Parramatta Eels 19
Manly Sea Eagles 16
Manly Sea Eagles 16
The Good: |
So, what were you worried about?
Hey, despite all the hysteria the end result is we won. The Parramatta Eels now start Season 2020 4-0 and we are (mostly) responsible for the old foe chalking up another loss. However you feel about 3 or 4 contentious moments in tonight’s clash, at the end of the day the result will stand and the Eels remain well positioned to continue their winning momentum into Round 5 against another great rival, the Penrith Panthers.
You know what? Despite the controversy over the final pass, I actually thought we were the better team. Speaking of good, credit to Eels fan @janenmortimer for the cracking design below.
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The Bad: |
Yes, allowing that second half comeback was pretty disappointing, and I was particularly concerned by the lack of trust showed between Waqa and Fergo on the right wing in the second 40.
In the first half, our early propensity to float these long, lofty passes over the top of defenders did not allow our wingers to seize advantage of space outside both the left and right Manly edges. However, our forward pack admittedly then began to lay a solid platform in the back 20 minutes of the first half and Manly’s edge defence began to fray. I am sure BA will be once again emphasising the importance of maintaining an 80 minute performance ahead of Round 5. A number of completely unforced handling errors spattered throughout the game also proved less than ideal; I’m talking to you RCG, Brown (the pass to Sivo), Gutho (the pass to Fergo), Fergo (the drop after said pass) and Oregon (ughhh). |
The X-Factor: |
I’d like to send a special shout out to whoever manned the western touchline in tonight’s game.
I (along with 95% of the RL community, and Graham Annesley) thought said pass was more than fair, but disagree with anyone who says Dylan Walker’s or Oregon Kaufusi’s tries should have counted, or that Kane Evans’ shouldn’t have. Putting that all together, I think that means I still think we should have won the game. The Rugby League community will tell you the new rules have made our sport one of momentum. If you count the Panthers as victors over the Knights, the following piece of trivia remains true as this goes to air (just).
In team stats, both teams finished with 78% completion and 4 penalties a piece, with the Eels winning the metre battle (2508 to 2247) and the Sea Eagles having a bigger share of possession (52 to 48). The Eels had 5 linebreaks to 4 and 14 offloads to Manly’s 10. Pretty even, Steven. |
The MVP: |
Dylan Brown’s unbelievable defensive effort took him within a whisker of tonight’s MVP award, but in my opinion if Moses isn’t steering the ship around tonight, we don’t come away with the 2 competition points.
As such, tonight’s MVP award goes to Moses, the Prince of Egypt.
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1- Clinton Gutherson (c)Fullback, Parramatta Eels |
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| Sporting a combed straight back hairstyle à la Richard Gere, the King gobbled up 171m from his 19 runs (4 more metres than his much more fancied opposite number), whilst also finding time for 2 offloads, 2 tackle breaks and a linebreak assist.
However, with the Eels lead down to 18-12, the King floated an absolutely dreadful and completely unnecessary pass to Fergo in the 57th minute putting the Eels defensive line under incredible pressure. In other news, although he didn’t break the line, he also didn’t drop anything he should have caught (including a redemptive leaping catch vs Tommy Turbo). As such, other than the aforementioned howler to Fergo, I thought he was pretty alright. |
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2- Maika SivoLeft Wing, Parramatta Eels |
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| As the season wears on, Maika’s carries continue to build in gusto and effectiveness; and he made his way through 18 of them tonight (186m). Although he didn’t score a try himself, put Sivo down for the the juicy stat line of 4 tackle breaks, 4 offloads, 2 try assists, 2 linebreak assists, and a linebreak of his own.
