Round 2 Drink Of Choice – N/A
I wish I could say that the less spoken about that atrocity the better but there are several important issues that we need to confront following today’s outright capitulation against Manly and the second half collapse to the Penrith Panthers in Round 1. By no means is the season over after just two rounds but the Eels need to rediscover exactly what sort of football team they are – and swiftly, mind you, as they play host to a desperate Cronulla Sharks outfit in Round 3.
Football amnesia?
The buzzing glow of 2017 wasn’t so long ago, heck the brilliant trial win against the Newcastle Knights is only a month removed…so what exactly has happened to the Eels in that span of time? Gone is the physical and bruising defence that laid the tone for every week, no longer are our forwards ruggedly competing in the ruck against more fancied packs. Possession and completion rates are frighteningly low and above all, the steely edge that galvanised the team to a Top 4 berth just last year is completely absent.
I could list a raft of mitigating factors to try and dull the edge of the two first up losses. Extreme heat, bad luck with HIA, back-to-back away games and so on but the simple truth is that none of them ring true. The Eels need to get back to basics in a big way if they are to recapture the expansive brand of smash-mouth rugby league they employed to great success in 2017.
Above all they need to rediscover their gritty edge in defence after conceding a frankly embarrassing 78 unanswered points in the last 130 minutes of play. Paradoxically, just as the Newcastle trial wasn’t that long ago – a week in the NRL can be a long, long time so let’s hope that the Eels find the spark they desperately need.
Injuries – both new and recovered – leave more questions than answers
With Cameron King, Brad Takairangi and Tepai Moeroa all succumbing to head knocks of various degrees the Eels face a tense wait for the results of the concussion protocol. Throw into the mix the scheduled returns of Peni Terepo and hopefully Kenny Edwards and Brad Arthur will need to carefully sift through all the personnel options at hand as he plots the downfall of the Sharks next week.
While King was capably deputised by Will Smith today, the loss of Moeroa would be a hefty blow with the young backrower one of the few genuine positives in today’s brutal shutout. Regardless of his short term availability it does feel like that Eels will need to consider expanding the role of Moeroa after firming as the most impactful forward for the Blue & Gold over the first two rounds.
If fit it will be hard to deny Terepo and Edwards berths on the interchange bench. Kane Evans and Suaia Matagi have struggled for impact and consistency in the opening weeks and it certainly feels like a significant portion of Parramatta’s critical issues stem from both offensive an defensive lapses in the ruck. Yet neither will provide the silver bullet solution for the Eels – only effort upon effort from the entire roster will dig them out of this nasty hole they made for themselves.
Stay the course
It is an understatement to say that these opening rounds have been a trying time for all fans of the Blue & Gold. However, it is worth remembering that the Eels weathered a particularly nasty four loss streak from Round 3 to Round 6 last year and bounced back from the ugly 48-10 thumping from the Roosters in Round 10. Adversity is no stranger to the Eels in recent years and more often than not they have found ways to over come trying circumstances. There are plenty of confronting questions for our team to answer in the coming week or two, both externally and internally, but there is good reason to have faith in Brad Arthur has and his charges.
So as I always suggest, be critical but constructive when you evaluate what is happening on and off the field at Parramatta. God knows there are plenty of negatives to break down and evaluate from the first two rounds but histrionic behaviour helps no one, least of all when there is a very real discussion to be had about where the Eels have misstepped.
So hit me up and tell me where you think Parramatta have erred in the losses to Penrith and Manly. Is it as simple as effort and attitude like I spelled out above or is there a more technical malaise impacting the team at the moment?
Last week I was chuffed to announce the partnership between Whisky Musings and SportFirst Nambucca and this week I have a little plug for this gorgeous little throwback.
The 1986 strip is one of the most beloved jerseys in the storied history of the Eels so be sure to grab one while the limited run of the heritage jersey lasts. Don’t forget to use the code TCT either for a nifty little 10% off!
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Photos courtesy of the Parramatta Eels. Stats courtesy of Champion Data.
Stop reading this and go buy something from SportFirst – Nambucca.
40’s its totally unfathomable as to how the eels have played in two games, first half last week was tops until Penrith scored, that was our Achilles heel in that game. Seems that they do ok until a try is scored against them and they all drop their bundles.
I was never much of a fan of Evans and can no understand why the chooks made no effort to keep him. Brown and Ma’u are both being contained by the opposition defence when compared to last year. Neither seem to be able to break the line this year, with Brown trying to run an angle too much and today he slipped as he was running making him an easy target.
