I'll bite.
I feel as if we Eels fans can have short memories in regards to our recruitment; especially since the disastrous season that was 2018.
I, as much as anyone else would like our squad to be further bolstered by a flashy centre who can beat their man one-on-one, or a seasoned veteran winger who leads the competition in post-contact metres. Hell, a Reece WALSH or Kalyn PONGA would be fun. But we have players and a squad capable of winning a premiership. Let me explain.
In my opinion, the club should be applauded for the work they have done in bringing talent to the club and re-signing key players since the turn of the decade. I feel as if the salary cap money is being proportionately spent to where it needs to be.
2019 saw the emergence of Dylan BROWN, a relatively unknown teenager who in my opinion will go on to play 300+ games and be one of the best halves of all time. In recent times we have managed to re-sign him despite the dearth of quality halves (and the lure of returning home to NZ). I have faith that this kid can deliver us a premiership before he rides off into the sun. We also recruited Shaun LANE, who will again form a formidable relationship with BROWN on the left hand side of the field. His career was at crossroads when we brought him across. In the same year, we poached SIVO from obscurity and look at what he has become. We regained our co-captain in PAULO who I am sure brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the pathways Polynesian kids. We offloaded big money contracts in NORMAN and HAYNE who arguably had off-field baggage and a negative effect on training habits.
In 2020 we brought in two elite forwards in MATTERSON and CAMPBELL-GILLARD. Both are vitally important to our success, as we witnessed on opposite ends of the scale in 2022 & 2023. We offloaded MANNAH and MOEROA who presumably were on disproportionate contracts to what they produced on the field.
Call 2021 the Parramatta 'Moneyball' Eels. PAPALI'I wasn't rated by many fans before the season. He won player of the year. OPACIC was value for money. CARTWRIGHT and GRIEG who were picked up this year can be game-changers for us moving forward. We ultimately go down 8-6 to Penrith in a semi-final in an all-time classic. We were unlucky to lose despite having no known hooker on gameday.
We were oh so close in 2022 but to simply put it, we run into a generational team. From the outside looking in, the club seems to have a stronger focus on pathways now than ever, looking to emulate the amazing organisational unit that is Penrith.
As a result of our success (albeit, not the success we yearn for), we were ravaged come the end of the 2022 season. We lost outstanding talent, though talent I was content to see leave at the expense at some of our re-signings since. We still pick up a representative quality forward in HOPGOOD despite keen interest elsewhere.
We secure our halves. If we failed to do so, we would have great uncertainty for the coming years. Look at the difference Adam REYNOLDS made at the Broncos. We secure our best upcoming outside back prospect in PENISINI. He is highly spoken of and is touted as a future captain. We lock in LANE, who was the best second rower in the game in 2022 bar none. We managed to keep MATTERSON and PAULO despite genuine interest from the Dolphins who had endless cash.
Lets hope that players that we have recently acquired who were at crossroads provide value. I'm talking the likes of TUILAGI, HARPER, MORETTI, GREIG, DOOREY and RUSSELL. Remember, not every player needs to be a superstar. If the majority of a squad perform better than expected (or their contract suggests), you will win premierships.
My point is that yes, the club has got some signings wrong. But they also have got a hell of a lot right.
Happy 2024 to all. Lets win a premiership.
