SMITH NAMES SEVENS SQUAD - 20/01/04

[bartman]

From the official Eels site:

Parramatta Eels Head Coach Brian Smith has today named his squad for the Cougar World Sevens on 24 and 25 January at Aussie Stadium.

The squad is:

1 – Luke BURT
2 – Ronald PRINCE
3 – Jamie LYON
4 – David VAEALIKI
5 – Lee HOPKINS
6 – Daniel WAGON ©
7 – Adam DYKES
8 – Adam PEEK
9 – John MORRIS
10 –Eric GROTHE
[11 – Nathan HINDMARSH *] -> Now ruled ineligible, Dean WIDDERS rumoured replacement
12 – Jeremiah PAI

“I’m really looking forward to the weekend, as are the players. They’ve trained hard in the pre season and there was tremendous competition amongst the boys in order to be selected”, Smith said.

 

[bartman]

I like this side!! Hindy has an asterisk, which I guess means his availability is still being debated with the NRL?

But you've got some flyers (Burt, Prince, Lyon, Vaealiki, Grothe), you've got some organisers (Dykes, Morris, Hopkins), some solid guys (Wagon, Peek), and this Jeremai Pai dude (if Hindy doesn't play).

 

[The Colonel]

Gold....... absolute gold...... Going to enjoy the first game when the Sharkies get their buts smacked!

 

[half]

what a team! looking forward to the sevens fo sho. i'll be there on sunday to see us win (yet again)

peek is a surprise and i wasn't expecting to see dykes in the team, but by golly i'm sure they'll do us proud

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Thats a good team, I like it, plenty of versitile, plenty of speed, I reckon we'll be close to winning the tournament.

Peek is the only real suprise, I wouldve thought theyd pick a forward with a bit of speed, maybe they thought Peek has some.

 

[Freak]

Here is the side I named on the 30th December 03.

Smithy must obviously listen to me and make a few minor changes.

My 7's Side (picked on Dec 30 03)
1. Burt
2. Wagon
3. Morris
4. Vaealiki
5. Vella - Peeky in and wrapped about it!!!
6. Hindmarsh.
7. Grothe
8. Dykes
9. Widders - Very suprised to not see him in the squad. He killed them last year!
10. Killer

I left out Hopkins, Prince and Pai!

If I knew we could take 11 I would have included Hopkins for sure.
Prince and Pai are an eye opener though!!

 

[The Colonel]

Pai's versatility got him the run I think - lock, hooker, 5/8, centre.....

Princey was a sensation for the Aboriginal side last year at the 7's......

 

[eloquentEEL]

Gold....... absolute gold...... Going to enjoy the first game when the Sharkies get their buts smacked!

will probably be close to the same scoreline as the last time we played them... 74-4

 

[PB]

lol eels 2 win.

Last year we had Channy in the squad, and he did well. I gues Smith is thinking that Peek is a similar style player. And he is right i think. Peek had an outstanding end to last season, and assuming he is training well, this is well deserved.

 

[BlueandGoldDust]

GO LEX!!! Good to see Dave playing in the Sevens.

 

[MystikEel]

Woo! Looks like a force to be reckoned with, that side. Can't wait for it! hmm...

 

[Clarkie]

I heard Dean Widders has a slight injury, can anyone confirm? Maybe that is the reason why he isn't named in the sevens. He carved up last year...

 

[Eelementary]

Perfect team!

And a great way for Dykesy to get match fit - in a competiotn which is much faster and much more intense than a 13 man a side game. This will benefit him greatly I think.

 

[Rylesy]

The whole team as a whole look soooo good!

They look lean and fit......... Parra will win the 7's I think, and will go a long way this year...... They impressed me alot, they have worked alot in the off season it looks like.

Vella was the strongest man in the squad.......

 

[Twizzle]

Interresting.

Including Hindy, there is only 4 specialist forwards. A couple of good utiltiy players.

This tells me that they are expecting to run the feet off their opposition and play a typical expansive 7s game.

Good team.

 

[Paranoid]

Good mixture of all factors there ..... speed, power, experience.
Lots of organisation type players too.

Looking forward to seeing Burt in full flight again.

 

[Paranoid]

Thought Witt may have made a return to 7s after last year.

Though the run would probably benefit Dykes more I guess.

 

[Aussiehurrikane]

great team that we've picked, good to see smith selecting a first string side not like some of the other teams.

 

[Twizzle]

Thought Witt may have made a return to 7s after last year.

Though the run would probably benefit Dykes more I guess.

Wrong Witt.

Steve played last year.

 

[Paranoid]

Wrong Witt.

Steve played last year.

My bad

Wonder if he'll get a run on the Newcastle side !? Have they released their team yet ?