The Cumberland Throw

The Preview – Round 13, 2019: Eels vs Sharks

Date: Saturday, June 8, 2019

Venue: Points Bet Stadium, Woolooware

Kick Off: 5:30pm

Referees: Peter Gough, Chris Butler

Head-to-head: Played 91 Eels 43 Sharks 48

Odds: Sharks $1.55 Eels $2.50

Broadcast: Foxtel, Kayo

Last Four Encounters:

Eels 24 Sharks 12 ANZ Stadium (2019)

Sharks 22 Eels 20 Endeavour Field (2018)

Sharks 14 Eels 4 ANZ Stadium (2018)

Sharks 20 Eels 6 ANZ Stadium (2017)

 

The Warm Up

Parramatta’s victory over the Rabbitohs last Friday was a welcome change of fortune for the players, staff and fans.

Forget the missing Souths stars. It was a solid victory over the table topping club and the Bunnies threw more questions at the Eels than both the Cowboys and the Panthers had in the previous rounds. The Eels had to lift to get over a side high on confidence.

But as encouraging as the performance was, it remains frustrating that Arthur had to wield the selection axe to get the team to find the intensity and energy which had gone missing in the previous two weeks.

Therefore, the obvious question remains. Which Eels team will front up against the Sharks?

The club from the Shire are the antithesis of the 2019 Parramatta side. No matter what players take the park in their colours, they grind it out for the full eighty minutes.

Eels supporters know only too well that the Eels have been consistent in their inconsistency. Though it’s unrealistic to expect a pumped up, high octane effort on a weekly basis, it’s also fair to accuse the Eels of lacking energy in a few of their losses.

Cronulla are expected to be finalists this year.

We might get an indication of Parra’s 2019 ambitions in this one.

 

Having a Punt

The punt can be cruel. Last week I tipped Sivo to score two or more tries. He was off for the choccies after a lost ball in the first half, only to be called back for a knock on. The ball did touch his arm, so fair play to the refs. But after he scored his first legitimate try in the second half, I was cursing that near miss.

This week NSW TAB has a special offer coupling Feki or Sivo to be either first or second try scorer @$3.00. That has to be worth a dabble.

The favourites in the first try scorer market are:

Eels: Ferguson $11 Sivo $11

Rabbitohs: Feki $10 Gray $10

 

Feed Your Footy Brain

The Eels win over the Sharks earlier this year ended a five match losing sequence.

The Sharks have been notoriously slow starters this year. In fact, four of their victories have come after being behind at half time.

In contrast, five of the Eels six victories have come after leading at half time. They have only turned a half time deficit into a victory on one occasion this year.

 

Tracking: Nathan Brown

A fit Nathan Brown is exactly what the Parramatta middle needs. The Blue and Gold Cyborg is a relentless and mobile football machine, programmed to deliver equal parts aggression and skill.

Nathan Brown

But there’s a key word – fit.

After sustaining a pectoral injury in the Eels round 1 victory over the Panthers, Brown has endured three months of rehabilitation with very little physical contact. It would be tough to expect him to deliver much more than a couple of stints off the bench.

Nonetheless, for whatever periods he’s in the action, expect the Eels lock to provide some defensive impact and to add skill to the Eels forward play.

Welcome back Nathan. You’ve been missed.

 

Danger man: Andrew Fifita

Here’s a little bit of Mathematics for you.

Andrew Fifita + Suspect Middle Defence = Potential Chaos

This is the equation facing the Eels this week.

Even with game breakers such as Xerri and Moylan in their backline, there’s little doubt that the Sharks will attempt to break the Eels apart through the middle of the park. And a big mobile forward such as Fifita will pose the greatest threat.

The Sharks prop is incredibly mobile for his size and is averaging around 111 running metres per game in 2019. But his greatest threat is his capacity to promote second phase footy. Fifita’s offload statistic is nothing short of remarkable at 3.2 per game, with a stunning season high of 9 offloads in one match.

By comparison, the Eels own big man – Junior Paulo – averages similar running metres at 110 per game, but his renowned offloading ability is yielding a lower return of 2.4 per game. That’s more than a decent number, and gives a reasonable indication of how well Fifita is travelling.

The solution to the equation is simple. Shut down Fifita and reduce his numbers.

