Parramatta Eels 12
St George Illawarra Dragons 14
St George Illawarra Dragons 14
The Good: |
Short turnarounds and heavy tracks aside, surely that inept performance is the wake up call the Parramatta Eels needed. Nonetheless, in such a tight battle for the Top 4, any loss should be about as welcome as a Victorian air traveller.
For more good news, we now get to refocus and take on *checks notes* the all conquering Melbourne Storm. |
The Bad: |
With the incredibly bizarre circumstance of Paul McGregor knowing he would not be the coach next week prior to kick off tonight was only going one of two ways; it would either energise his troops or deflate them like a pierced balloon. Unfortunately for the Eels it was the former with the Dragons showing a more than admirable display of fight and drive.
Also, I don’t know if you realised, but it was apparently wet out there again tonight.
Faring as well as a piece of paper in the rain and folding like origami, the Eels both screwed the pooch and crapped the bed, not only giving the Dragons a moral victory for their outgoing pedagogue, but more crucially giving up two important competition points.
Despite the Eels having all the going in the opening 15 minutes, the Dragons needed both a little bit of brilliance from Zac Lomax and for Parra to warmly invite them back into the contest with a defensive line out wide showing more inappropriate grabs than a Richmond Tigers dressing room. In a sentence, our intensity and attacking organisation were average at best. In fact, I dare say I thought the Eels’ backs and halves were straight up poor. |
The X-Factor: |
I don’t always understand the Bunker, and actually disagreed with each of its last two decisions; the first to deny the Dragons what I thought was a rightful four pointer, the second to deny Reed after it going upstairs as a try.
Also, what on earth was that Dylan Brown strip call? How do you rake a ball with the back of your hand? I imagine those three decisions will be almost as well received by Graham Annesley as those racist cowards at the Panthers Warriors game. Please note, interesting decisions were not why we lost that game; the Dragons were the better team. This is evident not only in their higher completion rate (31/42 for 74% to the Eels; 31/44 for 70%) and marginally superior run metres (2762 to 2755), but also due to them carrying less players playing like absolute busteds.
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The MVP: |
Despite a very disappointing loss, let the record show that Nathan Brown and Clint Gutherson were both excellent.
Still, I’m in no mood for accolades. |
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1- Clinton Gutherson (c)Fullback, Parramatta Eels |
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| Hello, you fool. I love you.
Although he would have no doubt preferred a win, Clint Gutherson produced an incredible record breaking king’s knock tonight. Our good friends over at Champion Data saw it fit to record his highness at a MONSTER 33 runs for an out of this world 359 running metres (that’s not a typo). You should also throw in a try, 2 offloads, 3 tackle breaks and a couple of sneaky tackles to boot.
However, NRL.com went even further awarding Gutho 367m, a number equalling Roger Tuivasa-Sheck‘s all time running metre record. I figure that’s pretty good, right? With numbers like that it’d be tough to justify giving him anything but the top grade. |
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2- Maika SivoLeft Wing, Parramatta Eels |
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| Despite making some good early catches, Maika Sivo did not play well tonight and was given an absolute bath by his opposite number and fellow countryman, Mikaele Ravalawa. Maika, I love your running over opposition players as much as the next guy, but when you finding yourself 60 metres out, it’s generally understood that open space is easier to run through than other human beings.
