Parramatta Eels 20 – Canterbury Bulldogs 12 
The Good: |
Everything. The way we responded to the week that’s been. The way we continue to respond to ongoing speculation. The resolve to respond to the world’s biggest forward pack. The way we played without our tallisman. The way we just get it done regardless. The way we don’t make excuses. The way the players responded to injuries. The way we kept the Dogs scoreless in the second half. Beating the Dogs twice in one season. The team song. That weird dance party after the game. |
The Bad: |
I’m at a loss here. I don’t know, umm … Injuries are bad, right? The Dogs’ attacking shape? Jared Maxwell’s try adjudication?
NB: Gordon and Tepai back next game, Mannah the round after. |
The X-Factor: |
I have to say the NRL Bunker did tonight EXACTLY what an NRL Bunker should do – it quickly overturned incorrect decisions on try scoring opportunities (sorry Dogs fans but all four of those disallowed tries weren’t legitimate tries), and DID NOT interfere with the general run of play. Jared Maxwell’s ability to determine what is and what is not an actual try is relatively concerning, however.
I also thought all the Dogs fans I interacted with last night were very respectful and acknowledged the better team won, despite the forward pass-a-thon. It almost made me feel bad for tweet this last night:
|
The MVP: |
You could hardly disagree with Channel 9 giving their Man of the Match to Corey Norman, and Manu Mau is consistently terrific, even in the centres. However, I’m going with my man Clint Gutherson for not only standing up Will Hopoate for our second try, but more so for his brilliant stand in work at fullback when Flash went down. Added legitimacy and significant support to his desire to be our future number 1. Get on the Guthbus, ladies and gentlemen – it’s going to be a fun ride. |
The Starters
 |
1- Michael GordonFullback, Parramatta Eels Hard to give a grade to a bloke who only lasted until halftime, and even then was injured for 30 of those minutes. Kicked a goal and played on admirably despite the quad injury, which limited him to 28 runnings metres. BA noted in an interview this morning that he’ll be sweet for our next game in a fortnight – good news. |
 |
 |
2- Semi RadradraLeft Wing, Parramatta Eels If I graded his first half alone I’d be giving him a C: the intercept attempt on Morris’ try, a dropped ball and being pushed back into the in goal was an unhappy beginning. He made up for it in the second half; however; punctuated by that “he’s knocked them over like ten pins” run in the 67th minute. One of 6 Eels to run for more than 100 metres on the night (12 runs, 116m), and had 4 (!) offloads. Although combined these stats with a team high 3 errors. |
 |
 |
3- Michael JenningsLeft Centre, Parramatta Eels In regards to his attack it was one of his quieter performances (10 runs for 72m) but he did make a couple of good half breaks. Did get through 20 tackles too, albeit with a couple of misses. I continue to enjoy seeing him in our team’s colours. |
 |
 |
20 – Vai ToutaiRight Centre, Parramatta Eels Chris and I remarked before the game how Vai is infinitely a better centre than he is winger. As fate would have it Vai got to be both last night, and was a handful for the Dogs in both roles. Based on his performance last night, I don’t imagine BA would hesitate to call upon him again when needed. |
|
 |
5- Clinton GuthersonRight Wing, Parramatta Eels Has continued to improve and last night we saw him beginning to flourish. A monster 202m from 16 runs, and a team high 2 linebreaks. The Guthbus is a very deserving MVP based on a performance such as this. As a side note – in the clear he kinda looks like he runs with his shoulders, but whatever he did last night worked. I particularly enjoyed his shepard around the goal posts. |
 |
 |
4- Brad TakairangiFive Eighth, Parramatta Eels I think he should trademark that mid field hooking bomb he pulled off a couple of times last night. Thought his kicking game was far and away the most necessary part of ‘wearing’ the 6 jersey last night, and it was surprisingly good. Gutsy game out of his comfort zone but the man is just a good footy player. |
 |
 |
6 – Corey NormanHalfback, Parramatta Eels Mid game I tweeted that we should give Corey Norman all the money. Then he made that ridiculous cover tackle on Will Hopoate. A more limited running game (53m than usual), but he also did score that very important try almost by himself. His game management as basically the only half out there wearing Blue and Gold (sorry Taka) was similarly outstanding. I will argue with no man who thinks he was the best out there last night. |
|
 |
8- Junior PauloProp, Parramatta Eels Despite lining up against maybe the heaviest starting pack in living memory (Sam Kasiano was in the back row, for example) Junior drops another Magic 10 game with 147 metres from 14 hit ups. He also threw in a couple of offloads for good measure. Brilliant bounce back from a less than ideal Round 8. Somehow, some way he needs to stay. |
|
 |
9- Nathan PeatsHooker, Parramatta Eels Played that running back rower role when De Gois came on and made a good fist of it with 6 hitups for 60 metres for another Magic 10 game from Peatsy. Oh and he made 53 tackles, so I guess there’s that too. |
