Round 5 Drink Of Choice – Jack Daniel’s Old No.7
Something that has become increasingly apparent as I transition through my second year of post-game musings on TCT is that it is eminently easier to bang out a review of the game after a win. Basking in the revelry of the Eels triumphing over any of the fifteen other NRL clubs often carries a certain glow through the weekend and often results in a feverish high as you glance towards nest week’s opponents and ponder the longer term ramification of that round’s victory.
Equally so have I come to the realisation that more oft than not, it is better to properly reflect on a loss after a day has gone by so that the pangs of anger, frustration and in some of the darker losses emptiness and sheer apathy don’t unfairly cloud your judgement of what transpired on the footy field that week.
There is no doubting that Sunday’s gritty loss to Penrith hurt, and hurt badly, as the Eels plummeted to a fifth consecutive defeat in 2018. In an ugly contest between the Western Sydney rivals, the Eels finally positioned themselves in such a way to break their ugly winless streak (and this is an important point we will circle back to later) but simply couldn’t shake the monkey off their back as a number of botched finishes left them six points adrift of Penrith.
While they defended with plenty of grit against Cronulla and attacked with a dash of razzle dazzle in the final quarter against Wests – Sunday marked the first time in over a month that Parramatta had shown the most important trait in any NRL team. They remembered how to fight.
Unbowed, Unbent, Unbroken
The first real thought I had after stewing on the 12-6 loss was how much of a tragic result it really was. All seventeen players – even poor Peni Terepo with all his errors – absolutely busted their arses in pursuit of victory. The effort levels were phenomenal in contrast to the preceding month of play and it showed up in a number of massive individual plays that nearly turned the tide of the game. From Nathan Brown’s monstrous shot (and near certain Hit Of The Year winner!) on Reagan Campbell-Gillard to Corey Norman making out like a bandit in the second half with a ridiculous 1-on-1 strip from a Penrith scrum win, the Eels showed a desperate edge and sense of hustle that the side had been sorely lacking until now.
In fact, despite all of the commentator’s praise for Penrith’s relentless defence (and to be fair, it was deserved) the Panthers were only able to crack the Eels with a 13-on-12 advantage brought upon by a hugely contentious initial penalty that then led to Tim Mannah getting rightfully sin-binned. Henry Perenara was obliged to march Mannah after impeding the Penrith quick tap from an offside position but I am still scratching my head as to what the Eels were penalised for in the first place.
On the flip side to all of that is how Parramatta, despite embarrassingly failing to put a single point on a 12-man Penrith front, had the Panthers dead to rights while attacking with a man down before Josh Hoffman botched a certain four-pointer in the left corner. You could feel it at the time but you just knew how pivotal that missed chance would be and sure enough it was the difference between the two teams at full time.
All of the effort, the hustle, the single-minded determination to fight through injury (Nathan Brown, Tepai Moereoa), sadly it didn’t culminate in the scripted Rocky Balboa win but the Eels hauled themselves off the canvas plenty of times on Sunday. In last week’s Team List Tuesday blog I challenged the playing group to show their fans that they were part of the solution rather than the problem.
A fighting loss is an admittedly bitter pill for disenfranchised fans to swallow but that was the first genuine hints at a solution to this awful slump that the team has shown. Our SG Ball and Intrust Super Premiership squads arrested long and painful slides last week, it finally feels like our first-grade team are ready to do the same now. They may be battered and bruised after five weeks of self-inflicted wounds but they aren’t broken by a long shot.
A muse for musings
🔥Have you seen a player more fired up after a hit than Nathan Brown?🔥 pic.twitter.com/FQkEqEqmyD
— FOX LEAGUE (@FOXNRL) April 9, 2018
17 runs for 149m and 42 tackles (0 missed) is just an average day at the office for Nathan Brown these days. His effort to dislodge the football out of Reagan Campbell-Gillard’s grasp on the other hand – and perhaps also reap his soul – was other-worldly. While it didn’t quite kindle a raging fire in the Eels that would sweep them to victory, it underscored the hunger that drove the Eels yesterday. Seriously, look at that raw emotion and zeal from Brown and tell me this team is done.
