As the old saying in rugby league goes, a week is a long time.

Our Parramatta boys came crashing down to earth against an under strength Titans side last night, in what was one of the most frustrating performances under Brad Arthur’s tenure as Eels Head Coach.

Not because the Titans were so good or because we underestimated them, but because we started trying to take shortcuts and deviated away from what was working so incredibly well for us the opening two rounds.

In the opening 20 minutes the blue and gold raced to a 12-0 lead, and we proved that we don’t necessarily need Corey Norman in our side. Some crisp ball movement and following some excellent direct play from our forwards had the Titans on the back foot early and I honestly believe had we scored another converted try, the game would have fallen safely our way.

The 60 minutes that followed was a Parramatta team akin to those of years prior, trying to take shortcuts by finessing their way around the opposition with trick plays. It resulted in incomplete sets, mistake-riddled footy and the Titans with the weight of field position eventually got on the board, albeit with some fortuitous kicks, and ran away with a 12 point victory. This 60 minutes proved how valuable Corey Norman is to our side. Not because we needed him to produce big plays, but because we needed his controlled performance. To redirect the play down the middle third. To kick for space and play the game down the Titans end of the field.

No doubt that if we played that way for the 60 minutes that followed, we would have run up a decent score. But our lack of control and patience cost us, and this is why Corey Norman is so valuable.

It also proved the value of having a middle forward leader. When Tim Mannah, Suaia Matagi and Beau Scott were on the field, we looked like world beaters. When our interchange came on and some players were re-positioned, we looked to take short cuts.

Key contributor: Suaia Matagi has started all games on the front-foot for the Eels in 2017

It’s why I very much looked forward to the inclusion of Siosaia Vave on the bench today, who’ll be making his Eels debut. If anyone had seen his performances for Manly last year, you’d know that he provided them with real metres, a timely offload from the bench and some ball playing ability. Even though he’ll likely play some reduced minutes after returning from injury, he’ll replicate the efforts of Matagi when he’s off the field. Similarly, he’s a very vocal player and one of the leaders on the training paddock, helping keep the boys accountable.

When your starters come off for a spell and the interchange players enter the game, you don’t want to lose the leadership and composure those players provide. When they re-enter the frame, there’s every chance momentum has changed and it’s much harder to get back than it is to maintain. It’s why over the coming weeks when the likes of Kenny Edwards, Peni Terepo and Isaac De Gois come back into the frame for First Grade selection, that we’ll realise why they’re such integral parts of Brad Arthur’s game plan. They maintain Brad Arthur’s standards and allow the team to build on the platform of the starters.

This is what we missed from our performance against the Titans. Sure, most people will attribute it to Corey’s absence and that’s not necessarily the wrong thing to do, but it shifts responsibility away from the players who were there and were in control of their performances and allowed a 12-0 lead to slip, when they had momentum.

That’s why when I hear Brad Arthur mention that “the boys were a bit sheepish” when they returned to training, I’m thoroughly happy.

There’s some slight chinks in our armour still and I hope this loss serves as a message to the squad that no matter how good you’re going, at no point can you afford to take shortcuts. Club Captain Tim Mannah summated it beautifully when he said “It’s an opportunity lost”.

Now compare that with this evening’s game.

Tonight we face the reigning premiers at our temporary and first home game of the season. When you’re the reigning premiers, everyone is switched on to play you. You’re the hunted as opposed to the hunter – and that’s exactly what we’ll have to do tonight to beat the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks.

For us to take down the premiers tonight, there will have to be an all-mighty change in attitude. You don’t win the title by taking shortcuts and our boys know a replicated effort of the Titans match will result in us being on the end of an ugly score line.

This is why I reference the leadership of our forwards and bench players.

Cronulla themselves like to play it through the middle and we have to beat them at their own game. The only way we do that is with leadership from our big boys. We know that Corey will manage the rest, but our middle men are so vital to a victory tonight, both those who start and those from the interchange bench.

Return: Eels half, Corey Norman, returns from injury tonight

So with that said, let’s see how we have to manage this Cronulla side to come away with the two points.

Jack Bird: The current Sharks fullback has been making a lot of headlines recently, mainly because the premiership winning state-of-origin player is off-contract and we’re supposedly one of the suitors for his services for next year and beyond. Bird is an out-and-out rugby league player who plays the game with tenacity, aggression and purpose. Throw on top of that he has some very nice skills to his game. His running game is his greatest asset and if we give him room to move with options, be it from kick returns or in backline movements, he’ll make us pay, as he has a knack for being one of those players who just chooses the right options. Our right edge defence will have to be particularly on notice for any second-man plays that come down their side. The Titans showed last week that there were opportunities to be taken there and someone with Bird’s class will more than likely take them. If we keep his involvement to a minimum, it’ll go a long way to winning.

