Eels young brigade pushing for spots
While we are only into the second week of trials for most NRL clubs, we have already seen some interesting results and team combinations tested.
One of the more interesting relates to the Parramatta Eels. Last week we saw the Eels comfortably account for the Cronulla Sharks, with each side fielding a relatively young mix of players from reserves and junior grades.
As we move to week 2, the Sharks improved on the previous week by notching their first win as they moved their star players into the squad - however in the case of the Eels, the addition of their stars into the squad saw them go down to the newly formed Gold Coast Titans squad.
When teams send their top squad onto the field they are at least expected to improve.
While some might put this down to new combinations and a case of 'getting the cobwebs out' - it has been a worrying trend for the Eels over the past few seasons.
Their reserve grade side, last years Premiers are choc full of talent across the park. Each of these boom rookies are itching for a shot at the top grade, however on the other side of the coin - you have a team full of current big name players that haven't really performed at their peak for some 12 months.
Once again, this might sound tough - being that's it's only the 2nd trial game of the year - but this situation has been quietly ticking away, and fortunately for the club the media hasn't got hold of it.
In the modern game the salary cap forces players to move regularly to keep their earnings up, but we also see rookies leave clubs if they don't get their shot at the top grade. Why wouldn't they head for greener pastures?
Hagan seems to have some tough decisions on his hands, how does he blood large amounts of new talent into the first grade squad without upsetting the apple cart? What is a good balance? Interestingly in this case, the reserve grade side play well as a unit, and blooding more at once may prove an advantage.
Brian Smith introduced a host of youngsters through to the top grade in 2000, then touted as 'Brian's Babes' - this team with an average age of 22 fell only one game short of the grand final and then made the grand final the following year.
Since then however, Smith didn't blood a large collective amount of youngsters - not until Jason Taylor took the helm did several young stars get their shot. This saw Jarryd Hayne burst onto the scene, and virtually allowed Parramatta to sneak into the final 8.
At present they have a gifted young reserve grade side sitting by the phone, awaiting the call-up, the young premiers who are raring to go - surely the top graders must be watching over their shoulder?