Brown is every bit as talismanic to the Eels as his counterpart at the back in Clinton Gutherson and seeing him fight through a nasty ankle injury at the death when the Eels had no interchanges left typified the spirit and drive he brings to this team. Where it leaves him for selection in Round 6 is a real concern but knowing Brown he will need to be tied down in order to keep him off the field this week.
Death by a thousand cuts
One thing that has become apparent in three of our losses this year (Penrith, Cronulla, Penrith) is the damage that early penalty goals can do. Individually the diminutive two-point addition to the scoring ledger is far from substantial but in the penalty ridden start to 2018 it can tally up rather quickly. Chad Townsend quite literally booted the Sharks to victory with four penalty goals in round three. The Eels refused two early ‘gimme’ shots at penalty goals on Sunday, the second of which coincided with the sin-binning of Trent Merrin.
When you are severely down on confidence, any points are good points and given our attacking issues in the red zone is it remiss to suggest the Eels take a different tact moving forwards? Secure the gift two points, get another set of possession and get yourselves firmly in the grind.
Food for though for sure.
Encore needed from Corey
While Mitchell Moses was certainly guilty of trying too hard as he worked himself to a stand still trying to spark the Eels, Corey Norman finally settled into a more familiar groove as he found range from the boot and troubled the Panthers with his running game by cutting back against their sliding defenders. Our lack of a real long-kicking game was one of the major issues I lamented in last week’s musing and Norman replied emphatically as he rifled out some sensational 40/20 attempts.
Norman is still far from peak form but it was a hugely encouraging return to his fundamental strengths. While he and Moses still have plenty to work on, both individually and as a combination, expect both of them to benefit significantly from the return of the bloke below…
Return of the King
As Brad Arthur confirmed today in an exclusive interview with NRL.com’s Michael Chammas, Clinton Gutherson is scheduled to return in Round 6 – likely at fullback. To say this is a shot in the arm that the battling Eels needed would be a huge undersell but by the same token, the return of ‘King Gutho’ is by no means the silver bullet to fix all of our issues. The effort against Penrith must be the baseline for which the Eels hold themselves to as they welcome back Gutherson. With that sort of platform to work with he could in fact be the man that converts the half-breaks and opportunities into momentum changing points that Bevan French and Will Smith were simply unable to in the first five rounds.
Indeed, as much as we lament the loss of Semi Radradra for his return work to augment the forward pack and his insane x-factor in general we were probably a Clinton Gutherson away from knocking off the Sharks, Tigers and Panthers (twice). Seriously as weird as it sounds, look back on those results and think about the difference Gutherson could have made. Even as bad as we have played this year 24-14, 14-4, 30-20 and 12-6 are absolutely fixtures that Gutherson could have made a game defining impact on.
So the challenge for Parramatta this week must be to give Gutherson a chance to make a difference. Don’t expect him to single-handedly turn the tide but let him organically do what he does best. Organise the heck out of the defensive line, return kicks strongly, back up everyone on the field and straighten up our edge movements.
All this and more can be achieved if they follow this one simple trick below!
Parity breeds opportunity
After screeching incessantly about sub-par possession rates, penalty differentials, tackle differentials and completion rates for the last month, does it come at any surprise that the Eels were finally competitive in a game where they won possession (56%), completed at the same rate as their opponents (72%), made less tackles (-21 differential) and barely won the penalty count (12-11, +1 differential)?
Of course we struggled mightily at times when we did have the ball and the clumsiness of our attack speaks drastically to the battered confidence levels of the team but even as ugly as our brand of footy was on Sunday it gave us a very real chance at winning.
It isn’t a coincidence that we finally looked as fit as our opponents in a game where we didn’t bleed a 20% differential in possession and make ~78 extra tackles. Sure Penrith started explosively and made good metres through the middle early on but we were able to ride that wave and finally trust our defence in order to blunt any real attacking raid.