I’m not sure what’s going on with the guy who should have been 2019 NRL Winger of the Year, but he looks slow and hesitant in recent weeks, and also hasn’t put together a good statistical (or otherwise) performance since he dropped 4 tries on the Cowboys. Effectively ruling himself out of any future role on the bomb squad, Sivo has also put a target on his own back in the wet, showing a complete unwillingness to engage with the increasing number of bombs heading his way. It feels bad, Maika, it feels very bad. |
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3- Michael JenningsLeft Centre, Parramatta Eels |
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| I must say I’m pretty keen to see Michael Jennings on a dry track again. What if I told you he made 19 tackles, but also missed a ridiculous 8? | ||
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4- Waqa BlakeRight Centre, Parramatta Eels |
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| Although Waqa Blake’s running style sometimes makes it look like he’s dodging machine gunfire, it’s always good to see him out in open space (6 runs, 58m and a try assist). Thankfully the wet conditions seemed to mitigate Waqa’s defensive bushfire (23 tackles, 4 missed); in fact I don’t think I screamed his name in anger once tonight. Still, he’s not exactly firing on all cylinders, is he? | ||
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5- Blake FergusonRight Wing, Parramatta Eels |
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| Blake getting through 17 runs for 151 running metres is once again pretty impressive, just like his offload and 2 tackle breaks. Still, there’s something very amiss with his inability to stay on his outside man, it’s just too easy at the moment for teams to find an overlap on our defensive right side. And no, I’m not going to draw attention to his ongoing inability to score a try. | ||
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6- Dylan BrownFive Eighth, Parramatta Eels |
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| Really average game. Not unlike the game after the last time he went absolutely nuclear, Dylan Brown had a crash back to earth game tonight. Eels fans would have been disappointed to see the littler Brown Brother put the ball down early in wonderful attacking position before going on to demonstrate the sort of organisation and foresight that allowed the Ruby Princess into Circular Quay. In short, Dyl was anything but the cool calm and collected young half we’ve all come to know and love. | ||
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7- Mitchell MosesHalfback, Parramatta Eels |
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| I always like seeing Mitchell Moses out there playing for the Eels, he’s usually a very good player and one of my absolute favourites. But as our attacking leader, he has to cop some of the blame for tonight’s inept attacking performance. Sure he usually wasn’t always the bloke throwing the poor passes or taking the wrong option, but as a team we lacked attacking cohesion, and sometimes the buck just needs to stop with a team’s number 7.
I don’t know if anyone else noticed a couple of new additions to Mitch’s arsenal tonight; one the screaming out loud in an attempt to add more omph to his long kicks, and two his willingness to smash the shirt off opposition players in defence. I don’t expect this slump to last through next week, look out for Mitch to fire against the Storm. |
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8- Reg Campbell GillardProp, Parramatta Eels |
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| If I could, I would file all players wearing numbers 8 through 17 under “not the problem tonight”. With his big, cartoonish moustache you might actually recognise Reagan Campbell-Gillard from Guess Who, with your mystery person running 134m from his carries, with 2 tackle breaks and 15 tackles. | ||
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9- Reed MahoneyHooker, Parramatta Eels |
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| Reed Mahoney put in an absolutely outstanding kick to start the second half, giving the Eels effectively a 100m starting set and forcing the Dragons to drop it out for Kane Evans’ try. What’s more, Reed then backed it up by going within a whisker of winning the game for the Eels with a few minutes to go. There was millimetres in it, but as discussed above the Bunker apparently had enough evidence to rule No Try. It’s fine, I’m over it.
Shame, The Little Terrier very much deserved a try for the quality game he played tonight, including 63 tackles and a welcome return to his regularly schedule crisp passing program. |
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10- Junior PauloProp, Parramatta Eels |
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| It was obviously a huge concern to see Junior Paulo grasp at his ankle in the first half, but similarly reassuring to seem the trainer strap his ankle and the big guy trudge on. Nonetheless Big Junez was limited to 10 runs for 95m and 32 tackles; strangely offloadless in his 48 minute stint. | ||
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11- Shaun LaneSecond Row, Parramatta Eels |
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| Other than the unfortunate incident where he and Dylan Brown got in each other’s way with an open try line begging, Shaun Lane was pretty handy out there again tonight. Mark the Tall Drink of Water down for 12 runs, 134m, 4 tackle breaks and 32 tackles (albeit with 4 misses). | ||
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12- Ryan MattersonSecond Row, Parramatta Eels |
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| Despite the L, the world’s prettiest man had a good return tonight with his 15 runs for 133m and 41 tackles. Return of the Matt (come on). | ||
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13- Nathan BrownLock, Parramatta Eels |
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| It was an absolute pleasure to watch Nathan Brown steaming into Tyrell Fuimaono off the aforementioned drop out, hurtling at his opposition man like a runaway freight train, out of control and out of his mind.