There needs to be some real soul searching done by them all. Is the new training and conditioning working the way it is meant to as some were down on their haunches sucking in the air while it was not evident in the opposition players.
Wholesale sacking will not achieve any real benefits, but there needs to be some in the forwards, bring in some younger players, Marata, and Stone as starters. Even Pritchard back ant 9 with Smith at 14.
If Scott is ok then he should start, with Edwards, if ok on the bench. Today I though Mannah and Alvaro tried but, needed more from them as well. Trouble is Vave was picked for Wenty and how he went may mean he could be a better option than Matagi off the bench as the big player.
Today’s game was the first time since the 2001 Grand final that I couldn’t sit through the whole embarrassing mess. At 24 nil I just said enough is enough and went and walked the dog.
We are definitely a big blockbusting prop short, our backrowers provide very little punch on the edges and our defence has been diabolical. We can’t slow the play the ball and when we do we get penalised.
Seriously I don’t know how any of the players can look BA in the eye after today. Pathetic!
-Takairangi doesnt offer enough on that edge by ballplaying to sacrifice the new and improved Tepai’s impact as a runner.
-Bevan French is a great support player but offers little or nothing on a sweep play, often shutting things down with indecision.
-Hayne’s a defensive liability next to another liability in Moses next to another liability in Takairangi. They exploited that thoroughly.
-Norman should be running the show with his kicking game when we are under the pump but he disappeared completely.
-Our middle has gone from suprise powerhouse to a shambles without explanation.
I doubt very much BA will throw out his pre season plans but i feel like Manly just showed how exploitable our weaknesses are and its going to be a long season if we dont go back to what was working.
Hayne or Will Smith to the fullback position, with Bevan going back to the wing where he has consistently performed. Hayne can swap with French or Hoffman if he gets too tired on D.
Takairangi returns to left centre where he has performed consistently.
Moeroa retakes his edge runner role where he can use his agility more than in the middle.
Edwards and Terepo essential additions.
Auvaa dropped, Evans dropped.
Insightful reading mate, thanks for sharing. I find it hard to disagree with much of anything there.
The raft of short term injuries make it difficult to pinpoint exactly what changes we can make but I wouldn’t be against a minor injection of fresh blood in the form of Marata Niukore.
It felt like we were desperately playing laterally despite having no control in the middle and we all know that rarely ends well. Worse still we threw no wrinkles in our edge structures so Manly just ate up all the back line movements.
Ultimately though it feels like the team just need to roll up their sleeves. They are shirking the basics and paying a hefty toll for it. Games are invariably won in the trenches and when you bleed 7 or 8 tries within 5m of the uprights you know you aren’t fronting up in defence.
In a tough competition, away points are golden. Yesterday’s performance was lack lustre, and as fans we’re understandably upset.
I can’t help but think a few more signatures are needed at the bottom of contracts to sort out the commitment levels across the team.
There’s always next week. With that kind of performance in the log-book I think we’ll be saying “there’s always next year” the third week in the finals though.
We are way to predictable one out runs then sweep play 2decoys foir winger all sideways no one straightens the attack to keep the defense guessing.
We are 2 small and crumble under the size off the opposition and as a group seem mentally soft as soon as the oppression get momentum we crumble this is a culture issue.
I know its not a popular opinion but if things don’t improve heads should roll
Problems, size well lack of it. Manly had it all over us in size in the forwards and you would think under the conditions that we being a bit smaller would handle them better but we didn’t handle that at all.
Fitness, we look like we have no stamina, I know the first two game have been played in very hot conditions but it was to same for both sides and we didn’t handle it well both weeks. We look short of a gallop, we only played one trial is that affecting our match fitness or is it the new trainer?
Not paying as a team and complete lack of putting the body on the line in defence.
Defence is our biggest issue, it was softer than soft yesterday, we didn’t defend as a team and didn’t win the ruck.
The is big problems with defence and defence is aligned with attitude.
Have we been reading the press in th pre-season? Looks like some players are looking to far ahead and not at what’s in the front of them.
All those issues needed to be worked out and fixed by the coaching staff. First the players have except responsibility for their efforts and they can fix them.
Sharks are playing wel themselves but at least they are putting in in defence.
Size is definitely an issue for our pack – and I dare say it is something identified by the football staff, although perhaps it hasn’t been addressed as aggressively as needed. With that said, the Eels were regularly able to compete with far more fancied packs in 2017 on the back of aggressive defence and tireless work rate through the middle. By contrast the effort just hasn’t been there in the opening two rounds.
