The Cumberland Throw

Post Game Grades – Round 18 at Newcastle

Parramatta_Eels_logo.svg  Parramatta Eels 16

 Newcastle Knights 18

The Good:
The first 10 minutes was pretty good, and Jarryd Hayne was excellent.

End of list.

The Bad:

X-Factor:

 

Our handling and completion was comically bad, we had 58% completion in the first half, and gave away 6 consecutive penalties. Our second half was basically the same, but Jarryd Hayne did some crazy stuff to make it interesting. Oh and our usually reliable star and talismanic captain had an absolutely woeful game.

If you ever find out you’ve only got one day to live, watch a tape of the Eels 2018 attacking plays, it’ll feel like forever.

Hopefully Junior Paulo and Blake Ferguson have lost their receipts and are well and truly contractually obliged to still join the Eels in 2019.

The MVP:
The Prodigal Son has well and truly returned, but unfortunately the game result is still the same. He was seriously something else tonight with an absolutely ludicrous 12 tackle breaks in his 80 minutes, also known as the same number of tackle breaks the rest of the Parramatta side had, combined.

Do yourself a favour and avoid imagining how bad we would have been without his contributions tonight. Yuck.

1- Clint Gutherson

Fullback, Parramatta Eels

Sure, it was a great start with a long ball from the King to put Gennings in a bit of space, but Gutho then missed the simplest of conversions, missed a regather that allowed Connor Watson’s four pointer, and dropped the pill late in the first half when we were probing the Knights’ line. He didn’t recover in the second half, either.

It pains me to say it, but if I’m honest Gutho looked a step slow tonight, and his 3 errors, and 1 missed tackle (he only had to make 3) didn’t look great either. To be fair, the 16 runs for 153 metres are excellent running numbers, however.

2- Bevan French

Left Wing, Parramatta Eels

I love a sneaky Bevan French chip kick (so does he, evidently) and they created chaos on a couple of occasions for the Newcastle defence in the first half; one of which led to a cracking try for Mitchell Moses.

It was good to see a bit more involvement from French tonight (9 runs for 72 metres), but the 3 errors almost cancel out any of his positive contributions. (He actually had 4 errors, but I’m not holding that last try attempt against him; good on him for being there.) In short, we saw both Bevan at his best, and were reminded of his ongoing vulnerabilities in the 80 minutes tonight.

In other news, PLEASE STOP GETTING THROWN OVER THE SIDELINE. Thanks.

3- Michael Jennings

Right Centre, Parramatta Eels

Compared to recent weeks, Jenko was relatively invisible tonight, marking a significant improvement in his overall performance.

I’ll take that.

4- Jarryd Hayne

Left Centre, Parramatta Eels

As mentioned earlier, Jarryd Hayne was in sublime touch tonight.

Jarryd Hayne breaks set up both our second and third tries this evening, as he ran 13 times for 209 metres, made 13 tackles, 2 linebreaks and a try assist. Remember all those people who blamed him for our losses when he was injured? I wonder whether they’ll blame him for tonight’s loss.

5- George Jennings

Right Wing, Parramatta Eels

Once again, a pretty no-nonsense and all around effective game from George Jennings. Baby Jet had a team high 19 runs for 164 metres, 1 tackle break, 1 linebreak, 1 linebreak assist and was strangely only asked to make 1 tackle. That is not a misprint.

6- Corey Norman

Five-Eighth, Parramatta Eels

Corey made some good defensive plays early in a couple of Knights’ sets of six, condensing our line to prevent the wingers and fullbacks from going wide for easy metres. With that said, Corey also had a team high 6 missed tackles. Still, on the other side of the ball, Corey’s 8 runs for 136 metres can only be a good thing, adding to his linebreak assist, tackle break, 17 tackles and 2 errors.

I thought we actually looked best when Corey took over and dominated the play calling (for more detail on this, read the next comment … which you were going to do any way).

7- Mitch Moses

Halfback, Parramatta Eels

I’m not anything like a rugby league coach, but as the season wears on I’m becoming more convinced we look the better team not with Moses as the dominant half, not even with a 50/50 split, but instead with Corey Norman in control of our attack; and with Moses simply playing what’s in front of him. There’s a reasonable chance I’ve said completely the opposite in the past, so trust me only as far as you can throw me.