Cyborg dropped 17 runs at the feet of the Dragons, earning 158m, an offload, 3 tackle breaks and 43 tackles. Our Lock just keeps churning out these impressive games like they are coming off a conveyor belt. |
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14- Ray StoneInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
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| I spotted him making some of the more energetic second half runs tonight, although the stat sheet only grants Ray Stone the effect of 3 runs for 29 metres and 6 tackles. | ||
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15- Marata NiukoreInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
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| Moving back to his natural habitat of middle forward off the bench, Marata Niukore was unsurprisingly solid as a rock. Coming up only 2 metres short of triple digits from his 10 runs, also adding a tackle break and 14 bruising tackles. | ||
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16- Kane EvansInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
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| It was very impressive for Kane Evans to not only sneak over for the Eels second try in the 42nd minute, but also note that he had almost half of his team’s 10 offloads (4) in his 32 minutes of game time. You should also feel free to lump him in with 13 runs, 117 metres, 2 tackle breaks and 12 tackles. | ||
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17- Oregon KaufusiInterchange, Parramatta Eels |
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| With an eerily similar stat line to Ray Stone, tonight Oregon Kaufusi had 3 runs for 29m and 7 tackles. Good for him. | ||
Well that sucked, and despite the Storm’s extensive casualty ward, I’m not sure next week will be any better.
Still, next week presents a great opportunity for the Eels to get their Premiership campaign back on track with a statement win against one of their Top 4 rivals.
Will they wake up? Will they respond to tonight’s disappointing loss? Can Maika recapture his mojo? Are the Eels for real in 2020?
All these questions answered and more in next week’s show.
Whatever happens, we’ll see you then, sports fans.
Go you Eels,
Mitch
Photos courtesy of the Parramatta Eels. Stats courtesy of the legends over at Champion Data.
Pretty accurate grades I would say Mitch, especially the big “F” for the Sivo. I have been unimpressed for at least a month. Last week he was shocking with him twice getting into the clear and practicing his in-field kicks to throw away possession. This week he was worse. my wife said he plays like he believes the media he is getting. Anyway BA will had had enough of him this week too I would imagine. At least we have a very able young fella training well and named in the reserves this week as a warning to Sivo. “Dazed Hunter” is a left winger who has the ability to get over the line, which he has shown in preseason trials for 2 or 3 years now. Remember the name, Dazed Hunter or you might know him from his nickname “Haze Dunster”. He can play.
Couldn’t agree more Rowdy. I just wish Haze could play left and right wing simultaneously.
Agree, he had not been that aggressive in his last few games. He stops when a defender faces him and waits to be tackled. He now ‘mimics’ Waqa in running out to give a heavy hit which normally miss the target and leave a big wide space in the wing. Just wondering – Will the chant now change to Si-Boo! Si-Boo!?
I wonder if BA will drop the axe, and if he does, you’d reckon it would be “resting” him.
A huge drop in form since the Cowboys game.
In any other year id say Sivo needs to go work on defence in reserves for a few weeks. Unfortunately he can’t and there is no one playing any minute’s in reserves to call on.
I was surprised by the lack of game time both Oregon and Stone got it almost feels like you can’t carry both on the bench and maybe we may aswell carry takka/field as xfactor chsing points players.
Im naturally a negative person and ill say now this is the 1st loss in a bunch.
Storm, Bunnies, Panthers we will be lucky to win 1 of those
I agree. i also feel tha oregon n stone should be playing more minute’s
brad need’s to use the bench player’s much better.
Saying we played shit doesn’t make you ‘not a true fan’. We played shit. Somehow we have gone back to the days of old with our 5th tackle options, as in we don’t have any. I get the weather blah blah who knows it may rain for another month get over it. If sivo is injured run Haze as he has deadset done very little over the past month. There was nothing pleasant about last night’s game other than my son goes for them and felt Mary got the send off he deserved.
Sivo might like the mirror too much, seems to have bulked up and lost his top end speed. Next week could be like Custer at Little Big Horn.
Yikes.
Sounds like the fruit fell well away from the tree there animous. Clearly a wise and compassionate young man in his only recorded public statement to date, even if secondhand.
In regards to your opening sentence joining the words “we played s..t” and your denial that a clearly overstated perception of how bad our team played does not make you “a true fan”? IMO a true fan would acknowledge a poor performance even 3 or 4 of them recently without feeling the need to demean. you are probably a sincere fan but a true fan? Methinks not. In a war environment, if you jumped in my foxhole? I’d jump out and take my chances with the enemy. Do you even know what “true” means? No it is not subject to or justified by ones opinion.
There are plenty of areas in the game that we werw hopeless tonight. But there is one area that I thought I’d mention that has been below average all year. BAs use of the bench is getting increasingly frustrating. Stone 7 minutes, Kafusi 14 minutes and Marata 23 minutes. These players are much better than the minutes they were given tonight and its becoming a trend for Brad to use the bench as little as possible. All good teams rely on their bench and reserve players for a deep run in the finals. Our game plan seems to be based around playing our starting forward pack as long as possible. While N Brown played well, there are times in the game where he jogs the ball up or lazily attempts a tackle. Playing brown for so long means he isn’t as fresh to finish the game where browns energy is one of the most important parts of his game.