Fitness is a hard one to gauge I reckon. I can definitely see why fans would think we are short of a gallop – and that might very well be true – but our collapses in both rounds have come on the back of disgustingly one-sided possession rates. We had 33% of the ball in the first half yesterday and just 10min of possession in the second half against Penrith. That doesn’t excuse the magnitude of the capitulations and it certainly points to issues with effort and discipline but it also conflates figuring out just how fit the team is. There should be no heat excuses this week at least with the Saturday night time slot.
I am 100% with you on the defence matter. It really underlines all of our struggles at the moment and started the rot in both games. The effort, attitude and application just isn’t there at the moment and the responsibility falls on both the players and the coaches to rectify it.
Forties, those same forwards did ok against opposition packs last year, the difference to me is they must have had heart transplants or something in the off season.
As you point out regarding possession, it seems as if they do not want it, and more scared of getting hurt if they run hard against the opposition.
I cannot fathom how a team that is basically the same that got us into the finals last year has played the way they have. I hate to use the word and ask the question but!
Is there dissension in the camp? I think this was raised last year and was poo pooed away, but I really have to wonder about it now.
Its easy to raise questions about dissension, but I understand your thinking. I can only offer my observations from the sideline at training – I see zero evidence of it.
I know what you are saying mate and have to basically agree. Thing is to me, sometimes a cancer is not spotted or considered benign before its too late.
Like many I have no worries if the eels lose a game here or there, as long as they have dug in and tried to do their best, when they all put in and are beaten by better teams, it usually shows with the scoreline not being huge, and the team can still be applauded for effort as they come off the ground, at half time and full time.
I hate it when I hear teams being booed off the ground owing to lack of effort, had yesterday’s match been an eels home game, I would not have liked to have witnessed nor heard the reaction at full time, if there were any eels supporters left by then.
There’s nothing worse than watching a match and seeing supporters heading for the gates early after giving up on the team. Surely if that happened yesterday it would have been something the players noticed and be affected by. I hope todays training sessions may reveal what the problem is, and fixed, within house.
Arthur explained it after the Penrith game – we need to ‘frontload our effort’. What this means is go hard despite the heat, and put pressure on the opposition. What we have been doing instead is trying to conserve energy by not defending with aggression, but this has still fatigued us because then we are constantly jogging back onside.
Once we’re fatigued our attack falls apart too because we have no bodies in motion. Everyone runs one out and gets gang tackled.
I agree completely Pou. As a result of that lack of aggression in D the team was under the pump from the start. At one point about the 20 minute mark, Ch 9 flashed up the possession and it was 84% Manly and 16% Eels. It does not matter how well the conditioning is in the off season they are never going to survive that much defensive load
Im concerned it is as much technique as it is attitude when it comes to defence. Our guys seem to have to work twice as hard to maintain the ruck let alone win it. I personally dont believe its a size issue. Look at The Tigpies recently for example. We are poor in the wrestle and allow too much latitude for offloads. We are yet to find the magic when it comes to slowing the ruck legally. All this adds to fatigue. Other teams tackle the ball as much as the player. We seem well short in this regard.
Im concerned we are well behind others with regard to how we defend. To get a great defensive result appears totally exhausting to our team. As such when the opposition lifts we cant go with them.
Im also of the belief that opposition teams may well have worked us out. Gus for one sounded like he knew exactly how to pressure Parra as did DCE prior to yesterdays game.
Its a scarey thought for future games actually.
Forty i did not watch the 2nd half yesterday, but to me its about effort and also leadership. I would have thought yesterday we would hold their pack early, turn them around in the heat (us with more mobile players) and go from there. But suffice it did not occur.
I have no idea about fitness, and only saw two sessions in the off season where i thought the training looked v good. It has to be about effort. I do think the Wenty game also has some people concerned as they got flogged and who do we bring up after that?
I never thought we would be flogged like we were yesterday and its hard to fathom….
Jennings back to right side, French and Hayne interchange on wing/fullback, Evans, Taka, Matagi gone.
Scott and Edwatds back, give Nickcori (spell) a chance in the centres.
Hayne is a fullback or winger, he is defensively a liability in the centres and his ball playing skills are wasted.
Difficult to argue Poppa, but Marata is a forward even though he’s filled in at centre at training. I’d like to see him blooded but off the bench as a forward.
Absolutely agree. We need some young enthusiasm. Cant hurt.
Interesting non choice of drink Forty.
I couldn’t decide between the metho or kero last night so I got out the battery acid instead.
Our main issues are that we miss the enthusiasm and drive of youth. It was frankly too hot for some of the older statesmen in the team and it spread like the plague.