 

Team Lists

Sharks: 1. Matt Moylan 2. Sosaia Feki 3. Bronson Xerri 4. Josh Dugan 5. Aaron Gray 6. Kyle Flanagan 7. Chad Townsend 8. Andrew Fifita 9. Jayden Brailey 10. Matt Prior 11. Briton Nikora 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Paul Gallen

Interchange: 14. Blayke Brailey 15. Jayson Bukuya 16. Jack Williams 17. Braden Hamlin-Uele 18. Scott Sorensen 19. Sione Katoa 20. Wade Graham 21. Shaun Johnson

Eels: 1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Michael Jennings 4. Josh Hoffman 5. Blake Ferguson 6. Will Smith 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Kane Evans 9. Reed Mahoney 10. Junior Paulo 11. Shaun Lane 12. Manu Ma’u 13. Tepai Moeroa

Interchange: 14. Peni Terepo 15. Ray Stone 16. David Gower 17. Marata Niukore 18. Brad Takairangi 19. George Jennings 20. Tim Mannah 21. Nathan Brown

 

Chad Towsend vs Mitch Moses

Perhaps this should be sub-titled Mr Consistent vs The Flash.

Mitch Moses probably wins the talent contest by a knockout, but Townsend is both the consummate professional and the embodiment of the Sharkies’ attitude. He’s there for the long haul, he’s going to grind out a points victory over his opponent nine times out of ten. And he literally does it by stealth.

It’s not that the Cronulla half is without talent. He’s got a precise kicking game, and his ball skills have that important component – composure. As a halfback, Townsend epitomises the modern day game manager. In truth, his ability to consistently guide his team around the field is exactly what the Blues need from their halves.

In contrast, an on-song Mitch Moses is the stuff of headlines.

Mitch Moses

But interestingly enough, Moses also embodies the attitude of his team – rocks and diamonds! On a positive note, those precious gem games have been more plentiful in 2019 than in 2018. Such highs have produced 13 try assists and 11 line break assists up to the halfway point of the season. Compare this to Townsend who has only delivered 7 try assists and 4 line break assists and you probably get an idea of how dominant Moses has been in those Eels victories.

So why did Brad Arthur give Moses the directive to run more often?

Despite those dominant performances, and a number of long distance breaks, Moses has only averaged 47.5 running metres per game. His opponent, Chad Townsend, averages more at 49.4 running metres. For someone of Moses explosive speed, this is not nearly enough.

Last week reminded the fans, and Moses himself, just how potent he can be when he takes on the line.

Will he keep that mindset for this week?

 

And The Winner Is?

This match is literally Rugby League 101.

The contest will be decided by the team that wins the middle, has a decent completion rate, kicks to the corners and chases with a straight defence line. When executed with energy and composure, such foundations will ultimately provide the field position to launch attacks.

These footy essentials are what the Sharks do best.

Cronulla maintain their focus, no matter what shows on the scoreboard.

The Eels need to begin with intensity, and they play best from in front. The Sharks seem to thrive on adversity – they’ll battle to the 80th minute and being behind on the scoreboard rarely seems to affect their play.

With players returning from injury, this is a strong Sharks team. The Eels have the capacity to beat them, but after winning the opening two games of the season, they have failed to produce any level of consistency.

It gives me no joy, but I have to tip the Sharks on their home ground.

Sharks 22 Eels 18

Man of the Match – Andrew Fifita

 

Eels forever!

Sixties

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19 thoughts on “The Preview – Round 13, 2019: Eels vs Sharks

  1. Milo

    Can’t disagree with anything here 60’s. Winner will be determined on whether the rocks or diamonds of parra turns up and I mean the entire 17….a win means we have top 8 chances again.

  2. Colin Hussey

    You have summed up this game perfectly sixties, with Fifita being very much the danger man, he can run hard and straight, and hard to anticipate his moves, which can also include some mid field cross plays and reverse running which ends up with the opposition defence in two or more minds as to what he is to do, he makes the defence wonder about his moves and how to nullify them, he can also play big minutes as well.

    With Wade Graham back, there is more quality in their bench, so a hard one to call, like Nathan Brown he will be down in match fitness as well. so which one actually makes the most of their time on the field.