In many ways, Maika broke the Sivo mould tonight. I mean, sure, he still charged into the teeth of the Manly defensive line like the runaway bus from Speed; but he also kept a Manly drop out in field by making an acrobatic dive over the sideline, whilst also finding himself throwing the final pass for each of the Eels two first half tries. Who would have thought? Unsurprisingly, Maika Sivo is one of Erin Molan’s favourite players; but I think it goes beyond how easy it is to pronounce his name. |
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3- Michael JenningsLeft Centre, Parramatta Eels |
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| Father Time continues to chase the Grey Ghost, yet like innumerable would-be defenders before him, is left grasping at thin air. His 1 try, 10 run (134m), 3 tackle break, linebreak and 17 tackle performance is vintage Jennings; a phrase which has even more meaning when you realise he’s only a couple of months away from Seniors Card eligibility. | ||
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4- Waqa BlakeRight Centre, Parramatta Eels |
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| Waqa showed encouraging intensity in defence throughout the game, including a try saver on a surging Brad Parker with 12 to go and a hit in the 73rd minute that sent Dylan Walker back to his 2019 Local Court appearance. A tidy 9 run (97m), 3 tackle break, 21 tackle game loses him no admirers, although the Waqa and Blake defensive combination probably needs both some work and a less confusing name. | ||
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5- Blake FergusonRight Wing, Parramatta Eels |
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| I must admit I didn’t actually realise how big a statistical game Fergo had tonight. With a team high 22 runs, Fergo notched up a team high 212 running metres, as well as 3 tackle breaks, a linebreak and an offload. I guess I should have known after he ball-in-hand knocked over Waqa Blake in the early going ons.
Gees, he went close to sealing the match with an intercept try. Would have avoided a lot of controversy too, Blake. |
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6- Dylan BrownFive Eighth, Parramatta Eels |
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| The interesting (and deliberate) formation which found Dylan Brown on the left wing led a try on the stroke of halftime, only added a footnote to an already impressive all round game from the young half.
In particular, Dylbags displayed some seriously great defence on Manly’s menacing Moses Suli and Namesake Walker. The young number 6 also displayed a linebreak, 2 tackle breaks and a great post game rig. |
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Although slightly dulled by a disappointing pass for the Fijian Scud Missile before Manly’s first try, tonight was an otherwise incredibly impressive outing from the younger Brown brother. Not only did he persist with his trademark weaving runs in attack (7 runs, 80m), would you believe me if I told you he made a ridiculous 33 tackles tonight, missing only ONE?! That’s more tackles (and less misses mind you) than both Manly’s halves combined. |
7- Mitchell MosesHalfback, Parramatta Eels |
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| Showing an encouraging intent to run the ball in the early stages of the game, the Prince of Egypt had the ball on a string with his short kicking game, and went very close to pulling off the ever elusive Rugby League holy grail – the mid field chip and chase. Throw in his willingness to push through a left leg cork, an absolutely huge tackle on Joel Thompson to force an error, 4 runs (42m), 2 tackle breaks,19 important tackles and a crucial but didn’t-actually-matter-in-the-end field goal. It was one hell of a game from Eminem. | ||
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8- Reg Campbell GillardProp, Parramatta Eels |
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| In pleasing news, RCG ran about 3 kilometres (actually 172m) from his 17 runs tonight, adding 27 tackles into the mix. However, in the 10th minute Regan Campbell Gillard dropped the ball so cold it was as if Manly paid him to take a dive, before following it up with a crucial 26th minute error. Thankfully for RCG and Eels fans everywhere, Tommy Turbo put in one of the worst kicks I’ve ever seen to let us off the hook. Mistakes aside, RCG has now put together two very impressive attacking showings in back-to-back games, and I am very much here for it. | ||
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9- Reed MahoneyHooker, Parramatta Eels |
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| Reed’s kicking game has become a real asset for the Eels, and his tackle numbers (47) continue to put the collective Gold Coast Titans organisation to shame. Because of Reedy, my son is wearing his headgear to bed tonight, and by “my son”, I mean me. | ||
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10- Junior PauloProp, Parramatta Eels |
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| Still out there for the Eels’ first four pointer, the big fella’s footwork made a big difference to Manly’s tiring middle, particularly in the lead up to Jenko’s opening try. Big Junez had another terrific showing with 172m from his 16 charges, 3 tackle breaks, an offload and 26 tackles (with only 1 miss). The man is huge, both in game and stature. | ||
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11- Shaun LaneSecond Row, Parramatta Eels |
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| In a game about as interesting as this comment, tonight Shaun Lane had 10 runs (89m), 2 tackle breaks and 35 tackles. It’s not a bad thing, it’s just his game didn’t really change my life. | ||
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12- Ryan MattersonSecond Row, Parramatta Eels |
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| Matto did incredibly well to hold onto a number of flat short balls, hitting 14 runs (98m), 2 tackle breaks and 34 tackles.