Nonetheless, the collective inability of our halves to consistently click our attack into gear is probably the most concerning facet of a very disappointing season.

8- Daniel Alvaro

Prop, Parramatta Eels

You can always rely on him to get through a mountain of defensive work (43 tackles tonight) but Polar Express also went off for 15 runs, 130 metres, 2 offloads and also had a tackle break.

9- Cameron King

Hooker, Parramatta Eels

As a full time rake, you are often asked to pass the ball north of a hundred times a game (92 tonight for those playing along at home). I would therefore argue hookers should have enough practice at not throwing the ball forward and also knowing where your primary kicker is on the last tackle. Cameron King is evidently still learning these skills. On the plus side Kingy made a whopping 53 tackles (missing only 3), leading all players on both teams by a fair margin.

10- Siosaia Vave 

Prop, Parramatta Eels

The big fella just rolled and spun his way through some soft Novocastrian defence to avoid another graphic nudie run in 2018.

Elsewhere Viva la Vave’s 12 runs for 117 metres, 5 tackle breaks and 12 tackles (albeit with 3 missed) makes for probably his best performance of the season.

11- Marata Niukore

Back Row, Parramatta Eels

I recall Crunch straight up saving tries on a couple of occasions tonight on our line, but he made an unfortunate error with 8 minutes remaining. Still, his game continues to develop as he continues to demand selection with his 42 tackles (only 1 miss) and 7 runs for 53 metres.

12- Brad Takairangi

Back Row, Parramatta Eels

Doing some good things and some not so good things is incredibly on brand for Brad Takairangi. Sadly tonight, there was more of the latter.

13- Nathan Brown

Lock, Parramatta Eels

If you’re a frequent reader of Post Game Grades you’ll know I love Nathan Brown, he’s probably my favourite cybernetic organism. With that said, giving away a penalty in possession because you couldn’t be bothered to tell your biomechatronic foot to touch the ball as you rolled it under your leg is a little soul destroying. Cyborg’s 13 runs for 108 metres and 34 tackles is still encouraging work, but it’s a bit like getting one over par if you’re Nathan Brown.

Interchange

14- Tepai Moeroa

Interchange, Parramatta Eels

I might still be tainted by that ridiculous brainsnap 3 week suspension, but to be brutally honest I thought Tepai would be hitting his straps and revelling in that long declared potential this season. But, evidently that is not the case just yet.

15- Tim Mannah (c)

Interchange, Parramatta Eels

Tim Mannah run good, Tim Mannah tackle hard.

16- David Gower

Interchange, Parramatta Eels

David Gower may not be the same player he used to be, but neither is Michael Jordan. Gowie’s 2 runs for 19 metres look good if you squint your eyes really tight, back away from your screen and then go into another room.

17- Peni Terepo

Interchange, Parramatta Eels

We lost, Peni.

Again.

This season is beyond frustrating, but thanks for reading.

Whatever happens, we’ll be here again next week.

 

Go you Eels,

Mitch.

 

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Photos courtesy of the Parramatta Eels. Stats courtesy of Champion Data.

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82 thoughts on “Post Game Grades – Round 18 at Newcastle

  1. Anonymous

    Agree with most grades. Dont agree with Brown. He was disgraceful tonight along with Gutho and French.!

    1. mitch Post author

      Disgraceful? Really? Other than the aforementioned penalty he gave away, I didn’t think he was that bad. He ran for over 100 metres and missed zero tackles ..

      1. Anonymous

        did you watch his passing game.? found the ground 3 times twice out the back.! Brown is lazt in attack, doesnt like to run in pairs with support without the ball. Brown is the type of player who only looks great with a good forward pack behind him.. Give me a Fisher Harris or Tevita Pangi Junior at lock over Brown any day.!

        1. Rowdy

          I just read a report from a “judge” (yeah, that’s the guy who assesses the right of a person to be critical, as in your case, or to give evidence or opinion again as in your case Mr? friggin who?) Antway the judge said regarding a complaint by an individual about another human being that they couldn’t expect to have their complaint taken seriously if they wanted to remain anonymous)! Which anonymous are you?

          1. Anonymous

            Rowdy you a complete W@$%er
            This is a forum for people to express there opinions. Get over yourself champ.! I am entitled to mine as you are yours. Get a life

        2. mitch Post author

          I like TPJ and Brown the best of the three you mentioned. Again, I think he had an off game (see the grade I gave him compared to most weeks), but I also think calling his game disgraceful is piling it on a bit thick. But all good, we simply see it differently.