Hayne is about 10 kgs too heavy and should be moved to fullback. Jenko back to the other side.
It’s time we made a call on taka and bought a young centre in to partner Jenko.
Surely we have someone in the lower grades who can play centre?
We need the enthusiasm of either kaysa or Mahoney at hooker. Mahoney would be great because he’s a terrier in defence and enthusiasm as well as malaise is catching.
I could go through players and tactics but in reality nothing will change unless we drastically improve effort, attitude and on field leadership.
This same team (minus Hayne/ it is ridiculous and small minded to blame him for yesterday) with small forwards took it to and beat the entire top 8 last year apart from the Roosters. This same team also lost or almost lost to the entire bottom 4, Newcastle, Canberra twice and the Warriors and almost surrendered leads to the Tigers and Bulldogs, but for last minute field goals. The signs were there, but fans like me just did not really want to see them and some players, re Gutho and Brown saved us from ourselves.
I think it would be easier if it were tactics and or player skill but it’s not these things that needs to be addressed this week. BA needs to quickly work out who really wants to be at Parra and who does not. I want our club to move towards winning a premiership and mentally weak and or unreliable players don’t win premierships. Sadly I don’t trust them as a team anymore. They have to earn my respect back and that is why yesterday hurts. It is not the two points or even the embarrassing score to our arch rivals but the fact that we had too many players who really did not care yesterday , or at least they looked like they did not care. They need to prove me wrong not tell me I’m wrong.
I have never said that about my team. I trust BA, he has made some tough decisions and handled difficult situations but he needs him to hold some of our leaders, I’m not just talking captains I am talking about our on field leaders accountable. The same players he has been loyal to let him down badly yesterday.
My real disappointment and take from yesterday is summed up by Moses. Yes he needs to control his temper and maintain composure but at the very least I saw that he cared. Sadly I can’t say that for too many others yesterday.
As usual Shelley, you’ve expressed your opinion in a deservedly strong but fair fashion.
Shelley, Impossible to disagree with what you have said. I ended up not being able to watch the game especially the second half, I don’t think I have ever watched a worse game from the eels than this one, but I remember saying a similar thing once before though. I did come back at one point only to see Moses heading to the sin bin, what did he do this time?
I do not believe its the coaches nor the other members of the coaching staff’s fault, they do their best with the match plans, when the players run on its then in their courts. Too many double faults and seemingly little communication between them all.
One glimmer of hope was when Smith kicked the 40/20 then IIRC on the first run, French got manhandled over the touch line, one other eels jersey came in to try and help but to no avail.
Respect mate, is something they each have to work on in their game and to get it back from the coaching staff and their supporters.. I worry about next Saturdays game against the Sharks, big time, and I cannot see the same team if picked doing any better.
Some new blood is needed. Maybe heart transplants as well. I hate saying these things but its how I feel. Have seen loses in the past even big ones, but in those we generally have scored.
Over 100 points were scored over the weekend against the eels in their two main matches, and none scored by them.
Maybe the junior team that beat Manly yesterday may be a better option for Saturday night.
Good write up 40/20 and as gutted as we all are after yesterday’s Brooky massacre it’s good we don’t have to wait to long to see how BA, the coaching staff & the squad handle such a awful loss and most importantly how they bounce back.
This is definitely a test of character for the team I didn’t expect to see this early in the season!!!
Again, if you concede all opposition tries from within 5 metres it really underlines the lack of commitment to collision. Last season our forwards were happy to commit their bodies to front on tackles, these past 2 games it seems as if they are aiming side on and slipping off.
That’s something that can be corrected, but the Manly game was about desire and working for the player next to you, we did nothing like that and certainly no resemblance to last season.
The Storm have consistently looked at body shape and size for their forwards, and trained them up to compete ferociously alongside their first choice players. There is a need to be far more aggressive in this area, as it has become so obvious that our opponents are aiming to smash us through the middle and contain us there. That is why our attack is so sideways, no momentum when we have the ball as our forwards are getting pushed back into the ruck, or are running across field without getting support.
As sideline coaches we like to think we have the answers, let’s face it jobs and careers are on the line if it doesn’t get fixed.
