The Cumberland Throw

Post Game Grades – Round 24 at North Queensland

Parramatta_Eels_logo.svg  Parramatta Eels 6

 North Queensland Cowboys 44

The Good:
In 2019 we’ll have a new stadium, Junior Paulo, Blake Ferguson, Manly’s leading try scorer Shaun Lane, a Fijian winger named Sivo and more coming our way. It could be worse, we could be the Manly Perth Sea Eagles.

And hey, at least we’re not the Liberal Party.

The Bad:

All of it, really. Take this game and fire it directly into the sun.

You know what else is bad? Our away record in 2018.

As next week is a home game, we just clean swept an incredible 0-12 away record. That is something else.

X-Factor:

 

Wait. Is Johnathan Thurston retiring? Why didn’t anyone say anything?

Could you imagine being an official and calling a foul on Michael Jordan? Or a false start on Usain Bolt? Well you can imagine the pressure on the whistleblowers in tonight’s game for JT’s final appearance in Townsville. Throw in 20,000 NQ fans and commentary teams basically making love to JT through the screens and there was only one way this game was going to end, and it was carved in stone before kick off.

Oh and the Cowboys started the game with 20/20 completions, and had 70% of possession at halftime.

It’s weird. I’ve seen us play plenty worse than tonight, but there’s only been a handful of scorelines like it.

With that said, we certainly didn’t play well. At all.

The MVP:
No.

 

1- Corey Norman

Fullback, Parramatta Eels

Tonight was Episode 3 in Corey’s most recent venture as custodian for the Blue & Gold.

It didn’t go very well for the Eels.

2- Jarryd Hayne

Right Wing, Parramatta Eels

I very much hope to see this bloke run around again next year.

3- Michael Jennings

Right Centre, Parramatta Eels

4- Clint Gutherson (c)

Left Centre, Parramatta Eels

If tonight’s game were a formal dinner, the Eels showed up looking like this:

5- George Jennings

Left Wing, Parramatta Eels

Had some really poor defensive plays tonight, and was basically manhandled by Kyle Feldt.

6- Jaeman Salmon

Five-Eighth, Parramatta Eels

Put in a couple of nice kicks, and he seems like such a nice young lad.

7- Mitch Moses

Halfback, Parramatta Eels

Prince of Egypt? Ha, more like *insert funny rhyme here*

8- Kane Evans

Prop, Parramatta Eels

Was that Kane Evans out there tonight, or an angry giraffe with an Eels jersey on? You decide.

14- Cameron King

Hooker, Parramatta Eels

I don’t know what happened to Cameron King in the offseason, but his service this season has been as slow as dial-up internet.

10- Siosaia Vave

Prop, Parramatta Eels

An early conceded penalty at nil all was literally the high point of his game tonight.

11- Marata Niukore

Back Row, Parramatta Eels

Marata actually missed the flight to Townsville earlier this week. Thankfully he was able to extend his pterodactyl like wings and make the 2000km journey north himself.

12- Tepai Moeroa

Back Row, Parramatta Eels

You wouldn’t believe it, but Tepai went off with another HIA.

13- Peni Terepo

Lock, Parramatta Eels

The Butcher butchered a play the ball, and it sort of spiralled from that point.

Interchange

9- Reed Mahoney 

Interchange, Parramatta Eels

Made a couple of very good tackles in his stint off the bench. I know after such a game positivity isn’t all that common but I really like this kid’s future. Still, that loss was so brutal and graphically violent, someone of Reed’s age really should have had parental supervision.

15- Tim Mannah (c)

Interchange, Parramatta Eels

The return of Big Easy did little to stem the horrific bleeding, but he’s somehow discovered a little sidestep.

16- David Gower

Interchange, Parramatta Eels

I’ve got a fever, and the only prescription is more Gowbell.

17- Brad Takairangi

Interchange, Parramatta Eels

I’m not even sure what Taka does out there anymore, but I’m pretty sure it’s not what he’s supposed to be doing.

Mercifully, next week is our final game of Season 2018. Although I love watching my team play, I for one will be glad to see the back of this NRL year for the Eels. I find myself now bracing for the onslaught jibes from my peers and co-workers now we’ve secured another wooden spoon, but I’ll be back for more, both next week and next year.

Get out of your comfort zone and get out there next week for our celebratory farewell to a horrific year. Round 25 vs the Roosters; next Saturday, 1st September at ANZ Stadium.

Whatever happens, the Throw will have you covered.