  2. Michael Formosa

    I agree with all those grades, we seem to be lacking in a few areas that’s making a massive difference.

    1. Goal Kicking – we have lost so many games because shit goal kicking. Surely Moses is better than Gutho. (Not by much tho)

    2. Do we throw the most forward passes out of dummy half? No matter who is in the 9 jersey.

    3. Bevan French getting taken over the sideline or driven back in goal more than any other player in the comp.

    4. Penalties – we give away a lot but what gets we don’t get much ever in return! I don’t how every team that we play is perfect for that week only.

    5. Forwards – Everybody knows the story here.

    Every one of these points needs addressing before 2019.

    1. Anonymous

      We really need to go after Isaako killer winger and a complete sharp shooter goal kicker honestly two birds one stone and would’ve been a far better investment than Fergo

      1. mitch Post author

        If he were willing, it’s certainly worth a thought, but I’m told Isaako informed all inquiring clubs he won’t be leaving Brisbane. Fergo does meet other needs we have, so it’s certainly not a poor purchase, particularly when you take Isaako out of the equation.

        1. Michael Formosa

          Fergo is a great pick up and so is Paulo and they will help a lot but we are going to need more. Moses must be our goal kicker for now and needs to put a lot work at it. There is still a few spots that so far remains problem for next season. Hooker mainly, I personally would have got Kurt Baptiste while Reed Mahoney comes off the bench and transition into a first grade player. Now this would have been very archivable because he was off contract but I read the Raiders have sign him back.

          Our Junior pathway system is a joke with very little real first graders prospects coming through.

          1. Anonymous

            You obviously know F@$k all about footy if you think Baptiste is a starting quality hooker.! lol. Ill put it like this, King and Pritchard are way better.! As for SAYING OUR JUNIOR DEVELOPEMENT IS A JOKE YOU OBVIOUSLY KNOW F@$K ALL ABOUT OUR PLAYERS COMING THROUGH AS WE HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING PROSPECTS IN WHICH ILL PUT MY HOUSE BECOME QUALITY FIRST GRADERS AND REPRESENTATIVE PLAYERS.

          2. Michael Formosa

            Then if that’s the case we don’t need to buy anyone just kick back, relax and look forward to all these superstars flooding our first grade team in the near future!!

  3. Thereal_hn

    Some glimpses of eels magic tonight but unfortunately like our season it wasn’t a great performance with too many errors and poor finishes to sets. We have big issues tho with Our pack not able to put fear into the opposition.. Besides hayne the team was pretty one dimensional.

    Tonights game also highlighted how much semi runs out of the danger zone meant to us. We just don’t have any go forward from our own half especially when the defense is rushing in on us….

    1. mitch Post author

      The go forward issue was highlighted once again tonight.

      People often categorise props into two types – those who are explosive and create their own momentum; and those who excel on the back of that momentum. Taumololo is both, Junior and Taupau are the former, Mannah, Alvaro and Brown the latter. We’ve currently got an imbalance.

      1. Rowdy

        Only because we don’t have Taupau and Taumololo and Junior hasn’t arrived back here yet? Also a rushing defense either taking off early or from inside the ten meters as was the case last night, is difficult to overcome.

  4. Anonymous

    This season honestly

    Im over
    guthos mistakes and lose of pace
    Jennings fast decline
    Takkarangi just being on the field
    Going into rd 18 and still never fielding a 1st grade hooker
    Mitch moses on his brett finich like ability to never full fill his potential
    Our forwards
    The lack of desire
    Brad Arthur and his press conferences
    Brad Arthur and his coaching
    Brad Arthur in general

    I was watching the panthers tonight look how well set up for the future they are. And look at us looking like another 10 years without playing finals footy.

    1. Anonymous

      Panthers and Broncos are setting the standard with developing juniors. How many debuts have they each had in 2018.? Brisbane have at least debuted 7 under the age of 21.
      Penrith have debuted at least 8 under the age of 22.
      Parra have debuted 1.. Yep one.

      Why have players in our 20s system and Nsw cup if they are not good enough for the Nrl.?

      Our Nsw cup team is a joke.

