A Thursday night match at Brookvale’s heavy track and a quick turn around for both teams – the pundits would suggest that the stage was set for a sub-par encounter. However, last night’s clash had so many ebbs and flows that I rarely left the edge of my seat. Ultimately, I considered this to be a stirring victory by the Eels in a game that reinforced my opinion about the character of the 2016 team.
Manly Took It To The Eels
Lets begin with giving credit where it’s due. The Sea Eagles left nothing in the tank. Their much maligned pack played with commitment and intensity and well and truly took the game to the Eels. Even Brad Arthur acknowledged that they demonstrated greater energy than we did. It will be something that he is sure to highlight to his charges in the coming days.
Yet here is the problem for the Sea Eagles tactics. In looking to dominate in the middle, Manly were taking the game to Parramatta’s strength. It is one thing to match the Eels’ forwards, it’s another thing entirely to punch holes in and control the ruck area. With a tactic based on gaining field position through the forwards then putting the ball in the air, they were throwing their eggs into one basket. It takes more than this to crack the Eels defence in 2016.
With Cherry-Evans missing from their line up, and Parcell a late withdrawal, the Sea Eagles were missing some firepower. Nonetheless, the Manly backs were relatively starved of possession and we saw limited opportunities for players such as Lyon and Stewart. The question remains whether this was of Manly’s doing or through Parra’s defence. To my mind, it’s a mixture of both. Barrett decided on these tactics, but Parramatta’s capacity to repel this attack spoke volumes about the team’s improved defence.
“A Game” vs “B Game”
No doubt Manly were able to exert pressure through their tactics. Many Eels sets began on their own line and repeat sets for the maroon and whites came on the back of well placed kicks. The Sea Eagles performed at their best given their team and their tactics. In other words, they executed Barrett’s match plan and did so with great energy and purpose – they brought their “A Game”.
In contrast, Parramatta appeared to be “caught on the hop” by the energy of our opponents. Territorially, the Eels were on the back foot to begin sets. Our kicks were relieving kicks as opposed to Manly’s attacking kicks. Consequently Parramatta had to do far more “dirty work” when in possession, with little opportunity to shine in attack. In other words, we did not able to execute Arthur’s match plan – we brought our “B Game”.
If you look at this simplistically, you’d say that Parramatta’s “B Game” was able to defeat Manly’s “A Game”. Of course there was much more to a match analysis than this, but that said, it’s great to know that the Eels can win matches when they’re not at their best. After all, no team can sustain peak performance throughout a long season.
Manly tried to dominate through forwards such as Taupau.
Bunker Fail
This innovation is becoming the bane of my existence as a supporter. I am growing increasingly frustrated by the inconsistencies evident in every match. Given that the rationale of removing inconsistencies was an impetus behind establishing the Bunker, it must be considered to be a massive fail. Through biased eyes last night I witnessed legitimate tries stripped from my team. Through unbiased eyes, I no longer have any idea how any decision will go in any match. To be blunt, and without dwelling on it, Parramatta had to overcome the Bunker to win this match. I’ll be maintaining the rage on this topic.
Coming Home Strong
This is a fit and strong Parramatta team. Even on that Brookvale track, the Eels were able to finish over Manly to record a four tries to one victory. That in itself would indicate a dominant performance. I would argue that our fitness and resilience were that dominant, even if our execution and energy was not.
This is where kudos must be given to the coaching staff, particularly Brad Arthur and Paul Devlin. It was a demanding pre-season designed to push the team physically and psychologically. Consequently, the Eels have the mental fortitude to deal with pressure situations and the fitness to make effort on effort. We have truly turned the corner.
A demanding pre-season schedule has made the Eels a resilient combination.
Efforts To Commend
The memorable chase from Beau Scott to chase down a flying Tom Trbojevic was certainly a highlight. This hard as nails back rower has been a brilliant addition to the Eels team. Norman and Foran continue to shine in the halves and provide great leadership and direction. Gutherson responded brilliantly to the pressure from pinpoint Manly kicks and is surely proving his value to the team. Peats was again a workaholic and earned Man of the Match honours from the chief broadcaster.
With these “name players” shining, I see it as important to acknowledge the contributions of our bench. I would argue that in Edwards, DeGois, Wicks and Terepo, Parramatta boasts close to the strongest bench in the NRL as each bench player seems to lift the team when they are introduced. Here’s what a wise man told me about players on a bench. It’s a party out on the field and you can’t go out and eat everyone else’s food. You have to take your own cake! These blokes do take out their own cake and it’s got cream, icing and sprinkles all over it! You couldn’t ask for more from a bench in a team that is truly a top 17 each week.
A Final Word
As a supporter I watch every Eels match with increasing confidence. The defence is outstanding and the combinations are developing. I have always worn the Blue and Gold with pride, now more than ever.
Go you mighty Eels!
Sixties
images courtesy of the NRL and the Parramatta Eels
Spot on sixties,
Don’t get me started on obstruction rule 60s. Surely, if applied, the first question to be asked is ‘Has somebody been obstructed?’ rather than just that someone has run behind someone else. Also it was applied with Semi where EVERYBODY else thought there was no obstruction but with Manly ‘no try’ it wasn’t considered even though it appeared Parra were slightly hindered by Manly player running behind own players.
Also, as Gould said, if ref thinks obstruction blow penalty then rather than get bunker to review. Also, for refs info, an obstruction can occur anywhere on field rather than when try scored!
Spot on Glenn. The officials sitting away from the game are looking for ways to disallow tries. In doing so, locked up in a room away from the game, they have no feel for what’s happened. The players become images on a screen. Take that decision away from them.
