Over the last few rounds the Parramatta Eels have delivered a host of unacceptable performances. I’ve questioned the resilience of the players and feel perfectly justified in doing so.
Perhaps I’m wrong, but I’ve even sensed that supporters are more upset by this year’s results than they were with the cellar dwelling 2018 season. On reflection, I’m definitely guilty of expressing greater disappointment in this season’s defeats.
Then today I looked at the ladder.
Coming into Round 14, the Eels will still be in 8th place. What? What!
Don’t get me wrong. This is not a “forget about the losses, look where we are” post. I intend addressing massive areas of concern.
But at the end of last season, if you’d been told that in 2019 the Eels would be in the Top 8 after Round 13, I reckon you’d have gladly taken that – and stuck a cherry on top of that sweet treat.
That the 2018 wooden spooners would play without their best forward and one of the best young five-eighth prospects in the NRL for nearly all of those rounds, with contract speculation about the captain, the coach, and most of the team playing out in the media, probably makes a current Top 8 position defy all logic.
The odd form of other teams has undoubtedly contributed to the Eels retaining their position despite the losses, but that’s footy.
Like most years, 2019 began with hopes of a better season ahead. After the first eight rounds, such hopes began to turn to expectations. Those (unrealistic?) expectations are probably a huge factor in the disappointments.
Truthfully, I still believe that the team has the capacity to finish close to the top 8.
There’s nothing astounding about my reasoning. It’s obvious that Parra love the downhill run. Put them in front, with things going their way, and they’ll look great. That will happen in some games. They’ll win those – an average winning margin of 18 points is an indicator of that likelihood.
Now for the reality check.
Throw some challenges in the Eels direction and watch them collapse faster than a sand castle at high tide. You don’t go close to competing for a title if you demonstrate almost negligible tenacity, and the averaging losing margin of 19 points is testimony to players having no desire to grind out a win over 80 minutes.
Brad Arthur
The words of Brad Arthur from this week’s press conference nailed where the team is at.
“We have got to decide if we want to be a full-time team or a part-time team,” Arthur said.
“Full-time is all the time, every week. We are training well, we are preparing well but coming to games, when things don’t go quite our way we need to harden up there.”
People close to me know that I haven’t held back in my opinions about the roster changes that are needed. We have too many players incapable of producing quality NRL football on a weekly basis. The talent might not be in question, but their resilience definitely is.
Lack of resilience is a cancer. It manifests in multiple ways in games, but it’s insidious in its capacity to poison club culture.
Every team will face its share of adversity. Poor refereeing decisions, injuries and an unlucky bounce of the ball will fall upon everyone. It’s how a side responds that will determine their fate.
For the Eels, failure to respond to adversity has become our hallmark.
The cracks show up in the same places in every defeat – the defence.
Opposition runners are allowed to quickly stand after being tackled and play the ball with up to three Eels players lying prostrate on the turf. Then, with the defence line down in numbers, spaces are opened up with defenders isolated and or retreating. Players start bouncing off like they’re made of rubber. Offloads flow. Cue the floodgates.
As a regular at training, this is incredibly frustrating. I cannot possibly imagine the frustration of the coaches.
Throughout the pre-season there was a strong emphasis on both defensive technique and defence specific conditioning. That dedication to detail has been maintained every week during the season proper. Line speed, communication, contact, wrestle – it’s all coached – and critically, ensuring that defenders aren’t left on the ground always features. Yet the issue persists.
Players must be held accountable.
Can we identify those most at fault?
If the video reviews highlight individuals, there’s one place for them – Ringrose Park – playing alongside those on part-time contracts.
Make no mistake, every player in the squad has the talent to play first grade. You don’t get to put NRL appearances on your resume without it.
But playing NRL on a regular basis requires much more than talent. It requires a level of resilience sadly lacking in a team which only performs every second week.
As supporters, we can accept that this team is re-building. The Eels will be beaten by better teams. We’ll make mistakes in games.
But the inability or lack of desire to compete every second week is simply unacceptable.
As Arthur said, “We can’t start well one week and then dip the toe in the next week. I don’t want to have to keep making changes every week because that doesn’t give you any continuity or combinations.”
So what can he do? Where to from here? Is changing the team an option?
Let’s consider minimal changes. As we’ve witnessed this season, turning up with intensity and winning every second week will keep you in the running for the Top 8, maybe, but this isn’t what supporters deserve nor is it planning for the future. And it will get harder to maintain as the second half of the season rolls on.
The alternative of significant change could be explored. Arthur could turn to the youth right now, even if they’re not quite ready, and sacrifice this year for a potentially better future. But remember, add too much youth at the same time and you can pay a price – see Brisbane’s own wildly fluctuating form this year.
In truth, it will be damned if he does, damned if he doesn’t.
Personally, I’m ready to see whether the Eels current crop of young players has what it takes. That can only be determined in the NRL.
Once they prove they can handle the physicality of playing against men, young players won’t learn about what’s required in the NRL by playing with and against part-time players in the Canterbury Cup. It’s a stepping stone from age football, but it should not be a long term destination for the genuinely talented.
That’s the decision to be made for the remainder of 2019.
The decisions to be made going into 2020 will be even more crucial.
Junior hits it up in Canberra.
