Life is like a roller coaster. You can either scream every time there is a bump or you can throw your hands up and enjoy the ride.
Anonymous
Without question, the major talking point about the 2019 Parramatta Eels has been the desultory performances delivered in nearly half of their matches this season.
Described as the Jekyll and Hyde of the NRL, the disparity between the best and worst of the Blue and Golds has been stark. We’ve witnessed the team fluctuate from the breathtaking demolition of opponents one week to embarrassing capitulation the next.
Yet, as we hit Round 15 of the 2019 NRL season, the Parramatta Eels currently sit in 8th place. They’ll need to defeat the Raiders to stay there. Yet credit where it’s due, a win in Round 1 against the Panthers saw the Eels begin the year in the top 8, and at the conclusion of each of the 14 rounds they’ve remained there.
The adrenal rush at BankWest Stadium
Along the way, supporters have been taken on the wildest roller coaster ride, where the adrenal gland rush of excitement at most BankWest matches has been almost eclipsed by that slingshot of velocity from steep performance falls in clashes away from home.
Yet it might surprise punters that a similarity exists between the past three seasons.
Back in 2017, Parra finished the regular season in the top 4. However, there was nothing special about the first half of the season with the team only posting a modest win/loss record of 7/7 by Round 14 that year. The Eels would go on to find tremendous consistency and win 9 of their last 10 matches to qualify for the finals in fourth place, taking their tally to 16 victories.
Of note was the points differential after 14 matches that year. In scoring 258 points, but conceding 308, Parramatta came into the last ten rounds with a negative 50 differential. It’s worth comparing that to what followed in 2018.
Last season was an absolute disaster, but there was something familiar about it. On the back of only 3 wins in the first 14 rounds, it was logical that a negative points differential would be the result. And if you’re not winning, the chances are you’re not scoring too many points. And this was the case with the Eels attack only registering 194 points by Round 14.
However, conceding 312 points conjures a sensation of déjà vu.
Let’s now bring our timeline forward into the current season.
As of Round 14, 2019, the Eels defence has leaked 306 points.
That’s 308 points in 2017, 312 points in 2018 and 306 points in 2019.
For a team renowned for their inconsistency, that’s a remarkably consistent 22 points per game over three seasons. Boasting the second worst defence in the Premiership is not something you want to highlight on your resume, but for a point in time indicator, it’s interesting to note.
So what’s different? Why does this year feel like a theme park ride.
Captain Obvious replies, “It’s the attack.” And he’d be right.
For the first 14 matches, the last 3 years of attack stats reads thus – 258, 194 and 311 points. Those 311 points in 2019 currently positions the Eels attack as the fourth best in the comp. The additional 117 points found this year certainly haven’t hurt the team’s efforts to improve on the failures of last year.
In looking to provide some insight, I’ll offer some observations from training in addition to a number of relevant statistics.
The attacking drills and games at training have naturally varied over the last six seasons. No team would repeat drills, plays and shapes year upon year. However, the constant over those years has been the time dedicated to developing the passing skills of the forwards and the encouragement provided for every player to play what’s in front of them.
As a supporter who attends training, the hair-tearing frustration of match days has been watching the team when they fail to execute during games – especially last season. The offloads and support play in evidence at Old Saleyards rarely manifested in the heat of battle in 2018.
So let’s dig a little deeper. There are a number of significant statistics this season that require your attention.
The club currently sits 3rd in offloads (11.1 per game), 2nd in run metres (averaging 1547m), and here’s the sweet, sweet number – 1st in generating ineffective tackles (19.8 per game).
Back in December, resident stats wiz Colmac identified the Eels inability to generate ineffective tackles as being a key metric to improve going into 2019. Over the previous three seasons, our returns had been 15.1 (2016), 15.3 (2017) and 14.2 (2018). A jump to 19.8 ineffective tackles per game in 2019 has been an outstanding improvement.
Junior shows off his ball skills
Finding more offloads has been the result of both recruitment and coaching. To that end, Junior Paulo has been a key addition.