 

Vent your fury and disappointment in the comments below.

 

Go you Eels,

Mitch.

 

Sure we won’t be able to avoid the spoon, but you know what you shouldn’t avoid? Making a discounted purchase from Sportfirst Nambucca. Welcome to smooth segues and The Cumberland Throw.

Post Game Grades is proudly brought to you by

for all your sporting apparel and NRL supporter gear needs.

Readers of The Cumberland Throw get free shipping on orders over $100!

Click the image above and use the code ‘TCT’ at checkout for 10% off all orders.

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

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.

81 thoughts on “Post Game Grades – Round 24 at North Queensland

  1. Anonymous

    I’m not mad, I’m just numb to all of this. I think this is the worst Eels team I’ve seen in my 10 years of watching NRL. I’m contemplating changing NRL teams because I don’t think I can handle the constant disappointment anymore.

      1. Colin Hussey

        Dave, I think I go for around 55 years, have seen some lower grade premierships, as well as our 4 in the 80’s most other years have been average with a lot of wooden trophies, and I purchased one of the first car stickers to show I was an eels supporter. It was a simple worded yellow sticker with blue words “I’m a Sticker for the Eels” until I am in a wooden box or pushed off the gap as shark food, I will be a sticker for the eels.

        While I tipped them to win, I did so only from my heart knowing full well a win was highly unlikely, and when I saw who the ref was I knew the night was going to be long. I only saw around 45-50 minutes of the game, and there was little doubt the 14 Cows players were very much on the same page and were never going to allow JT to go out with a loss, their challenge is to repeat that next week and they likely will against the GC.

        One thing for sure is that I will be glad when this seasons over and that for me is next week, but I may watch some games after but no great priority really, I will back up again next year and follow the eels without fail, unless the box or gap is for me.

        I certainly saw some eels players that tried hard last night, while some were disappointing, the usual poor reads and some dodgy penalties were atrocious, but that’s what one expects unfortunately as the bottom team again.

        For me, there was no way the coach can be blamed for this years mess, he does not run out on game day and does not make the poor decisions he does not drop the ball nor miss the tackles, the second half of this year has been more overshadowed by the majority of our losses being by small margins rather than hidings like last night, & I don’t see that happening again next year, I see at least 7 of the off contract players being told to retire of go elsewhere, also likely are 5 off contract end of 2019, if a couple have not bee told to look elsewhere.

        I believe that we still have a few name players to come but, I am hopeful that many of the young juniors will get their chances in the NRL squad. One thing that I see being a great step forward is the review being completed along with its implementation, that includes the retention of the new trainer that was at the Storm, who has been an excellent signing and bodes well for the future.

        As for the coach, he needs to have a decent staffing crew around him, in that area we lost the first half of the year owing to that simple aspect, he did not have the support staff that was needed.

        The worst part of next weeks game against the chicks is that we may not have the chance to blood some more young players in that game, as that is what I would like to see, even if that means a loss, it will mean however that we will have some of the future players given the chance to show their wares and be a good audition for them as well as encouragement.

  2. Michael Formosa

    Disgusting, disgraceful and disappointed. Can’t wait for this season to be over! A lot of players that have been great for our club over the last few years unfortunately need to be moved on.

    And did I mention Parra to celebrate getting the spoon have jacked up price for season tickets!!

  3. Avenger

    We are in the abyss. There should be no more discussion. Brad if you love the club as much as you say you do, then do the honourable thing and quit.

          1. Anonymous

            Nobody is going to want to sign with him. For the sake of keeping juniors and our future BIG signings he has to go.

          2. Anonymous

            He’s systems and processes are dated. He buys poorly. And we ran last. Only way is up with any other coach.

          1. Colin Hussey

            Rev, its easy to forget that even the best coaches have had poor seasons, and wasn’t Benny a resounding success at the Knights? Oops!!! I forgot he was, he got a very successful padding to his pocket.

  4. Colin Hussey

    We came home tonight just in time to see the cows go to 38-0, half time came soon afterwards with a forgettable scoreline and it was decision time, do i watch the 2nd half knowing what was going to happen or not?

    Well I decided to watch and I could not get any emotion with it, I watched penalties being given for unknown reasons, Taka to the bin, and NQ players doing the same and worst and nil penalties to the eels until late in the game.

    I watched our only try scored by M Jenko, and it still left me flat. The game ended and the only bright spot for me was the presentation to JT of some trophy by Tim Mannah and that to me was the only enjoyable aspect of the game.