Coming into 2019, Sivo, Ferguson, Paulo and Lane were added to the roster. Every one of those players has contributed to the Eels climbing off the bottom of the table. Paulo has upped the second phase potential, Lane has become the team’s most consistent forward, Sivo sits at the top of the try scorers list and Ferguson has posted the metres missing from last year’s set starts.
But that was last year’s recruitment.
The recruitment and retention process has since been changed as a result of the 2018 review. There is now a committee of five making such decisions. They’ve already earned some praise for standing their ground in negotiations with Gutherson and Moses’ extension has recently been sorted.
However, the bigger work lies ahead. This roster is in need of an overhaul. Players proven to be without resilience must be released. New talent needs to be added to the Top 30.
With so many off contract, and therefore so much potential to reshape the team, there’s massive decisions to be made over the next two to three months. That’s not a long time frame. Hopefully we get some recruitment news soon.
In the coming weeks, Arthur will probably start to signal his intent via team selections. If he wants to use rookies, he’ll have to wait till after June 30. There will be pros and cons, no matter what he decides.
Are you expecting changes? Do you expect a rebuild year or a finals appearance?
It could be an interesting set of team list Tuesdays ahead.
Eels forever!
Sixties
BA needs to move on a few of his favourites,we need a clean out and bring in some older hard nut forwards to help Brown and Paulo out,I hope we don’t sign burgess as he isn’t the answer and won’t be the same without Sam keeping him honest.
Yes. An average of around 80 running metres is not what’s needed.
Older how much older do U want takarangi is 30 Hoffman n Jennings both in there 30’s Gower is 33 mannah is 30+ Manu is 29 almost 30.
At least 3 possibly 4 of the guys you mention will not be here next season aka rev. Therefore we need to replace 2 of them with old hard heads as Nathan has said imo. We need blokes like that to make the path ahead not seem so daunting to the good young forwards and backs that are emerging through the system.
Great article Sixties. I agree regarding the younger players – lets give players like Kafusi and Stone more of a run. What kind of player would you target for next season? I’d have a look at Packer. We’ve got players like Paulo, Lane and Kafusi who can provide impact in attack, we need to go to market in search of middle forwards who can control the ruck and are strong defensively. Other players who come to mind are Prior, Finucane, Matalino, Glasby. I’m not sure the contract situations of those players but that’s the kind of player i’d target.
Of the older blokes, I’d target a couple you’ve mentioned – Prior, Finucane, Packer. I’m convinced that Marata is a middle forward. But I’m really keen to get an idea of how the younger brigade can shape up – Kaufusi, Utoikamanu, Fainga’a and in a couple of years Hollis.
Do you read what you write before posting ?
You want to the club to look at Packer n then you say we need a middle forward who can control the ruck. Did you watch our game vs tiger’s. Packer was as useless as a sunroof on a submarine.his ruck defence was poor.
Yeah i like to maintain a habit of reading what i right before posting.. One game doesn’t define a player. The difference he made in defence to both the Dragons two years ago and the Tigers last year is what we need. Bring back Danny Wicks i say
I wonder how many fans actually understand why BA had growing success from the time he got here. In my recollection we needed to be toughened up. In came Watmough and Scott 2 of the toughest old bastards in the NRL. We also took a risk with Danny Wicks and he quickly reminded us of his bloodlines (his Dad was a maniac) and Danny took on the opposition front on straight up the high diddle! Even when injured if they took the field they played tough and showed a lot of our young blokes how it was done. That’s what we need again, another injection of tough dudes. Prior, Finucane and Packer certainly fit that bill. I would also like M Lodge.
R u back , just when i thought it was safe
As you rightly point out the next off season of recruitment and retention will probably be the most critical in years.
With so many players coming off contract the committees decisions here will be the foundation of our next generation of players. My belief is that the process is well and truly underway and a lot of those decisions are already in Stone.
One issue is that there is not a lot of talent coming off contact. Having said that as an outsider you never know what is going on behind closed doors.
This will throw a lot of focus on our juniors. As you say you can’t overload with juniors or you suffer through lack of experience to make critical decisions in games and lack of ability to mentor the young players coming through .
I must say the recruitment and retention committee have a monster time ahead of them.
No news can be good news of negotiations being kept confidential. Or there might be no news?
There needs to be a complete overhaul of both the roster and coaching staff. To be in top 3 in points scored, but the worst in points conceded is like a floodlight in a tunnel, it’s that obvious.
When things were looked at part way through last year, a defence coach was added, and nothing changed. To make things even more confounding, both the defence and attack coach were extended despite the obvious shortcomings . The attack was given a lease of life by some good signings , perhaps that was he reason for the improvement more than coaching structure. Whist many may see this comment as harsh, it is necessary to examine all areas where improvement is needed.
The HOF and coach need to be forceful and very focussed on retention and recruitment into 2020. The club has the core of a team ready to challenge for playoffs, maybe not this year, but we have for far too long had too many experienced journeymen ready to fill in, rather than youth which we see at most successful teams.
The feeling walking out of BankWest after the Penrith game was the lowest felt in a long time, and most opposition fans still can’t work out how a club positioned with financial strength, juniors , supporters and the second largest business district in NSw continues to flounder. To not put a finer point on it, they need to get the next few months of retention and recruitment correct in both ability and resilience, or the decision to maintain the status quo will be challenged very harshly by the supporter base.
🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪🔪
Just my opinion, feel free to counter it, that’s what a forum is for. I want the club to succeed and think it’s obvious to ask questions re direction and success.
The signings last year were very good. The club has benefitted from them. But as you highlight Derek, the decisions must continue to be correct moving forward, because it’s obvious that changes to the roster are still essential.
Our middle defence is the worst in the NRL, Derek your point about the defensive coach is certainly valid.
Well said Derek. I think the problem is not only the players but the coaching staff. Unfortunately the coach stays the same which imo is one of the biggest problems. His inability to get the players to perform at a high standard has been obvious for years. Also obvious is that there are better coaches out there, Demetriou being one of them, but maybe management was wary of employing another rookie coach.
Great write up – honest and at the same time for Eels fans … heartbreaking.
I can just imagine those like yourself who turn up to training and come away with a sense of optimism being completely befuddled by the performance on some weekends !
I feel for those players who are about to be let go as I feel that they have become part of the family at the Eels. I recognise that it’s a business but I would hate to see players like Dan Alvaro and Taka playing for another NRL team.
Thanks mate.
Befuddled is correct. In good weeks, I’ll watch what that train to do play out – high energy, multiple players in motion from hit ups to attacking plays, aggressive defence, kicks to corners. In other weeks I’m close to adopting the foetal position.
Some of the players that need to be held accountable are favourites of mine. I’m writing this, and fronting at Saleyards as usual tomorrow. It’s not easy to write.
Nothing would make me happier than seeing Takarangi play for another NRL team. Absolute bonehead footballer.
Well said. The most important consideration when we recruit some middles has to be the ability to hit and stick. While we don’t miss many tackles we get left on the ground and then as a result our edge backrowers, halves or centres are left in a no win situation; if they all shift in to cover the absence of markers we get caught on the edge or have backs defending isolated ( like against the Sharks) and if they don’t we get caught straight up the middle ( like against the Storm, Cowboys and Knights)
We don’t need attacking forwards, we have them. We need good defending props, players like Prior, Welch. We have not had one of those since Danny Wicks retired. They make the tackles, dominate and make marker.
I respect our off contract forwards and acknowledge it is hard to let go players who stood by the club or came through the juniors but we need to be ruthless. They are not the answer and won’t improve.
Thanks for such a reply Shelley. Tough decisions ahead. There will probably be some debate.
I still believe BA is capable of and will again make those tough decisions. He has shown that by informing Mannah that he wouldn’t be signed again because he wanted to bring some juniors through for next year just like he did with Fui a few years back so he could blood Junior and another young giant who just didn’t have the aggression although he had all the ability in world.
I posted something along these lines yesterday in the grades and the coming months are going to be busy for recruitment and busier in retention.
Is this the place to name names? I vote yes and will assume the role of Head of HR.
Outs
Peni Terepo- a few poor off field decisions combined with him “hitting his peak” leaves him looking elsewhere for 2020.
Tepai Moeroa- form is just to unpredictable and his potential for a head knock too often leaves us a man down. Really nice guy but sorry Tep.
Brad Takairangi- too many errors in his game it’s time to end our relationship.
Josh Hoffman- recent form aside it’s hard to know what you’re going to get from week to week. Continue the journey Josh.
Michael Jennings- self confessed over eater last year trying hard this year because of his contract status doesn’t leave me feeling a lot of love for MJ. A new one year offer is on the table but will he take the VERY significant pay cut AND refrain from becoming an over eater again?
Kaysa Pritchard- missing in action
Bevan French- not sure that Bevan is going to make it at NRL level. Yes he’s killing them at Wenty with his speed, footwork and chip kicks but we’ve all seen him get thrown around when playing with the big boys. I wish we could have made it work but…
Kane Evans, George Jennings and Will Smith all have a year to go but have my permission to look elsewhere.
Life Lines
Daniel Alvaro- Thornett medalist to Wenty?Deserves a 1-2 year extension at the right value to show his early 2019 form is not a life long disease.
Tim Mannah- his demotion has surprised many including me. Deserves another year to finish off as a one club man.
Target recruits
This ain’t so easy with those who are “able to negotiate” so I’m big on elevating the youth.
However I think we still need another big aggressive forward. NBrown can’t do it all himself. So I am going after Tevita Pangai Jnr and or Jai Arrow. Either one would make a pretty handy front row rotation with Junior and Kafusi.
We need a good utility that can take over if Reed needs a rest or can fill multiple back line positions. Our own version of Mitchell Aubusson. I’m going outside the box here and going to throw in Jackson Hastings as an option or Kurt Capewell?
I realise I have released more than I have brought in so still have numbers to make up at the next recruitment and retention meeting.
Plenty of food for thought in this detailed reply from Jonboy. Well worth a read.
Jonboy I forgot to say we should Chase hastings. His a player we should have got 2 yrs ago
A holiday is for relaxing sixties, then you post this and get our heads wound up. There’s a book in this stuff. The contract noise has had some effect, always remember Hayne after 2009, record deal,even Fui Fui was taking media potshots. Our 80 minute guys seem in the minority, and some of our better performers are not beyond the occasional switch off. Watch Cronulla’s first try, our 10 and 12 jogging across and suddenly realising Xerri was stepping back into a 5 mtr hole, after 2 minutes of play fatigue not an issue but focus was. Just like the start of the Storm game.