 |
 |
18- Tim MannahProp, Parramatta Eels Never really looked comfortable or confident out there, but admirably suited up in a game we were in some ways short a Captain (credit to Beau Scott for being now our third great option). You could see how shattered he was when he left the field after 20 minutes, but hopefully back for Round 11. |
|
 |
11- Manu MauBack Row, Parramatta Eels Another week, another outstanding game from the world’s scariest man. I heard during the week Manu Mau went into haunted house and came out with a job application. Another forward to notch over 100m, or the only centre to do so, depending on your perspective. |
|
 |
12- Beau Scott (c)Back Row, Parramatta Eels Another super game, this time with a C next to his name. A brilliant offload for our very much need first try. Worth much more than his admirable 37 tackles and 61 running metres shows. |
|
 |
17- Kenny EdwardsLock, Parramatta Eels Super performance and another strong hair game from the Kenny Bear. A good showing with 15 runs for 128 metres. |
|
Interchange
 |
14- Isaac De GoisInterchange, Parramatta Eels IDG came on to push Peatsy wider of the ruck right when we needed his energy against the giant Dogs pack. Worked hard for his 23 tackles. |
|
 |
15- Peni TerepoInterchange, Parramatta Eels Chris was so impressed he dubbed the Butcher the Eels’ best. Got back to his error free ways and runs like he’s shot from a cannon (12 of them for 116m). Keep it simple and error free Peni and I suspect you’ll continue to have a jersey to wear each time BA picks the team. |
|
 |
16- Danny WicksInterchange, Parramatta Eels A huge 44 minute performance from Wicksy – with 85 metres from his 12 hitups. With that said, I suspect his 29 tackles were more important to the victory, however. Limited by a head knock, but nonetheless a great game. Ps – You still owe me 50 bucks, Wicksy. |
|
 |
19- David GowerInterchange, Parramatta Eels Another tradesmanlike performance from Mr No-Nonsense himself. Made some tough hitups when the other forwards were blowing and we needed every one of his 87 metres. Anyone who doesn’t appreciate the value of such a contribution doesn’t know much about winning games of Rugby League. |
|
Photos courtesy of the Parramatta Eels.
Stats courtesy of Champion Data via the Sportsfan site.
do I sniff another hashtag becoming viral? #GetOnTheGuthBus
Another top article mate 🙂
on a serious note, 100% with you on the Bunker getting it right this week and doing exactly what the bunker is supposed to do. Amazing camera angles and shots to properly adjudicate on those potentially game changing moments.
This is why you were the man for this job mate. I would have just given everyone an A. Good analysis of everyone’s contributions. I agree with your assessment of Gutho.
You’re weak. Post Game Grades are only for the strong and mildly ridiculous.
So someone has finally said it re Junior. Is it illegal to induce him to break his contract with the Raiders? Surely it wouldn’t take much more to change his mind. And Ricky can hardly blow up about someone reneging on a contract can he…I wouldn’t mind making the phone call to break the news.
If you ask him and his family if they now wish he could stay, you’d be pleasantly surprised.
But it seems the horse has bolted. It’s not unheard of, but the money being offered is very, very generous.
I’ve got no dramas with Junior leaving for 2 years. He can get his 1.5 mill and then come back here for only 300k a season and be ready for Origin.
I remember that great side of 2001 and how I looked forward to David Solomona coming off the bench…Kenny Edwards is my new “love” in that sense albeit that he started but he never disappoints in his play or personality. Great analysis again and how good is it to see a blue and gold team enjoying their footy like these boys are. Loved seeing them having a frosty one after the game…just like me! Have to re-sign BA and Corey straight away.
Heck yes re the re-signings. We’re a completely different team if either of those two depart. Vital.
And if you’ve been reading these grades you’ll know how big a fan I am of the Kenny Bear.
Edwards just seems to love life, luckily for us part of it involves being in our team. That “off the park” team spirit, converts to “on the park” effort & commitment. A great contribution.
Love your work too Mitch.
Ha thanks mate. Always good chewing the fat after a game too mate.
As always, very fair grades Miatch.
Regardless of our results, I think you’re one the few Eels supporters who can accurately assess our players performances without bias or emotion affecting your perspective – I thoroughly enjoy reading your thoughts post-game.
Corey Norman and Takairangi were great, especially considering the circumstances, but like, I’m on Clint Gutherson for man-of-the-match. While Corey received the Channel 9 & VB honours, I’m sure when the players did their 3-2-1 that Captain America featured prominently.
I make it no secret that I have a high opinion of Clinton Gutherson, again not just because he’s my namesake, but the guy just keeps putting his hand up for the ‘donkey work’. It’s not the type of stuff that gets glorified or catches the headlines, but I think we’d be hard pressed to find a game where ‘Cap’ didn’t run for over 100m.
