Parramatta Eels 4
Newcastle Knights 30
4- Brad TakairangiLeft Centre, Parramatta Eels Despite what his curriculum vitae says, Brad Takairangi should no longer be considered a part time half. |
7- Mitchell MosesHalfback, Parramatta Eels An easy target for opposition fans, but I actually thought he was playing pretty well until he went down. Hopefully not too long a stint on the sidelines. |
9- Cameron KingHooker, Parramatta Eels Regardless of how forward the pass is, missing tackles that lead directly to tries never looks good, Kingy. |
11- Manu Ma’uBack Row, Parramatta Eels The Mash had 11 runs, 100 metres and is now measuring at almost exactly a metric tonne of pure white-hot fury. |
13- Peni TerepoLock, Parramatta Eels Nope. |
Interchange
14- Will SmithInterchange, Parramatta Eels Made 5 tackles and missed 4? Batting the ball dead to Ken Sio? That’s less than ideal. |
15- Suaia MatagiInterchange, Parramatta Eels I’ll pay anyone $100 if they can prove to me Matagi actually played; 12 runs for 101 metres? I saw him hit the ball up once. Whatever. |
17- Marata NiukoreInterchange, Parramatta Eels Thought his 7 runs for 68 metres were pretty handy, and he looks big enough that he could eat Kaysa Pritchard. |
Here at The Cumberland Throw, we have one motto: if you don’t like what you read, Forty probably didn’t write it.
All we can hope for at this point is that next week is less awful than this week.
Livin’ the dream.
Go you Eels,
Mitch.
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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, please and thank you.
That was a woeful game. I thought Gowie was deserving of a better grade. He just didn’t give up.
We ran out of a bench and the was no punch to start or end with coming from our forwards.
On a brighter note, the chips at ANZ stadium are some of the nicest I’ve ever had, so my journeys across Sydney, the cost of parking and my season ticket haven’t been totally wasted.
Yeah it’s weird to say but Gowie was excellent tonight, as were Manu and Marata, and Tepai outside of his shoulder charge. However I figure I’d have to grade them all up, and suddenly there’s just too many positive grades for such a dreadful evening. I’d prefer to be a little harsh in such games.
I actually agree with you, but figure I kinda have to lower everyone’s grade in a game like that.
The only positive out of tonight is that it will make our future wins sweeter
Spot on mate, this is unacceptable, but real fans stick strong.
Isn’t it about time that BA gives some of the younger players on the roster like Ray Stone etcetera a go?? What else has he go to lose but his job
If the NRL allow it (the younger players are D6 development players) you’d have to think we’ll see more young blokes on the field soon, particularly with such a large list of players leaving us at the end of the season.
You’ve got to ask why the NRL don’t allow for introducing younger players. If I were Bernie I’d be demanding that they allow the club to play a few of these guys – at least a couple of games. It’s basically trial games now until the 2019 season, and this will give the fans something to be excited about. Do they really want Parra to fade away into oblivion this year?
It’s not that simple. To give players like Stone a go, the Eels have to present a case that gives them dispensation to use players outside the Top 30. Perhaps the injury list will allow this?
Mitch Mitch Mitch what has gone wrong ?
As soon as we get labeled premiership contenders we fold like a deck of cards.
I’m starting to lose confidance in brad I would be happy if he walked. Just to save face.
The players rating are spot on. Next week I think it’s time we start rating our coach.
Look I’ve watched some very very bad parra sides but this yr is just horrible it’s a bloody ( knight ) mare. As for the injury list sorry I won’t cop that as an excuse. Look at Penriths injury list n there in 2nd spot.
I hope MM is fine to play next week. I think he should partner salmon next.
What is the go with brad bringing marata on with only 20/30 minutes n the game already lost.
While we are at brad I won’t cop he needs big body’s story it’s all lies. If that was the case why not give vave game time n drop matagi. Brown is more better coming of the bench.
If the story’s are true about lamb coming to parra I hope it’s now cant wait to next year. This is the worse yr I have seen by far.
This year is worse the “95” when we only won I think 5 games.
I’m not looking forward to watching eels vs souths. South look big strong fast n fit our forwards won’t be able to handle the burgess boys n on top of that cook will make holes in our defence at will. I’m thinking it will be 24/30 nil at halftime.
I truly can not see where our next win is coming from.
P’s my open letter to brad n burnie gurr n the board of the parramatta eels.
Brad Arthur please walk n save face.
I’m not going to hammer you as I’m sure your a good husband n family man. But your days as parramatta eels coach should no longer be.
I have been a eels fan all my life(40)yrs but this season you have made our great side the easy beats of the NRL. I’m sure teams don’t even do a video session on what players to target in attack. Our team performce this yr brad is poor to say the least.
Burnie gurr please start having the chat to brad that no one looks forward to. It’s time for that tap on the shoulder for brad. Burnie n brad this season is worse then in “95” the only good thing that game out of “95” as we beat the premiers bulldogs. 22/16.
Yours truly Michael (the rev) Snedden.
# eels4life#
I disagree about Brad needing to walk. Obviously change is desperately needed, but changing coach will set us back further than need be. Of course that’s just my opinion. It’s not at all an excuse, but I don’t think any team has been hit as hard by injuries as we have.
I think the best we can do is prepare for next year.
Let me ask you this Mitch if we only had 1 injured player like the dragons n coming last what do you think then do you think brad should walk.
IMO I think Penrith have had just a big as injury toll as us. A change of coach is maybe what we need. Do I say hello uncle benny. Look I like brad as a person but I’ve had enough of our side dishing up this rubbish.
That game was there to be won but yet we got schooled by a knights team that had lost 4/5 straight games. We were poor. Very poor.
