Parramatta Eels 20 – Newcastle Knights 18 
The Good: |
We won. Despite a bad-day-in-Bosnia like injury toll, we somehow ended up with more points than the Newcastle Knights at the end of 80 minutes. I’m still in disbelief. Our defensive resolve on our own line to start the second half was all time. |
The Bad: |
Oh my gosh. Would you like the list alphabetically? Our handling, our game management, our ability to avoid the sideline, the Knights out enthusing us all night. Yes, I know that wasn’t alphabetical.
Still, at the end of the day we managed to get the 2 points in very difficult circumstances against a side that refused to take a backward step. I’d prefer an ugly win over a pretty loss any day. |
The X-Factor: |
Injuries were borderline ridiculous – Foran, Taka (twice), De Gois, Wicks and Gower all had injury or HIA concerns at one point, with two of those not returning. In addition, the standard of refereeing was pretty poor tonight – I have no issue with a couple of the no held calls in defence (although I’m pretty sure Peni Terepo was off the ground before he was forced back in goal), but I do have a huge issue with Korbin Sims getting a penalty because he got upset with Beau Scott’s aggressiveness. The first 15 minutes of the second half was basically just repelling wave after wave of enemy attacks, and such decisions certainly made life more difficult. Let’s also talk about Taka running into the ref for the Knights’ third try. Later. |
The MVP: |
Special mention to Bevan French for basically saving the game for us and getting himself a wonderful try on debut. However, I’ll be giving MVP once again to the winger on the other side of the park. Semi was our best tonight and his charging runs in the middle of the park were better than any of our forwards. Just ridiculous. |
The Starters
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1- Michael GordonFullback, Parramatta Eels Did really well to save a couple of tries and score one of his own. A wonderful custodian, solid under the high ball and his kicking accuracy returned closer to form tonight. However, his lack of passing continues to be exposed. The 3 missed tackles and 3 errors did his grade no favours, either. I really like Gordon, but we’ll need more from fullback going forward. Thanks for your service Flash. Update – Flash is now staying. |
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3- Clinton GuthersonLeft Centre, Parramatta Eels From much maligned to universally admired – the Guthbus continues his Blue and Gold ascent with slick running, solid defence and an improved passing game. Looks like it’s either Bevan, Clinton or some other bloke for the Number 1 jersey in 2017 – I’d be happy with any of those options. Ran for over 100m from the centre position – he’s for real. |
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4- Brad TakairangiRight Centre, Parramatta Eels I thought he played really well until he did his hammy – put in another scarily accurate attacking bomb, created the French try with some magic cross field vision and was solid in defence to boot. Evidently needs to work on his referee awareness skills, however. |
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19 – Bevan FrenchRight Wing, Parramatta Eels Best Blue and Gold debut in a long time. A Magic 10 debut game (6 runs for 69 metres), a try, a try saver, and a line break makes for a classy stat sheet. Still, I’d like to see him go straight to fullback before our next game. Others might argue with me, but I thought he dodged a bullet a couple of times in defence and until he gets bigger, is probably a liability in that regard on the wing (see his 4 missed tackles). Still, a game changing debut from the young man. |
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6 – Corey NormanFive Eighth, Parramatta Eels Gee some Parra fans can be a fickle lot. Has had a lot asked of him this season with his halves partner mostly unavailable for the majority of games and/or preparation. Had a huge hand in almost everything good we did with the footy last night, in particular Semi’s try, and still found time to make 18 tackles. I still desperately hope he’s in Blue and Gold next season, but that’s me. I more so hope he learns from his mistakes. |
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7 – Kieran ForanHalfback, Parramatta Eels There’s a lot about Kieran that isn’t firing at the moment, but when he’s right Eels fans will remember why we were so ecstatic to nab him. He’s still a franchise player, he’s just hurting at the moment. |
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18- Daniel AlvaroProp, Parramatta Eels Thought it was his best game of the season tonight. 17 hit ups for 119 metres shows it was a tough slog but he was up for the fight. His defence was also very impressive (30 tackles without a miss). Will continue to grow into an NRL prop and soon enough his talent and body will match his heart. |
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9- Isaac De GoisHooker, Parramatta Eels Just continues to do his job for the team. We love the 43 tackles, but the 3 penalties hurt, particularly 2 early in the second half. |
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10- Danny WicksProp, Parramatta Eels A huge game with 163 metres from 18 hit ups – it felt like he was out there the whole game. Will no doubt be sitting down with Corey at some point and sharing some wisdom – just the kind of good bloke and team mate that he is. Another bloke I hope is around next season. Ps – You still owe me 50 bucks, Wicksy. |
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11- Manu MauBack Row, Parramatta Eels I hear Manu thought Saving Private Ryan was a comedy. A terrific Magic 10 game (12 hit ups for 127 metres) and a game changing offload for the Flash try. Was a deadset nuisance for the Knights defence all night and continues to run the ball like a runaway freight train. Don’t change, mate. |
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12- Beau Scott (c)Back Row, Parramatta Eels A solid captain’s knock in defence (38 tackles) and the slowest right foot sidestep you’ve ever seen for our first try. Henry Perenara and he had more conversations in 80 minutes than my wife and I have had for weeks – I hear they’re thinking of moving in together. Good luck to them. |
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13- Tepai MoreoaLock, Parramatta Eels That Korbin Sims hit would have ended my life, but Tep shook it off. A admirable 98 metres from his 12 hit ups, and only 1 miss from 19 tackles shows his development. The kid is still only 20 years old. |
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Interchange
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14- Kaysa PritchardInterchange, Parramatta Eels Huge fan of his work and energy, as are the Football Department. Will be kicking himself for the miss on Nathan Ross for the Knights 38th minute try, though. The other 21 tackles were hard fought, however. |
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15- Peni TerepoInterchange, Parramatta Eels When they work out the 6 runs for 51 metres, do they minus the 10 metres he got pushed back into the in goal? Not his best game and was kind of the poster boy for our potential forward pack issues next season. Appreciate the 26 tackles, but get the errors out of your game again Peni. |
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16- David GowerInterchange, Parramatta Eels A relatively pedestrian 48 metres from his 9 hit ups. Not his best game, but tends to work best from structure – something we couldn’t really provide without the ball and/or a tradition halves pairing. |
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17- Kenny EdwardsInterchange, Parramatta Eels Still holds the mantle as my favourite player and his game settling 98 metres from 9 hit ups, and 21 tackles tonight shows why. Constantly put his hand up when we needed a tough run from our own end and predictably made metres each time. The prototype continues to impress with another Magic 10 game. |
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Photos courtesy of the Parramatta Eels.
