Eels 20 Bulldogs 4

Crowd: 12,137

In very trying conditions, the Eels chalked up victory number 13 and their 6^th on the trot as they disposed of a pretty poor Bulldogs outfit.

Who knows what the score could’ve ended up if it was dry track and if the Eels weren’t forced into some major player movement in the second half. The whole team dynamic,  especially the spine, was interrupted with the resting of Bevan French in the second stanza. But in saying that, it was totally the correct call from Brad Arthur. Mitchell Moses’ game management in the second dig was outstanding.

So let’s look at the stats that matter for Parramatta.

 

Score Flow

 

Parramatta Eels
H	Minute	Name	Event	Score
1	10	D.Alvaro	TRY	0 – 4
1	12	M.Moses	CONVERSION	0 – 6
1	25	B.French	TRY	0 – 10
1	26	M.Moses	CONVERSION	0 – 12
1	32	S.Radradra	TRY	0 – 16
1	33	M.Moses	CONVERSION MISS	0 – 16
2	51	M.Moses	PENALTY GOAL	0 – 18
2	59	M.Montoya	TRY	4 – 18
2	60	C.Stanley	CONVERSION MISS	4 – 18
2	80	M.Moses	PENALTY GOAL	4 – 20

	Team Stats
47	Possession (%)	53
26/37 (70)	Complete/Total Sets (%)	37/41 (90)
33:21	Time – Opposition Half	46:58
11:03	Time – Opposition 20	25:43
1806	Metres Gained	2306
8	Scrum Win	6
8	Goal Line Dropout	4
7	Penalty Conceded	7
0	Forty Twenty	0

These are absolutely outstanding figures from the Eels side. In fact, you could be forgiven for thinking that there wasn’t a drop of rain to be had.

But in very poor conditions and at times torrential rain, the Eels held the ball and completed their sets outstandingly.

This would have to be the best wet weather footy seen in quite a long time. Massive credit to the boys.

(Editor’s note – Forty sent a message to me during the match, “It is wet weather footy, right?” – Sixties)

 

1^st Half

 

	Team Stats
44	Possession (%)	56
13/19 (68)	Complete/Total Sets (%)	21/23 (91)
19:14	Time – Opposition Half	20:51
5:10	Time – Opposition 20	13:28
743	Metres Gained	1199
4	Scrum Win	2
5	Goal Line Dropout	1
4	Penalty Conceded	5
0	Forty Twenty	0

No doubt the game was set up in the first half by the Eels. The Eels suffocated Canterbury out of the game with repeat set after repeat set. The Dogs rarely seemed to threaten the Eels, a combination of their lack of enterprise and the Eels miserly defence. Even when they had decent territory they simply had no idea how to break a solid Eels defensive wall.

 

2^nd Half

 

	Team Stats
50	Possession (%)	50
13/18 (72)	Complete/Total Sets (%)	16/18 (89)
14:07	Time – Opposition Half	26:07
5:53	Time – Opposition 20	12:15
1063	Metres Gained	1107
4	Scrum Win	4
3	Goal Line Dropout	3
3	Penalty Conceded	2
0	Forty Twenty	0

As said earlier, if it was dry conditions the Eels could have put on a cricket score against the Dogs. But with the conditions and also the reshuffle of Corey Norman to fullback to rest Bevan French, you would say this nullified our strong attacking game which was prevalent in the first half.

What was very pleasing was how Moses game managed. Again repeat sets and great kicking from Mitch just gave the Bulldogs nothing to work with. They were made to work hard out of their half and their errors mounted. They were completely unable to get into the game at all.

 

Attack

 

Top 5 Runs
	Name	R
	N.Brown	18
	D.Klemmer	18
	K.Edwards	15
	K.Auva’a	15
	J.Graham	13
Top 5 Run Metres
	Name	RM
	D.Klemmer	173
	N.Brown	157
	B.Lee	154
	S.Matagi	125
	K.Edwards	124

Sometimes you do feel a bit sorry for some opposition players when they play their butts off but get little help. Klemmer played a great game for the Dogs but had little assistance what so ever. Maybe the talk was on the money that he wants out of the Dogs. Who knows?

Nathan Brown again plays a machine like performance for the Eels. Even after a HIA spell for 15 minutes, Browny again tops the Eels runs and run metres list. No shadow of a doubt that Nathan has been the buy of the season and deserves all the accolades (rather than the negative “grub” headlines) he is getting. He is showing what Brad Arthur saw in him.