Anyway, Go the Eels
Forty, Sixties, Mitch, there have been some great responses to your reports on the Eels performance on the weekend. There are certainly some very knowledgeable and insightful people amongst the Eels supporters, obviously some ex-players, coaches, club volunteers, or close associations with the aforementioned. In the Panthers game when those responsible for the defensive line speed were rested, their replacements failed to maintain that same urgency resulting in the players back-pedalling at an alarming rate. The Eels players soon ran out of energy resulting in mistakes like missed tackles, penalties, poor passing and handling etc. Although Alvaro, Moeroa, Mannah worked tirelessly to get back into the game the damage had been done and the Panthers, naturally, were the ones with all the energy. Regarding the game against Manly there just seemed to be a lack of energy, urgency, pride, and motivation, although there were a couple of players who were really putting in as they always have. But as we all know there only has to be one weak link and the task becomes, if not impossible, at least harder – and there were a number of weak links against Manly. I have prattled on before about attitude and how that lifted the U-20’s to the grand final last year. Two players especially had that never give-up attitude early in the season and that motivated the rest of the team to try and match them. Of course they were Mahoney and Stone (Afuola in the backs was another). Their attitude lifted players like Dean Matterson, Fainga, Keppie and they never took a backward step for the rest of the season. Back in 2016 Degois led from the front dragging the other players with him, thus preventing the opposition from gaining momentum and saving a lot of energy for his fellow players. Kaysa is also good with line speed. Mahoney and Stone are very good regarding line speed and never giving up. They covered so much ground in the 20’s from defending in the front line to cover defence, and from hit ups to support play in attack. If players like those two were named on Tuesday, along with maybe one or two of Kaysa, Gower, Marata (he’s not a centre though as he is too slow to change direction) then you would think that surely the other players would know that they don’t have a future if they are going to give up so easily. It would also motivate others in the lower grades to give it everything they have as the opportunity is there for those with the right attitude. My worry though is that Mahoney is still too small at the moment and hasn’t really had much time against men (maybe Sixties and others would be able to rate his efforts against the top players during pre-season) also Stone is not big but he is powerful and has played against men when playing for Wenty. I have never seen Gower not put in. As far as Marata goes he runs hard, tackles hard but his intensity was not as good as the others I mentioned. Having said that Sixties would know if he has upped the ante during pre-season or not. Anyway on to next weekend and chins up as we are still above ground and that has to be a good thing. Cheers, Trev.
Gower, Marata, Kenny and Peni are must haves I reckon. I wouldn’t object to a bit of Kaysa either. The big issue is the 2s also got spanked. Such is life as an NRL coach.
Stone and Mahoney are most likely development players. Not able to be included in the NRL team. Do we have access to the top 30 squad and 5 development players?
Trevor, Gazza and Anon,
Firstly, that line speed is an area to address. It was atrocious both weeks.
I think it would require an injury crisis for us to be allowed to use Stone and Mahoney. Mahoney has probably caught everyone by surprise with his ability to thrive in his first NRL pre-season.
Marata – he’s impressed me during the pre-season. There are always highlights to find. Perhaps the coaches are looking for certain KPIs for him to hit at training or with Wenty to consider him for selection – I’m not sure.
But, he’s the next bloke I’d give a shot to, and a seasoned campaigner like Gowie would be worth including too.
There you go – I’d include a bit of new blood and experience this week. A couple of backline positional changes wouldn’t hurt either.
I agree with you re Gower, much may also depend on injuries and the level of who actually performed at Wenty. and if worth a look at the top grade.
Certainly a couple of changes should be made and some may be forced by injury. Cannot see King being able to play so Kaysa has to be in the team, and I really hope he lifts and seizes the opportunity.
I would also like to see Marata given a bench spot, he at least would add some enthusiasm as it could be a good interview for an extension to his contract.
Depending on fitness, Edwards and Peni need to be in the side somewhere, perhaps Will to not just be there to give Pritchard a rest but cover the halves area as well.
Ah okay I didn’t realise Stone and Mahoney might not be eligible this year unless there is an injury problem. It would be good if Terepo and Edwards are available this weekend as that would help the cause. If not then Gower’s experience and never give up attitude could be helpful, otherwise Marata could be a surprise inclusion. It is interesting to see how and which individuals face up to adversity, and, if they are found wanting, then there is the anticipation of seeing who is next cab off the rank….nothing quite like watching a player debut (Moeroa, French come to mind as recent ones).
Well looky here…
My prediction on here for the Manly game was that “by the time Manly are finished with us that the eels would leave Brookvale walking like a mud crab with haemorrhoids “
I was told to have faith…..
I know this club.
It was just a guess, Grunta. Manly were favourites but not by much. The result came totally out of the blue. But some idiot making a wild guess could always guess right sometime.
An educated guess Pou. Of course I can’t predict the future, but after our second half of the Penrith game, knowing this team, I could smell it a mile off.
And did.
I hope those on here who attend training yell abuse and insults at the boys all week and show them that the average fan is ropable.