Parramatta Eels Holden Cup & Junior Reps Thread Part III

[Poupou Escobar]

Full listing with returning NYC players denoted by the 2014 tag.

You left out Raeli, Seve and Twal.

 

[Forty20]

You left out Raeli, Seve and Twal.

I never claimed to be a smart man, did I?

Edit - Also, fixed in light of your sharp eye.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

No Zach Dockar-Clay which would seemingly suggest he is donning the black and white this year for Wenty.

True, although Tanginoa and Pauli were listed in the NRL squad last year and both spent time in the NYC.

In this year's NYC squad are Suli and Vidal, who both started 2014 in the squad but were removed without playing a game. Also, Vidal is back despite rumours to the contrary.

Interesting omissions are James Gammidge (SG Ball graduate who was named in one NYC game last year but didn't play) and Sione Tonga (who was in last year's squad).

Also, Tui Oloapu played SG Ball last year but is now listed as being born in 1995. It's either wrong or they found his real birth certificate.

Troy Dargan is also a notable omission in light of other SG Ball eligible players Doolan, Smith and Tonise. However it might be that Dargan has been unavailable for a profile photo due to his Australian Schoolboy commitments. Could also be that as a half (and not a quick one), Dargan is better off honing his craft in the under 18s.

 

[Forty20]

John Fomai is also MIA.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Because everyone loves a team list, here's a tentative top 17:

1. French (19)
2. Oloapu (19)
3. Davis
4. Aukofolau
5. Suli
6. Markus
7. Izzard
8. Tepu-Smith
9. Lussick
10. Twal (19)
11. Fuimaono (19)
12. Muna
13. Aloiai
14. Bush
15. Morris (19)
16. Raeli
17. Kaufusi

 

[half_back]

Because everyone loves a team list, here's a tentative top 17:

1. French (19)
2. Oloapu (19)
3. Davis
4. Aukofolau
5. Suli
6. Markus
7. Izzard
8. Tepu-Smith
9. Lussick
10. Twal (19)
11. Fuimaono (19)
12. Muna
13. Aloiai
14. Bush
15. Morris (19)
16. Raeli
17. Kaufusi

A solid team without the same fear factor or creativity of last years team. Seem short in the halves, I keep hearing Doolan may in fact stay up and miss ball, which if ZDC doesn't play could be true and allow Markus to return to the middle where he finished the season strongly and adds an extra dimension.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Definitely weaker than last year's team, though there's always a good chance of strong performers coming from nowhere. Last year Lavaka, Davis, Folau, Matterson and Aloiai surprised everyone but the keenest judges (and Davis and Aloiai are backing up again). Lavaka, Folau and Matterson had all played the year before but none of them stood out.

Who knows which of this year's crop might break out? French is a freakish talent (and almost 90kg now) while Aukofolau and TTS are in their third year of NYC.

 

[oldmancraigy]

A fairly conservative prediction: either Twal or Fuimaono to play a game of firsts this year.

Twal will be a regular in years to come, but hard for props to play up at 19.
Fuimaono will become the new 'Fui' chant within 3 years.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

True, although Tanginoa and Pauli were listed in the NRL squad last year and both spent time in the NYC.

In this year's NYC squad are Suli and Vidal, who both started 2014 in the squad but were removed without playing a game. Also, Vidal is back despite rumours to the contrary.

Interesting omissions are James Gammidge (SG Ball graduate who was named in one NYC game last year but didn't play) and Sione Tonga (who was in last year's squad).

Also, Tui Oloapu played SG Ball last year but is now listed as being born in 1995. It's either wrong or they found his real birth certificate.

Troy Dargan is also a notable omission in light of other SG Ball eligible players Doolan, Smith and Tonise. However it might be that Dargan has been unavailable for a profile photo due to his Australian Schoolboy commitments. Could also be that as a half (and not a quick one), Dargan is better off honing his craft in the under 18s.

You should be forty's side eye assistant this year

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Our halves look weak if dagan stays down and zac plays nsw cup ( which I don't think will happen from round 1 unless there are injuries considering our depth, we already have matterson, Kelly and Pritchard for nsw cup)

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Yeah I expect ZDC to still play plenty of NYC. If he's not required in first grade (and he won't be) then I hope we maintain his eligibility for the NYC finals.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Raeli could be a smokie for a big year, he look ok in the games I saw last year for an 18 year old.

 

[Forty20]

One big positive for us is that our pack is quite seasoned by NYC standards. Aloiai, Tepu-Smith, Muna, Raeli, Twal, Fuimaono, Markus and Kaufusi all have a solid amount of experience while Jack Anderson and Jack Morris got small tastes of the NYC as well. They should be able to lay a platform that will get our halves and backs into games most weeks.

On another note, one more noteworthy players that is missing from 2014 is Tom Amone.

 

[Forty20]

Because everyone loves a team list, here's a tentative top 17:

1. French (19)
2. Oloapu (19)
3. Davis
4. Aukofolau
5. Suli
6. Markus
7. Izzard
8. Tepu-Smith
9. Lussick
10. Twal (19)
11. Fuimaono (19)
12. Muna
13. Aloiai
14. Bush
15. Morris (19)
16. Raeli
17. Kaufusi

Good team, could also go something like:

1. French/Doolan
2. Oloapu
3. Davis
4. Smith
5. Aukofolau
6. French/Doolan
7. Izzard
8. Tepu-Smith
9. Lussick
10. Twal
11. Fuimaono
12. Muna
13. Aloiai
14. Seve/Markus
15. Morris
16. Raeli
17. Kaufusi

I think Lussick is good enough to play as the lone hooker but Seve or Markus (albeit a preferred lock) can cover for a short period if need be. Seve has more utility value and that livewire spark but Markus has the experience so it is close. If Aloiai gets promoted it is a moot point. forwards are quite strong although not as monstrous as last years but the backline and halves are very raw.

Depending on how much time Aloiai and Zach Dockar-Clay spend in the NSW Cup we could end up with a few different line ups.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Bit of an article here about Reimis Smith: http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=131566

Smith lives close to Balmain's old Leichhardt Oval, a ground under threat if the state Government does not help the new club with refurbishment. He loves the Sydney lifestyle and credits partner Kelly Mundine (Anthony's sister) and sons Tyson, aged 6, Reimis, aged 3, and Khan, aged 2, with keeping him focused on his goals.

 

[Forty20]

That is some Maroubra Eel level shit right there, Poups.

 

[Delboy]

John Fomai is also MIA.

Fomia and Sione Tonga did not make the cut

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Our backs and halves might be raw but given the size, amount of experience, and skill in our forward stocks they should be able to play well off that. I'm salivating at the thought of French, Davis, Smith, and Doolan somehow being in the same team; there's a lot of points if those boys are given time on the ball.

Now that the NYC squad has been announced I'm even more excited about the year of footy ahead. Only 4 days until the 9's

 

[Obscene Assassin]

Also what happened to Nathan Davis? He was billed at 197cm last year and is now down to 192cm.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Brad Arthur had him working hard over the off season.