Another point on this is that we are not giving our bench players experience or fitness in games. Stone and Kafusi seem to have nailed down a spot in our top 17 yet would not have played 40 mins in a single game. These boys need experience if we are going to rely on them in the finals. My only assumption around this strategy is that Brad is worried about having all the starting forwards off at the same time. If that’s the case, we need to make an early interchange (15-20) to get junior offand then at 30-35 take rcg off for junior keeping one of our big boys on at all times
Paul, the one thing that I can’t agree with is your comment about Nathan Brown. I didn’t see any jogging or laziness. But maybe that’s just me? 🙄
Every time i saw brown he ran like a white Fui Fui moi moi.
no slow motion in brown. sixties
Gees, I sometimes feel like people watch different games.
Not that they are watching a different Game it’s that they are looking thru their eyes everyone has a different view on the same Game.
A frustrating thing for me is the lack of passing/offloading by N Brown when that’d be better option than becoming a battering ram. Also Gutho, after having the ball kicked to him or running from dummy half, nearly always tucks the ball under his arm and rarely ever looks around to pass the ball to someone in a better position.
The whole team seems to have a bit of the ball hog mentality. D Brown has missed so many scoring opportunities by insisting on trying to run rhrough with someone wide open next to him. Gutho is same but has improved of late
I observed that as well. As if they are after their personal glory in trying to score a try instead of passing the ball. I reckon they should have a quick look at themselves and they watch how the Storms play.
Paul I believe that Oregon kaufusi n Kane Evans should be on at the 25 minute Mark then played up until the 55th minute. That’s when junior Paulo n RCG should come back on that’s a 30 minute break not included is the halftime break.
That gives junior Paulo n RCG 50 minutes of playing Time.
Nathan Brown should come of at the 30 minute Mark with stone to play lock n not a back up dummy half.
Imo I think if brads not going to use the bench better then he should just play the way we are n forget the semi’s.
Grades as usual reflection on the team, although Reed does sometimes have brain explosions close to the line, trying a kick through when they are lines up with an overlap didn’t help.
The team has had the same attack coach for 7 years, and something needs to change as the general lack of ideas when applying pressure inside the opposition 20 continues. Look at how both the Storm and Roosters and at times Penrith look composed and ask questions we don’t is so frustrating. That coupled with the use of the bench is problematic, last night the intensity was turned up when the bench was used, then was surprised when the replacements were replaced in such short time. Felt like the air came out of the balloon, not surprised the forwards did at times look leaden after last week, but then again maybe the pressure to use the starters to win the game is understandable.
Main point is how do we get more creative in possession, the difference Barrett made at Penrith indicates it could be done, anyway as long time supporters we know that there are flat times even in good years, but tactics need to be upgraded. Then finding the officials were Atkins and Klein, mind numbing.
🗡🗡🗡
So Anon, if you think there could be a reason for the play and suggest why, it’s knives out. Please , that’s so juvenile, discuss but at least be adult.
Add together a home game against a much lower placed opposition fielding arguably the clubs best 17 and an opportunity to put a 6 point buffer on 4th and of course the answer is a surprising loss. Well possibly not that surprising based on recent form.
The eels were no worse in the drizzle last night then they were in the bright sunshine against the dogs. Sivo had little involvement that day but last night his poor defensive reads, his preference to run at a defender than into space and his decison to not contest bombs was just not up to standard. He should be dropped, full stop.
I also thought saints were unlucky to get a try disallowed and as for Reed’s I would have been filthy if it had been awarded if circumstances were reversed. Full credit for him putting in the effort to make a play but the lead up to it with a desparate panicked kick was so typical of our 5th tackle and inside the 20 options.
I’m so over those long spiral passes from dummy half to Moses that take an age to arrive and give the opposition plenty of time to get up in their faces. We lack a consistent play maker in our 6,7 and 9 and the pressure built by the good work of an outsanding pack of forwards is released by poor decison and inept kicks, game after game.