In tough conditions, eight Eels ran for more than 100 metres. With only one back on this list, we can see the demands created for our pack by the wet weather.

Nathan Brown	157m
Suaia Matagi	125m
Kenny Edwards	124m
Kirisome Auva’a	117m
Siosaia Vave	117m
Daniel Alvaro	115m
Manu Ma’u	111m
Tim Mannah	101m

Line Breaks

Eels – 3

Bulldogs – 2

Run Metres

Eels – 1497m

Bulldogs – 1141m

 

Set Starts

(teams running left to right >>>>>)

Eels

Bulldogs

 

Quality field position for the Eels was created by superb game management. Line drop outs were forced and the Canterbury errors provided another nice platform. All this gave Parramatta superior field position and total game control.

 

Tries

 

Alvaro (10’)

French (25’)

Radradra (32’)

Hit Ups

 

Eels

Bulldogs

These two maps tell quite a story. The Eels played direct and kept it in the middle of the field due to the conditions. The Bulldogs on the other hand barely got any forward moment in the Eels half. It was total forward dominance from the Eels.

 

Kicks

 

The Eels kicking game was sensational against the Bulldogs.

Both Norman and Moses played to the conditions and kicked very well. Kicks were pin point accurate on the try line and kicks to touch were great to watch as they both executed near perfect game management.

Kicking Metres

Eels – 27 kicks for 808 metres

Bulldogs – 21 kicks for 665 metres

Corey Norman

Kick Metres – 8 kicks for 227 metres

Mitchell Moses

Kick Metres – 16 kicks for 469 metres

 

Defence

 

Top 5 Tackles
	Name	TAK
	C.King	46
	D.Klemmer	41
	A.Tolman	41
	J.Jackson	39
	M.Mbye	35
Top 5 Missed Tackles
	Name	MT
	J.Graham	4
	C.Norman	4
	C.King	3
	D.Klemmer	3
	M.Mbye	2

Well done to Cameron King. He has slotted in well replacing Kaysa for the remainder of the year. ‘Kingy’ has come a long way in a very short time. His first 1^st Grade game for the Eels a few weeks ago saw him struggle a little with the pace and he wasn’t really seen as an 80 minute player. But that has changed very quickly and now he’s at ease playing as the dominant dummy half, handling the 80 minute week in week out grind of NRL football.

	Tackles	Missed Tackles	Ineffective Tackles
Eels	299	19	14
Bulldogs	333	20	20

Discipline

 

Penalties Conceded

Eels – 7

Bulldogs – 7

Errors

Eels – 6

Bulldogs – 12

Another great performance for the Eels and no doubt that old band wagon will begin to fill as the season moves at a hectic pace to the finals.

Only thing I hated about last night is that it was last night. Meaning, we’ve now got nothing to look forward to, Eels wise, for another 7 days till we face the Knights next Friday night. (Editors note – looks like Colmac is another example of an Eels tragic who can’ never get too much Parra into their weekends.)

Although in saying that, that extra day gives our boys that much needed time to recover from any slight niggles and again be at 100% for the Knights clash.

I’m very much looking forward to another strong Eels performance against the Knights. With our for and against finally back in the positives, it becomes of greater focus as we begin jockeying for those crucial top spots. But in saying that, Brad Arthur will have the boys just taking it one game at a time which is how it should be.

 

STAT ATTACK PLAYER OF THE WEEK

 

 

DANIEL ALVARO

 

This week’s award could have gone to a few players, but I decided to go with the Polar Bear.

Daniel has been a favourite of mine for a few years now. He bided his time in the lower grades and had a break out season in 2016. In season 2017 he has been given more opportunity and hasn’t he taken it with both hands and given it his all.

Last night’s terrific solo try, carrying both Bulldogs front rowers with him, just showed Daniel’s effort and ability as a strong ball runner.

That’s Daniel’s game. Strong ball running. He isn’t trying to be a ball player like Aaron Woods. He gets the ball and hits the line with power and at speed.

Great display once again last night Daniel.

Possessions	16
Tries	1
Runs	13
Run Metres	115m
Line Breaks	1
Tackle Breaks	5
Tackles	28
Minutes Played	40

Alvaro’s Hit Ups

• Colmac

Stats courtesy of Champion Data. All these stats and more can be viewed on our match centre at http://mc.championdata.com/nrl/ including live game stats.

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