      What ever Penrith and Broncos are doing we need to do the same or we will loose some very promising juniors coming through.

      If they dont see B.A giving them an opportunity they will go.
      Why would juniors want to play for our current team.?

      Its embarrassing at present being a supporter. Something is seriously wrong.!

      1. mitch Post author

        It should be noted that Brisbane and Penrith have been able to debut so many youngsters because they’ve had large contingents of players on rep duty, and have therefore been allowed to go outside their Top 30. As I understand it only Greg L is in our Top 30 from our young brigade (although that might have changed after June 30).

        Agree re our ISP team, there are only a couple of players worth considering for NRL and they’re those young players you speak of.

        1. Gazzamatta

          Why is the make up of our top 30 such a huge secret? Do we get dispensation for Beau and Edwards?

          1. mitch Post author

            Apparently the NRL is mandating the public release of Top 30s for all teams next season, but this year gave the club’s a grace period and allow each club to determine how public the lists were.

  5. The rev aka Snedden.

    Another good start let down by a poor middle n poor ending.
    When will we start to learn to stand a little bit deeper in attack … That is why we are getting done for forward passes.

    Bring in Mahoney until seasons end. King n Pritchard are not 1st grade players eels buy segeyaro.

    Goal kicking. What is wrong with Moses … Is his confidance shot to bits that he can’t kick goals any more. Plz that goal kick gutherson misses was so easy yet he gutherson shanked it.

    5th tackle plays. Why on earth arnt our halfs counting the tackles …. Surly they must know when they want the ball on the last. Are we that dumb a footy side that we can’t count to 5 ….plz.

    Hayne. Well he schooled that left side of the field n he showed why he needs good clean early ball. Outstanding game Hayne your proving many ppl wrong including myself well done n keep it up.

    French why didn’t he dive in the corner like he normally does … If he does that we win simple no I’m not blaming him for the loss. The game was lost after brown failed to play the ball correctly deep in Newcastle’s half n on the attack.

    On the over all team performance good in patchers.
    Nothing to gloat about.

    #Eels4life#

  6. Offside

    Its all to much really I’m so happy i gave away my season tickets weeks ago i actually had corporate tickets to yesterdays game was happy to sit at home

      1. Offside

        Yeah ive had 10years as a member and 20years as a fan ill be back but this year coming down from the coast each week doesn’t seem worth it

  7. Anonymous

    Agree with most grades, though everyone seems to rate Brown but I think he is over rated and very average. I have taken a lot of notice when I get to see us play and he is very average in all games I’ve seen. Gutherson seems to have lost all confidence and needs to spend time in wenty and is not captain material and French is a 1 trick pony who still does not know when to find the turf as seen when rag dolled and that silly dummy and run that fools no one. These are the 3 I do not agree with in your ratings both Brown and French are a D at best and Gutherson is a F harsh but more accurate.

    1. mitch Post author

      Good to have different opinions, but as you’ve said, we disagree; particularly re Gutherson and Brown. One swallow does not a summer make.

        1. mitch Post author

          No Kim, I just grade the players in this post. We’ve discussed Arthur at length in previous posts, you can comment about him all you like. Personally, as the board said publicly yesterday, I feel that although there is some responsibility to be laid at his feet, this year’s disappointing results are more indicative of him not receiving the support he continually requested in the football department.

          If you disagree, feel free to say so, but please don’t tell us what is off limits on our site other than things like personal attacks, racism and unsubstantiated repetitive arguments.

  8. Anonymous

    I agree with Joey Johns. You need to have your weapons on the one side of the field when attacking.

    Moses to Norman to Gutherson/Hayne. Poor Brad Arthur is not upto it.