Who wouldn’t have taken a 10:3 record at the beginning of the season, but once again the team just doesn’t look on form as though they will be serious contenders. The early/mid good season form is beginning to look like the inconsistent aspect of the season. The storm game could be very ugly based on the last up performaces of both sides.
Agree with the grades Mitch; Reed, gutho and NBrown were A class and nothing wrong with the efforts of the starting forwards. Moses and DBrown didn’t step up when needed and the rest of the backs were poor. The forwards keep bending the line but there’s little variety in attack. The saying that good teams don’t lose 2 in a row is going to be tested next week…
I think the team needs more maturity and professionalism from the coaches and players. Also a leader in the field who can compose the team when things go wrong. Look at the Storm, Bellamy gets angry for a simple mistake even when they are leading because he demands perfection from his team everytime. The players don’t play for their own ego but for the whole team. They always do the extra pass just to ensure that a try can be scored and not for yourself’s on stat. This I reckon is what is lacking especially with the backs and spine. Our middle forwards are always working hard.
After watching that rubbish last night no 1 deserves an A not one.
For ppl who want give Gutherson A just because he ran for 367 metre’s is just straight out dumb.
Gutherson was court out plenty of times at the back the dragon’s could have had at least 3 40/20’s gutherson had to motor across the field in a hurry.
sivo’s F is harsh yes he had a bad game but so did the rest of the team.Our half’s need to step up n start playing together.
brad Arthur needs to rest Mahoney he need’s to rest him know before his burnt out before the semi’s. If he doesn’t want to rest him then bring salmon in to replace him n not with 10 minute’s to go.
there was 1 call the ref made was dumb his calling on Ferguson breaking free from the tackle straight out dumb.
The forward’s need to be brought off at the 25 minute mark n stop playing big minute’s kane was our best forward tonight. made more metre’s the all the starting side props n had 5 offload’s to
Nathan brown has to stop running like that his lost his passing game that he had in 2017 he need’s to pass before the line like Junior does.
next week id love to say we beat the storm but i’d be only kidding my self. storm 38 eels 6.
Dead man walking
Rest Mahoney? Who would play Hooker in his absence?
Bring in salmon as 14 to back him up during the game if brad Arthur doesn’t replace him for 1 game. yes i know Mitch the club sees him as a centre not a 5/8. he can pass kick n run. instead of this rott with stone replacing reedy. if ppl don’t want that then they can have will smith i’d rather salmon. surely Mitch you can’t think reed will play out 80 minute’s at this rate his game vs Canberra was a much better Game then the rubbish his bringing know. just my thought’s. the same with Gutherson he needs a break look at that thigh padding he really needs a rest b4 the semi’s roll around. Dead Man walking
He already told us Mitch. Salmon.It’s a bit like the rest of his comments, I think it’s called prolix, or in the common vernacular. Bulk presentation, nil content!
I like brad Arthur as a coach but he needs help with our attacking structures the 1st try was great to watch but for the life of me why didn’t we continue running that same play down that side of the field it worked the 1st time who’s to say it won’t work the 2nd time around.
Gutherson is playing injured it’s time we give him a weeks break n give field a run at the back it won’t hurt after all we could use his pace right know.
It should also be noted that Mary had a better game plan with kicks on the third and fourth tackle and bombing Sivo who wanted nothing to do with the high ball. BA needs to drop Sivo or we will be such easy targets from now on as he rushes in and dislikes the high ball.He is definitely no Semi. He can run 20 metres in a straight line thats it.
I agree at least with semi he would attack the ball in the air n still look for open space
Sivo needs something, and needs to attack those bombs. Agreed re Dragons game plan, all over our execution.
Yes the bunker had a shocker but Parra need to be better so these baffling decisions don’t deny them a victory. Have we received our apology yet from the referees boss? I doubt it, we’re still waiting for our apology for the blatant forward pass in Raiders game. Parra-doesn’t-matter at NRL HQ.
Not looking forward to next week after that shocker of a performance. Maybe BA needs to replay our earlier good performances to show the team what they’re doing wrong.
Couldn’t hurt. We’re missing something.
Did Gutho play a whole set himself,another record?
Our tackled in their 20 was something like twice the Dragons’, suggesting great defence or poor attack. Poor attack makes for great defence. We rarely forced any quicker play the balls, we are lazy at supporting the ball carrier.
