 last season.
In that match, Iongi ran for 257 metres and posted eight tackle busts from fullback.
While excited, Parramatta fans are aware replacing Gutherson, who scored 96 tries for Parramatta, will be enormously challenging.
Asked what Parramatta fans can expect from Iongi, O’Neill said: “You can expect a bit of excitement, energy and enthusiasm.
“He’s pretty quick and elusive. Isaiah has good attacking skills which will compliment some of the other players in our squad too.”
Iongi was stuck behind NSW and Australian fullback Dylan Edwards at Penrith.
Initially, Parramatta felt Blaize Talagi could be their long-term fullback but when he joined Penrith, the Eels targeted Iongi, who played 59 NSW Cup games for the Panthers between 2022 and 2024, scoring 17 tries.

View attachment 97367
Iongi was the 2023 NSW Cup fullback of the year, has represented Queensland under 19s and was the 2022 Penrith Jersey Flegg player of the year. He has signed a three-year contract with Parramatta.
In October, Iongi told Nine: “There are always going to be challenges and expectations anywhere. At Panthers there was and anywhere else, too. It’s all part of the game, it’s all about how you handle it.
“You’ve got to work for it. I’ll get a good pre-season under my belt at Parra, that will help me build confidence with them. We’ll get that team bonding.”
Iongi’s first real test is expected in round one when Parramatta travels to Melbourne to play the Storm.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/parramatta-eels-welcome-clint-gutherson-replacement-isaiah-iongi/news-story/bdf99db3092a645d4ce1f131f4f97972?amp&nk=b3360f52c90a3eaff87df0a29ba8ceec-1733706024

There's some sloppy quotes in that article and the bolded bit is a strange thing to say.
If that is from MON and that is his attitude...

 

[the phantom menace]

“Mate, he is an exceptional talent,” said Eels general manager of football, Mark O’Neill. “He is building connections with the staff, coach and teammates. We will drip feed him into it.
“Between now and Christmas, he will get to know his role in the team and align with our club and identity.

I think that last bit means he's booked in next week to get an Eels logo tattoo on his left butt cheek.

 

[Gronk]

There's some sloppy quotes in that article and the bolded bit is a strange thing to say.
If that is from MON and that is his attitude...

Dean Ritchie