As we desperately continue our search for our first win of the season, we simply can not be, for lack of more refined words, pushing shit up a hill any longer. Keep grinding away at those fundamental areas, ignore the errors and miscues and claw your way to a breakthrough victory. Our 0-5 start means we have a seven or even six game margin of error as we chase the post-season but with the Eels finally showing signs of life I by no means have given up…and neither has this bloke.
"We're still 100% confident that we are going to be playing finals." – @TheParraEels coach Brad Arthur.
WATCH – https://t.co/IrSxBdSPlH#NRL pic.twitter.com/9zgNyT6Wdw
— Steve Turner (@SteveTurner84) April 9, 2018
See you guys next week.
I have looked for a huge number of factors in pursuit of breaking this horrible curse on our first-grade team. From breakthrough wins for Wenty, SG Ball and Tarsha Gale to different combinations of jerseys on game day – it has all come to naught. Maybe you buying something from my good man Parramatters via the link below is the difference between the Eels winning and losing in our nation’s capital this week! Jokes aside, be sure to click through for all your sports apparel needs and grab some of that sweet 2018 Eels swag.
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Good write up brother 40/20.
When gutherson returns next week are we fans going to put a lot of expectations on him to get us our 1st win ?
From my younger days as a fullback playing for blacktown workers club it was my job to make sure the line held firm.
Do you think with gutherson back he will set the line from fullback.
#Eels4life#
Forty, well said mate. I’m no selection expert but I still think we lack the punch through the middle that Matagi gave us in 2018. He also stops the opposition dead in their tracks no matter how big or imposing they look and it is worth noting “Matagi is a different shape” to the rest of our middle forwards. He is shorter, stockier and can make the single impact statements that Brown (more so), Tep and even Trex are able to do, which neither Mannah, Alvaro, Scott or Terepo are able to do. If we keep Edwards on the bench for his enthusiasm? Then 2 of the 4 aforementioned middle forwards need to make way for Matagi and Evans so that we have 2 more body shapes as BA tried against Penrith and Manly but never got another look in together since.
I reckon Matagi should be given an opportunity of starting the game pumped with Mannah and Evans to come on after Alvaro replaces Matagi at about 15 – 18 mins. This way we get 2 different body shapes in each rotation. IMO 15-18 minutes out of a pumped up Matagi will have greater impact than what we are getting from Beau Scott at the moment and he would “relish the assignment”!
Sorry mate but matagi and vave are not nrl quality ,if anyone gets a run its gower for mine
Funny you should say that Anonymous? BA thought they were NRL standard when he bought them and in 2017 they both had numerous starts in games where we dominated.
Anyway, you are entitled to your opinion, as am I. I don’t believe Vave has ever put in for 2 or 3 games straight, probably more to do with attitude than ability though.
On the other hand Matagi just runs out of physical stamina and the strength recovery to back up against much bigger men for more than 2 or 3 games in a row.
Respect your opinion in return but i believe 12months at a older age is a long time , been seeing them at wenty and weve seen their best .
Forties, thank you for a very good report/review it has it all and totally agree with everything you say.
Looking at the hit by Brown on R C-G it was phenomenal, one of the best I have seen, although R C-G did return the favour not long afterwards. When I watched that and his follow through, the facial expression had to be see to be believed, almost as if he had veins in his forehead ready to burst, would have loved to have captured the sound of his roar though. That hit should have inspired the whole team to greater heights as well as Nathan himself, unfortunately it didn’t but I think if that shot is replayed constantly to the whole team they should learn what the word passion really means.
It will be certainly good to welcome Gutho back, also I believe French, it provides two very special backs to the team that we have been missing for some time especially this year. The big hope will be that both get through the game without any aggravation to their injuries, other words hope its not too soon.
You mention the aspect of goal kicks from penalties. Its something I have been saying for years now, in tense and tough games any points are there to be taken, where a goal or try that add to the score and make the difference between winning and losing in so many games its not funny, especially in dour matches like the one on Sunday, played again on a hot day.
