Jake the snake
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Young Eels halfback Tim Smith is set to collect Rookie of the Year honours after combining with converted hooker John Morris to keep Parramatta in sight of the 2005 minor premiership with three rounds left.
But Kenny said 20-year-old Smith's inexperience could be exposed in the pressure-cooker finals atmosphere and believed Morris "is not a five-eighth".
Kenny - who holds the Eels' club record for most first grade games (265) - said Sunday's sold out NRL clash against title favourites St George Illawarra would give an early indication of how the halves handled finals pressure.
"Their combination is very good at the moment but it remains to be seen once the finals start how they handle that," he said.
"Tim Smith is the one you've got to be concerned about. There will be a lot of pressure on him because of the season he has had - you just wonder how he will handle it."
On Morris, Kenny said: "I said at the start of the year I didn't believe John Morris was a five-eighth and probably still don't believe he is.
"I wouldn't have Morris at five-eighth myself, I still believe he's a hooker."
Kenny said Smith - who leads the league with 30 try assists - would have to improve his passing game if the Eels were to become a force.
"Tim Smith goes quite well but I'm not prepared to give him as big a rap as the media does - I don't think he is an outstanding halfback just yet," he said.
"I think he has a lot of potential and he's got an outstanding kicking game.
"But there are a lot of things from a halfback's point of view that I don't think he does just yet.
"He's got to start running the football a little more and attack the line himself, start looking at putting blokes into gaps.
"And he's got to be aware of his long, flat passes. He likes to throw them and I've seen two intercepts and even one on Friday night against the Bulldogs.
"When they played St George (six weeks ago) he hit one bloke on the chest - unfortunately it was a St George player."
But Kenny, who starred in Parramatta's glittering run of four titles in the 1980s, said Smith was destined for greatness.
"Give him time and he has the potential to become a very good halfback," he said.
"A lot of people are saying he is another Peter Sterling but I don't think he will ever be another Peter Sterling - there's only one Sterlo."
Kenny also issued a warning to Smith.
"Just play, don't worry about the comparisons with other players because nine times out of 10 the people who rap him, as soon as he has a bad one they are the first to say he's lost it," he said.
Kenny said he would watch with interest how the halves handle the pressure of Sunday's blockbuster against the Dragons at Oki Jubilee Stadium, which will be attended by Prime Minister John Howard and NSW Premier Morris Iemma.
"It would be a good test for them to see how they are going - Morris and Smith are up against formidable opposition in (Trent) Barrett and (Ben) Hornby," he said.
The Dragons became outright title favourites ahead of the Eels after thumping ladder leader Brisbane 24-4 last Sunday.
Eels great Kenny was still not sold on the Dragons' title chances.
"I've still got my doubts about St George. Over the years how many times have they got close to the finals and everyone said `this is their year' and they miss the finals or like last year they lose the first game and they are out?
"I'm still wary of that happening."