  9. Big Derek

    Let’s be honest and it is hard to say this. Until BA and others acknowledge that apart from Alvaro , our forwards are a threat to no one. Vave played well tonight in stints of 15 minutes.
    The recruitment process is flawed and boy are we paying for ignoring our junior programme until 4/5 yeas ago, we have given Penrith 5 yeas start and are now starting to see some results. Despite the players coming through we still fail to retain some of the better ones, for instance another one to Manly and another to the Bulldogs.
    If you doubt our problems , stand next to Manu Mau and then next to one of the Penrith backrowers, despite his performance Manu is the size of current U 16 players.
    The number of posters that keep stating that we our props need help, where were our recruiters when a club with 2 SOO props signed another one.
    Our backs cintinue to gave to play in confined spaces as our forwards are dominated and pushed back, then we lack wrestle and strength in defence which has the opposite effect whey the opposition has the ball.
    BA seems to prefer a 9 that tackles, what a waste at one of the most creative positions on the field, no wonder our 9 was rated the worst in the competition.
    We have a review which should state the bleeding obvious, but I don’t know how many other supporters feel the same way, but I have very rarely missed a home game, but playing at ANZ with these tactics, probably safe to say the view will be from home in the warm.
    We need to be assured that the recruitment , coaching and playing staff resembles a competitive top 8 team , as a shiny , new stadium doesn’t paper over the issues. This review is crucial.
    Never been so disappointed, that covers the 90s, last nights roster should have easily won that game. What grade do we give our structure, is there a mark below F.

        1. Milo

          Big D what’s your answer to the juniors? As in did manly / Canterbury offer these players good money? Ridiculous money? I have no idea.
          I do know that Manly with Blacktown and juniors have at least 8 Parra guys in Matts with some Penrith players too.
          How does this get stopped? Unless we are not keeping the right ones….and we cannot pay them ridiculous coin.
          To me our forwards play one out; no players in motion at all running with them; Vave did some good but he’s not fit and should be!!!!
          I would be seeking exemption to bring in some more juniors now and keep the nucleus for 2019 and beyond.
          Surely the staff know who they want to keep for 2019 and beyond? Or is the review dependent on this?

          We do NOT have enough guys with discipline for 80 mins.
          Our halves both need to lead the team and they are NOT doing this consistently. They’re getting paid minimum $600k and more……
          Errors and penalties……i cannot swear but want to.
          I personally believe we do not have a team of guys who play for 80 mins; i am very concerned for the coach and the club to be honest.
          Yes the review has to be done and i just hope things are done strategically with recruitment / coaching and support staff.

          1. Colin Hussey

            Manly and jnrs from the eels has been the go for yonks now, no better example in what they paid Trex after his first season in first grade.

          2. Milo

            Yes agreed col but the reported bussing them from our area is interesting. No doubt we have some good ones coming through i guess we need to have an eye for the ones to keep

  10. Nathan

    No direction whatsoever,yes at times the forwards struggled to go forward but at the end of the day the halves should see that and put a decent kick in on an earlier tackle to try and turn the momentum,there is no collusion between them and it’s either 1 or the other who takes control and the other one than sits back and sulks by the look of it.Moses is a 6 not an organiser ffs and BA (I was a fan) but really needs a spell aswell,they are offering up the same shit week in week out and I don’t care if Norman has a few drinks while on rehab,fine him and move on,not everyone who gets older in a team has to be a leader,he is our only option as an organiser going forward and BA is trying to offload him and everyone is the world knows it but he keeps denying it. We do make mistakes but that game was still winnable right until the end and when we did look like putting pressure on it was through Normans direction,this season is just reminding me of the last time we got the spoon where everytime we won the team just above us did too and when we played the teams just above us we get beat by them. I’ll keep supporting and will never stop but the most frustrating this is the seeing same team list every Tuesday.

    1. Milo

      Fair points mate; Norman for me also made some bad calls; he got tackled on the last in the last 10 which to me where a grubber for repeat set needed; to me he is not consistent and Moses has been the same.

  11. BDon

    Good summary Mitch. Norman’s pass to a marauding Marata was average so maybe they split that error.
    This is just dumb, dumb football. While mostly young and inexperienced, the Knights ran hard, tackled hard and had a good General. Their kicking and chasing was good. BUT we still almost won! Maybe my blue and gold eyes are blind, but I just got the feeling that all we had to do was go set for set for about 15 minutes and 10 blot would have been 20 blot.
    King and Norman forward passes, you can see them coming, they don’t even attempt to push their arms forward to adjust for the runner. I had noticed Pritchard improved here, good sign, a learner but we ve got a lot of non learners. Patience and composure come in 5-10 minute bursts,15 minutes is a stretch, so we ve got none. On field leadership is scratchy, so we ve got none. Give Hayne and Brown the key leadership roles but really need to develop leaders in the spine. Haynes weakness is referees, a bit of learning here would give us a good leader.