The squad needs an injection of youth, experience and leadership. The absence of Brown and Brown probably gave our shortcomings adequate oxygen to show up. Salmon needs NRL game time, he consigned himself to a support role and only really played when broken field raids occurred. What was Kaufusi’s problem? Any hints?
My favourite gripe, every time a team plays up tempo, in your face, our response doesn’t hold up like a top 8 team, let alone top 4. What the Knights did to the Roosters recently is the gold standard this year, just glad we weren’t on the park that day.
“Fatigue was not an issue, focus was”. How often is this seen? What an astute observation.
That’s well and good 60’s, and I certainly agree, but intimations isn’t enough. Lay your cards on the table, name 5 players off contract who should not be resigned.
takarangi, mannah ,davey,french ,hoffman ,mcilwrick,pritchard ?? Leleisou, evans and g jennings should also be told free to look elsewhere
I doubt he was referring to any of those other than Taka, Timmy & Hoffman, and of those Timmy is having a career year. The rest have barely been involved.
How much cap space are those guys really going to create ?
Other than Evans, the rest wouldn’t be on big money.
Without considering Evans and George Jennings, the rest would probably come in at a total of just under $2m.
In all the discussion of players and recruitment, how much is spent on the mental side. I think we all agree that to play NRL you know how to play, yet when the pressure is on, or when we get on the back foot, some players make basic errors and our attitude drops. Should there be a bigger emphasis on training the mind to deal with setbacks and creating / finding players who have that mental toughness……and analysing players around attitude and resilience rather than just skill. Ted talk below which may be of interest
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yG7v4y_xwzQ
Another interesting site is Gain LIne Analytics….sport and business and the value of standards, culture , cohesion in areas like game day and how it should impact recruitment. Maybe at the top level we should look at this sort of stuff rather than just ability and rugby league stats. In terms of how players can improve the culture, those with mental toughness, etc.
http://fergoandfreak.libsyn.com/ben-darwin-from-gain-line-analytics-on-the-importance-of-cohesion-in-rugby-league
https://us9.campaign-archive.com/?u=b1fe823fd17732155d02995c0&id=d183b387b6&e=384075dcd1
Eddie Jones when coaching England said he had 2 measurements in picking players – how long it took to get up after making a tackle, and how quickly they got up off the ground in attack after being tackled to support the next play…..sometimes the simplest stats are the easiest measure.
Great Read. Who are the five on the committee that will be recruiting?
1. Mark oniell 2 peter sharp .3 bernie gurr .4 sean mcelduff 5 brad arthur . Prior to sept we recruited ,fergo,sivo, lane, junior , then new commitee took over and theyve signed macilwrick .
I agree Anymous. How can a a club REVIEW all facets of our performance and come up with the need to strip BA of the ONLY success story to come out of 2018? Which was the recruitment of those 4!
Sixties my son as you know I’ve stuck up for BA along time. But there’s got to be a time in someone’s life when they should be thinking have I made the right decision in staying on or should I have moved on. This is the time Brad should have thought it’s time to move on.
What worries the life out of me is that our up n comers are seeing this wlwlwlwl ratio n last thing we need right now is to see them think it’s ok to go wlwlwlwl.
As Arthur said, “We can’t start well one week and then dip the toe in the next week. I don’t want to have to keep making changes every week because that doesn’t give you any continuity or combinations.”
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This comment about sixties tells me that he should be coaching them so this doesn’t happen again. Instead it tells me that his coaching methods are so wrong that he shouldn’t have to say listen boys not good to win one week n lose the next week..
To publicly come out n say to everyone at the Press conference his side needs to choose between being full-time or part-time. His the boss he signed these players n then to come out n lable his players part time player’s. Look at the end of the day the buck stops with Brad.
Why doesn’t the board go to Burnie Gurr n tell him to talk to Brad n telling him thanks for all you have done but it’s best that we part company n pay the guy out. I’m sick to death of people saying his a Eels guy soooo what. If I was boss I’d be marching to NRL HQ n stating My case for Shane Flanagan and saying look we don’t have a good coach n we will do everything in our Power to make sure everything Shane does with salary cap n recruitment is above board.
I’m really worried about my clubs future under Brad Arthur. I was shocked to see his coaching stats before the South’s game. When I saw 45% success rate I almost choked on my stake. I thought to myself what club goes n re-signs that coach with a 45% success rate to a 2 yr deal. Made me bloody 😣
I’m lost for words how our club rushed into signing Brad Arthur I really am. Everyone knows why it was rushed so we could sign Gutherson plain and simple my friends. He ( Brad Arthur ) must not be allowed to re-sign anymore players.
Everyone one knows that everything starts from the top n work’s it’s way down.
I look back at when Smithy ran the club with a bunch of kids avg age 21 except Taylor Buettner n brad drew. All in the late 20’s. His recruitment was very good. We never had to put up with a wooden spoon n wlwlwlwl ratio. You knew what you we’re getting with Smithy.
Smith’s record was like 63% compaired to Brad Arthur’s of 45%.
