NRL Finals 2020: How George Jennings Warriors loan saved Parramatta Eels season
After playing just three games in two years George Jennings was struggling. With reserve grade cancelled his hopes of playing in 2020 were slipping, until the Warriors came calling. Now he’s ready to reunite with his brother ahead of the Eels’ must win finals match.
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Had it not been for a stint at the Warriors, George Jennings would be coming into the Eels’ do or die game on Saturday with just 240 minutes of first grade action in the past two years.
Jennings’ loan to the Warriors this year has proved a masterstroke for Parramatta after Maika Sivo’s season ending knee injury. The move allowed Jennings to play six matches having featured in just three games for the Eels in the past two years before that.
Older brother Michael said he could sense George was struggling without being able to play any football as a result of the lower grade competitions being cancelled.
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“It’s great he got that opportunity at the Warriors,” Jennings said. “He is in a good place. It was hard for him. I don’t talk to him about footy. We don’t talk about footy when we’re together but you could see that (he was struggling). My advice was that ‘you’re a quality player and you’ll get your opportunity soon’. He is too good of a player not to play first grade.
“It’s great he got that opportunity and great for us because he got that game time.”
George was named to play for the Eels off the bench in the last regular season match against the Tigers but went unused. He last played for the Eels’ in round 10.
Pending the fitness of Blake Ferguson, the Jennings’ boys may play on the same left edge against the Rabbitohs.
Michael said George needed to take the chance at the Warriors given he is off-contract at season’s end.
“I know the quality of player he is,” Jennings said. “In 2018 he had a great season. In 2019 he injured himself and Maika gets the opportunity. He fell out of the pecking order here but we all know he is a great player who works hard. It was a proud moment for me to (see him) get the opportunity at the Warriors. He played well. He is off-contact so he is playing for a contract.”
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Michael Jennings turned coach on Tuesday as he embarked on a one-on-one video session with out-of-sorts Parramatta teammate Waqa Blake in a bid to avoid a smashing from the red-hot South Sydney.
Blake has come under fire for his defensive reads, prompting the likes of Mal Meninga to question his place in the team after the Eels’s right edge was exposed in their loss to Melbourne on Saturday night.
Jennings revealed Blake had reached out ahead of a likely Cody Walker-led onslaught on Saturday night.
Jennings said Blake’s decisions are “usually frantic” and he has urged him to remain calm as he prepares to face a side that’s scored 106 points over the past two weeks.
“He wanted to sit down straight away and do some video,” Jennings said.
“I said ‘yeah man’.
“We just watched clips for about 10 minutes. It’s about being patient and calm and working with the edge. When you work as an edge you’re defending well.
“He loves video. I hate video.”
Jennings’ experience will be invaluable for Blake this week with Walker and halves partner Adam Reynolds tormenting teams in recent weeks.
The veteran centre, who is two games short of joining the illustrious 300 club, identified what has gone wrong for Blake in recent weeks.
“He is a great defender,” Jennings said. “Tackling is not the issue
“My advice has been to be patient and calm. It’s sad he has been singled out, which you do as a centre. It’s one of the hardest positions.
“When you make a mistake on the edge, it’s usually the centre’s decision.
“The decision he makes are usually frantic. We spoke about that. That whole edge needs to be accountable. Not just Waqa. That’s why it’s sad he gets singled out.”
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Blake said Jennings’ knowledge was instrumental in his preparation.
“He‘s a very experienced centre, he knows a lot and he’s a great defender,” Blake said. He’s been helping me out heaps.
“I can brush [the outside noise]. I know what I‘m capable of and what we are as an edge.”
Blake has defended on the right alongside Blake Ferguson, Mitch Moses and Ryan Matterson. They will oppose the game’s leading tryscorer in Alex Johnston. Blake trained in the place of the injured Ferguson on the wing on Tuesday with Jennings and Brad Takairangi taking turns at right centre. Jennings’ brother George will replace Maika Sivo on the left side.
Ferguson is expected to undergo a fitness test on Wednesday night after being named to start on the wing as he battled a knee injury.
Blake said the whole right edge had to work together.
“We haven‘t been defending well as an edge and as a group, but when we do we’re very good,” Blake said. “We know what to fix. We just have to go out there and stick to what the coach tells us to do.
“I‘m a centre, but when players go down you put the team first. I’ve played on the wing before.
“I‘ll play anywhere for the team. Wherever (coach Brad Arthur) wants me to play I’ll play. We’re hoping Fergie (Ferguson) will be ready.
“Fergie came in (on Tuesday), he watched the session and had ice on his knee. Hopefully it can settle down and he’s back (on Wednesday).
Originally published as NRL Finals 2020: How George Jennings Warriors loan saved Parramatta Eels season