  12. Anonymous

    Why do we always falter in the end? The team is just like a horse sprinting from the star but cannot stay the distance. Is it fatigue that makes them commit those errors or just the current culture? Someone should have the maturity to settle the team down like how a jockey sttle down his horsein mid race.

  13. Anonymous

    Those scores flatter some, and its hard to take much out of a game that our team defended pretty well in, especially when the opposition had the big name signing back from injury and champing at the bit for a win which should have surpassed the previous knights pummeling of the eels with 30 points scored against the eels.

    Brown, needs to rethink where he is at, after giving away a dumb penalty that stuffed up our attack on which tackle number was it? He is getting dominated by opposition packs when attacking too easily for mine, but then again he’s not Robinson Crusoe but there were a few Fridays with him on a sad Friday night.

    Gutho to me is not a fullback, either that or he is having injury concerns as he’s not impacting from there either and likely time for him to concentrate on his own game and plays without the responsibility of being Captain. Make Hayne or perhaps Norms Captain again, with whoever is given the role to ensure the game plan is followed and decisions not overruled by others, as happened previously with Norms and IDG doing that on several occasions

    When we have a player on the field that gives himself an eye gouge and the trainer gives the opposition a wonderful chance to get their wind back, well!!! what on earth was he thinking of and what on earth was he even in the team for?.

    1. BDon

      Anon, I reckon Brown had a mistake factor in him (eg. high risk offloads) which he has worked hard to eliminate and made his game look a bit more pedestrian, but as Mitch points out he is still a high effort, high workload contributor with a killer instinct (Peats was the same). The killer instinct showed when he was ready to lead the next ruck v St George when Smith decided 40/20…75minute mark and the guy knew what was needed( Brown I mean, not Smith!)
      And yes, Gutho will henceforth get hammered by every team we play, he looks like his body may be carrying some problems.

  14. Glenn

    Last nites match was a microcosm of our season, good first 20 mins, 20 mins of absolute rubbish and then 40 mins of good and bad, mainly the latter. Is Hayne playing for a contract next year? Needs more than one good match to justify it and Mennings, what can I say? Looks over-weight and looks disinterested most of the time. Best to get rid of him even if we pay half his cost we’ll still be better off imo.
    Btw Brown stepped over the ball when playing the ball earlier and didn’t get pulled up for it. So did he go brain dead or revert back to old habits?
    Could BA please introduce the players to each other as after 20 mins it looked like they had never played together before. What worries me is BA seems to have NFI as we get served up the same rubbish from the players each week.

    1. mitch Post author

      Gees, I thought Jarryd has been close to our best for the past month. Even if he was playing for another contract (I just think he loves playing for Parra), I’d give him another year regardless.

      Agree re the microcosm of our season. Hopefully the ISP stint is a bit of a turning point for Mennings, even when he’s in great form he has the odd invisible game like last night, which feel much better than watching him play half assed all the time.

  15. Anonymous

    Some people may think i am an idiot. But i’m telling you all our future as a club are young players coming through.!
    Dylan Brown 18yo half back absolute gun. Great attacking game, Quality defensive game. Kiwi international
    Kyle Schneider 18yo Hooker. Freak, Quality player. true leader. Picked in Brad Fitlers emerging blues 1st grade squad at 17yo youngest picked.
    Stefanano Utoikamanau 18yo front rower, Great speed and endurance for a 6″4 – 118kg boy
    Nsw u18s origin man of the match

    Only my opinion. The 3 boys are the future hands down.! If you know anything about rugby league you will know this.! 3 amazingly talented boys. I personally think 2 of them will play 1st grade in the next year or 2 100%

    1. sixties

      Anonymous – you know your stuff and the pathway is there. We are just a bit behind (due to their age) showcasing these type of kids, but the process is in motion. I’ll be writing on this topic, but not just taking the “how good are we” line. I’ll be writing on what more needs to be done.

      1. Kim

        The same was said about dargan doolan Tanginoa twal Aloia Tui Falou matterson ect these boys were extremely hyped up by the know it alls. The same as your doing now with these kids.

        The fact is last stage development has been extreamly unsatisfactory

        There are no guarantees

        Can Arthur get these boys to the next step that’s the problem he hasn’t done anything in 5 years.

        So far in previous years it’s been a fail – because the previous boys were talked about very highly.