With smith we new we didn’t have to go outside to search for talent it was right in our backyard. Yeah we still brought from other teams. Player’s like pay , Smith , McCracken , Dymock , n so on. But we knew as fans were he was taking us. With Brad Arthur I’m confused we’re his going with the boy’s.
Never thought I’d say this but I’m more angry with Brad this yr then last year. At least we knew we were going to lose. This year I’m not sure who’s turning up to play.
It’s time we started bringing in our jrs n stick with them not punt them because you aren’t coaching them the way you want them to play.
Look at xerrie from the Sharks he had a shocker one night did John Morris drop him no he just took him aside n told him it happens to the best of us. That’s giving the kid confidence when his down. Our jrs will walk away from this Guy because they don’t believe in his coaching methods simple.
Brads a dead man walking in my Case.
Brad Arthur R.I.P.
If only we had a WLWLW record. Our last 5 weeks have been LLLWL. We are on the downward slide. Arthur should have been boned last year. How he ‘earned’ a 2 year extension is more mystifying than the building of the pyramids.
1ee ??
Wtf you talking about
Rev interesting stats and comments; Smith had about 57% and for me he had more than enough time to get us a comp; and tbh he didn’t have the cap issues BA has had. But i take your point and results will determine what happens with the coach.
I for one would never want to see Flanagan as coach; he has had a few issues with peptides and also was found to be involved with the club when he should not have been when suspended. For me No way.
But i like the passion Rev.
Agree. I do not want Flanagan anywhere near the Eels. He is a “hard nut” like BA but doesn’t have the values to go with it. I’d rather under perform than cheat!
Milo I love my club n team no matter what ppl say or Think about me. I’m like the rest I’m confused as to how we can win 2 straight at the start then we go wlwlwlwl then lose 3 straight b4 winning against a depleted South’s side. if you take away that South’s game we lose 5 straight. As much as I have lost faith in Brad Arthur id take Shane Flanagan. His a smart coach n also a Parra jr
Interesting way to look at it aka rev. But you could also just as ridiculously surmise that if you take away those 4 loses we would have won 5 in a row eh?
BA was extended because of the club performance heading upward for 4 years (2018 was an anomaly) and because he has always been able to attract good recruits as you yourself conceded above.
As for the pyramids? They were built by the 2 million Jewish slaves which were enslaved/owned and controlled by Egyptian Pharaohs. It’s there in one of the oldest history texts available. Second book in the Bible-Old Testament-Exodus-Chapter: 1.1-22.
Sadly I agree with you that Brad’s days are numbered. I think the Board made a decision to extend Brad’s contract to take the attention away from the Gutherson/Arthur media focus and to give BA the best possible environment to succeed. For the players to play as erratically as they have tells me that they have no respect for BA, and I also believe the contact extension was a “buy-time”strategy. Watch this space, I am convinced that change is in the wind! Can feel another 5 year plan coming our way.
Rev, with respect, if you’re going to use stats you need to be accurate. Brian Smith had an overall record of 56% with Parra. The best part of that was achieved with Super League signings and an incredibly talented group of juniors. But he never kept the same spine, and that was his choice. His record after the 2001 grand final – 2002 to 2006 – with rosters that he assembled, was 45%. That’s right, 45%. He was a good coach but he wasn’t brilliant without big signings. From 2002 to 2006 he won 49 out of 108 matches.
What you haven’t factored in was that BA first of all inherited a team that finished with the spoon in 2012 and 2014. But that is all history now. My concern is the future. Arthur has my support. That said, I don’t agree with all of BA’s selections, and I’m looking for certain younger players to start getting time in the NRL to prepare for next year.
Nws sixties. As long as brads coaching I’ll never back the team sorry. I never thought I’d say this but I enjoy watching other teams why because I know they will give 💯%.
I don’t have all the stats I was going of stats from the South’s game the other night n old footage of Brian Smith’s stats from back in 1999.
I understand you have to see n talk with Brad about the players. I get it.
On other teams your going to tell me that Robinson can’t coach with out his skipper n Cooper Cronk n lattrel Mitchell n his super star roster. What I’m getting at is these highly smart coach’s like belly ,Flanagan , Bennett , Hasler. Your going to tell me they are useless as a sun roof on a submarine when it comes to recruitment n knowing how to get their player’s playing to the team there playing against. Why has Moses suddenly gone with these midfield bomb’s where at the start of the yr his running n passing n kicking game was on song
Rev…time for you to move on buddy. There is a difference between constructive criticism and ignorant ranting. Unfortunately, you seem to have fallen into the latter category of late. I’ll happily give you a tip that others here are too polite to offer…head on over to any of the other sites where ignorant ranting is seen as a character strength.
Really Jonboy like I’ve said to sixties I’ve stuck up for brad for 5 yrs or so but there comes a time when we as fans want a true leader someone who can get our team to perform week in n week out. I’m not going anywhere I’ve been on this site for a number of yrs n not going away unless I’m punted by Colmac sixties or Mitch or 40/20 until then I’m staying. Look I love my eels n always will but if you don’t like the truth as i see it then that’s not my problem. Deal with it. I want a successful side looking at getting into the top 4 yr out n yr in if your happy with the bottom 8 jonboy then that’s up to u not me.