    Next week we play the chooks, maybe they will take pity on the eels and let us win a game by enough points so we don’t get the spoon. But that is nothing more than fantasyland wishful thinking.

    Bring on the end of the season, news of some decent signings, and saying good bye to around 8 or so players that wont be with us next year, and of course the review. At least that should bring positive aspects at the end of a pathetic season.

  5. dave smiles

    can see why you didnt post grades but in saying that i dont think coach or whole team deserve the shit being poured on them by the facebook supporters group. cowboys were always going to win tbe game, even before the game there was 25 minutes about jt and cowboys eels only got mentioned for team line up. was poor performance but shit some really bad calls

    1. Anonymous

      They deserve it because they got smashed by almost 40 points by the team coming last. Now we are last and are going to get the spoon. The team is diabolical and deserve everything they get

    2. mitch Post author

      Ha yeah I dont think any grades would have satisfied their thirst for blood. Can certainly understand their frustration, however.

  6. Rocket

    So disappointed.
    Commentators said at half time the game was going to script. We were never meant to be in that game!

  7. Fletch

    *sigh* make it stop

    Only one more week and then we can all look at the little blue light from the Men in Black and forget the whole season.

  8. West Coast Eel

    The Good – I iq’d the game, watched the first set til the penalty, fast forwarded til 32-0, then turned it off. Didn’t see much of the game!
    The Bad – My mood for the next few days. Sorry to my wife and daughter.
    MVP – Any Parra supporter that flew up to watch that game. If only some players had as much heart as you guys.
    X Factor – Somehow we kept them below 50.

    Man, it’s been a tough year and I feel that I’ve been constantly depressed since rd 1. One more week, then I can forget about footy for a few months. One thing is for sure, I’ll be back supporting the boys next year!

  9. Billy

    Well, that was just… urgh. I didn’t expect us to win, but damnit, I’d like it if it looked like all our players tried. We were always going to get caned in the penalties. Some of them were ridiculous (eg Peni’s play the ball penalty – watch the next set, there were three tackles where they didn’t touch the ball with their foot, with no thought of a whistle), but we show no resilience. Rubbish goal line defence, poor decisions, lack of effort. What happened to that awesome “backs against the wall” mentality of 2016? We were gone after the first three penalties in the first three minutes – it’s like some of the players just shrug and think “it clearly ain’t gunna be our night” then don’t put in. Points to Gutho, Cash, Timmy and Peni for effort, if not execution. Most of the rest… yeah, nah.

  10. Anonymous

    Bye Jennings
    Bye Jennings (2)
    Bye Norman
    Bye Taka
    Bye King
    Bye Pritchard
    Bye Mannah
    Bye Smith
    Bye Gower
    Bye Hoffman
    Bye Auva’a
    Bye BA

    1. Billy

      If that’s all you’ve got to contribute to the conversation, perhaps this isn’t the site for you. Nobody liked that performance. But that comment doesn’t add anything. There’s plenty of other options where everyone is ready to throw the baby out with the bathwater, I suggest you go shout into the echo chamber there.

      1. Anonymous

        I’ve been adding to this site for a while with actual things to say and like BA in the press conference I’m cooked and out of ideas

  11. The rev aka snedden

    Let’s get 1 thing clear n that no one was going to beat the cowboys tonight …. no one. Not the storm not the roorters not the bunnies no one…. ?The NRL told the refs make sure cowboys win at all cost in 1300 i won’t smile stadium.

    look at the bright side we are not a 1 man band like the cowboys … lets see how they go with out JT watch there coach get fired ….lol.

    Parra on the other hand we can look forward to new faces n new home ground. looking bright with mahoney kid looks really good some nice darts from DH n beautiful left n right passing game. release kp ck don’t need them after all we have smith until 2020 as back up don’t need 4 DH’s

    on tonights game parra were poor but not as bad as the score made ppl think….

    #Eels4life#

    1. Anonymous

      Mate they made it to the grand final without jt, so hardly a one man band. I could only wish we had players like Taumalolo and Morgan. Bloody hell I wish we had their whole forward pack.

    1. mitch Post author

      I didnt want to give away too much positivity after a loss like that, but I do love Reed. We looked much better as soon as he came on.

      Reed Mahoney played 47 minutes last night; the Cowboys outscored us 12-6 during this time.
      In the 33 minutes he was off the field, the Cowboys outscored us 32-0.