We continually stuff up our pressure build, in the first half we made 5 poor errors (and yes I know errors happen) around their 20, plus the DBrown/Lañe botched try, when we actually did break them down makes 6, probably count that one as 3, as we allowed the Dragons to build confidence and belief by failing to put points on when we could. The Dragons made 4 less errors and missed less tackles, a foundation for their mental turnaround, their line speed and energy were good. This loss has been lurking for a month.
We’re slowly reverting to 2018 form, pedestrian, predictable, one out running, getting picked off easily in the ruck, then little idea in their red zone.
Mitch, do you have any insight on why Fox and nrl stats look like different games?
We have reverted to muscle memory . That is, when things are tough we revert back to what we know. That is the 2017-2019 mindless attack. I hate how we are passing a ball backwards 20 metres and 3 metres wide to a flat footed runner which is easy pickings for the edge defenders. MOSES and BROWN need to be flatter and make some decisions in attack 3 to 4 plays down the line. I think Mitch is thinking 5th tackle kick and that is it. Does anyone know if Joey JOHNS is still working with the halves? Want our money back. If we play direct and tight against Storm we are a slight chance. Go through them not around them.
Paul, I believe he is still working with them but, not sure whether together as it was before, I base this only on a photo I saw where Joey was talking to them through a wire fence I suspect that as he is other roles he may not be able to be in close contact with them owing to Covid restrictions.
Well said. I do like the “go through them, not around them” advice in particular.
I had said this match had one of two aspects as to the result, 1: we win by big margin, 2: Drags lift big time to send Mary off with a win. While not winning big time, the way the players gathered around Mary with smiles and plaudits’ where were they for the other games?
I am a bit forgiving towards the team, as with a short turn round and again having to play on a heavy ground, I would suggest several of the players who backed up were likely leg weary after two weeks in a row of playing in those conditions, only thing missing was the old style mud.
The two players that dissapoint me still are our 2 & 5, our 2 was run over more times than not, that is when he was still on his wing, for a player that was so strong and learning the game last year, being on top of the try scoring table, I think his anchor is still on the oceans floor. Its not just this game but its also been a consistent problem this year, except the chooks game.
Fergo is similar still leaving his wing open, thankfully Waqa was a bit better tonight to cover for him, I did not like Fergo’s foray so many times as a run up forward either, and making little impact.
I hope next Thursdays game is not wet, bad enough to play storm on a dry paddock than a wet one. If our 2 & 5 are still the same in that match then I fear for the scorelines by their wingers.
Finally, I would like to see the old Dylan and Lane’s combination get going again as their seems to be something missing this year. Was good to see Kamikaze NB trying to sink the opposition and where would we be without him?
Mitch, good ratings of the players
Thanks for reading mate, always appreciate your supportive comments.
Memo to Coaching staff – tell Jenko he is never, ever, ever to go to dummy half. He did it twice tonight and threw two absolute shockers. Dummy half license revoked.
Although I do like it when he runs from dummy half.
I thought it was telling that Mahoney took control of the game in the second half given that our halves went MIA. That was great to see for the number 9, but we really need more from our halves.
I don’t know what is happening with our outside backs, but gee they are bad at the moment. Jennings the pick but still he has been up and down lately. It seems they know they won’t get dropped and so feel safe regardless. I’d like to see Dunster get a chance, maybe he can inject something into the backline.
I’m not sure feeling safe is necessarily the issue, but agree something is certainly amiss. I have been quoted saying I thought our 1-5 is one of the best in the NRL; an absolutely ridiculous thought at the moment.
Oh, that’s interesting Mitch. I had been applying the 1-5 principle at work and had been getting great results even though our start time had been put back to 9am, the extra production we were getting from our tradesmen between 1-5pm was truly outstanding. I wasn’t quite sure if the same principle that made us the best 1-5 performers in the NRL I did think it was worth the experiment in the commercial construction industry.
Sorry Mitch how can you rate Matterson and others same as Marata.I don’t know what more he could have done.
If he wasn’t in our top 3 or 4 best I’ll walk to Melbourne and back COVID and all.
Are you talking about Marata being in our 3 or 4 best?
Besides, it’s just Post Game Grades mate, it’s light entertainment. Dont overthink it.
Yes mate but all good I just hope our wheels haven’t fallen off I suppose the next two weeks will tell us that.i know it’s only one loss but we should have lost the last two.
Agreed mate. Hope you’re well
Don’t forget to pack your lunch Gustarny, all the shops are shut once you get over the border into Victoria mate.