Good reply rev and the absence of ranting by Jonboy after such inept performances means he accepts these performances. Performances like these used to happen in our early history and unfortunately we’ve reverted back to those days.
Thanks Glenn. I’m just sick of losing Glenn I want success even more so know then ever before. I watched us win 3 straight in 81🏆\82🏆\83🏆 n 86🏆 just unlucky not to win 4 straight in 84. So after watching the eels In 5 Grand finals. I thought maybe this is a sign of thing’s to come. How wrong was i. In 2001 it was ours to lose n boy did we lose the same in 2005 we beat the cowboys n I was 💯% confident we beat the tiger’s. Yet we lose the most winnable game.
Maybe it’s time you moved on jonboy I’ve seen this all before with Timmy mannah remember fui this Moi Moi Brads treatment of him is disgraceful. I’ll give Brad a break until the end of the yr if we don’t make the semi’s then I’m going to blow up every weekend until his gone.
Should be interesting to see today’s line up. Both NRL side n Canterbury cup.
I’ve been a eels fan since the 70’s n for someone to tell me I should move on 🖕
Rev, I think what Jonboy and myself and a few others on here are saying or reservedly thinking is “if you really do care about this footy team and club, do you really believe that constantly ripping into the coaches and the players could possibly have any positive impact on their performances”? As Jonboy said above, there is a big difference between constructive criticism and what you’ve been unleashing on the rest of us who disagree with you.
Have another drink 🍷
Rev, whoaaaa! Where am I saying that those coaches can’t coach? On my Twitter account I’ve been full of praise for Manly. These are blokes who’ve won comps. You’re trying to make out that I’m saying something that I’m not.
I can tell you 100% that the mid field bombs are not in any game plan. They are simply poorly executed kicks. Watch Moses when he kicks. There are too many times that he gets almost on the back foot as he kicks the ball. He gets his better results when he’s going into his kick stride with momentum.
And when he does kick with momentum he often does well, shows that we lack covering legal blockers for him.
I’m not saying you said they can’t coach. I’ve seen you prasing des Hasler n I applaud you for that. Look sixties I’m sick with the flu sorry if I come across as rude. I’m not a rude person. I’m just sick of a coach who thinks it’s ok to punt player’s who are trying to give there all like kaufusi n mannah n keeps ppl like will smith in the side n Kane Evans. Your going to find it hard to convince me that Evans is better than Timmy mannah n kuafusi. I just want a winning team is that to much to ask for. Have a good night. Sorry if I’ve offended you. Just like everyone else trying to get my point of view across.
This comment got me thinking sixties.
He was a good coach but he wasn’t brilliant without big signings. From 2002 to 2006 he won 49 out of 108 matches.
With this statement. Most coach’s are useless unless they have big name’s. Like I said take cam Smith n the Bromwich brother’s n Munster away from belly is he suddenly a 45% coach is Robinson a 45% coach with out boyde n friend n Cronk n Keary.
I’m not saying they are but maybe they will be with out there big name’s most if not all can’t perform with out big names. When I look at these coach’s compaired to Brad Arthur I see someone who knows what they want n make sure they do everything they can to make it happen. I just don’t see that in Brad really I just don’t. I’m sick of losing sixties. Look it’s more frustrating this yr then last year.
Why don’t you just keep watching those other teams and get on their fan forums with your dribble? None of what you’ve just written makes any sense at all.
So according to papers waqa blake wants to join us lets see how that goes ,also regan gillard campbell and hetherington want out thats 3 , i wont hold my breath .
RCG is certainly some one worthy of investigation (imo), I would welcome him with open arms so long as he shaves off that awful moustache. We don’t need more edge back rowers or centres.
It all starts with leadership. For a long time we’ve lacked alphas in the forwards. Mannah may be respected and a leader by example, but he has never possessed the aura that inspires those around him to lift and fight with grit and steel. It’s no surprise that he’s been dropped. More leaders are what we desperately need.
How much have we missed Beau Scott????! That’s the type of personality we we need.
Good call
According to media we are still interested in george burgess , any stats on him compared to players we have on what i will presume half the coin mentioned
I believe he averages around 80 running metres per game
Not massive numbers at all.
I have come in late in this debate, been one of those weekends and never saw, heard or read a lot about the lose, but I was not surprised by it or the score line and I am having no real emotions about it one way or another.
I really appreciate this blog from sixties and for someone as loyal as him especially at training and watching the team week in and out, seeing how they train yet it almost seems as if the players all farted out any wind for a strong sail as they left the ground after their last training run. From what I have gleaned from this and other loses especially the lost ones I have sadly seen the is a basically total lack of talk or bonding on the field, too little bonding and seemingly oblivious to their surroundings and what they are there for.
This post is likely to be my most angry one I have yet to post, but rather than anger its my disappointment and hurt I feel for the team and club by the actors out there. I hope I never feel the way I do again regarding my team, club coaches and all but I am saying some things I don’t have a choice with saying them
The on line defence is worse than ever, the penalty given away by Tepai on a regular basis in matches as he does a goanna crawl over the opposition is pathetic, I would like to see or know how many times he has been penalised for that over the past two years. He was interviewed on eels webb site and was upset as the team was deemed soft, well the old saying of Truth hurts, you better get yourself ready for a lot of truth about the way you are performing for the team these days Tepia, Way you are playing its doubtful you have much of a future at NRL level.