Sosaia Feki & Valentine Holmes: The two Cronulla edge men are very dangerous. They know how to finish off backline movements and they get the Cronulla sets started on the right foot with tremendous kick return and post-contact metres. Our kicking game tonight will have to be on-song and this is why the return of Corey Norman is so vital to the Eels side. Poor kicks will be punished by these two and the Cronulla forwards will march down the field on the ensuing plays. However a polished and deliberate kicking game will nullify their best strengths. Similarly, we have to show these guys the sideline with any attacking raids down the flanks. If they want to score against us, they’re going to have to produce the miracle plays – nothing cheap back on the inside!

Another try: Sosaia Feki has made a habit of scoring crucial tries against the Eels in recent years

James Maloney & Chad Townsend: The halves of any team are going to feature in an opposition analysis and it’s important that we don’t discredit the value Chad Townsend has to this Cronulla team. We all know that James Maloney can produce with the ball in hand and often does when his forwards are rolling over the advantage line. Additional to that he’s a great general play kicker of the ball and he’s just the type of player you have to pressure into having less time to execute. That extra second or two goes a long way. As such, many teams focus all their efforts on Maloney and not as much effort towards Townsend. I’ve lost count the amount of times I’ve seen a Sharks or Warriors game where Townsend has thrown a big dummy and sliced through. It’s endless and our outside defence has to be very vigilant here. Particularly given that Townsend generally utilizes this play on the right edge and will be coming up against Frank Pritchard, who is starting for the first time tonight in the Blue & Gold. The men inside and outside of Frank will have to work as one to prevent this.

Andrew Fifita & Paul Gallen: I’ve grouped these two guys together because they’re the real metre eaters of their side. They do the hard yards and you know they’re good for 100+ metres a game. The important thing for us is how many metres they’re averaging per hit up. They’ll always produce a 100+ metre game but we want to ensure that they’re not hitting those numbers until after hit up 15, as opposed to hit up number 8. If we reproduce the line speed of the opening two rounds, I have no doubt we can do the latter, but we have to be consistent with it and ensure that we’re wrapping the ball up in every tackle.

Put him down: Limiting the metres per run and offload of Andrew Fifita will be vital to an Eels victory

Luke Lewis & Wade Graham: With our backrow taking on a slightly different look this week due to the Tepai Moeroa suspension, the impact of Lewis & Graham could become significantly bigger. Both are seasoned, representative players and Graham in particular is in great form. With the capability of ball-playing and setting up tries on their own, it’s just as important that our line speed on the fringes is as effective as it is in the middle. Inside defenders will have to work hard to ensure that any opportunities against a retreating defensive line are quickly extinguished. So too will the first contact on these players, as their ability to break the tackle with a fend or a hit-and-spin, are very effective.

Jayden Brailey & James Segeyaro: 2016 U/20s player of the year, Jayden Brailey, has had a very respectable start to his NRL career. I have no doubt over the course of time that he will develop into one of the better hookers in the NRL competition. However, as of this moment, he is still a three-game NRL player and his inexperience has to be taken advantage of. As the focal point of ruck the hooker is vital to each play being started on the front foot and if we can get under the skin of Brailey, we can stifle the Sharks attacking structures from the on-set and afford our defensive line that extra second or two it may not otherwise have. Given what I’ve seen, Brailey will likely have the temperament to manage this, but it’s always useful to get inside the head of a youngster in a key role. The likely inclusion of James Segeyaro also means the Sharks attack can take on a different dimension. If he takes his place in the side tonight, Segeyaro could provide that little bit of spark from the bench the Sharks need. Strong marker defence is imperative against Segeyaro, but throwing some bigger bodies his way defensively could nullify this.

Ruffle his feathers: Jayden Brailey is a crucial piece to the Sharks attack

Every team gets up for the reigning premiers, and it’s important that we follow suit and put the Sharks under the pressure that’s deserved with holding that title.

A complete display from our forwards is what’s going to get us over the line, as to will the home ground advantage. In our first outing at our temporary home of ANZ Stadium, I’d love to see a sea of blue and gold filled across the lower bowl along the level one concourse. With more seating and amenities for days, there’s no reason why we all can’t get out there. Particularly given the free public transportation services announced by the club earlier this week!

Let’s make our voices heard this evening Eels supporters. Let’s give our forwards the encouragement to produce repeat efforts and the space Corey Norman needs to do his thing. If we beat Cronulla in the middle, we beat Cronulla on the scoreboard, so nothing less than a complete performance from our big men will suffice.

Repeat sets and kicking for field position will ultimately undo Cronulla and with the return of our maestro, I have every bit of confidence in our ability to do so with sustained effort. However, failure to do so will swing the other way for the likes of Bird, Maloney and Townsend.

After the performance against the Titans last week, tonight is a real opportunity for our leaders to stand up. We have no greater stage than our first home game against the reigning premiers to do so, so let’s get out there and get behind our big men this evening!

Clint

All images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels, NRL.com and Getty Images.

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