Tough regime: Stephen Kearney lays down the law at an Eels training session. Picture: Jeff Herbert Source: The Daily Telegraph

Tough regime: Stephen Kearney lays down the law at an Eels training session. Picture: Jeff Herbert Source: The Daily Telegraph

The Eels are being put through a tough pre-season which is already reaping dividends amongst a squad Kearney admits includes plenty of players in the last chance saloon.

Former Test prop Carl Webb arrived at the club weighing 117kg and is down to under 110kg and the former North Queenslander joins fellow veterans Chris Walker, Paul Whatuira and, when his doping ban expires mid-year, Reni Maitua at the Eels.

Rising star Tim Mannah was quick to pinpoint discipline as Kearney's focus on Monday and the New Zealand Test coach said that came from working under tough Melbourne taskmaster Bellamy for the past five years.

The approach resulted in four straight grand final appearances for the Storm from 2006-09, although the two premierships they won in that period were stripped from them for salary cap breaches.

"It worked fairly successfully for us and that was certainly something that I thought would be a great base to work from," Kearney told reporters on Monday.

"I think that's what the club needed and what would work for us so that's why it's in place."

Kearney, though, says the Melbourne comparisons end there.

"That's where I learned my trade I guess you could say but I'm mindful of the personnel that we have at Parramatta," he said.

"It will be more Parramatta than Melbourne."

Parramatta started 2010 as the hot premiership favourites before missing the eight amidst a series of off-field dramas.

That culminated in the sacking of coach Daniel Anderson and Kearney is now in charge of a side equal third-last in betting to take out the title.

The Eels have also raised eyebrows with their recruitment of recycled players, and Kearney has wasted no time in putting them on notice.

"It's an opportunity for them, guys I guess you could say are on their last chance if you want to call it that," he said.

"All I can go off is the way they've trained this pre-season and I've got to say all of them have been outstanding.

"Carl came to us at 117 kilos and he's under 110 now.

"He obviously wants to make a difference."