Taka, was saying he was after another contract same as MJ, well that contract should be somewhere else Taka, I liked you but time has come and thanks for the memories. Out of our 14 players off contract for next year, I see the following as my choice for new deals,
Michael Jennings, one year only, Bevan French, he has shown he is back injury free and could be a handy back up for Gutho or the 5/8 spot. one year though and playing for the future. Ma’u 2 years max as he is showing ok after injuries, Ray Stone, he is worth keeping and developing to a utility, Terepo one year, and if Kaysa is injury free one year as backup. Perhapser in Mannah, as bench or reserve.
All the development contract players should be elevated to the NRL squad and as sixties hinted at, these players should be given every chance possible to show their abilities. They should each be told they have every opportunity to cement their futures in place at the club and management to build the team around them.
We definitely need another strong prop, and I am not really in the Burgess signing camp either, we really need a player of experience and one with the will and desire to win, for me the best option is still under contract at his club for next year, his name has been thrown up before and could be a huge gain and a benefit in leadership for our younger forwards as well, that player being Marty Tapau. 2-3years would be good.
With him and the development players gaining experience along with Lane, Marata, Ma’u & Nathan Brown each being strong young players we will be ready for the future.
Coaching going forward. I am a supporter of BA and he has certainly not held back in his after match pressers either, soft, dumb, not turning up, they need to harden up and the like but all must have their hearing aides turned off or something. I personally would like to see some real changes made to the overall coaching set up and it needs to be looked at now.
Based on defence and what is on show I cannot see how David Kidwell has done anything that has helped in that area. We need to appoint someone else to the position who was a player who was a great defender but also other attributes to his game, a good example and who I would like to see is given an offer is Jim Dymock who did well with the eels and other teams as a player in more than one position.
Do the other coaches that BA has with him need to be replaced as well? if so by who something I don’t know. I would be looking also at a coach that is in a sense paired with BA more as an associate like coach, someone perhaps for the future top position but allowing BA to remain and take over the development player area, something I believe he would relish and go well at. One name that comes up is Justin Holbrook.
I think its apt that the eels move from the Old Saleyards and start at the new ground next year, out with the old, and ready for the new, in players, spirit and all.
There’s a lot that still is in my mind, but have probably paid enough and provided enough laughter with this post as it is.
The players i would move on have been mentioned; we need one good big white and defensive prop; another worker second rower; back up dummy half and good young centre. As for who? I have always liked Fizgibbon from Newcastle but he was signed last yr i am sure; he is the type i like and he is also tall. A bullish prop like Lodge (not meaning him but his type). I also think our defence needs attention as i have previously said.
As much as i detest them, Wicky’s Waiders have turned their defence around; and while they play close to the wind or over it; they have the toughness this yr. They also have their spine generally in tact.
I heard the other day that Matt Lodge has recently purchased a house in the Rouse Hill area????
Whilst his past actions are abhorrent, everyone deserves a 2nd chance and I think he has shown at the Broncos that he can stay focused and “clean”. I recently posted that I felt Pangai Jnr and or Jai Arrow would be good targets, but overlooked Lodge. In hindsight, I’d actually rate him higher than Pangai Jnr.
Is it just me or at the start of season we had what I would consider Parra best available team being picked every week, it wasn’t perfect but it had a great mix of exciting youngsters with our new buys……. then came that game against Melbourne Storm and out of nowhere BA bench’s Reed and starts with Peni and plays Gutho in and out hooker! Completely messes up our team and since then the team selection just continue to get more bizarre and the team has turned to complete shit! The young guys quickly left the team, What did guys like Salmon and Kaufusi do that was so bad ? Clearly the guys that have taken their place are not getting the job done every since. Why was BA so determine to play G.Jennings in the team that he’ll move Ferguson to the centres to do so? Why was Mannah dropped?
Our downfall started when BA started stuffing around with the line up. He is to blame for our current form.
Michael I agree up to a point, lets not forget that in those early games the team was settled, but in fairly rapid succession we lost two key players in the two Brown’s. had Ma’u out for some time and several other players out with different injury issues, along with Terepo being out for other reasons. I think the last game was the first time we were down to just one injured player, that being Jnr Brown. In saying all of that he had to make some choices owing to the players being out, and some serious performance issues by others.
Of our back rowers, Marata had dropped off a bit and was not as impacting, he will be back though, with the swappo of Terepo and Mahoney, the coaches call was made owing to the size of the opposition team IIRC, as Mahoney had been very much targeted by the bigger opposition forwards, his idea and reasoning was a fair call but Terepo and his value was quickly nullified, BA did say that he thought having a strong forward to start that game was a need.
With the possible exception of Lane the forwards overall have not held their form consistently, I would have liked to have seen Kafusi, Marata kept on the bench as rotation players, with Alvaro in another zone this year, he is at this point time not an NRL player, I feel for Mannah though as he has been fairly consistent off the bench,
Fergo has played in the centres previously so that swap with Genings was for the reason of who else? didn’t work and I doubt he will be there again. Taka I think will stay at Wenty and likely Salmon or Hoff will stay in the centres with Mj. Perhaps the 6 spot could also mean Salmon has another go there but we need someone with more elusiveness in running and as French has been doing ok at wenty would not hurt to give him a run there and put Smith away for his one good. French has a good kicking game for his outside players and for himself either.