Both teams tired but both lifted and looked for every chance to grab a break for air, and a penalty that is able to provide 2 points needs, or must be taken, especially in front of the posts, the time taken gives both teams the chance for a breather but more so the defenders as they usually are looking for the break a bit quicker than the attacking side given the penalty.
Had the eels taken the kick it would have showed to Penrith that we are here to play and want to win. Even attempts that are wide out and harder to kick, even if missed still means you get the ball back and the defending team has to tackle again for 6.
Very much wasting the value of a good goal kicker methinks. Broncs, Sharks, Storm and Cows usually take the penalty kick for goal now Penrith is doing it and time for the eels to do so as well.
Has everyone come at us as we were touted to be a top 4 side again this year? and the team just has not been able to rise to the challenge?
Great and thoughtful piece as always, as we move closer to finally turning the corner there are a couple of things that need to be addressed and unfortunately we may not have the solution internally.
The service from either King or Pritchard is below the standard required to take the team to the required level. On Sunday we saw our halves having to reach above their heads for the ball from dummy half , and service appeared slow at times when compared to our opponents. Desire and willingness to put your body on the line doesn’t compensate for lack of running or kicking game that we see elsewhere, and that’s not looking at the service issue.
As the game evolves , the importance of an allround no 9 has risen in importance and is yet another position that needs upgrading.
Let’s consider why we seem on the back foot when inside the opposition red zone, our forwards lack the size of every other team, and are continually pushed back and dominated in tackles , and slow play the balls eventuate. Watch how the Penrith team made what seemed like 50/60 meters on each possssion, their forwards also made ground after contact, and our defence line were going backwards before tackling and early in games are prenalisd for being inside the 10 due to struggles to contain momentum from teams like Penrith, penalty goals result.
All of this can be addressed with astute recruitment, which seems to be the biggest failing of the current regime, but this can change quickly and hopefully will.
No failing there , cant buy whats not available and still getting salary cap in place i would think .
Hi Forties, seems like I spend a lot of time on the other site dealing with the negatives and then come here to deal with the positives.
I am encouraged by the positive things that have been noted, there is a reality just the same, that our forwards are through no lack of effort, unable to complete a platform for us to be dominant. Probably against no side the way the comp is shaping up. It means we will win some matches but not take us far.
Hindsight say’s we recruited poorly and even BA would on reflection have done other things, that is water is now under the bridge.
We arguably overachieved last year and this set our expectations, again in hindsight too high. Our good juniors were always going to be another year away.
I don’t pretend to have the answers, I had suggested that Farah can give us a roll on and whilst assuming that ain’t happening, I am thinking it is time for Stone and Mahoney to be blooded. Probably not this week against Canberra notwithstanding.
I think this year now is the opportunity to face up to our reality, do the best we can and battle on. Circumstances can change but players like Guth would have to an absolute freak to get back to his former prowes within the next 10 weeks or so. I have observed players coming back from these injuries, himself included and it takes time and that is not counting the mental side of it.
We probably expected to be battling for 3 seasons when the “shit” hit the fan and Donnelly and then Gurr came in.
We must be very careful we don’t lose this platform to the rabid reactions that come from some areas and settle down with BA for the long haul.
BA has learnt plenty from this, not the least of being too autonomous, he should be specifically looking for a football manager that he can work with and who in turns help hold out any political factions that may arise from the current circumstances.
There is going to be a lot of media pressure and continued calls happening in this club if we have a few more losses……..we have to be mindful of the fight off the field as well as the one on it, to make sure that we retain the good parts of our resurrection.
Love the positivity and all but it’s clearly a load of rubbish.
This club is so far off the pace it’s not funny. It’s nice and all to sprinkle some unicorn dust on everything but the truth is we’re in a poor position moving forward.
So many people seem untouchable here:
Brad Arthur for one has run his course. Good on him for keeping the team united during some tough times, but he did so in a ‘nothing to lose’ situation. I love him as a bloke and as an Eels man, but he’s clearly not up to first grade coaching. Results speak for themselves and he’s only had one good year out of 5. The roster he has developed over that time is pathetic and lacks any quality youngsters. It’s time the club appointed someone with experience and a track record of success, hiring rookie coaches is not what we need.