        The proof is in the pudding and so far it’s close to zero sixties

        1. MAX

          Kim, there was a nice write up on Kelepi Tanginoa in Sunday’s Telegraph, for me he was more of a keeper than Peni Terepo!

    2. mitch Post author

      Agree with all of this, although I’m not sure how the Reed and Kyle battle for the 9 jersey will shake out, just gotta make sure we keep the right ones.

      1. Offside

        And give them opportunities to shine seeing as wenty copped another heavy defeat again playing without a half they could do worse then offer chances to the young fellas to play against men

        1. mitch Post author

          Yeah I’m keen for as many young players as advisable (individually) and permissible to be playing at Wenty, particularly with how Wenty is going and the state of our NRL team.

      2. Anonymous

        Please elaborate.! Meaning the Reed and Kyle battle will play out.? Is there not room for both.? I personally think they are 2 different players which could work in a rotation. Also elaborate we have to make sure we keep the right ones.! Who are the right ones.?

        We all have our opinions, Kyle is yet to be proven at that level. And Reed on the other hand has shown his potential at that level.
        Both boys can defend
        Both great work rates
        Reed runs more
        Kyle plays more team structure and gets to points on the field.
        Kyle kicks more and better kicking game
        Both boys great service
        Kyle great game manager
        Kyle is a leader no doubt
        Reed high enthusiasm
        Kyle a big build for 9.
        Both boys great fitness
        Reed plays whats in front of him
        Reed is quicker
        Reed is 20yo
        Kyle is 18yo
        Kyle is also a very good goal kicker

        Between them both we have a perfect hooker

        I think both are amazing players and would complement each other as a #9 – #14

        It might come down to the style the coach wants to play and what hooker best complements that coaches structure.

        Either way exciting times ahead and not all the loom and gloom others portray.

        1. Offside

          Very astute personally i see next year as another write off especially with BA at the helm, but much like Newcastle ill cop a bad season if it bears fruit of young talent getting a shot and taking it to develop into a stronger competitive team

        2. mitch Post author

          Ha, yeah you’re preaching to the converted. If we keep both Reed and Kyle, convincing them to share the hooking duties; I’m obviously all for it. I was just working under the assumption that both will want a starting 9 role and that there wouldn’t be room for both. If they both stay, that’s a huge win.

          Not unlike what you’ve said, my priorities (in no particular order) would be Brown, Reed, Kyle, Stefano, Salmon, Dunster and I’m still intrigued by Ethan Parry. Eventually I think Trey Mooney could be anything and surely Greg L gets a shot this year in the NRL this year (despite his current defensive question marks).

          1. Anonymous

            Well eventually both will want starting positions. But Kyle is 18yo and Reed is 20yo.
            We are comparing an 18yo to a 20yo.
            I know iv done it myself, but its a little unfair to Kyle i think. Reed has 2 years more experience at that level, Unlike Kyle who is not proven as yet but excited to see whether or how he does handle it at that level.
            But the fact we and everyone else are comparing the 2 boys i think answers alot of questions. If Kyle is being compared to a kid 2 years older and is on par with him now. If he continues to progress then who knows.! Very exciting
            Kyle still has time to completely develop and see where he is in a year or 2. The same goes for Reed. Maybe this question and the answer we require will be answered then. Either way i’m excited to see what the next few years brings for both these boys..! Parramatta either way will benefit from it.!

          2. Anonymous

            The boys you mentioned above are all fantastic players. In years past our biggest problem has been bring players through from Harold Matthews cup and Sg Ball. But with the kids coming through it will be hard to leave them out when and if they continue to progress and develop. Every year the transition is harder from u16 to u18 to u20 to Nsw cup to Nrl.
            Huge steps and every level is harder to achieve. I think in the next year or 2 we will see a number of young and up and coming players be given opportunities. Then it will be up to the individual to see how they handle the pressure.
            Another kids im really impressed with along side Trey Mooney is his team mates is the u16s – fullback – Tuipulotu and the lock – Tohi and the Center – Russell

          3. mitch Post author

            There’s a nice shot going around at the moment with Peter Taateo, Matthew Komolafe, Caleb Tohi, Mooney, William Penisini with Anthony Field after the Origin game. A lot of talent (Field included) in one photo).

            I think you’ve hit the nail on the head, and I’ve heard it said by plenty of better football minds then me – there seems to be a lot of talent constantly in our 16s and 18s programs, but it starts to die at 20s and ISP levels; well before we can reap the rewards at NRL level. Certainly an issue worth considering with the review, and one touched on by Sixties regarding his Wenty analysis.