Although he won’t feature in the highlight reels, Matto’s effective, incisive runs throughout the game provided an important contribution to the Eels ultimate win. Although I love having him back in the Blue & Gold, if there’s a better looking second rower in the game, my wife is yet to find him. |
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13- Marata NiukoreLock, Parramatta Eels |
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| Not unlike Shaun Lane’s game, Crash quietly went about his work tonight with 10 runs, 81 metres, and 16 tackles. In addition it’s worth noting that for the early blood bin called against Marata, it wasn’t actually his blood at all; make of that what you will. | ||
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14- Brad TakairangiInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
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| Zero errors, zero missed tackles, zero minutes. | ||
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16- Kane EvansInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
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| If you ever want to really upset me during an Eels game, predict an Eels victory well before full time. When Big Kane scored an important try in the 41st minute, my well intentioned brother-in-law declared “the flood gates will open now, that try has broken Manly’s back.” I spent the rest of Manly’s second half resurgence shooting him look after disgusted look.
In more pleasing performances, Kane went for 9 runs (75m), 3 offloads, 2 tackle breaks, a linebreak and 29 tackles. That’s his third pleasing game in a row and after a pretty average return for the first part of his Eels contract, Kandy Kane is now starting to really look the goods. |
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17- Peni TerepoInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
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| Despite our love hate relationship, I actually thought Peni was pretty good tonight. The Butcher still has plenty to do before I’ll take his calls, but 6 runs (65m), a tackle break and 15 tackles off the bench is nothing to sneeze at. Then again, what is? | ||
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18- Oregon KaufusiInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
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| Moments after he went within a millimetre of what felt like a match winning try, I must confess I stood up and left the room when Big Country dropped the ball on the attack with 15 to go. His 5 runs for 41 metres and 18 tackles is nonetheless a solid showing from the young buck. | ||
A relatively healthy roster and the first 4-0 start for the Parramatta Eels since 1989? You’d be a fool (and obviously not an Eels fan) not to want to grab that with both hands.
Next week it’s Round 5 and we’ll face off against the undefeated Penrith Panthers.
See you then, sports fans.
Go you Eels,
Mitch
Photos courtesy of the Parramatta Eels. Stats courtesy of the legends over at Champion Data.
Good read Mitch. I’m so impressed by our spine at the moment – I love to see Moses and Brown running the ball, their kicking game was 9/10, and so was their defence – something you’d never have predicted we’d say about Moses.
Mahoney’s kicking out of dummy half adds an extra element to the team to keep the opposition guessing, and Gutho is just always there backing up and darting (barring that hospital pass when he should’ve taken the tackle).
The Blakes do tend to worry me in defence. But as for Jenko – who was that bloke who was impersonating him two years ago, when we were all calling for his blood?!
We were definitely the better team for most of the game, but that last twenty minutes had my heart going way too fast. Momentum is always going to swing, but we largely brought it on ourselves with unforced errors.
It’s a shame all the media commentary is going to be on that last pass. It was definitely ok, but Walker’s try wasn’t remotely ok, and there were a heck of a lot of ‘flat’ passes let go throughout the game. And as Moses said post-game, Gutho had a pass just like that called back last week, but nobody batted an eyelid cos we won comfortably. You can’t only bag the calls in the last minute of the game, there’s wrong calls for both teams throughout.