Maybe we need a new post on the bunker. How did that Nathan Peats high tackle get penalised when Matai stayed down in the second half? For the bunker to over rule it has to be reportable. This is to stop players faking injury. Hello!!! Nathan not on report !!!
The real issue is that some of this stuff is so basic to get right, to be black and white yet they insist on making it grey.
Oh by the way, great win Parra.
Chris, the way that they are tipping, or the circumstances in which they do so, seems to be made up as they go along. I’ve gone a bit nuts on Twitter with my #bunkerfail tweets!
Nice summary sixties. I was absolutely livid with the bunker decisions last night. Also the penalty on Peats late in the match which was not put on report. The match officials tried their best to rub us out of the game but we still won by playing the whole 80 mins and not giving up. That is what satisfied me the most out of this match.
Dealing with such adversity Phatz is becoming the making of our team.
Great read Sixties. Like you, my confidence in the team is growing each time they play.
It’s great to watch mate.
Yee Haa, What a fantastic effort from our Mighty Eels to not only beat Manly at Brooky but to also beat the bunker. Many teams would have struggled to lift themselves after some of the calls I saw last night. I was sitting watching the game with my closest friend who is a Roosters supporter & he agreed that I was not being a one eyed supporter, as he put it, They are killing you. The refs looked to be influenced by the crowd & the decisions from the bunker were WRONG, end of story. As Gus Gould said a couple of weeks ago, There will be a lot of great try’s that will never been seen on a highlights reel because of poor another decision. In recent years the Eels would have folded as soon as the first try was disallowed but this team is something to be truly proud of & that’s exactly how I felt last night. Once again, Thanks for a great article & to all my fellow Eels supporter’s, Have a Great Weekend watching footy with a massive smile on your face.
P.S. Beau Scott, WOW
True Jim. All supporters could see how bad those calls were. My partner, who is not as passionate in her support as I am, is now agreeing with my frustration about these calls. We seem to get dud calls every week, but the inconsistent bunker calls are there to see in every match. Wasn’t the need for consistency the rationale behind the introduction of the bunker? Well, that’s a massive #bunkerfail!
Great write up sixties!
“ebbs and flows” – the team is now competing for the full 80, and showing the ability to increase the tempo, go up a gear, when needed or the situation presents itself. It’s great to come from behind and play smart and patient. Our footy team has alot more smarts than last year. As BA said during the presser, our effort was great in 2015 as well, but now we also know how to win.
This footy team looks very slick.
Cheers mate 🙂
It has taken time, player releases and recruitment to get to this point mate. One thing to recall, is that from the moment BA took over from Stuart, he made the team competitive. Stuart told us to expect floggings. BA declared we would aim to win every match that we competed in. Different philosophies. Different results for the Eels!
BTW, gotta catch up again mate. Post game at Parra one week would be good.
Great write up sixties.
I think this was the first game in many, many years where, when it was even at half time, I had real confidence that we’d grind out a win. The team definitely looks to have turned a corner.
There were looks of frustration and anger when tries were disallowed, or repeat sets were given on our line, but not once did I see that hands on hips “Oh no, here we go again” body language that used to be the Parra of old.
It was a great, gritty game to watch and I completely agree that we won with our B Game against a team that really brought it.
Cheers captain. That catch cry of “body language” during the off season, as the players were being flogged, is now showing benefits on the field. To see such fortitude in the players gives the fans confidence too!
How good is it to have such confidence in our team. Arthur has truly brought respect back to our team on the field through a tough, get on with it, attitude. Making us proud.
It’s great to support such a determined team. Arthur is a brilliant coach and the future of our club. He needs to be locked up past 2017!
Sixties you have a gift and I hope that you continue to share it for many many seasons to come.
I was going to go to the game last night but in the end I couldn’t juggle what I needed to so I watched it at home with my youngest son …Trapped in the 1990’s. I feel the stress watching the games on TV and its not pretty as I heat up and have to strip off layers if the match is too close towards the end….thankfully it wasn’t for those who share my DNA.
Credit to Manly, they were on song last night but at halftime at 8-8 I was still confident even thought the 50:50 calls seemed hometown calls but was losing faith when Taka’s try was disallowed. BUT in 2016 this team doesn’t give up. They stick to their game plan and everyone knows their role from 1 through to 17. Yeah they got some bad calls but they still won. Yeah they had some rough patches but they still won. Yeah not everyone fired but they still won. Yeah they were playing at fortress Brookvale but they still won. Yeah I’m loving this team and 2016.
Mate, you are far too kind with your words. If you follow my Twitter you would have seen a person losing the plot over the bunker during the match – not too erudite! BTW, one of my TCT friends always retweets many of my thoughts on the official TCT Twitter account – I knew that my co-founders were intelligent people and that confirmed it!
I agree with your thoughts – the inability to deal with adversity is becoming a thing of the past.
Let’s just hope that this is all for something. The impending cap dramas could mean we’re on a hiding to nothing.
Come on Anthony! Let us enjoy the moment! Seriously, I believe we are still at least a week away from hearing an outcome. Things have been messed up but don’t believe all that the media are saying. At some point we may be commenting on the topic but for now we would only add to the speculation. As a footy site, we are reporting on what’s happening now, on the field, and isn’t it great!
Evolution is a wonderful thing.
Manly are Manly but we have evolved. I remember all those years that if we did beat Manly, it was a massive upset. How times have changed.
Go you eels!
The players believe in themselves and the structures. BA has done an amazing job. He is the evolution.