I’m not debating whether or not we were poor, I just don’t think sacking BA is the answer at this stage.
Brother Mitch at the end of the day I’m not going to blow up at you over brad n don’t think for 1 minute I hate brad. But at the end of the day I’m like you n many eel fans we just want the best for our team. Have a good n blessed night my son.
All good. You too mate.
Injuries aside!! WHAT THE????
Its time that the coaching staff and players were locked up in a room and got to the bottom of whats going on at the Parramatta eels football side of things. Don’t let them out until its resolved and they can put the problems, not to bed but bury them well and truly for good.
Agreed mate, it might be the bubble bursting of all that expectation (which isnt an excuse) and there seems to be plenty of players not really putting in.
It’s funny when you look at the list and try figure it out though, it’s easier to identify players who I thought had a dig/pretty good game. I might have plenty disagreeing with me but I thought Alvaro, Gennings, Gutho, Manu, Brown, Tep, Gowie, Marata all played pretty well. There were brain snaps, sure, but overall it’s just perplexing.
Brother hussey didn’t the eels do just that when smithy walked out years ago. I think tim smith n piggy were out the night b4 drinking n that was the final straw for smithy.
Have a good n blessed night. Just finished a church service now off to bed. Be blessed.
Mitch, i’d be interested to hear your thoughts on what positions/type of players we should be chasing for next year?
Mate, as the team stands now I haven’t been compelled to add any more to the same positions I and many others had in the off-season: another prop, a first class hooker and a winger.
The movements/use of Jarryd Hayne and Corey Norman might add or subtract from that list, however.
I think Paulo is a terrific start but another prop would do wonders.
This I agree with you Mitch 100%
The effort in that game was embarrassing, Made me ill watching it…Very disappointing. Have NO player who even looks likely to score a try. Not a fan of Cameron King….I think he has been pretty ordinary…David Gower has a go..George Jennings has a go. The centres Taka and Mick Jennings are pedestrian, and past their use by date, imo….
NOTHING in Wenty that can replace them..maybe Kirisome should get another chance????
Ava was ordinary for wenty yesterday. Maybe Aukafolau will take the opportunity with both hands. Jennings and Taka are cooked and should be moved on no way we should pay Jennings 750k next year. Throw all the money at Koro or Parcell hooker is such a must. Pritchard is in no way the answer. Hooker is one of those positions that you cannot afford an injury prone player.
Yeah as above I’m all in on a new hooker, another prop and another winger.
Kirisome is just a different guy Eels fans would get angry at IMO. Hopefully we can throw some young guys in and with the season gone (hopefully) no pressure to perform.
Agree with most of this except the last sentence.
MVP would be the fans who still go out in the cold to watch this dribble in hopes it turns around..
Yeah I gave this MVP award a few weeks ago (can’t remember which loss), and definitely considered it last night. It was not worth the drive.
Generous with the G jennings mark his defense is a worry as is his brothers that right edge is always looking shaky
Hmm, I can see what you mean, but I actually thought his defence was ok. It doesn’t always tell the story but he only had 1 missed tackle too.
If you go over the games since kidwell joined were coming in a lot more this suited takkas but the Jennings boys are struggling with it.
The tigers did similar when he was there
Good thought, I’ll keep an eye out for it. You noticed any other changes in our defensive structures? I couldn’t really say our defence has particularly improved with his addition.
Its fair to say its not got any better..
The only thing i see is the the compression of the edges.
It looks like Alvaro has taken the defensive leader role but noone seems to lead the line speed.
I personally the team is so far gone with confidence that our defense might be beyond saving
To be honest, I hadn’t really considered the defensive leader role since 2016, when we had Peats and DeGois leading our line speed. Who was it last year?
Brown more often than not kaysa as well but he has limitations in his game as a whole.
Kaysa has some limitations but I felt he was finally showing the team what he really had prior to his latest injury. I am of the belief that he is worth keeping, the thing is we need a good 9, and Kaysa would be handy as back up.
If we got Farah for the remainder of this season and to keep him next year for coaching the other 9’s it would be a bonus, but the club has to act now in that dept.
I think that Kaysa is better than King and Smith combined, but Smith really is only rest replacement in the DH role.
As I said above, I agree mate. I think Smith can be a 14 at a pinch, but should never be a 9. Smith’s value is his utility, but in that he also doesn’t particularly excel in any one position.
Yeah I have been and remain of the opinion that Kaysa would make a great 14. Energy, an improving running game, a change of tempo.
Mitch, I might be wrong but I think Kaysa was recalled and the first game there was little difference compared to the previous rounds and losses with King in the 9 spot. Following that loss Kaysa was in the two winning games and then was injured.
Kaysa runs on high energy but has tempered a bit with more guided runs and variations in his play, his darts from DH have been better, and on top of that while he misses some tackles I would suggest that he is nowhere as bad as King in that dept. If we can get a good 9 he would prove a perfect foil and come on as needed, similar to Cronula with their 9 and Segy coming on.
Mahoney is likely the future but I would like to see a solid experienced 9 come in and help him and Kaysa and give them pointers for the future. Mahoney has time on his side and lets not forget that Kaysa is still young has just turned 24 so he has time to progress and learn also.
King at 27 in September, should be showing much more form than he is now, if he could not cement his spot by now, then he’s not going to. The other aspect is that if he was of any real value and given how many matches he has played since Kaysa was injured last year and this year what has he really done to show he is worth the run on spot in the NRL?
BA described that performance as embarrassing and i think hes spot on with that assessment. Hopefully it will be embarrassing enough to get a better performance out of the side next week. Regarding the refs, BA seems to have no problem with them no matter how bad they are so ill just say they wete fantastic.
I can’t imagine any players walked from that field not embarrassed.
Except for the Knights players, of course.