Last week’s loss to the Warriors seemed to highlight, bold and underline my recent article about the Eels woes. As I curled up into the spectator equivalent of the foetal position at ANZ Stadium, the thought crossed my mind that perhaps the team had further depths to plumb.

This week saw me a little under the weather health wise. Attending training was not an option early in the week, and I thought the break would do me good. After all, the frustration of watching the Eels prepare so professionally at Saleyards, then fail to execute on match day, is not beneficial to a bloke’s mental health!

The result of that small step away is this post.

With a bit more time on my hands, I pondered how the coaches could possibly drag the Eels away from matches littered with dumb football and basic errors, and steer them towards a winning formula.

The answer was both surprisingly simple and encouraging.

If the team is putting itself into winning positions, as many observers would agree, and losing due to the most basic of errors, then logically they are very close to completely turning their fortunes around. It should only require the removal of said errors to achieve that goal.

“If it’s so easy, why hasn’t that happened?”

This question from my inner devil’s advocate would no doubt be echoing the response of many Eels fans to my opinion. Surely the lack of a big, powerful pack of forwards would be the answer.

Whilst not denying that Andrew Fifita was allowed to run rampant for periods during the Sharks clash, the Eels forwards have still either held their own or even bettered the metres of their opponents in the clashes from round 7 onwards. It’s no secret that Parra are recruiting to bolster their forward stocks for next year. But, even with an undermanned and lightweight pack, the Eels should be five wins from their last five matches.

Gutho – the energy.

So if I’m steering the recent blame and/or the errors away from the forwards, who am I looking at to fix the errors? I’m actually on the same page as many Eels fans and looking at the halves. Therefore, I’m in complete agreement with Brad Arthur and his positional swap of Norman and Gutherson. This allows Moses to be the conductor, Gutho to be the energy and Norman to be the instinct in the spine. This little adjustment could be the catalyst for a change in fortunes.

To elaborate, I believe that the change has the potential to interrupt the vicious cycle which is poisoning Eels matches. I see the errors coming from the frustration, and the accompanying lack of confidence and patience, which currently permeates the Eels team on match days. For mine, the source of this frustration can be found in the attacking red zone. Hence the focus on the halves.

Corey Norman is one of the most naturally gifted footballers you could watch. To watch him literally glide through the most challenging fitness or skill drills at training is a sight to behold. We’ve all witnessed what he can do at his best. But at this moment, he looks confused and indecisive. His play is also impacting the players around him.

Last week against the Warriors, and the week before against the Bulldogs, the Eels had more than enough possession in the opposition’s quarter. Unfortunately, every time Corey Norman ran and drifted across the field, his supports were left confused and second guessing what their pivot was trying to do. Their own space was being reduced if he did pass the ball, but what was even more frustrating for them would have been the moments where he seemed to either run in circles if not slow motion.

For supporters, it also seemed as if Norman was over-calling Moses, even when the opportunity lay on Moses’ side of the ruck.

Norman – talented but struggling for form.

So from fullback, Norman becomes an option for our halves to go to, rather than being the player making the primary option decisions. Both Gutherson and Moses are more decisive and direct, and BA has already declared that there will be one voice controlling the plays – Moses.

Should this adjustment of the spine produce a more patient and effective attack, it’s likely that the errors will be reduced and there will be less pressure on the defence.

Of course, it might not work, and a talented opposition in the Broncos will have plenty to say about it. But, let’s not forget that rugby league is a fairly simple game. A small change that will help to get the basics right could be all that the Eels need – for now.

From there, the building can start.

Eels forever!

Sixties

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