Look, it was probably a loss that was coming to be honest. We’ve been pretty ordinary for the last month or so. Our attack just has no direction at the moment. Our forwards are great and our defense in good too. A tough game against the storm this week. I’ve read a few posts on twitter saying we’ll get smashed by 40 or 50 next week. That won’t happen. Our defence is fine. Fix our attack, get our mojo back……. we’re not done yet.
I feel good about this Thursday. I have nothing to base that on other than the hope we will reset and wake up this week.
We’ve been playing down to our opposition lately. Hopefully we rise to the challenge against the storm. A good chance to prove ourselves.
I honestly think we haven’t recovered from the ease in which Manly walked through our defence in the game at Brookvale.Our form and confidence has declined since that game.
Yeah fair point. Like a poor man’s version of Penrith coming back to win Round 1, 2018.
Lot of talk about our wingers,the reality is I suspect that Sivo is a victim of the press hype on him and is actually overated (Ilike him and hope I am wrong). I think the time has come for him and Waqar as a centre who is equally as vulnerable defensively.
My answer is to reinstate Taka to the centres and move Waqar to Sivo’s wing spot….what I have seen of Haze Dunster is limited, but I suspect it would be too much to debut him against storm.
Luckily Vanavulu is out and that will make our job that much easier.
I have always been a believer that one of storms great strengths is their wingers….. we have to stop Ado Carr…. I think our forwards can match Storm.
Although it’s the first time anyone has suggested this left field proposal Poppa, I do believe it has merit. I like the idea of Taka at left centre (who has heaps of experience at right edge second-row or centre) for 2 reasons. 1st it will stiffen the defense on that flank and 2nd it will provide good ball for Fergy to return to the try scoring list.
On the other side of the field, Jenko will provide plenty of opportunity for Waqa as he does for Sivo and Waqa’s sze and strength are not much less than that of Sivo but his speed and ability to beat a man will more than make up for the loss of Sivo even at his long gone best.
A goof suggestion from Pops and tend to agree with the switch.
Unfortunately Sivo has shown a fair amount of issues and on reflection its been there since the whole team has also dropped off especially in certain areas. Sivo is not showing the same power and moreso the speed he has had in the past, while I believe he should come good he does need some help in how to read the game, and concentrate on what his job is.
I would like to see Dunster given a run but agree against the storm a big ask, for a debutant. I do wonder with Fergo as well as Sivo though, and we don’t really have too many serviceable backs at this point of time.
Poppa I we can’t beat this Under strength storm then we are not going to win the comp this year. No Munster no cam Smith n Hughes no vanivali Only Ryan papenhuzuan is left in the spine.
I have been saying this for a while about bringing takarangi to Centre n Only get funny responses back. Not sure about Waqa to wing though sound’s bit weird playing him at wing.
Thats ok Rev….but never underestimate a side like Storm with there backs to the wall.
You say we are not going to win the comp this year, actually I never really expected it…..I have a suspicion all along that we have been over rated by the media and also the fans.
That said whose to say that these sides will be any stronger come GF day…if anything happened to 2 key players at Penrith, they will become another animal.
We need to focus one game at a time, the finals will be another matter when the time comes.
Can’t see why it is weird having Waqar on the wing, it gives him a sideline to add to his defence and he cannot really constructively set up an outside support, so why wouldn’t wing suit him…..maybe he has never really been a centre…..most of the Penrith mob have been saying that all along!
Pops, would like to see Waqa on the wing, I think he has the pace for it as well.
While this may be jumping ahead a bit, would still like to see Dunster given a run before end of year, with so many of our current squad off contract end of year, and with both Sivo and Fergs off contract end next season, we need to be looking at replacing them, at least fergs. I know this is early thinking and while the team should go ok for the rest of the season the backs really are our weak spot and needs a renewal.
Rev, Storm have VG replacements in fact their Cam replacement is already playing that being Brandon Smith and did a pretty fair fist of it in their last game against the chooks and will be a worry to our side especially our 9 who needs to better him.
I would not sell the storm short as Bellamy likely has his team already focusing on the eels match. I watched the way Christian Welch played and would love to see him at the eels as he was destined to come to prior to injury.
Colin I feel that Welch has come back from his injury playing better than before. He has really been running with intent since he got back
Too True John, he was huge last week for the Storm. Would like to see the eels start talking to him again, drags are already.