How does a team re-group after a loss? It’s only the first round, but after the Eels big pre-season, and an impressive trial win over the Knights, dropping the Premiership points against the Panthers was an unexpected result.
Letting the match slide after leading by 14 points rubbed even more salt into the wounds.
This week I was particularly keen to see how the squad would respond to their disappointing start to the season.
Aside from the skills work on display, I wanted to pay attention to the team’s attitude. I didn’t want to witness much in the way of laughter or banter. However, I did want to hear plenty of talk in both the drills and the opposed work. From my perspective this would indicate a team smarting after the loss, but at the same time attacking their preparations with a positive attitude.
Now that the season has begun, recovery days are incorporated into the schedule. This week, Wednesday and Thursday have been the only field session days as the squad prepared for their clash with Manly. It was interesting to see that the team had to be named before any field sessions had taken place. Then again, I wasn’t expecting any change to the 21 listed last week.
Flying above the pack
There’s certainly been no rest for the coaching staff. After the video sessions identified particular effort areas that the team needs to address, the field work set about re-establishing the standards that the coaches are looking for – from individuals and from the team.
Wednesday featured plenty of fast, opposed football. The contact was limited to bump pads and it appeared as if attacking cohesion was a primary focus.
The Wednesday session concluded with individual skills, including goal kicking practice. Working with Damien Hill, Mitch Moses struck the ball well from a range of positions.
Thursday began with a set of drills inside a grid, then specific forwards and backs coaching, before launching into a big opposed session under the control of NRL referees. Unlike the touch and bump pad work of Wednesday, there were some decent collisions throughout this session.
BA left no doubt about his expectations.
Obviously, there will be limitations on what I will report. As the team works through specific match preparations, providing the slightest suggestion about set plays or team selections/roles would be counter intuitive for an Eels supporter site. There’s plenty that I could never report. However, there are some observations that Eels fans would like to know:
* The NRL boys were incredibly focussed. Plenty of talk in both attack and defence. This was the key feature that I was looking for.
* Jarryd Hayne, when he’s in the zone, is something to behold. He makes the difficult look ridiculously easy. He provided moments like that this week.
* Bevan French reminded everyone of his skill set in a number of plays.
* Danny Alvaro nailed a long distance, angled field goal, much to the delight of skills coach, Joey Grima. Little wonder the Eels wasted no time in extending Polar’s contract.
* Brad Arthur was very vocal, reminding players of effort areas and spending time with individual players.
* Nathan Cayless did some work with the Wenty players before leaving. His full squad have to come together outside of Saleyards as the Magpies team contains part-time players.
* Our thanks to Murf and Joey for their time this week. Much appreciated fellas!
Matches aren’t won on the training paddock, but the work towards the win begins there. Parramatta have prepared well this week.
Taking on Manly at their home ground is never an easy proposition. Under Barrett, Manly defend tenaciously and pride themselves on staying in the contest.
The Eels will need to be at their best and they will need to find more moments of effort on effort. There can be no less than that in the NRL.
They know what they need to do. It’s time to execute.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Thanks Sixties, before I get into it. Who is Damien Hill when he is not a goal kicking coach?
Having put on their serious attitude heads is something we needed and are pleased to hear. I believe this game will be a defining moment in our season. A big statement, but clearly one that the players would know BA expects if we are to live up to their own pre-season expectations of themselves.
Having watched many disappointing games at Brooky over the years, I’ve noticed a complete turnaround since BA arrived at the helm. He will expect us to compete and consequently win!
I believe BA will have the whole believing it too.
Manly will be thinking they can intimidate and physically dominate us after our effort last week. We will be up for this game I reckon we will belt Manly on-field and on the scoreboard.
I have confidence in BA and the boys, but I was oddly impressed by Manly in a match where Barrett had a lot to answer for. Only using 15 players in a match that went to golden point. Crazy.
Having watched the game from afar I thought Parra were brilliant until Penrith scored that first try.
After half-time the intensity certainly dropped but, it seems Parra were forever chasing the ball. Penrith just put it together in the second half and Parra lost respect for the ball. That second try Hayne did really well to prevent it but, where were Parra’s big men.
