Match Preview – Eels vs Sea Eagles (Round 7)
Date: Sunday the 22nd of April
Venue: ANZ Stadium
Kick off: 2:00pm
Head Referee: Chris Sutton, Jon Stone
Assistant Referee: Todd Smith, Nick Morel
Last four encounters:
Sea Eagles 54 – Eels 0 @Brookvale Oval (Round 2, 2018)
Eels 20 – Sea Eagles 12 @Brookvale Oval (Round 1, 2017)
Eels 10 – Sea Eagles 9 @Parramatta Stadium (Round 22, 2016)
Eels 22 – Sea Eagles 10 @Brookvale Oval (Round 7, 2016)
With Nathan booked out for the weekend, fans faced the dire prospect of a Sunday with no Match Day blog. The Bat TCT Signal was sent out into the twilight haze of the Sydney skyline but alas no caped crusaders responded. That of course meant that the phone calls then went out to the surlier and sordid sorts, the types that get the job done at any cost and no matter the means. When the phones rung out there was little recourse but to ask ol’Forty20, so I told them:
These are desperate times folks. On and off the field. While TCT have rummaged through the bin in the alley to cover the hole left by Nathan, the Eels on the other hand have turned to a real hero as Clinton Gutherson joins the captaincy ranks and will adorn the coveted (c) next to his name this week. On that leadership bombshell let’s jump right into this week’s Match Day Discussion with the sweet crazy 18th Man Edition twist.
The Warm Up
2018 has been all but forgettable for fans of the venerable Blue & Gold franchise. The 0-6 record has been plastered all over the web and every pundit, including yours truly, has tried to diagnose exactly what is wrong with the Eels. From trying too little and then trying too hard and everything in between – there are nearly as many theories as penalties conceded by Parramatta this year.
Most will agree that the rot started late in the first half against the Penrith Panthers following that soft try scored by Waqa Blake. However if the symptoms manifested before the halftime junction in that game, it became a full blown malaise in Round 2 as the middling Sea Eagles dropped 54 unanswered points on the Eels on a scorching Sunday at Brookvale.
Now the Eels perhaps have a chance to exorcise the infliction that ails them so direly as they host a Manly outfit rocked by allegations of bullying and cover-ups. The timing is perfect for the Eels as they welcome back Jarryd Hayne and Brad Takairangi. The result on Sunday has to be a victory.
Tracking: Jarryd Hayne
With one talismanic fullback returning to the fold last week in Clinton Gutherson, the Eels now welcome back a second with Jarryd Hayne returning early from an injury lay-off to stake a claim on the wing.
While Hayne is far too familiar with the savior tag from a desperate fanbase it has to be stressed that he is not the cure-all for Parramatta’s woes – just as Gutherson wasn’t. With that said there is justifiable hope that Hayne’s return, in conjunction with a week under the belt of Gutherson, will help spark the lifeless attack of the Eels back to form.
Hayne’s selection on the wing oddly enough will probably result in the ball getting into his hands more often then his earlier stints at centre. Just how he manages to start and finish sets for the Eels will be one of the keys on Sunday.
Danger Man
Manly have plenty of recognised names across their line up but the one that caught my eye this week was Addin Fonua-Blake. The mountainous front-rower is a devastating post-contact metre machine and he can also throw a mean offload.
Parramatta were thoroughly trounced through the middle when these two teams met in Round 2 and shutting down the likes of Fonua-Blake, Martin Taupau and Lloyd Perrett will be imperative if the Eels are to win.
Team Lists:
Manly Sea Eagles
1. Tom Trborjevic
2. Brad Parker
3. Dylan Walker
4. Brian Kelly
5. Akuila Uate
6. Lachlan Croker
7. Daly Cherry-Evans
8. Addin Fonua-Blake
9. Apisai Korooisau
10. Martin Taupau
11. Joel Thompson
12. Jack Gosiewski
13. Jake Trbojevic
14. Matthew Wright
15. Shaun Lane
16. Lloyd Perrett
17. Taniela Paseka
20. Frank Winterstein
21. Toagogoa Sipley
Parramatta Eels
1. Clinton Gutherson
2. Jarryd Hayne
3. Michael Jennings
4. Brad Takairangi
5. George Jennings
6. Corey Norman
7. Mitchell Moses
8. Kane Evans
9. Kaysa Pritchard
10. Tim Mannah
11. Manu Ma’u
12. Tony Williams
13. Peni Terepo
14. Will Smith
15. Kenny Edwards
16. David Gower
17. Daniel Alvaro
19. Josh Hoffman
20. Suaia Matagi
Late Mail
The Eels should be 1-7 across their backline with Hayne and Takairangi both successfully navigating early returns from injury. Given how unsettled their front-row rotation has been in recent weeks there is the possibility of a game-day reshuffle of the pack as Brad Arthur tweaks with the formula, so keep that in mind.
Mitchell Moses vs Daly Cherry Evans
It is no secret that Mitchell Moses has not enjoyed a productive start to 2018 and perhaps that might just be the best barometer for the Eels currently. The young half has tried his arse off, to the point of frustration really, and that echoes across the entire team in recent weeks.
Somehow Moses has to simplify the game tomorrow and get back to his own strengths in his sparkling running game and clever efforts off the boot. He will need plenty of help from his team mates – his forwards in particular – as the Eels look to win all the battles-within-battles that happen across the football field.