Thought provoking piece Sixties. Totally agree about poor resilience. The case for roster renewal is looming large.
Your suggestion about throwing the younger players into the NRL team is critical. The review established that the Eels are a development club. How can the club possibly be making decisions about roster reinforcements when youngsters like Salmon, Stone and Kaufusi have been given limited NRL opportunity. And come June 30 rookies Fainga’a, Utoikamanu and Parry come into the mix. The season can be saved but sticking loyal to under-performing players and hoping for “continuity and combinations” is a depressing thought.
Of the off-contract guys I would like to see Mau, Mennings, Mannah and Alvaro be resigned and 6-8 guys be moved on.
I also take the point made by others that the coaching team must be under scrutiny (particularly defence). The NRL squad have developed some poor traits in the past month and whilst I’m not suggesting BA has lost the dressing room, the squad appear to need a new voice(s).
On form Alvaro is not ready for the NRL at this stage, sadly I honestly cannot see him being here next year. Stone has had some injury issues this year, but I certainly hope he is resigned, the biggest question marks though in certain respects regarding our Development players, is how are they performing for Wenty? That team has been as inconsistent as the eels, but I would also like to see them given their chances though.
Almost every club this year that has introduced young players to their teams due to injuries, SOO and replacing dropped first grade players have in general performed exceptionally well, so all things being equal there should be no reason why our development players and the others who have tasted NRL should not be doing the same thing.
Looking at the story on Mannah. If true, I’m thinking BA’s statement about being soft and part time footballer’s was referring to all the dropped players poor efforts in reserve grade. I expected the dropped players to play better and get Wenty a few wins. Instead they treated the demotion as a holiday. That was a test and they failed. Most players would say I’ll show them, I’m too good for reserves and kill it, to get brought back by BA. Instead a holiday was had, showing their true soft colours. I always liked Mannah, but Mannah as club captain, he should have smashed the reserves and lead Wenty to successive wins. (Inspirational leader, leads Wenty to successive wins) or (Out of form softy pea heart takes 2 weeks holiday at Wenty for 2 losses)?
In my opinion Alvaro, Takka, Terepo, Moeroa, Mannah, Smith, Hoffman should all be shown the door. These guys have shown they are all part-time footballer’s and Lack heart and are soft. These guys are too inconsistent to be full-time players. I’d probably give Alvaro a second chance because he is young but I’d also go further with Mau, not soft but too inconsistent and can get dominated. Our defence is soft so we need someone who can help BA (Dymock) and some new playing blood.
If we can just beat the Broncos, Raiders at home then the bye we can get some confidence back and a lot of this talk will dissipate (until the next losses). The fundamental issues remain with these players.
Gallen has a dislike for Parra that’s fine. But I actually welcome these comments,the team deserve every berating they get. The rubbish they continually serve up should be ridiculed. From coach down they need one hell of a shake up. Glad to see Timmy take his dropping as an insult and vote with his feet, least he will be out of this mess.
The hard part for me in all of this is make a call on some players, and the sorrow of it is to see some that still are signed for next year also not performing, and for the life of me I cannot understand why there were given that length of contract extension in the first place, they were doing better when on a single year contract than now.
Players like Tepai have the ability and worth keeping IF they perform consistently, when I was his age and in the workforce I saw people called out with worse comments that soft and they copped it on the chin and picked their acts up. Thing is they were working not just for themselves but for their family as well.
RL players have limited life in the game and if they play to their abilities then they can set themselves up for life but they have to be wise/smart in that regard as too many we see that after a few years out of the game they are in the pits, and get into the limelight for all the wrong reasons, despite all the mentoring and other programs in place for them.
When I go through the list of players off contract, aside from the few I see as keeps, there are others that are worth keeping, IF, once again they can show they have the intestinal fortitude to perform.
Sixties, I am probably more disappointed that we have signed Brad Arthur for another two years, two more years of inept performances on the back of a lack of mental toughness. we are a big club, with a huge junior and supporter base,WE NEED A BIG NAME COACH,
FACT. Mannah was not sacked by ba or any other member of recruitment panel , he simply decided to ask for a release and out of respect for outstanding service his request was granted despite it leaving us 1 player short with little time to do much about it !!!!
Question Sixties – You have defended BA so much despite the fact he’s only taken us to the finals once in 5 years. Yet you still support him even though he his primarily responsible for assembling this current squad of NRL players that is clearly lacking quality in various aspects and, as you’ve admitted, is in need of a major overhaul. So why do you still back BA? Why are you so fond of him despite all the mistakes he’s made?
Something to consider had the cap issue & associated fine and points deductions for 2016, along with the removal of the eels name on the winners trophy along with forfeiting the winning money of the Auckland 9’s add those deducted points to the winning ones and the eels would have been well and truly in the finals then.
I like all am not happy about where we are now, but I for one do not blame BA for the whole problem at the club, the club has not got the same money as other have, the non payment of TPA’s also hurts the club in attracting players, also I question the emergency appointment of some of the coaching staff last year when the management realised that the coach was doing it tough principally by himself.
There is always a big picture
You tread on thin ice here Jedda, there’s no coach questioning in this vicinity.