Penrith always lift an extra ten percent against Parra. In the first half any other top side would have been a lot further in front.
Penrith scored when Parra were down to just 12 men and, the last try Norman was down injured and Moses off that was always going to be a scoring opportunity against eleven defenders.
I think Penrith got away with that one and the temperature did not help. I thought Brad Arthur erred with Matagi, I think Will Smith would have been a better choice due to his fitness and speed in the hot conditions. Who is the clever man to insist they play in the heat of the day.
Manly will be a tough one but, Parra has the team to beat them. And, will someone give Norman some goal kicking tips.
And, finally when will someone from Parra’s pack protect Moses?
I think Parra did a great job with the forwards and Jenko helping Moses last year.
I agree 100% about the match scheduling!
Afternoon football in March is a massive risk. Putting it on at Penrith was insane!
What happened to drinks breaks?
Also, the conditions for fans at Penrith were atrocious.
The majority of fans were exposed to the sun throughout the afternoon.
The catering outlets ran out of cold drinks on the Eastern side just after the conclusion of the Jersey Flegg.
I’m worried for the eels this week.
I think that by the time the Sea Eagles are finished with us, we’ll be walking out of Brooky like a mud crab with haemorrhoids.
I am hoping that this is not the case.
Have faith Grunta. I reckon we’ll muscle up better.
There was a distinct lack of talk on the field last week. It’d be nice to see the chat come back and keep our defence tight.
We looked and played like a group of individuals in that second half last week. Need to defend as a unit.
Very hot again this week. Lets hope last weeks fade out was attitude and not fitness.
I hope Corey also practiced his goal kicking. He has to be better than last weeks dismal effort.
Loss of momentum and possession in the second half didn’t help. The boys are fit.
Thanks Sixties, well put together. The effort as we say needs to be for 80 mins. Game in game out. I know this is obvious but games like last week are frustrating to watch. My hope was that we can become an 80 min team every week. Hope we can.
Last year we had some issues in the last 15 to 20 minutes. The entire second half was poor on Sunday. They’ll lift this week. There were some hard truths delivered this week.
Thanks as usual 60’s for the report. I would gather that the players would have other sessions than just these two field sessions in preparation for Sunday – captains run?
That 2nd half downturn is a sad repeat of games last year, although it was more often in the mid point of the games, with the team usually lifting more in the last 1/4, that is something I hope is rectified this year, and seems to indicate that when the bench players come on is when the drop off happens. Would like to know your thoughts on that as I am not really at games and have to rely on the box.
The big thing for me though is that need of controlling the ball along with playing team football and to read the oppositions play, both defence and in attack, but gee that’s a gimme really. Also those penalties are creating problems.
In the first half, The refs seemed ok in their rulings but gee that second half was like the days of old.
Col in the first half we got thru our sets. the second half we didn’t. I think the writing was on the wall when Evans thru the pass to Matagi. That seemed to set the tone.
I know that sounds simplistic but I saw it again last night from the Sharks in the second half. I believe that we will see an improved showing on the weekend
Col, that second half was like a group of individuals, rather than putting in effort as a team.
I’m concerned by the penalty situation, more so the penalties we don’t get.
Mate those two areas are my big issue with that game, and the sorrow of it is that it was something we mentioned last year at specific times. We had to wait 4 games last year before the slide down, and then the pick up came. I am concerned that it has happened this early but, hopefully it will mean that we can play the whole season without some huge drop like we had at Penrith.
I echo those Col, but am holding firm with the faith; bit like George Michael had Faith in the 80’s…..
I’m confident of the bounce back.
The Broncos are a prime example. They were poor in their defensive commitment last week, but tonight that commitment saved the match.
Exactly.
Who would have tipped the Broncos after their very poor performance last week? I know I didn’t!
Hoping that the eels have a similar turn around vs Manly. At least the eels were on fire for thirty minutes. Geez the Broncos were ordinary.
60s you have the honest our bench us a weakness. Kane Evans is no first grader. What are your thoughts?
Our bench did not perform well last week. With a number of players such as Kenny Edwards, Will Smith, David Gower, Tony Williams and Peni Terepo either not making the cut or being unavailable, the bench will need to lift.