Stats courtesy of Champion Data via the Sportsfan site.
still can not believe we won last night \ gotta give the boys credit for the effort.
tho Beau Scott needs to be careful addressing the refs
also though Gordon’s C+ is a little harsh, thought he went alright
otherwise a good scorecard
keep up the good work boys.
thanks mate. I thought Gordon’s lack of passing shut down our options a couple of times. he’s an easy backline target atm and I think opposition coaches know it.
Miatch, good summary. I am not fan of Peni no hands Terepo & when I heard the call of being pushed back into the in goal that did it for me. The call said his feet had been lifted off the ground at the start of the push, evidently missed by the refs, who could have checked the bunker, but to me its poor form but being pushed back 10 metres is mind blowing, were there any other eels players in there helping to stop the push? I see too many other teams have their players push their mate down to complete the tackle in order to get on with it, both in defence & attack.
An ISP player only for mine.
yeah it was another one of Beau Scott’s beefs with Perenara – that there were Eels players with hands on his back. it was a tough call.
To be honest – Peni had a poor game last night. Then again, so did the refs IMO.
Beau Scott was into the refs all night & rightly so, What a disgusting display from the refs. Having said that, the adversity the Eels had to play under last night had them looking flustered on the field but to win a game like that says more than smashing the Knights in an easy game. I thought the Knights played brilliantly, they looked like world beaters but the resilient Eels held on. Injuries added to the poor calls from the refs really did test their mental strength but the BA Eels done us proud.
P.S. Whoever takes over the Eels board, Brad Arthur MUST be kept at the club.
Well said Jim. Long live King Arthur.
Was just saying to a mate, now that I know we win the game, I might re-watch it. It was apparently a very entertaining contest.
I didn’t really enjoy it/breathe until it was over.
It was evident when Alvaro and Wicks were off the field last night. Wicks in the past 2 weeks has been a beast on and off the ball. These 2 + Mannah will be a good start to our prop rotation just need something more.
For those who have not seen the news have a look at the Wentworthville news & side for the coming W.E game. A look to the future perhaps
http://www.1eyedeel.com/forum/topics/big-changes-in-wenty-team-under-new-coach
Looking at a couple of options for 2017.
The match said more about our resilience than anything else. No props bent the line tonight. We had forwards playing as backs. The early possession run in the second half hammered us, yet we still got the win. Just have to eek out as many as we can from here on in.
Exactly. Dreadful for the heart, but the result was good for the soul.
Imagine if we lost … Actually, don’t.
I thought it was a good win for us under all of the circumstances already outlined here. That second half defence was sensational. The sort of stuff we were doing earlier in the year. Still see game management as an issue although having said that Foran was off early. Also I thought Foran ran a lot more than he has so far this year in this game.
I recorded the game and I am looking forward to watching it again. As an aside I was baby sitting on Monday with my wife so I went to the local club to watch the game. There were only 2 Eels fans in the club, me and another guy who had clearly given up at half time. When the Eels scored or did something positive 2 of us went up. When the Knights scored or did something positive the whole club went up. As Eels fans we do not have any freinds out there at the moment.
hey – at least we won this one.
To me Miatch that was one of the gutsiest wins we have had; we could have turned it up but not with Scott and BA in charge.
I thought some of the refs calls were diabolical; Mau got penalised for running off the ball from a kick; BUT later on Newcastle did the same and NOT a thing. Either police this or not; and Melb are kings of this for their short wingers.
Gutsy win and we are a small pack now and this almost got us. Great try saving effort in the last few mins was special.
we needed one of those on our side, I can’t remember the last time the last 5 minutes were kind to us.
The coaching staff thought it was our guttsiest win of season , yep its going to be hard from here on in but so long as we just keep turning up with 100% effort i will accept the losses with the wins like all real “supporters ” do . Pretty much agreed with assesments to except goissy ,1 penalty was bull the face rub ,saw about a dozen of them from simms boys alone , coaching staff thought goissys im not copping this attitude was infectious and inspiring
He is a tough little rooster IDG
I can see that point of view, it was just a series of unfortunate penalties in the scheme of the game. no problem with IDG, although I wonder what role he’ll play in 2017.
I probably also should have made note of that pass from the scrum base.
ha, glad our assessments are starting to line up more Grumpy.