Daly Cherry-Evans on the other hand was one of the chief architects of the catastrohpic Round 2 result. Where as Moses possesses troubling short-area quickness, Cherry-Evans is a more robust runner of the ball and has an uncanny knack of breaking tackles. Although he is mired deeply in the bizarre circumstances surrounding the untold Jackson Hastings story (including reports of deliberate pranks and bullying) the Eels must put a lid on his game lest they cede huge chunks of territory on the back of his running and kicking games.
Any sort of vintage effort from Moses tomorrow puts the Eels a long, long way towards a breakthrough victory!
And The Winner Is:
The Parramatta Eels. There simply can not be another answer as the Eels desperately search for a drought breaking win against their bitter rivals. There is plenty the head says as to why the Eels will slip and stumble their way to 0-7 but the heart says 1-6 and in the words of Roxette, ‘listen to your heart’.
Parramatta Eels 24 – Manly Sea Eagles 10
Brother 40/20 good write up.
I think if Moses calms down a little n start running more he will play over DCE.
In saying that Norman has to start playing direct. He can’t be in the game for 30 minutes n going missing for 10 minutes in each half.
I’m not going to hammer Hayne but surely we won’t be re-signing him. If I’m BA I say we go after Kenny sio if we don’t get josh mansour.
From his 3 tries tonight I think he still has a lot to learn n give.
On DG good to see him in the top 17 he runs great lines n has a good offload in his game. Look he might not bend the line but he brings experience buy the truck load.
What I look forward to is the fresh new faces we are going after according to the mole.
On Peni teripo I like him at lock … Yes I know ppl will say his not a lock forward but I think his a good replacement for brown at lock.
Eels 22 / manly 12
#Eels4life#
How can you judge Hayne so harshly, “surely we will not be re-signing him”? What has he done to warrant such harsh criticism? The WHOLE team has been lack-lustre in their performances as evidenced by our 0-6 record, so why single him out?
Rob I’m not judging Hayne I just think there are better options. You have to remember Hayne is most 31 n for outside backs that means there getting on. So not judging just looking to the future.
Rev who is the Mole saying we are after?
Tomorrow the key for me is discipline with and without the ball. Do this and we will get the bacon.
Milo I know the mole is only talking about josh mansour n junior paulo ATM. But like I said to rob I wouldn’t mind Kenny sio over a older n slower Hayne. I like Hayne but I think there are better options.
I agree with your comments regarding discipline with n with out the all.
Superb 40; this game will be good and while manly have issues we have to play for the 80 mins; keep errors down and intensity high for the game.
Lets hope Manly keep the stripping (game) to a minimum pls.
Good write 40’s. The game tomorrow really is going to be interesting, and a real test for us. The big aspect that they have to get out of their heads is the turmoil surrounding Hastings and DCE, early reports painted Hastings as the problem, but closer to game day a fair bit of changes have happened with widgy stick now pointing to DCE, and with his fine from the Manly club of $10000k being chicken feed based on what his contract is worth he will be none too happy with that, also with the support from Manly players for Hastings.
While it could point to them being in a trough it could be the opposite and the eels need to ensure they can wipe it out of their heads, and the coach needs to drum that point to them, treat them as a tough and strong team with no issues, and concentrate on ours and our own game for the match.
To me the key man for the eels has to be MM, he needs to be told to play his own game just as he did last season, he needs to run with the ball straight, or if setting play up, then run at an angle towards the edges and not to the sidelines,
The dropping of Beau Scott, sadly had to happen, and it should give a sign to the others in the team that they are on notice as well.
Eels by 10, or big numbers. A win is essential but a good win will be of huge benefit going forward more so in confidence.
A big beneficiary of tomorrows game will also be our new defensive coach who will be able to cast a very strong eye over the team.
On the note my brother what do you make of David Kidwell as our defence coach ?
I personally think BA has taken to much on his own. It time he talks with burnie bout more staff members to help him out.
What do you think ?
Rev. I believe the appointment of Kidwell as defence coach was the result of discussions with Bernie, as there was little doubt that it was needed. Thing is though, I still cannot understand why the forwards who are basically the same as those we had last year, and then beat the Knights in a full strength trial with both teams, were doing well against Penrith before they let in one try and the gates to Hades opened and its been a bit like hell following them since.
Without putting Kidwell down I would have preferred to see the club go for Jim Dymock for defence as well as he was a good ball player, also played lock and very good at hooker. Dymock could well have been a good multi skilled/task coach providing a good range of options for BA and the others to look at.
That said, my memories of Kidwell is quite good, he was a very strong defender and hard hitter with good aggression, he was also a pretty good runner of the ball but not sure if he had much of a ball skills though. On those accounts he could well bring a lot of good to the club, I don’t know how long he has been signed for though, if its only to the end of the year, and not much improves I would love to see Dymock given a phone call.
I agree with you regarding BA trying to do too much, he needs to really look at what he is doing and the amount of it, and asses whether he’s spreading himself too thinly. Also assess where he believes his strengths are, and also any weakness he perceives in himself. Spreading too thin is a weakness as he would likely miss things, that should not be.
By reducing and not doing the things that he is weakest in and delegating them to someone else allows him to concentrate in his strong areas. He would know what those areas are, so just making the right calls is all he needs to work on, and perhaps be not as intense and be able to relax somewhat.
Do you reckon Bellamy is ever “not as intense”?
My money is on a definite “no” to that one.
Rob I think he is to intence. With Bellamy you see it in brad. You can’t have a coach who is not intence. But you also need a coach who is a good ppl person.
I believe the team changes, those dropped or rested and the selected or blessed inclusions come in our greatest hour of need. This will in my opinion be the catalyst for the perfect storm which will result in one of our greatest victories over the old enemy.
Thank you 40/20 for the invitation to boldly predict. We will win. Go Parra!