His line breaks and that try will obviously get him a little more respect from the wider Eels supporter base, but the thing that really caught my eye, particularly when he moved to fullback after Gordon went down was his general evasive work, his spacial awareness in returning the ball and just how fluent he looked linking into the backline movements (this was the big thing). We may very well see Flash & Cap switching it up more in the near future.
All-in-all though, a fantastic team effort. Our resolve and our mentality is first class – take a bow Brad Arthur and the Eels coaching staff, bravo.
Best game you’ve seen this year? Sixties had it in his Top 10 ever!
Reflecting back on the game it’s hard to disagree with him. At first I just thought it was just good to come away with the win. My judgement was initially a little clouded because I spent the match surrounded by a lot of Canterbury supporters who were crying foul over the referee decisions and I was empathizing with them a little.
However, at the risk of sounding a little too harsh, some of their supporters really need to take a ‘chill pill’.
There were quite a few sitting in front of my friend and I whose behaviour and reactions were just over-the-top and embarrassing. I understand that they represent a minority and not the whole supporter base, and that every team has supporters who are guilty of such conduct, but there’s no room for some of the behaviour I saw taking place in the upper stands at ANZ on Friday night.
Fact of the matter is that every team has poor decisions go against them at one point or another – some more than others, and some are compounding. Our coach says it best – “We have to be better than that”.
Poor referee decisions, injuries and the like aren’t ideal; and they make certain situations in games more challenging than they otherwise should be. However, our team no longer falls to these types of excuses and because we’ve developed that mentality within our squad, when presented with situations like Friday night’s game, we come away victors – that’s what’s so damn impressive, because it’s not normal to be like that.
It’s indicative of the complete mentality shift that’s taken place in our club and the type of team we now are. It’s why we can withstand the ‘drama’ that’s been circulating around the media the past few months.
And the even better thing about it? I’ve noticed this transition starting to take place across our supporter base too. The same fans who once cried wolf that “The refs are cheats!” when a penalty is awarded against us or we concede a try, are now becoming more impartial and objective in our own deficiencies, and recognize where there’s opportunity for us to improve – it’s wonderful to see!
Strong leadership can change lives and communities. The culture BA has cultivated isn’t just making a strong football team, it’s making a strong club right down to the supporters. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, get his signature on the dotted line immediately.
The man is a gift from above. Sign BA for life. Have it done yesterday.
Miatch, if you saw the look on Wick’s face when he was trying to have a crack at Klemmer at the end of the game, you’d be dropping that claim he owes you money!
Seriously Klemmer needs to get that frustration out of his game. It’s ridiculous.
Agreed Miatch, he would be an absolute world beater if he learned how to regulate his emotions better and channel it effectively.
Control is the difference between aggression being an asset and a liability. Klemmer seems to tread a fine line with it.
Mitch, you give Wicks a B- you will never get your $50-00 Great stuff mate.
I refuse to allow this dispute to resort to violence.
Maybe pistols at 10 paces.
Your ratings dont match the coaching staffs exactly but reasonable ,in your defence your not aware of what players are told to do or not to do BA does set individual goals for players and if they achieve them in the game thier rating is adjudged by that hence differennces in ratings but your close mate
Ha thanks mate. As an aside, my goal isn’t to match the coaching staff’s grades. I couldn’t – They each have much greater football smarts and knowledge than I do.
What I am trying to offer is simply my own personal grading, as a fan. I know the Daily Telegraph’s numerical system of grading player performances – some people prefer that format.
In any case you can probably tell how much I admire the coaching staff. BA is a deadset star. Parra needs to re-sign him immediately.
Prefer numbers but dont rate thier judgement better than yours ,theirs are bias yours are honest appraisals ,prefer that .
Ha I think I’m beginning to understand where you’re coming from a little more Grumpy. Appreciate the comment mate.
If we ever meet pre or post game I’ll buy you a beer.
As Mitch said in his comments, I thought Peni got us going in the second half. While can’t argue with Norman and Gutho as the two standouts, Peni ran hard, hit hard and made no errors. He averaged 12m per run. When you consider a few of those were off short balls for maybe 1m, his other runs were very effective. His game is simple. During the second half, Mitch and I were laughing that he only has to do four things – catch the ball, run hard and straight, play the ball without making a mistake and hit hard. He has an impact when he can do those things well.
Maybe Im a bit biased because against the Cowboys I said to my son that Peni is the most improved player at the Eels and he went on and had a shocker ! Made up for it this week and Grumpy I dare say the coaching staff challenged him accordingly.
I’ll be honest, he wasn’t anywhere near my top 17 before the trial, but apparently the coaching staff retrained his running style to improve his ball security.
Whether that’s true or not, something is very different about Peni’s game this season. As you’ve alluded to Chris – just need to keep it simple Peni