‘The goal is to win a grand final’: The young stars ready to lead the Eels
- NRL round 1 Experts’ tips
If Dylan Brown and Will Penisini thought Parramatta had hit their ceiling, that the premiership window had closed after last year’s grand final loss, they wouldn’t have stayed.
It’s not like they didn’t have options. Brown and Penisini, aged just 22 and 21 respectively, are considered two of the game’s brightest stars. They could have named their price after becoming free agents last November, whether it be in the NRL or if they wanted to return to their rugby roots.
Eddie Jones had indicated he wanted to buy back the farm and while he never named Penisini, the Eels three-quarter was thought to be one of the top targets on his Wallaby hit list. Brown, a junior rugby star who left New Zealand to join the blue and golds as a 15-year-old, had the likes of Wayne Bennett trying to make him the face of the new Dolphins franchise.
In the end, neither felt the need to even test the market, with both signing new Parramatta contracts over the summer. In Brown’s case, his commitment will be until the end of 2031, should he opt not to trigger options to look elsewhere.
It is a resounding show of faith from two gun juniors who believe even better days are ahead at the blue and golds.
Eels’ young guns Dylan Brown and Will Penisini.Credit:James Brickwood
“For me, I’ve been here my whole life, I’ve come through the juniors,” says Penisini, whose relationship with Eels coach Brad Arthur stretches back to their association with junior club Rouse Hill Rhinos.
“The success we’ve had over the years, we’ve been in the finals the last four or five years and we’re building something special.
“I want to pursue my footy future here.”
Brown agrees. “My story is the same as Will’s, I’ve been with Parra since I was 15,” Brown said. “I’ve never felt the need to change; if something is working, stick with it.
“[We’ve] got a good spine, I love playing with Mitch [Moses] and the coaching staff is huge because if you don’t get on with your coaches, it’s hell.
“My relationship with the players is great.”
Each of Parramatta’s past 36 seasons have started with promise and ended in pain. Last year it was the heartache that comes with grand final defeat after being outclassed by western Sydney rivals Penrith.
After failing to break a premiership drought stretching back to 1986, many pundits have predicted more lean years for the Eels. They point to the departure of two superstars, hooker Reed Mahoney and back-rower Isaiah Papali’i, as well as the losses of Marata Niukore, Oregon Kaufusi, Ray Stone, Tom Opacic and Hayze Perham.
Young Eels pair Dylan Brown and Will Penisini.Credit:James Brickwood
“We’ve lost a couple of players last year, but we’ve gained a lot of players who bring something different to the team,” says Penisini, pointing to the recruitment of Josh Hodgson, J’maine Hopgood, Jirah Momoisea, Jack Murchie, Matt Doorey and Daejarn Asi.
“There is always that drive about effort and the way we want to play, it’s driven through a lot of the players and not just the coach. The coach still drives it, but we have a wiser spine now, everyone is a year older and more experienced.
“All the culture stuff is driven by the players.”
Parramatta will open their campaign with the toughest assignment in rugby league, a blockbuster home clash against Melbourne on Thursday night. The Storm have never lost an opening-round game under coach Craig Bellamy, an incredible streak stretching back to 2001.
“I don’t want to be part of history if we lose it,” says Storm superstar Cameron Munster.
“Parra has had the wood on us the last several times we’ve played them. I don’t know if that’s the NRL trying to break the hoodoo, but it’s going to be a tough game, no doubt about it.
“BA [Arthur] being a former assistant coach to Bellyache [Bellamy], they know each other’s values, attributes and games inside out.
“It will be an interesting game, Dylan Brown is playing some good footy and so is Mitchell Moses. You’ve got Clint Gutherson at the back and then with that forward pack, they are going to be hard to handle.
“It will come down to the little things, the nitty-gritty stuff, as to who wins the game.”
‘We’re building something special. I want to pursue my footy future here.’
Making Parramatta’s task even more difficult is the unavailability of some of their biggest names. Shaun Lane (jaw) and Nathan Brown (hamstring) are injured and Ryan Matterson and Sean Russell are suspended. Moreover, Maika Sivo, Waqa Blake, Bailey Simonsson, Bryce Cartwright and Matt Doorey are playing despite limited or no trial form as they return from injuries.
The Storm have several big-name omissions of their own, headlined by Ryan Papenhuyzen and Justin Olam, but have the bookmakers backing them to continue their unprecedented round-one winning streak.
For Brown and Penisini, it is a chance to step up as leaders despite their relative inexperience.
“Dyl has had a couple of years under his belt and this is my second full season,” Penisini says.
“We’re learning each year and trying to develop into better players, to keep growing and learning.
“You learn leadership qualities from people who are very vocal like Gutho [Gutherson] and Mitchy [Moses]. They demand the best out of players each session and you learn from that and feed off it. They are always energetic; you rock up to training and Gutho has the same energy every day.
“I don’t know how he does it, it must be six coffees before he comes to training. You pick up on that vibe they have and mould it into you to make it work for you and put your best foot forward.”
For Parramatta, it’s time for generation next to step up. If they are to finally break their premiership drought, Brown and Penisini are the young guns earmarked to lead the charge. It was evident from the moment Penisni was chosen, while still an uncapped teen, to be the Eels representative to officially open CommBank Stadium.
“I was only 15 or 16, I think the older boys were training and they needed one of the young bucks to come out, one of the juniors,” Penisini recalls.
“I remember the first game, watching the crowd and how amazing it was. It’s so cool we can call that home and have our fans rock up rail, hail or shine to support us. That’s so mad.”
A noted goal-setter, Penisini is unequivocal about what is on top of his list.
“Team-wise, the goal is to win a grand final,” he says.
The first step begins on Thursday night.
Stream the NRL premiership 2023 live and free on 9Now.
Sports news, results and expert commentary. Sign up for our Sport newsletter.
Most Viewed in Sport
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article