      1. Anonymous

        Your just trying to put the dots together and hope they line up. It is just coincidence because you like Reed so much. I’m still not a fan yet. Yes he is better than King and Pritchard but i dont think he is a long term 80min player each week. I think he will make a great rotation hooker and come on when the game is slower and opportunities arise. Similar to Brailey/Segy (Sharks) or Farrah/Liddel (Tigers)

        1. mitch Post author

          I disagree, although with that said I do find hooker the most difficult position to judge in isolation (separate from how the team is performing). I do believe it is the most crucial position to allow the rest of the team to play well, however. And by that measure, Reed is chalk and cheese from our other options.

          In games where Reed has played more than 50 minutes, we’re 3-2, and we’d be 4-1 if we held on against the Bunnies. If we can somehow do all the things required to get to a 4-1 team, I’d be stoked. It’s more than Reed, but in a team that’s the worst in the league, that’s a pretty good start.

  12. Michael Formosa

    I’ve been a massive supporter of BA from the moment he came to our club but to take over a team that was last and in 5 years time to be last again with no real reason is unacceptable.

      1. The Captain

        I actually watched every second. No idea why. Thankfully the place in my brain that used to feel feelings has been replaced by a giant Eel shaped scar.

        I used to be able to look forward to cricket season, and now I can’t even do that (cheers for that Warner and Smith).

        Oh well, next year…next year. Bring on 2019!

        I still like the way Hayne is playing, Gutho looks as hungry as ever and Reed is fun to watch. That’s about as far as the silver lining goes.

  13. Offside

    Im not mad im use to it thankfully i got some good news about the coaching situation that has given me a glimmer of hope.

    We deserve this wooden spoon 5years since brad said we wont win one under his coaching and we’ve done nothing and are back where he started.

  14. BDon

    Mitch, agree, easier to not try to sort out the wheat from the chaff.A penalty in the first set these days is a game changer, and Vave did hit him behind the knees. The commentators don’t seem sure about exactly how that rule works,but it did look dangerous. Fair call, sloppy discipline in a game where we just didn’t want early penalties. Game, set, match. (Hair trigger nit picking after that, the Peni play the ball call was beyond belief. And the Cows didn’t need any help).
    All first half tries were from momentum through the middle then move the ball wide. Old fashioned RL. 70% ball to that pack with Thurston lurking – no hope.

    1. mitch Post author

      Completely agree with all you’ve written mate. Brutal night at the office, but I’ll be back again in 2019 (and next week, for that matter!).

  15. Salty Pete

    I was at the game. Three penalties against within 5 minutes. Our only early momentum was thwarted by another dubious playing the ball penalty. The Refs gave JT the send off he deserved. Having said that we were smashed by the Cowboys forward pack through the overwhelming weight of possession and fantastic Cowboy completion rates. I don’t think any team wouldn’t have beaten the Cowboys tonight.

    1. Kaul Pent

      Yep, Scott was huge for them.
      We had no go forward, we could barley get out of our 20.
      Refs didn’t help but that’s football. We were never gunna win.
      Let’s hope king is dropped next week and replaced with young kafusi.

      1. Colin Hussey

        Unless King is out injured he is unlikely to get another run, but we can only live in hope for one more week, would love to see a few other fringe juniors given the chance as I said in another post.

    2. mitch Post author

      Yeah I think this is key, it’s the 44 points that hurts me. An arm wrestle would have been infinitely more palatable. Kudos for getting out to the game, mate.

      1. Colin Hussey

        While I hate raising the whole game again, and as I only saw less than the last 50 minutes, there are some aspects that stick in my memory regarding this game and some others, primarily being why is it that one week the team as a whole generally play well and on some occasions have played well, with perhaps the exception of some players, which may be the main ones not putting in.

        To me the game is for 13 on the paddock along with the 4 reserves, and every one of them has a job to do, and that is to play to their abilities each time they are picked an no matter the grade, if they cannot do that then they don’t belong in the team.

        Not long ago, in French’s last NRL game, he was castigated for not chasing a try scorer and Gutho having to yell at him and point him to cut off the scorer, at least he responded and tried, didn’t make any difference though.

        Fast forward to Townsville, and I saw at least two occasions where our fullback made very lazy similar attempts and on one of those, a half hearted bend down to try and pat the bouncing ball over the dead ball line, only to miss and have the cows score again, What a terrible lazy play from an experienced first grade player who we all know does have abilities, in these cases I wonder if there should be a clause that allows the club to fine these players for not performing in accord with the expectations and amount of money they are on in their contract with the club?

