A TIGER UPRISING
Everyone could tell things were going to be different from the very first week of pre-season training under Ivan. The boys who played under JT last pre-season said it was tough but, this time around, it was different. The fitness stuff was pretty much the same but it was the way we went between the drills, the intensity that was there for the whole session.
Catching and passing – Ivan puts great importance on everything, big or small. It has been well documented that we all compete extremely hard at training. Players are ‘rewarded’ for winning a certain drill and ‘punished’ for losing.
That sort of stuff drives all-round competitiveness within the team and, with the number of new players who arrived at our club, competition for places in the top 17 has brought out the best in everyone.
Ivan is a good family man. The first question he’s likely to ask is, ‘How are things at home?’, and he cares about the answer.
Some of the players emerging at the Wests Tigers are amazing.
Esan Marsters, for example, has so much talent at the age of 21. It’s scary. He hasn’t reached it yet. He has got everything – he’s big and fast, skilful. And he’s got a bit of confidence about him which is needed these days.
As for myself, I know I can play big minutes if needed and I pride myself on my work-rate. Defence is the strongest part of my game but I feel I’ve got to try and find more variety in attack. I know I’ve got the skillset to offload the ball but we all have to work with the team structure.
My role at the start of the year was to come off the bench and help get the team up and down the field. I’ve been working on my carries and small things like fighting to win a quick play-the-ball for the team or making sure of my body-lean going into contact.
These can be things that people don’t notice but when you play at this level you have to break everything down and get the little things right.
No one here has said much about what we have done so far this season. It’s obviously been a positive start. But the next game is what we are looking to.
It’s Manly this week at their place. It’s going to be hard but we won’t be changing a single thing. Our structures at the Tigers are working and there is a good level of confidence and trust among all of the players.
A LEGACY ALL MY OWN
When I made my first grade debut, there were a few stories published about me being Paul Gallen’s cousin.
It’s funny how things work out sometimes. The Tigers were playing the Sharkies that week. I received messages and texts from all over but Gal was one of the first to call and wish me luck.
We came together a few times in that game but there was nothing really big, not like I thought there was going to be. We were both playing in the middle and I figured there would be more contact.
We didn’t grow up together but the Eisenhuths are a big family and we are all pretty close. When there’s a gathering, like Christmas, we all make a pretty big effort to get there.
I have 50 or 60-plus cousins and I’m one of the youngest. Eisenhuth is not what you’d call a common surname, but there sure are lots of us out there!
Paul and I are related on my dad’s side. Dad’s older sister Kerry is Paul’s mum.
Our family is going to get a little bit bigger this year. Holly and I got engaged two years ago and we’re getting married in October. She finished university last November and started working full-time the following month. She’s now a qualified dentist and has a great job with a company called Gentle Dental.
Life’s very good for me at the moment. I have put in a lot of hard work to get to where I am and Holly has been by my side for a lot of it. She has been my rock. We are, as they say, high school sweethearts. We’ve been together since year 10.
This is my story so far. There are still plenty of chapters left to write.
I realise most people know me for the leg tumour story and the family link to Gal. I want to be remembered for more than that. It’s time to become known for being the sort of player I am. I want to form my own identity by the success we are having at the Tigers and the role I am playing in it.
It’s an exciting time ahead.
More about: Esan Marsters | Injuries | Ivan Cleary | Paul Gallen | Penrith Panthers | Wests Tigers
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