With 34 credited offloads for the season, Junior currently ranks second behind Andrew Fifita who has 39 to his name. With a match average of 2.6 offloads per game, that’s almost one quarter of the total Eels average.
And it’s the manner in which Paulo offloads that does the damage. The more players that are drawn into an ineffective tackle on the big unit, the more the defence line is left short in numbers. Throw in solid back up from Nathan Brown (1.7) and Manu Ma’u (1.6), and the quick shifts often following an Eels offload results in the likes of Jennings and Sivo featuring on the NRL top try scorers list. The prospect of the newly recruited Waqa Blake being the beneficiary from some of these open spaces adds a mouth watering component to the end of season matches.
Where does this leave the Eels in the run home?
The attacking statistics speak for themselves.
The points scored are the best return for the last five years and equal the points scored back in 2014 when Jarryd Hayne produced a Dally M medal season, and topped the NRL try scorers list with 20 – closely followed by Semi with 19 four pointers.
If the Eels can find some defensive resilience, a finals berth probably awaits.
Without finding it, the amusement park ride that is our current season will still be carrying passengers.
All aboard?
Eels forever!
Sixties
you see our defensive training sixties, why under pressure does that regularly collapse. Do we need a new system , a new defensive mentor or a gun defensive forward that leads the way. If so are there any in our ranks or someone we should aim at. Opinions?
Good defence is all about effort. Whilst coaches can help with technique and wrestling it is the players who must turn up with the effort.
I believe that our middle defence has been very poor at times this season and it is the players who can turn it around with effort.
John eel effort and intensity was drummed into me when I played, if I did not bring it I shook hands with the reserves coach. Our piss poor defence has continued for years, no free rides anymore shake them up
I’m happy for that consequence Seth.
Agreed.
I think we can all observe that there are problems in the quick release of the tackled player, leaving defenders still in the ground and sometimes only one marker. Our defence line is then short around the ruck and back pedalling. I watch them drilling on this – from the collision, to the “wrestle” to the communication and release. I’ve watched them train team and individual defensive patterns and decisions in opposed contexts.
I haven’t watched a contact session in the contact room, but they have taken the mats outside and completed the work on the field. I’ve also been close up when they’ve done contact work in the sand pit. Just quietly, that is not for the faint of heart. I’ve seen it draw blood amid fierce, competitive contact. Beau Scott never seemed to hold back and recently Junior put one of the best shots you’d ever see on a team mate.
To me, it comes down to the execution on the field. And by that I mean attitude. Getting off the ground is all about effort.
We’ve had specialised contact coaches and different assistant coaches taking this on. Currently David Kidwell has the role, having only joined the club during the last season. That said, every time I’ve watched a contact session in the sand pit, every coach has been present and BA certainly adds his voice to proceedings – both to the team and individuals.
I think that when we recruit any forward, we need to do our research as to their defensive “form”.
Interesting stats and analysis – who would have thought 3 such different seasons would have the Eels leak a similar total points. As per your title, you would think the defensive lapses can be closed. Manu and NBrown have added variety in attack and reduced the reliance on Junior – let’s hope the return of DBrown similarly provides variety in the halves.
DDay I thought Browny was very dominant in the ruck in our last game against the Broncos
DDay and John, I believe that Brown is a huge “in” for us – in both attack and defence.
Sixties I mentioned here. I think after the Broncos game, that the quick shift after the off load was used a lot this season and was working well.
Reminded me of an old Jack Gibson tactic after a dropped ball. It may have been used in the past but I do not remember it as being so prolific as this year.
Post by John Eel
Well noted.
Yes, real thought fodder there sixties. In most games when we got shredded, we just didn’t seem to be able to deal with high tempo play. Without NBrown and Ma’u, it seemed to me that only Mahoney, Lane and Niukore had good mobility. The top teams have speed and mobility right throughout their forwards.We are also short of the top teams in controlling the tackled player, maybe in trying to clean up on ruck penalties we became a soft touch for the ‘rule benders’ (which is probably all teams, some more clever than others).
After the dominance of the really big forwards last season – especially with the high penalty count – we are back to lower penalties and mobile forwards. Go figure…..