Tim Mannah is another, terrible player, even worse captain. No other club has their “best forward” playing 20-30 minutes. BA knows he can’t afford to have Tim on the field any longer as he offers nothing, yet he also has zero guts to do the right thing and get rid of him. Tim Mannah… another quality bloke, but completely not up to it.
Hoffman, Scott, Matagi, Ma’u etc. etc. … All old and well passed their used by dates. With zero promising juniors we’re stuck with this ‘dads army’ team. We’ve used a money ball system of signing has been players and it’s costing us dearly.
Bernie Gurr is also an imposter. All talk, zero action, zero results.
But hey as I said, as long as we put a positive spin on things, delusional fans we’ll buy it. It’s obvious things are a complete mess as far as the short term future goes and it’s going to take some hard work and a fresh team of people to fix the joint.
Heads need to roll.
Unicorn Dust obviously came on here with an agenda and you will note that he doesn’t offer any solutions after the major surgery he wants to perform. Just hack and dismember!
When people create an argument or criticism I look for balance rather than rhetoric, his comment that Brad Arthur has had only one good year is total disingenuous and takes away any credibility he seeks to make.
His criticism of Bernie Gurr as an imposter also seems to be an agenda as he is by far the best CEO Parramatta has ever had.
The reality is most critics with a Parramatta history know little about respective roles of management and in these cases the Chairman of the Board rightfully keeps his comments to perspective and the CEO says what he needs to under the circumstances prevailing.
Unfortunately social justice warriors confuse their roles of being fans and try to show how good administrators they are with little or no qualifications other than spending many hours per day justifying their “self powerful ” existence in a uncontrolled and dangerous medium.
These people exist soley to divide and undermine for a purpose of weakening any structure.
I stated in a previous post the off field undermining of different people with agenda’s representing themselves as Parra fans.
You can judge the genuine article by way of what they offer in constructive criticism rather than tearing down the very fabric of our club.
Be warned these are dangerous people and I am sure that the likes of Parramatta’s strength in management will see through the bluster and bravado of the types and hold true to make the best decisions for the club and its true fans.
Lets be constructive with any plans that our administration looks to make for the benefit of everyone.
Pops, agree with you totally.
You would well know now how I do not like the term fans, as for me a fan usually does not more than circulate air, whether hot, cool or cold, hand held fans provide the same thing in a localised part of the body by the hand. When one gets tired they have to stop waving the fan, so its really only as good as the time one gets the benefit of ones own ability to keep waving the fan. Basically fans, of all types are reactionary items that only provide temporary relief from what the person wants of it, that to me typifies the eels fans we read over on the other site.
The amount of supporters over there I would suggest are not a heck of a lot at all, supports as such stick through the good and more so the bad years, they like you and those others on this sight are able to sanely discuss the issues without the rubbish and the like over there, true supporters also generally show maturity no matter their ages.
Well said Poppa, but I would prefer an eject button for these “self assured dolts” . Yes I know, don’t even say rakka rakka against one of these unfortunates or risk judgement upon oneself.
Although our freedoms are often undermined by censorship I believe the peace of our community and society in general are damaged far more by flagrant abuse of opportunity given to these keyboard warriors.
Whatever happened to “the good of all” concept in an inclusive society? Oh yes, that’s right it was hijacked by “the interests of the unrepresented minorities” who are now over represented by the looney left!
Can you believe it, even Paul Kent said he’d had enough of PC crap when defending Israel Folau for giving his own personal religious opinion on a clearly divisive issue. Personally I’d prefer PK’s Parra hate than the diatribe of some of these so called “Parra fans”!
Rowdy, how I love and agree with your last sentence.
Seems like “that other site” must be getting boring for many of the “fans” that hang around it and they are looking to spruik their repetitive, boring and child like behaviour on TCT.
Mods- please don’t enable these “fans” to bring their trash talk here.
TCTer’s- please don’t lower ourselves to the “other sites” standard of trash talk