Billy, there’s nothing you’ve written here I disagree with; I say well said.
At the end of the day we walk away with the points. Not unlike our contentious victory over the Warriors last season, no one will remember it at the end of 20 Rounds.
Thanks for reading, mate.
Mate on average half dozen dubious passes like that every game but commentators accept them because a try wasnt scored off that actual pass overlooking that they usually led to a try being scored , most media have no idea .
Jenko was MoM in my books. That zig followed by a zag interspersed with a pirouette mixed with a dos-à-dos was magic stuff. An inspiration.
I’m looking forward to Waqa & Blake working each other out, because that’s the final piece in the puzzle.
I love reading your inspired comments Trouser Eel, although generally brief they tend to hit a particular nail “right on” each week. Precisely where both Wonga and Fergy need it to hit literally with other. I will make a prediction which could be received as “a prophetic utterance” and say, Without any doubt these two blokes (let’s call them “Ferwoqa”) will become the new “Lapana” of the right flank in the NRL. The outcome will see them come from behind to capture the not yet acknowledged but soon to be established award as “top try scorer for a double act” in the NRL.
This is a magical comment.
100% agree MJ was MOM. He was very good.
The Erin Molan comment made me literally laugh out loud… you cheeky bugger. Great work Mitch!!!
Ha thanks mate. Appreciate you reading.
Another solid performance tonight but gee the unforced errors are tough to watch. The boys did so many great things that were undone by school boy mistakes.
I must question Brad’s selections and use of the bench though. The rule changes have meant that smaller forwards with a bit of footwork and a high work rate will really come into their own and yet Stone gets dropped. The fact he’s our back up to Reed also leaves me wondering why he wasn’t picked.
I also think if Taka is used correctly he could be quite dynamic as well. Just tell him his job is plenty of hit ups with late footwork around the middle late in the halves and I think he could prove really valuable.
All in all a great start to 2020
Mate check facts before you speak ,stone was out ill mate
Have you been drinking this morning? You seem to have a lot of built up anger, don’t let it go unchecked because there is help out there.
#lifeline
I heard Stone was crook mate, not a planned demotion. -M
Thanks Mitch I hadn’t heard👍
No worries.
Schoolboy mistakes? This is nrl clive , lot tougher than schoolboys ,dont like errors any more than you do but they happen ,get over it.
How did you see the performance, Higgsy? Looking pretty good, players needing to commit to the game plan consistently over 80 still an area of concern for mine.
No team ever gets it 100% , were about 80% for mine ,need to get to closer to 90 %
Mitch Author, what a wonderful piece of inspired literary genius. I have always believed. Food for thought is the objective for a regular commentary like yours here mate. Pretty good grades too my friend.
Thanks for all your support, mate. Glad you enjoyed it.
i would hate to add up the amount of calls over last 7 seasons that have robbed us in the vicinity between 1 to 3 games per season , 2018 refs decisions took about 5 to 6 games of us and handed us the spoon ,
You’re not wrong, Higgsy.
2nd time this yr that brad have been left on the sideline what a waste of a bench player. he should have went with stone instead but in saying that can’t be sure brad was going to use stone also.
on the rating about right. their 2nd half was poor started to fall of tackle missed tackles [45]. funny thing was it wasn’t our halfs it was Jenko n waqa with the most. hopefully we improve neext week on our defense.
next week another tough game its a game we can not take lightly if we do we lose. we are playing a side that we have not beatin at bank west . can we go 5/0 i say yes
I disagree with your criticisms of the bench rotation, particularly seeing Stone was crook and couldn’t play.
No worries didn’t know stone was crook
It was a game of ups and downs but we still need to have plans for 80 minutes and not just 60. Our next test against the Panthers will be a full 80 minute contest and our halves will need to lead us to victory by directing the team up the park and Waqa and Fergo will need to work closer together. Another entertains game. Thanks Eels
Well said mate, thanks for reading.
