The Colonel
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Hard pigs to stand up
BY JOHN MACDONALD
11/03/2009 4:00:00 AM
RON Lynch, Brian Hambly, Dick Thornett, Roy Fisher and Barry Leaney.
Bob O'Reilly, Keith Campbell, John Quayle and dare it be said against his detractors Denis Fitzgerald.
Ray Higgs, Geoff Gerard, Graham Olling, Ron Hilditch, Steve Sharp, Peter Wynn, John Muggleton, Geoff Bugden and Terry Leabeater.
And the great man himself, Ray Price.
They're the elephants, or rather the pigs, that should be in the room but aren't.
Parramatta enters the first NRL premiership round against the Warriors in Auckland this Saturday unbeaten in their trials.
All the hype has been about Jarryd Hayne's adventurous conversion from three-quarter cum fullback to five-eighth and roving raider.
He's scored four tries and created several for others in two trials.
There's been Eric Grothe junior and his wandering mind back on the job, and there's been Luke Burt attacking from fullback.
There's been plenty of publicity about Parramatta's attacking backs, but then the Eels haven't lacked attacking backs. They didn't in their disappointing 2008, though few played up to their best.
What they really lacked was a forward pack of pigs who could gain parity with or dominate their opposition.
Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh and the rest aren't going to improve on their best days.
The young improvers like Tim Mannah will need to be approaching their best days, otherwise all the flashy backs in the world won't get any the Eels much further than in 2008. Parramatta enter Saturday with two advantages.
They haven't got 2008's attendant off-field dramas, such as the Hayne shooting incident or departed halfback Tim Smith's mental frailties.
In new coach Daniel Anderson they have got someone who understands the Warrior psyche; he coached them to the grand final in 2002.
The Warriors have got a pack of big bruisers; they should provide a good opening gauge for the Eels forwards.
http://parramatta.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/hard-pigs-to-stand-up/1454934.aspx#
http://parramatta.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/hard-pigs-to-stand-up/1454934.aspx
BY JOHN MACDONALD
11/03/2009 4:00:00 AM
RON Lynch, Brian Hambly, Dick Thornett, Roy Fisher and Barry Leaney.
Bob O'Reilly, Keith Campbell, John Quayle and dare it be said against his detractors Denis Fitzgerald.
Ray Higgs, Geoff Gerard, Graham Olling, Ron Hilditch, Steve Sharp, Peter Wynn, John Muggleton, Geoff Bugden and Terry Leabeater.
And the great man himself, Ray Price.
They're the elephants, or rather the pigs, that should be in the room but aren't.
Parramatta enters the first NRL premiership round against the Warriors in Auckland this Saturday unbeaten in their trials.
All the hype has been about Jarryd Hayne's adventurous conversion from three-quarter cum fullback to five-eighth and roving raider.
He's scored four tries and created several for others in two trials.
There's been Eric Grothe junior and his wandering mind back on the job, and there's been Luke Burt attacking from fullback.
There's been plenty of publicity about Parramatta's attacking backs, but then the Eels haven't lacked attacking backs. They didn't in their disappointing 2008, though few played up to their best.
What they really lacked was a forward pack of pigs who could gain parity with or dominate their opposition.
Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh and the rest aren't going to improve on their best days.
The young improvers like Tim Mannah will need to be approaching their best days, otherwise all the flashy backs in the world won't get any the Eels much further than in 2008. Parramatta enter Saturday with two advantages.
They haven't got 2008's attendant off-field dramas, such as the Hayne shooting incident or departed halfback Tim Smith's mental frailties.
In new coach Daniel Anderson they have got someone who understands the Warrior psyche; he coached them to the grand final in 2002.
The Warriors have got a pack of big bruisers; they should provide a good opening gauge for the Eels forwards.
http://parramatta.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/hard-pigs-to-stand-up/1454934.aspx#
http://parramatta.yourguide.com.au/news/local/sport/rugby-league/hard-pigs-to-stand-up/1454934.aspx