        I saw a couple of others in the forwards who were not much better, that is if they were, one off contract and the other????? not, Yet I saw another smaller player in Terepo, who I used to criticise for his lack of effort playing very much above his size against the cows and has been for a while now.

        We have some young players in the side, and others that could play in the top side, thing is do they want to play for the eels?? that needs to be a primary question before money and value is even discussed for contracts. Against the cows on such a night as the farewell of their primary pin up player, was the team so over awed by the event before the match that they were mentally incapable of playing to win? If that is the case then, no matter how much and what the coach and support staff would and could say was not going to make a difference, even the prospect of not getting the spoon was not enough to lift the team as such, some individuals yes, but not all in the team.

        Our last game against the chooks this coming Saturday night, may well be the litmus test for those who are selected, I would sincerely love to see some changes made as I suggested a bit earlier and BA, bring on a couple of other young players who are to be part of our future, rather than have players who are there for the last time, they would know that, and play in a what the heck mode, but those with a future to go out and play their hearts out.

        The chooks were beaten last weekend and are still beatable, if the team chosen is one for the future and believe they can win against the chooks, it would really set a launching pad and confidence going forward.

  16. DDay

    And with that effort we are back to where we were 9 weeks ago, in the abyss. There were signs of improvement over the past couple of months hinting at some momentum to build on into 2019. Last night was very poor, the lack of resilience shone through. Yes we were down on troops (our forwards struggled), yes there were 3 penalties given to the Cowboys in the first 6 tackles but the cornerstone of the improvement has been defence and the Cowboys went through us, around us and over.
    “Mercifully, next week is our final game of Season 2018” – many thanks to Mitch, Sixties, FortyTwenty, Clint and Co, I’m sure it’s been a long season trying to make sense of the nonsensical. Might the implementation of the review, the rookies and some new recruits deliver the reset needed..

    1. mitch Post author

      Thanks mate – it wouldn’t be as fun without all our readership.

      In regards to the offseason, TCT is going to have a full internal review, even though I apparently have the full support of the board, I’m not sure I’m going to survive the cuts.

      1. The Captain

        Sack Mitch the bush journo!

        But seriously, thanks for all the articles, they’ve been an awesome read.

          1. Milo

            Mitch i heard the club is going to look into providing some chairs for supporters at Salesyards; unlike poor Manly.

  17. The rev aka Snedden.

    You must watch the good games n the bad games to be a reel eel fan. I watched it all. As for some comments on here about the team being a stinking team well don’t like them follow someone else

    1. Offside

      Thats a simple view mate i love this club, doesn’t mean we cant see the facts for what they are
      this team this year stinks dead last no doubt about it were the worst team in the league.
      Most wooden spoons by any active NRL team
      Only western suburbs have more.
      A playing style that is so far away from the middle ranked teams let alone the top.

      I see all this and more i acknowledge this im still going to support them with hope of a turn around, im not going to naively think this core group and staff are magically going to turn it around we wont make the 8 unless we make changes look what a change of coach and system has done for Souths

      1. mitch Post author

        I can see why people are of that opinion, and if the review calls for BA’s head I suspect that’d be the end of it. And yes, Souths are a terrific story of changing coach, but the Titans aren’t looking all that flash either with their brand new coach, so it’s no silver bullet.

  18. Parra Pete

    The effort was there!!. The Cowboys played almost the perfect game, and, in my opinion, would have put a similar scoreline on any of the other Clubs. They were unstoppable, and hardly made a mistake. The effort in front of a sell-out crowd, and on such a special occasion was not un-expected. It was a bit like what fans expected from the Eels at the opening of Parramatta Stadium. Sure, the full time scoreline was disappointing..but the magic of seeing JT weave his magic should live in the minds of ‘true’ League fans for ever. In years to come we can say “Yeah, I saw Johnathon Thurston play his last game in Townsville”…just like we can say, “Sure I saw Tulloch, Kingston Town, Makabye Diva, Black Caviar and Winx race”…Appreciate what we have witnessed. It could have been 12 all in the second half – a good fightback considering the scoreboard pizzling they got in the first stanza.
    Daniel Alvaro, Kaysa Pritchard, Nathan Brown, Manu Mau, Kenny Edwards, Beau Scott, Tony Williams were missing…that’s a chunk of experience…..

    1. Salty Pete

      Parra Pete, it must be your name but I agree with completely. I was there and everything was against us. To you disgruntled supporters, as optimistic as this sounds, I wouldn’t read too much into that game. It was all about JT….. just ask the Refs.