    Which brings the aspect of Nathan Browns game time, when and where will he play, or will he play? The coach in an interview has said he will be playing but not big minutes, maybe come on and off at the same time as Wade Graham. Who then drops out of the bench? I would think it would come down to either Stone or Gowie, yet to me neither really deserves to miss out. Stone was a bit nervous last run and was cranky at himself when he had the ball kneed out, no penalty for crowding, but he composed himself and worked well. Grandpa Gowie played very well as usual, and his busting through against souves was great, he does not let the side down,

    If the eels come in to this game with the same attitude as last week, your score seems about right, but I will go with my heart as usual, eels by 4

    1. sixties

      Cheers Colin. I don’t see BA as pulling any surprises here. He has said Brown will play. Brown is a smaller middle forward. I reckon everyone can work out the swap there.

  3. Seth hardie

    Sixties you say Arthur gave Moses a directive to run more, surely Moses plays what’s in front of him. Maybe he should instruct the 5/8 to do the same because there has been little input from that position. First grade players have ability it’s how the coach gets them to express that ability that determines success.Brad has been too lenient on under performers, the recent policy of dropping those players has to be maintained. Then you will see a harder mental edge.

    1. sixties

      That’s not me saying it, that was reported in media post match. Seth, it’s easy enough to say drop this underperforming player, or that one. You have to have alternatives. Moses has now played with three halves partners due to injury and form. How would you drop him? So you keep working with him. He’s produced more “highlight” games this year than previous years, but is yet to achieve the consistency of an elite player.
      Case in point about not always playing what’s in front of him – against the Panthers, in the last 8 minutes, the Eels shift the ball wide to Moses around 30 metres out and a gap opens up. Instead of taking it he passes and the play breaks down. The exact same gap on a similar play happens vs Bunnies and he takes it, leading to Fergo’s try. So you’d suggest that was highlighted and he addressed it.

      1. Seth hardie

        Sixties, our coach dropped underperforming players last week and we got immediate dividends. So there are alternatives and BA has to be consistent with that policy. I never suggested to drop Moses I said he is better when he plays what’s in front of him. All congrats to your Dad, mine would have been 101 this year.

        1. sixties

          Thanks Seth. I agree with dropping underperforming forwards, because we have alternatives.

  4. DDay

    Good write up Sixties and your analysis about the battle for dominance through the middle makes sense. Sharks definitely start favorites but if the Eels play like last week they’re a chance

    1. sixties

      To me, the Sharks play a good brand of footy. Their forwards are their strength, they generate second phase through the middle, and they have enough class in the backs to take advantage of it. They stay in the contest for 80 minutes. Every week.

  5. Anonymous

    Cronulla are deserved favourites but the Eels are not without a chance. I am looking forward to a big game from MM tonight now that he has rediscovered his running game.

    His running game forces defensive teams like the Sharks to make decisions in defence. This works in his favour.

    Looking forward to Rowdy’s input here as to who will win. I think Sharks in a close one.

  6. Glenn

    Parra did it well last week for most of the game, and they need to do it again particularly against Fifita, and that is to lock up the ball. His late offloads are extremely dangerous particularly close to the tryline and if they eliminate that I’ll go a long way towards a victory. Oh and energy in attack and defence. Go Parra!

  7. Big John

    Spot on Sixties as usual. This is a season defining game for the Eels. If they can pull this one off, the sky is the limit. If not………….

    1. sixties

      Thanks mate. I thinks it’s season defining in terms of our attitude. If we give it our best and are beaten by a better team, there’s no drama. Dish up a Penrith or Cowboys effort, and it’s not acceptable.

  8. !0 Year Member

    We really signed Eminem for another 3 years. Can someone send him to meditation lessons. He needs to slow his (scatter) brain down and increase his thinking time. Since i am stuck with him, i need him to get better.

  9. The rev aka Snedden

    Really after this rubbish that’s been dished out to us fans we deserve better. No more signing News until they start putting wins back to back. How can Brad only play marata for only 28 minutes. What’s the point in playing someone that is only getting 14 minutes each half. Please I looked at the NRL stat sheet n we should have been alot closer. Instead we got our pants pulled down. Brad Arthur full on your sword your coaching methods are out of date. Lucky for south being understrength otherwise it would have been 5 straight loses. Sorry but brads gotto go no ifs or buts about it. How for the life of me a coach gets his players winning one then losing win one lose one n so on it’s absolutely disgraceful.

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