  16. MAX

    Guys,
    There are some really interesting points throughout, if I can buy in with my disappointment at Brad Arthurs comment post match about taking more positives out of the game than negatives. I have been a huge supporter of BA’s, however if he feels that he take positives away from that game, I am afraid to say I think he has lost the plot. I could see one positive in that game, with that being that Jarryd Hayne can contribute if he wants too! As a club we are at a very low point. Sadly I don’t see our junior pathway as our future!
    MAX

    1. Colin Hussey

      If the juniors are not our future, then what is? There are some that are playing in those comps who will sign elsewhere as we have seen for so long now, and go on to be top line players.

      ATM, from what I am gleening from the reports on our juniors, its probably the brightest we have had for years, the only worry is what Mitch says above about them dropping off at Flegg & ISP levels. We have an NRL coach who is trying to push and work with the juniors but needs a much better ISP coach than we have now, perhaps with someone that the junior players are working well with in Anthony Field.

      Other person I would like back at the club would be Luke Burt.

      1. MAX

        Col what I was meaning I don’t believe our junior development program is the answer, because, we’ve had a similar structured program for at least 6 years, and tell me how many young stars (19 or 23 years old) have you seen break onto the scene in NRL, Bevan is about it. Some of these kids that we are seeing leave for other clubs, we have invested enormously in, from the under 13’s development program. my point is, I don’t think the pathway is right, and the few coming through if we hold on to them will not be the saviors of our club for a couple of years yet. In my opinion only, the junior development program is flawed, if I look back 3 names were going to be the big things according to those in the know & running the programs, Doolan, Dargan, and Tramontana, none of whom amounted to anything, but we invested heavily in these lads for a bloody long time – with no result! A good question to ask, is it the kids, the pathway, or our talent ID that have failed. Penrith has got it right, the Bronco’s have got it right under Peter Nolan. We have an enormous junior base and should be producing much better results as far as talent ID and development goes! I for one hope the review of football operations, unearths some new ideas or the need for change in this area. Just my opinion Col!!

        1. Colin Hussey

          Max, I understand, and it disappoints me that some of the players that get the early wraps end up nowhere, or are at other clubs, yesterday I saw the chooks brought in 3 of their young players and they went well and had an impact on the game that the chooks won.

          Outside of Marata, the only newby picked this year was Mahoney, played two games, binned in both games and cops a 3 match suspension, a good start? Not!

          The review that is going on needs to seriously look at what’s going on with our juniors, also to seriously get their heads out of the sand and come to some of the lower grade matches, and see how dumb it is with the isolated matches that are played, Flegg in the morning on suburban ground, then ISP at same venue a few hours later, while the eels play at ANZ half hour after the ISP game starts or finishes. Why?

          Why not the three or at least the Flegg and NRL match at same ground on same day and no more than 30 minutes between them. Players need to show their wares before supporters with reasonable crowds in attendance rather than a clear field that has the atmosphere of a cemetery.

          A specialist person should be in charge of the junior development and one from our ranks and wants to see the young ones get a go. I think Field or Burt would be ideal, both to work together in the development and as coaches.

          1. MAX

            Thanks Col, I think we are on the same page! I have a genuine fear that Anthony Field may be the scapegoat through this review, he is one man that does not deserve it!

          2. Colin Hussey

            Easy target? interesting! I guess there always has to be a scapegoat but what I read of Field he has the respect of the players and doing a good job. Unless there are issues that are affecting what he does and working with players and the coaching staff, I suppose looking to easy targets are always on the cards.

          3. John Eel

            Interesting read developing here. as I read the thread I was just wondering how many players say in the last 5 years have left the Eels system and gone to do big things in the NRL.

            It is one thing to let players go who end up bench players at other clubs, this will always happen but it is a far more worrying thing to let players like a James Maloney or Paul Gallen go.

          4. MAX

            John I think that you would be quite surprised, here are just a few:
            Mitch Moses
            Blake Green
            Jorge Taufua
            Jamie Buhrer – Origin
            John Williams
            David Williams – Origin – Australia
            Paul Gallen – Origin – Australia
            James Maloney – Origin – Australia
            Daniel Tupou – Origin

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