I give us 6/10 for the game so to beat a team we weren’t supposed to is worth enjoying, especially since it was manly. The side is a work in progress there is no need to be peaking now
The pass was obviously not forward judging by the other 10 from them that were let go last night. Took the officials until the 79th min to get it right
If anyone watches videos, have a look at around the 32 minute mark, Levi throws a longer pass, blatant and much easier to see, no floating, just a straight bullet one metre forward.His short passes were a mix of flat and suss all night.Dessie won’t mention this.
Mitch, that game showed that repeated soft errors will come back and bite you, the field position, the extra energy spent is both physical and mental. Manly upped the tempo as the second half wore on, and we fuelled it, the comments/grades reflect that football games ain’t perfect, but we also did a lot of good things to win. I really hope Moses can sustain his level, his improvement looks genuine to me.
It’s early days but it looks as though he’s gone to another level in 2020. Huge if true.
I don’t get the complaints about not using everyone on the bench. The games I have seen this year we look miles fitter than the teams we have played. Our forwards are playing long minutes and doing their job. We are running harder, hitting harder, and have better line speed than the teams we’ve played against. The front row rotation have come on and kept up the momentum or even picked it up. There has been no need to replace someone injured or even a HIA. No one is walking around with their hands on their hips, so why bring someone on just because? Look at it as winning games with a player up our sleeves
Agreed. If Manly come back and if we did lose I don’t think the bench rotation would have been the reason.
Well said Parrathruandthru and I agree. Nice to see you fired up.
Hard win and seems last 40 minutes were the ‘old’ Eels. Agree that Waqa & Fergo seems to be off synch. Waqa always appear to hit it hard but unfortunately it does not sticked and became a missed tackle. Twice it resulted into Manly tries (though Walker’s seems a knocked on). Also Gutho & Moses tried a fancy play instead of having a goal line. Hope these issues can be corrected throughout the comp since Roosters, Storms & Raiders eill surely punish you for it.
Agree, we’re by no means a finished product but I also think it’s unfair to expect us to be one just yet.
We’ve got another game to tune up before we face the Roosters, and many before the end of Round 20. Let’s just hope we keep improving.
A win is a win. A win against Manly is a good win. And a win against Manly where they think they feel hard done by is a sweet win!!
Agree with the ‘A’s (Reed, Moses, DB, Jr, Sivo & Mennings), RCG would be there but for 2 errors.
Eels were good, line speed & defensive contact was awesome all night – closed Tommy down, kept Taupua quiet and Levi had no room.
Our middle forwards were tremendous incl Evans and Kaufusi wasn’t out of place – does he edge Terepo out next week?
I thought the Eels might have had more success on the edges but Manly are a good team.
The thing I like is although we let Manly back in it was mainly simple handling errors – easy fix. Agree with others Fergo & Waqa can work better together – relatively easy fix.
Brown edges oregan out for mine , bazza,s form been great .
I presume you are talking Nathan Brown, who will walk into the starting line up.
Surprised there is as much negativity about our need to improve, we played a great game a against a very good side. Fatigue makes errors and good players make errors.
I think it has been so long since Parra had a side as good as this one that a few people have forgotten what its like.
We will look back on this game and some will say, that was when they convinced me this is a premiership worthy side.
We will kick Penrith’s arse next week, after that this premiership quality side will settle down with the other contenders, Roosters, Raiders, Storm and Manly to decide who gets the crown!
Sorry that was me not Anon…..just hit the wrong button, schoolboy error….LOL
Good to hear from you Poppa. Agree with your comments. I just looked at the game again, Levi barely thru a pass back all night. Some were very blatant none were penalised for being forward.
If you look at the replay on NRL.com, after the goal was kicked they quickly show a different angle of the grounding and it looks like Walker spills the ball. his hand leaves the ball in the same way as Kaufusi in his disallowed try.
All this means is that the game is imperfect (if that is a word). The Eels were the better side on the night and deserved the win.
Agree , anyway old footy saying “ always enjoy any win because theres a hiding just around the corner waiting for you “