    2. Parra Pete

      In my opinion Vave and Terepo have been the big improvers in recent weeks…and the team missed Brown and Alvaro last night…I was disappointed with the result, sure, but not too disappointed to enjoy the skills on show by J T and his Cowboys….Thurston is such a superstar and represents all the good things about Rugby League…(and he has worked very hard to improve his image over the years – good on him)…

  19. Milo

    Frustrated, angry and embarrassed – that is how i feel today and for the season.
    Could not watch after mid first half; we deserved the loss but some calls were tough.
    Mahoney stat was great thanks Mitch.
    In all truth i am a bit over the game, NRL and of course the season. I have no care factor at this point.
    I am also off o/seas in two weeks and thank heck i am. I personally do not care who wins or loses in the finals. Watched some afl today…and it took my mind off Parra.

    Parra need to move on some of last nights players and tbh should be doing this asap. We need one more prop as in leader type player with size and also need an organising five eight/ half to help Salmon.
    I sincerely hope the do this and also move on some Wenty players; along with plan for Parra to take on ISP team and also excellence centre for our teams.
    We have the juniors coming but need the foundations in the main squad and we do not have that.
    I get it that Mau, Brown were out last night with Alvaro, but we need to move on some others…..

  20. John Eel

    Mitch it has taken me a while but I have managed to push the emotion down.

    However all I can add to the post is that you have done a good job all year and I am in awe of how you can front up each week with this post considering the season that we have had.

    Go the Eels

    1. mitch Post author

      Thanks John, appreciate you reading mate. Some weeks it’s pretty tough and I phone it in a little. You can tell the week’s we’ve won, there’s plenty more finesse to the Grades.

  21. MAX

    I have been travelling with work and despite the score line I actually tortured myself and watched the recording last night, more so to watch the young guys get a run. Whilst we absolutely blown off the park in the first 20 minutes, we just couldn’t recover! 3 penalties in the first 3 minutes, you got the feeling it was all going to go the Cow’s way, and it did! Whilst I am enormously disappointed that we finish the year this way, I have to say I am concerned that BA cant get our team “up” for a match like this, even if we lost but we were competitive.

    1. Colin Hussey

      Max, I just posted an after thought reply above, and repeat in part one paragraph here as to my after thoughts of the match, while its not a good look, I believe we have players in the current side that know they don’t have a future at the eels, and are playing that way, most if not all of those wont get a run elsewhere I believe.

      Against the cows on such a night as the farewell of their primary pin up player, was the team so over awed by the event before the match that they were mentally incapable of playing to win? If that is the case then, no matter how much and what the coach and support staff would and could say was not going to make a difference, even the prospect of not getting the spoon was not enough to lift the team as such, some individuals yes, but not all in the team.

      1. MAX

        Cheers Colin, with that said, Canterbury didn’t really have a lot to play for either, but they turned up! We didn’t! After the game they said they did it for Dean Pay and the Morris twins!

        1. Colin Hussey

          Max, I would say that the players in the eels team that I am referring to are pretty well at and on a different level, an that is the most disappointing aspect of the game, thing is though the dogs beat the dragons 38-0 and the eels beat the dragons 44-4.
          How does one read that?

          1. MAX

            Col, I am referring to the effort, and the ability to be able to get the team up for a game. Surely there must remain some pride in this jumper, not to mention the embarrassment of another wooden spoon.
            I genuinely feel as a club we have accepted mediocrity in behavior and performance for too long, from the top down.
            Anyhow bring on next year with a host of young local talent, I hope.
            I don’t want to win every game, I just want to be competitive, every week.

          2. Colin Hussey

            Cannot disagree Max, tells me that the players that are not really putting in, are there for the money and nothing else.

            As for the club accepting these sorts of players, I am really hopeful of the person who becomes the Football club manager, is of the calibre that can identify these types of players before giving them an offer, at best a one year deal, if there is any concerns at all, and the deal would be based on performances beyond.

          3. John Eel

            Colin with regard to your point about some Eels players giving little effort knowing they have no future in the NRL.

            The Bulldogs players on the other hand know that they are safe because the club are in no position to replace them given their salary cap position.

          4. Colin Hussey

            John, that’s an interesting take on the players and I cannot disagree in concept. As I replied to Max above, the person taking on the head of football needs to be someone who can see what they really want to do, are they just here for the coin or want to play for the club.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

%d bloggers like this: