Parramatta Eels 10
Melbourne Storm 64
Melbourne Storm 64
The Good: |
The number you have called is not connected. Please check the number and try again. |
The Bad: |
“Why go hard, when you can just go home?” – The Eels, Magic Round, 2019 It makes me sad there are so many legitimate contenders for “Most Disappointing Eels loss ever”, but this game is certainly in the finals. As for the Eels, after tonight’s inept performance you’d think we are infinitely less likely to be so. Six days ago I was standing in Bankwest Stadium, bouncing my 5 year old son in my arms triumphantly belting out “Click Go The Eels“. This week’s game felt like it should have been accompanied by the Benny Hill theme. I mean, the Eels defensive line looked like it was being controlled by a kid who got the NRL Xbox game but doesn’t understand the controls yet. In short, almost everyone in Blue & Gold was terrible tonight, but Taka and Terepo were the most terrible. This game will forever be known as the Magic Round Massacre of 2019. |
The X-Factor: |
The Storm ran 2418 metres, the Eels only ran 1472.
The Eels missed an insane 46 tackles to the Storm’s 21. The score was 64-10, and I’m sad once more. |
The MVP:
|
Give it to one of the guys in a Storm jersey. |
 |
1- Clint Gutherson (c)Fullback, Parramatta Eels |
 |
| Game aside, I am a huge fan of how annoyed Gutho was at Sivo’s sin binning. Everything else was pretty awful though. Clint Gutherson only made 4 tackles tonight, but missed a team high 10 – just let that marinate for a bit.
I actually don’t think his ongoing negotiations are impacting his game, he just happened to be terrible tonight. Still, despite tonight’s game, we still want you to stay, Gutho. |
||
 |
2- Maika SivoLeft Wing, Parramatta Eels |
 |
| When Jarome Hughes ends up on one knee, I’m not sure there was too much more Maika could have done other than murder him in the place where he stood. What I don’t understand however, is why Maika stopped chasing Curtis Scott in the 47th minute. | ||
 |
3- Michael JenningsLeft Centre, Parramatta Eels |
 |
|
He wasn’t actually terrible, he just wasn’t particularly good, either. You know who was terrible? |
||
 |
4- Brad TakairangiRight Centre, Parramatta Eels |
|
| More like Bad Takairangi.
God speed either those rumours of us signing DWZ, or Salmon into the centres. I’m done. |
||
 |
5- Blake FergusonRight Wing, Parramatta Eels |
 |
| I kinda felt bad for Blake with that bludger of a bounce for Josh Addo Carr’s try. Nonetheless, whatever horrors unfolded tonight, we can’t really blame Blake. He also put in one hell of a chase for Curtis Scott’s try, and was only one of two Eels to crack 100m (Gutho was the other for those playing along at home).
Obviously not a great 200th for the big fella. |
||
 |
6- Jaeman SalmonFive Eighth, Parramatta Eels |
|
| Jaeman missed 6 tackles and had 2 runs for 9 metres; and those sort of numbers actually put him in the better half of the team. | ||
 |
7- Mitchell MosesHalfback, Parramatta Eels |
|
| Mitch’s 7 missed tackles aside, he did mange all 3 of our linebreak assists and all 2 of our try assists tonight. Good on him for chasing Addo-Carr at the end, too. We still lost by 54 tonight, so let’s not get too congratulatory. | ||
 |
8- Daniel AlvaroProp, Parramatta Eels |
|
| Tonight, Daniel Alvaro played a game of Rugby League. He ran 8 times for a paltry 54 metres, but did make 36 tackles. At times, Daniel still looks tired and a little lazy out there, however. | ||
 |
14- Peni TerepoWorld’s Worst Hooker, Parramatta Eels |
|
| Peni Terepo makes the podium for our worst players tonight.
I know he does his fair share of good things, but I’m not sure how much longer we can continue to debate the good and bad of Peni Terepo. Not unlike Bad Takairangi, consider me right off him until further notice. |
||
 |
10- Junior PauloProp, Parramatta Eels |
|
| In the first half, Junior Paulo literally ran more metres making his way onto the field than he ran in attack in the opening 40 minutes. In the first stanza, Junior ran 7 times for a paltry 36 metres. No, seriously.
He had 3 for 28 in the second half, but who really cares? |
||
 |
11- Shaun LaneSecond Row, Parramatta Eels |
|
|
My heart is black except for Shaun Lane. He lights up my life.
|
||
 |
12- Marata NiukoreSecond Row, Parramatta Eels |
|
|
Plenty of players evidently chose tonight to play their worst game of the season. Fortunately for Marata, he’s built up enough good will in earlier games to avoid any sane person questioning his role in the team going forward. I can’t say the same for … |
||
 |
13- Tepai MoeroaLock, Parramatta Eels |
|
|
I’m not even sure what Tepai is supposed to do anymore, but it’s definitely not what he did tonight. |
||
 |
9- Reed MahoneyInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
 |
|
Not unlike Fergo and Shaun Lane, I can’t blame Reed for tonight’s massacre. |
||
 |
15- Tim MannahInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
|
| I didn’t really notice him playing tonight, but my eyes |
||
 |
16- Oregon KaufusiInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
|
|
The young bloke doesn’t deserve to see that – he had to cancel two shifts at Grill’d just so he could play tonight. With all the horror aside, I actually thought he was pretty good; getting through a relatively impressive 5 runs for 51 metres. |
||
 |
17- Manu Ma’uInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
|
| I don’t know Manu. I just don’t know, mate. | ||
Marie Kondo, I want you to know that the Parramatta Eels do not currently spark joy in me.
This week, find something else that doesn’t hurt you like being an Eels fan does, and then we’ll see you back for more misery next weekend.
Whatever happens, just be thankful you’re not in charge of Eels social media this week. To everyone reading this, please be kind to all those working at the Eels.
Now, chin up guys – we’ll be back.
See you then, sports fans.
Go you Eels,
Mitch.
Photos courtesy of the Parramatta Eels. Stats courtesy of the legends over at Champion Data.
Me sad
Why you do this, Eels? Why you make us so sad?
Absolutely disgraceful. Do the right thing BA and resign. The decision to play Gutherson at hooker was a diabolical decision, nullified everything Guth does right at the back.
My gut tells the players might have just sealed Brad Arthur’s coaching career at Parra. It can’t go on like this, it will be costing the club money through the gate. New ground hysteria won’t last long with these diabolical performances, not saying anything about player values diminishing.
There remains a dreadfully soft underbelly to this team, and a distinct lack of on-field leadership when the going gets tough. Abysmal performance, and most everyone on the team should feel embarrassed. I actually disagree with your thoughts on Gutherson’s discussion with Perenara – I think it showed him to be out of his depth as a captain, with a lame argument and overly-emotional manner.
I thought it was incredibly strange of Henry let alone any ref to allow Gutho to say what he said. Usually they usher them along quickly.
Gutho was right. Alvaro copped a shoulder to the chin and nobody was penalised. Its not like Sivo was trying to decapitate. The player fell into his shoulder. If the player was a few millimeters taller, nothing would have come of it. Good on Gutho to raise this, Absolute BS on behalf of the officiating. Does not excuse how poorly we played. We cannot handle score board pressure.
I get where you’re coming from, but I enjoyed that at least in that moment we weren’t as tame as the rest of our night.
I swear my Dad wrote this about Taka. And I agree 100%.
I’m done, man.
Can we even come back from a loss like this ?.. The last time we had a similar loss was against the Eagles last year and we were a mess after that.
We’ll be back mate.
FFS of course we can. Apart from the top 3 teams, there is all sorts of strange results. Whilst we, I believe, cannot handle score board pressure during a game, we turn up a new team each new game. 100% we will bounce back.
I didn’t even realise Mannah played tonight. Honestly.
You’d be forgiven.
So true. Another disgraceful performance to add to the eels rich tapestry of abysmal performances. Just shattered with what was dished up tonight.
Shattered is a good description of what I’m feeling.
This scoreline does not happen to winning teams, a winning culture, a winning club. I have been Blue and Gold for 61 years that is close to the worst I have seen.
It’s right up there.
Our tackling had 0 intent behind it tonight. Not sure where the poor attitude in defence has suddenly come from.
Of all nights to not turn up we roll over and die when an opportunity was in front of us to leapfrog Melbourne on the table.
We also got rolled through the ruck very easily which seems to happen every week. It’s like opposing hookers just duck past our markers and make easy metres. Would love someone with a better rugby league brain to explain to me why that is. Poor marker effort? Are we not wrestling enough in tackles
But yeah overall terrible night.
Too late Mitch , the social media back stabber had their knives out halfway through the first half
The Eels weaknesses seems to have been badly exposed, first by the Raiders and now, not only exposed but capitalised by the Storms – Limit the back three running metres and play through the centre field. I don’t know how the coaching team can counter this but if they can’t, then I reckon the outlook will be very bleak.
Great comment.
TolEelts agree this is the crutch of the problem, the back three have been going well and it masked the lack of forward dominance particularly in the middle. The cautious recruitment approach now looks smart – wouldn’t we look like dopes if BA/Gutho/Moses had all just resigned long contracts. BA has to change the tactics and make changes for next week, in the least Stone in the middle & Parry in for Taka.
DDay, agree. BA needs to change players who are not performing well. Obviously Taka will be one and probably Alvaro. Alvaro always get caught lying on the ruck. Tepai needs game time management, he missed tackles probably because of fatigue. Salmon needs to be another game threat to release pressure from Moses. But will BA dump players? That is the question.
He certainly should this week. I suspect we’ll be without Sivo anyway. But Taka, Terepo Tepai, Alvaro all in the firing line IMO.
Agree some players should be held accountable for their respective poor performances and I really hope this happens. IMO BA’s stick & pick philosphy white-anted our 2018 season until it was too late.
Equally we need to change tactics and focus on competing in the middle defensively and having the middle forwards contributing more to team metres – relying on the back 3 is too predictable and good teams can nullify this approach. IMO JP needs to lead he charge and straighten up the attack supported by Mau, Kaufusi, Mannah & Stone.
Agreed re forward pack needs to step up. We were especially poor through the middle last night. Edge weren’t great either really.
Agree on all. I think we need to stop relying on the back 3 and start gaining metres with our forwards. Also we need to have a quick play the ball and stick with their tackles. Easier said than done though. I reckon Hoffman will replace Sivo. Paulo should be used more as a battering ram than a 5/8 doing offloads.
I don’t know why I did not follow my head rather than my heart in this game as I predicted an eels win by 5, yeah right. Interestingly though I made no attempt to try and find a way to watch or listen to the game, first time I can remember ever doing that, as I had a nothing feeling about the game, I guess reading the score 10 scored points is better than nothing.
Having read around some opinions, it would be easy to slash the wrists but not doing that, however I do know one reason why my feelings were as they were and that is because of who was the main ref. I made an oath with myself a couple of years back to never watch, listen or go to any game that I saw him refereeing in, especially any that involved the eels, given some comments about him and his performance tonight, it will be forever a policy for me.
Such an inept performance by the eels and the scope of the loss cannot be blamed on the ref, but from some aspects of what I have read, he certainly did not give the eels any leg ups though, as per usual.
I have to admit when I saw Peni listed to run on the paddock in place of Mahoney, I stared at it for a while & shook my head, his first run on at Prop was a disaster and it continued tonight, contract again? doubt it for me. For all those off contract end of this year, this match seriously has dropped every players worth. It also does not auger well for the coach either
I had a big concern that the public spray by belly would make it very tough for the eels and it certainly was the case, he has a squad of players who really feel that sort of thing and respond positively to it, does our coach do it? I believe he has to give one almighty spray and make the whole squad know that a repeat wont be tolerated again, all our losses have been by too big a margin for mine. And there needs to be changes next week, as another northern away game awaits us.
A score line of tonight’s performance should have every player with a Fail mark against their name.
I’m sorry you had to watch that all the way through Mitch. Most people turned it off by the 50 minute mark.
Can’t wait for next week.
I actually started watching late, and then had to watch live after Kayo screwed up, Went from 0-0 to 10 nil very quickly. Little did I know how bad it would get.
It all ended with that disgraceful Taka knock on from the penalty like seriously that’s means for a permanent wenty trip
Agreed – it was almost an arm wrestle about up to that point.
I was like woah we can go toe to toe with the best! Then that happens. They ran at that edge all night. I’ve been wanting Taka gone for years now or at least for someone to take his spot in his centre. Ramien, Roberts and Scott might all be available soon. I know DWZ is an option but I think we should be thinking about an actual centre.
Also wtf is with our players inability to scramble or tackle one on one? They just slide right off tackles ever since round 1. I don’t want anyone to forget this. The amount of offloads made off us is astounding.
Good call. JP was at the centre of this and did the same thing against the Knights. I am concerned about out belief in him. Perhaps too many minutes. Not the only culprit, there were many more. But, a bad performance should just be treated like that, a bad performance. Lets aim for the top 8 this year. That should be the sole goal.
They have penalised so many times for not letting the player up. One game the tackler as on his back & ref said he would not get off & penalised near the goal post!
Tody was a bad loss in fact it was out right disgusting. But damn one week we love everyone. The next sack BA and do a clean out. We still in the top 8 which tells us that consistency is what’s lacking not ability. There are a few players in the team that have probably played their final season for the Eels, BA needs to start looking at youth and bring them into the fold. No point of making the 8 if we not going to contend for the premiership.
We just had 64 points put on us and we are supposed to remain calm. You are an idiot !
😭😭
I actually agree with you, HN. A loss like this, in this context needs a response, and some Eels need to go, but there’s no good throwing the baby out with the bathwater.
I’ll make a few comments;
1. Perenara; he is a substandard referee who not only seems to have something against Parra personally by all margins of reference He inconsistently controls the game – it’s as tho He takes personally whatever occurs on the field.
We watched 3 games back-to-back and HP was by far the more controversial and least consistent official of the day.
All of that said…HP didn’t cost Parra that game.
Mate, I dislike Perenara as a referee as much as the next guy, but he had next to nothing to do with the outcome tonight. Thought it was one of his better performances (which I realise is damning with faint praise).
Agree with you mate, said above “He didn’t cost us the game”.
2. The only time 10 metres wasn’t well enforced was early in Knights/Dogs – the Knights especially M Pearce got away with Murder.
Melbourne were just holding players down and wrestling as to be expected.
The team change: it went around the ground Arthur had made a late change – which I found out about on Twitter. Immediately my heart sank. It seemed like a major panic move and a demonstration of either a game plan that completely failed or a lack of confidence in Reed.
Whatever the case; Gutho at hooker was a disaster. And MM Was ON THE WING – – – from the moment of the 3rd tackle of the first set where Mitch Moses came in from His defensive position on the Wing & Ferguson dropped back for a kick it was clear the defensive line was going to be a mess. Too many players out of position & not enough talk to compensate.
Sure enough the line speed was down, first contact was abysmal & the talk was non-existent.
Can I just say how big a fan I am of people breaking down their different points into different comments. Makes responding/conversations SO much easier.
We were shithouse today.
I don’t like to blame a coach and havent been one to criticise BA but I was disappointed with starting Peni at dummy half. I can understand why he would think its a good idea but it completely takes away from one of our strengths. When Parra play well we come out fast and score points early and I think thats almost impossible playing without a real dummy half. It also puts a mentality that we are trying not to lose the game early instead of attempting to win.
I agree wholeheartedly with your first sentence.
Cant argue with the grades……some may have still been generous. My observation was that we lost it around the ruck and always seemed short in defence.
Eddie Jones once commented about a key selection criteria was how quickly players get off the ground when tackled, and after they have made a tackle. as a general observation, it seemed like in attack, we were often last off the ground, ( they won the ruck) and it seemed that at least 50% of Storm play the balls ( if not more) had a Parra player either still on the ground or behind Cameron Smith. Which means were were short in the defensive line a lot. Speed off the ground to get back into the line or to get back to marker is critical.
Would be also interesting to see how many times the Storm attackers were put onto their back , and we actually won the ruck…as they say
This is a great point, it’s little things you can’t always put your finger on. At least we only have to figure them out, the players and the coaching staff then also have to figure out a way to fix it, too.
Pathetic, Ashamed, Ropable, Resentful, Annoyed.
I will be back again screaming our Parra chant at the next home game but some players tonight should have a red line put through them. We will not win a title with players who cannot be relied upon to turn up each week with very little difference between best and worst or play with some semblance of footy smarts.
I love BA and he has my support but if I am honest he will loose it if he does not make some of those players pay the price and play for Wenty. As the game went on they lost the right to make amends for that performance next week in first grade. I have heard before they are embarrassed and yet again when the going got tough they got themselves to marker so they could have a rest or tried miracle offloads with little football smarts or regard for teammates or plans. Melbourne game plan was simple early, kick long and wait. Wait for the Parra brain snaps from the usual offenders or lazy marker they will come.
I am talking about dropping favourites of mine like Taka and to a lesser extent Peni but tonight leaves no room for favourites. I hope BA is ruthless, he needs to be for his sake and the team if he wants to move forward.
I hope the playing group don’t apologise for another inept performance as it would be so hollow as we’ve heard it so often before. Save the words and show some pride in the jersey or get players who will. That’s not a lot to ask of a professional team.
Shelley I am with you on this one and totally agree with your comments. Watching the game last night I thought “how is Shelley going to write anything positive about what Parra supporters were served up last night”. I am glad you didn’t even try because as a team they were disgraceful and should be embarrassed to take a pay check for non performance. We supporters deserve an explanation, ala Craig Bellamy coming out and saying publicly that the Storm performance the previous week wasn’t good enough, well by crickey what Parra dished up is beyond description.
I really want to see some reaction by either the coach or Bernie, this is justnot good enough for a 1st grade team. DO we need to be called the Bi-Parras, only turning up every 2nd week?
3. Gutho. I disagree with Mitch here, Guthos contract saga has gone on too long – everyone was talking about in our bay & it must be playing on His mind.
In the first half Gutho was off the pace. Distracted. Then he had a head clash(?) or copped an elbow in the passage of the last try just before half time and looked sore afterwards – 2nd half He was a ghost for mine. Missed so many tackles, out of position & that last attempt at catching the Moses bomb that led to the 60+ try was clear to see to everyone around that He was never going to make it in time to contest the ball properly. Why didn’t he just slam the fullback? Instead they race 100m to score.
The argument with HP was good in some ways as it showed abit of ticker, for the only time during the game but really Gutho should have had more to say prior to that point. —- James graham is a good example. The dragons scored and He walks back with the ref remonstrating the whole way about something the Warriors allegedly did. The ref knows he will be hounded if he misses something in that case. For Parra it was too little too late – Cam smith doesn’t wait for a send off before he challenges the officials. Gutho shouldn’t either. I hope He learns this.
F was a fair grade, I remember watching the raiders game last year in the rain and Gutho was just back from injury – he tried his heart out. Bad knee and all. Tonight, he was a shadow. Never seen or not seen that before from Him.
This is all true. Particularly the James Graham example. Well said mate.
I never thought I’d ever give Gutho an F, but he was a shell last night.
He reminded me of a sulking child last night.
4. Sivo’s Hit on Hughes was absolutely unavoidable – why everyone was calling for a send off is beyond me. The guy was almost on His knees….
The give up of the chase happened the other week as well, not sure why as Sivo caught Vunivalu with a start later on. He should be told never to do that again. Otherwise; he simply had a quiet game.
Tepai Moreoa has no defined role in the team that is obvious to the viewer. He’s not athletic enough for the rangy lock forward like Radley. Not durable enough for the middle. Never plays on the edges. Where I feel He was always best suited.
The drop balls and ineffective tackles from Him tonight were pretty awful.
Taka …well everyone saw what happened there.
Fergo was arrogant in his attempt on that kick from Munster – it took a wicked bounce and fergo was unable to compensate. Then the play the ball error. Surely more is expected of Mr State of Origin recall.
Junior really was effective when he ran straight but it just didn’t occur more than once or twice – Kaufusi proved if you do it, it works. junior needs a big bounce back next week imho.
Final thought:
This was the last game my old man will be able to see with His health. And it was just absolutely devastating to watch. Only one team showed up ready to go. And it was Melbourne.
BA has to make some changes as it’s simply the worst effort in a loss I’ve seen LIVE after attending maybe 2/3 games a season for 15 years.
He also must resolve never to change the team like that so close to game time – it robbed us of alot of confidence.
By the end of the night the storm fans were apologizing to us in the bay. That sort of abject pity can not ever be visited upon a team that gives the game and fans the effort they deserve and a proper dig. That’s what hurts the most. The Lack of effort.
Something has to give for that performance, as it wasn’t worth the $$$ we all paid for as ticket holders and members.
Will be watching again next week from home & hoping for something good to talk about that’s for sure.
I’m sorry to hear that about your dad mate, there are so many more important things in life than football. Hoping your dad watches a winner next week mate.
Good write up of bad subject matter Mitch. We got the first 2 penalties, unusual for us, but when Taka murdered the second one, I thought that’ s no way to play the Storm. Fergo’s play the ball (50/50)and Moeroa’s shoulder charge(dud call) both went the Storm’s way and put nails into our coffin.
Smith constantly pushed the advantage line well into our 10 metres before any contact in the ruck and went wide once each set and made big metres. Our missed tackles were 46, there were another 46 where the post contact metres were more like line breaks. Totally out muscled and flogged!
The Taka dropped forced pass moment killed me. You can’t do that against the Storm. It’s funny to say, but we actually defended pretty well for periods early in that first half.
Ouch. We all must agree, that was a clanger of a HP call with the try at half time, if that guy was not tackled with his ball carrying arm hitting the ground with a hand on him. I do not know what a tackle is. There must be an investigation HP must NEVER officiate a Eels game again. His smirk when papenhyzen scored a try said it all. This guy is a sadist and has something in for the mighty eels. Of course, we cannot excuse the arms grabs, JP has been in the middle of this, we played poorly.
Congratulations to the players tonight. This performance will get Arthur Sacked.
It’s time for a new coach not a best buddy coaching his friends that always let him down.
You can’t renew a coach that can’t win big games or beat teams that we should.
60 reasons to get a new coach.
Players don’t respect Arthur they always let him down we need a taskmaster.
And which coach are you bringing in, Terry?
Plenty of options Mitch. Toovey, Holbrook, Bennett assistant , I know you love Brad but his time is up, 800k he won’t go broke.
I can understand why you want to keep Brad after all he lets you do your training blogs. A new coach may not want there sessions broadcast.
Change is way overdue.
That’s a little insulting to be honest – that we’d be the mouthpiece of a coach just because he lets us watch training? You obviously don’t know us at all, mate.
Or do you think this site is somehow lucrative? As if we’d put a blog post on a passion website above our the passion itself, the Parramatta Eels.
I currently want the club to keep BA because I believe he’s the best coach for the Parramatta Eels. If that’s ever not the case, I assure you I’ll be right off him, because my love for the team well outdoes my love for any individual, or this website for that matter. Our site has nothing to do with our collective appreciation of BA, but our passion for the team certainly does, though.
If you could give me an Eels premiership I’d happily agree to never write another word on this site ever again.
I don’t get this insistence that BA is ‘buddies’ and too nice. Multiple players have talked about valuing his honesty with them, and having tough conversations eg Cash was told at the start of the season that he wasn’t an 80 minute player yet, and what he needed to do. If you’re going to bag someone, get some facts instead of blind opinion.
I missed the game as I was out last night. I’m actually very gkad I did as it sounds likw something you try to erase fron your mind but can’t. The players need to be reminded of this game every week from now on. This is not how you repay fans.
You lucky anonymous bastard.
Mitch that must of been hard giving these guys a mark of any substance.
Onto to better news how good of the boys to help Melbourne with there for n against 😡
And on to help Newcastle to there 3rd straight win. How how much I’d love our team to win 3 straight 🤔 they all would have got a -F sivo is going to get suspension of 1 week.
Why are our boy’s scared when it comes to the storm. Can someone please explain how belly gets a bunch of no names n turn them into the complete package. Hopefully the boys stay in Qld n beat the cowboys. Imagine if we we come 4 n the storm finish 1st I for 1 will not be watching the football.
We need a dominant 5\8 to help Moses every team knows his running the show n target him on the last Play.
On our coach let’s hope the NRL let us sign Flanagan. 5 yrs is long enough in the top job with only 1 finals appearance in that time. Enough is enough.
Why didn’t Brad inject Timmy long b4 the game got out of control poor Timmy didn’t get on until the score blew out to 34\6 what’s Timmy to do score 6 tries. OMG please Brad Arthur peni is not a hooker. If you can’t trust Reedy for 80 minutes then bring in mcillwrick instead of peni . On Curtis Scott omg we made him look like lattrel Mitchell. Can’t believe he ran from coast to coast. Jenko gave up the chase after only 3o metres.
It was a tough write up, Snedden; but I admittedly started at about the 50th minute.
What a disaster! I think the thing I’m most disappointed about is our differential is crap after that result. +54 to -2 in one game is unacceptable. I understand we can’t win every game but we should at least be competitive. There was no positive to come out of the game. I don’t think there has to be mass changes, but certainly some. Oh man, I couldn’t sleep last night. I’m gutted. This is Parra I’m used to, unfortunately, and I hope they can fight their way back.
Well if tonight showed anything it is that BA shouldn’t/won’t be the coach next year. Bull terriers against toy poodles. We need a coach that’ll put some steel into the team and BA isn’t it. I was hoping Shane Flanagan would be that coach but he has gone o/s so who is available?
And another thing, Taka is not a centre, Mennings seemed disinbterested and Salmon is not a 5/8th and I’ve got doubts he’ll even be a decent NRL player. The roster needs a good clean out and we need to bring players into the team with mongrel. Junior is a good player but seems slow, Alvaro just doesn’t offer enough of anything and Tepai promises much but disappoints much of the time. We need someone who can kick long and 2-3 players with real speed. Gutho is not an attacking but supporting fullback, we need someone to attack from there and his best position imo is centre.
Anyway BA cannot stick with that team for next week (but he probably will) and needs to make changes. I’d put Salmon to centre replacing Taka and bring French to halfback for a start, is can’t/won’t be worse than yesterday, surely?
Bellamy was so upset last week he would have spent the week with his players looking of videos of our bad games. I think one of our problems is when the ball is kicked right from the beginning they do not follow it quickly. They will stand back & let the opposition come to them giving away ground. Same on the 5th tackle & kicker should be 1st one there. Still love the Eels & have since late sixties!
Keep holding on Kathleen, we’ll pull it together one day. Thanks for reading mate.
The kicker rarely gets to be the first one there any more, as the opposition comes through and give them a hug. Not a tackle that you could be penalised for, but prevents them running through. Except we’re really bad at executing the same play – I think a player on each side of the field needs to be given the duty of harassing the hell out of the kicker. Noting of course that the art is doing it without leaving a gap in the line that the kicker runs through.
At the end of the day, when you strip it all back, a win’s a win and a loss is a loss. Just as quickly as that blackout arrived last night we can turn it around. The team needs to savor the hurt and embarrassment, own it, and get on with it this week. I’m eager to see how they respond – I know it’s an old cliche but how they respond is alot more important than what they dished up last night.
I’ve still got faith – bucket loads more than what I had this time last year :). The air’s clear, the sun’s out – lets all get out and enjoy it and forget about last night for a bit!
Grades are spot on mate.
Oh, and HAPPY MOTHERS DAY to all the fantastic mums out there 🙂
This is the comment I needed to read today. Thanks for chipping in Kram.
Sorry mate – I was at the game and it’s still hurting two days later. Loss by 10 or 20 points is Loss. What I witnessed was more than a loss.
I get this, too.
Here’s probably the most difficult question to answer, that terrible decision from Perenara on Tepai’s tackle seemed to impact n the players, and we went basically awful from that point on after defending well and seeming to get back in the game.
So , is the teams strength of mind and resolve an issue, as that seems possible, and to follow that up as the coach is supposed to influence it, if the attitude was to play for the coaches future, they didn’t. Perhaps the clubs new hierarchy are being more realistic in looking to rebuild the roster and making judgements on not just the coach and Gutho, but the lot of them.
Interesting times for next few weeks, let’s hope they are on the right track
#letsgoParra
As above, I don’t think we need to throw the baby out with the bathwater, but agree changes need to be made.
True Mitch, just think that the cautious approach from ONeil and Gurr is justified , they have both said at every opportunity that ” we have a plan and that will continue” . What we do need to see is results from not only the review, but from the appointments and the direction that it encompassed.
Yep, spot on Derek mate.
For me its simple; attitude and commitment with and without the ball. The ruck is where lots of this begins; and Mahoney being benched to me did not help.
Its frustrating and like I said the other week we are IMO like a Canberra team of a few yrs ago – inconsistent; we have to be better without the ball – it is so simple. I also believe we need 2 experienced forwards from outside the club and another back; to mix with the youth we have.
The signings etc. for existing players / coach need to be sorted in the next 3-4 wks.
I got nothin’
Almost a direct quote from our defence last night.
Wow, player possess ability, the coach comes up with a plan and instills a mental toughness amongst his troops (Des Hasler a great example at manly 2019). Brad Arthur does not have the ability to get a team up for critical games. Brad Arthur should respectfully resign, or the absolute missing in action Bernie Gurr, should sack him. 2019, we have everything to play for, yet cant compete 2 weeks in a row. To be honest had we played the Dragons away, we would not have come back from 14 nil down!
BA must go, this loss rests with him, wasn’t the Reed Mahoney omission from the starting line up, a great plan “NOT”, a sign of a coach bereft of ideas.
Mitch is it true that Bernie Gurr’s contract expires in October, and he is moving on?
Whilst very young Ethan Parry must get a chance to replace Taka, he could not be any worse.
Parry is not in the Top 30, so it’s not possible until the second half of the year; or 2020.