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It was another wet night at the office for the Parramatta Eels but unlike last week they couldn’t grind out the victory. Instead, a resurgent St George Illawarra Dragons outfit rallied for their departing coach in Paul McGregor and sprung a 14-12 upset.
The defeat was symptomatic of the same issues that have plagued the Eels over the last month and a half and the boys try to get to the bottom of it all. Clinton Gutherson was immense in the defeat, equally (or perhaps bettering) a fabled NRL benchmark as he continues his stellar 2020 season while Sixties then goes on to point out an Eel that is fighting desperately to keep his spot in the line-up and just who could be looming up behind him as a replacement.
Finally, with the Storm on the horizon Forty20 and Sixties do their best weathermen impressions as they forecast the upcoming contest on Thursday night. Even with Melbourne missing a bevy of stars and core players the Eels will enter this game knowing it will be a monstrous challenge given their own lingering issues.
Hi guys. Enjoy listening to this when I’m working late.
One comment; 40 – please stop interrupting 60’s just as he’s getting going. He keeps lining up a killer point and you’re crushing it mate like a play maker refusing to link with his outside supports! 😂
Otherwise; enjoy the analysis from you both. And the wrap up from between the 2 views at the ground and at home. Good stuff!
I’m probably taking too long to get to my point Sam 🤣🤣🤣 – plenty of people remind me of that!
cheers for the feedback – we had a few plans around the Tip Sheet this year which unfortunately were busted by COVID but we decided to push ahead in the current format. Glad to have you on board.
https://twitter.com/mapsports/status/1294852757866688513?s=21
Terrific news. Sam has impressed at training. Appreciate the heads up.
With no lower grade to go to, I can’t support Sivo being dropped and Taka coming in.
Sivo is either carrying an undisclosed injury or his headspace isn’t right. I suspect it’s psychological. I think he has been acting like a one trick pony – Rumble over the opposition and forgetting the other skills he had been building.
A bit more coaching on where to be on the 5th in both attack & defence is needed. I have faith in his ability to fix this and fast.
It’s very unlikely that we will see change, but the concern is Maika’s form despite the work being done with him. He’s at the point of slipping from our weapon to a liability. I am concerned that a continuation of that form will do longer term psychological damage. What’s frustrating is the coaching that isn’t followed about the plays which has allowed teams to get around us on the fourth or fifth. There’s plenty done there.
Wow Trouser, I couldn’t disagree more vehemently about every point you’ve made concerning Maika other than his problem being Psychological. Which it clearly is. I believe he has been getting “a bit more coaching” in earnest since the Cowboys game. You can see the frustration of his teammates on field where they are finding it very difficult to cope with his ridiculously poor execution of defensive reads and the bizarre decision not to “run hard and straight” when put in the clear or the stupid in field kicks (twice last week) in the wet. His continued refusal to put the ears back and head for the try-line then take the tackle. There are numerous other silly things he has done also which are not part of his job description either. As for the one trick pony? that’s what he is and was very, very good at and why he was signed in the first place Trouser. It worked well enough for him to be top try scorer last season. I would also question “your assumption of “other skills he had been building” Read above critique mate. He doesn’t have any! If Maika plays against Melbourne on Thursday? I won’t go to the game and I will back the opposition for the first time in my life! Continuing to play him and in particular against Melbourne could see him suffer a humiliating hammering that could possibly leave him permanently damaged mentally.
Strong views Rwdy!
I have clear recollection that the Storm already built tactics around playing to Sivo in last years finals.Aerial and land-based.
It’s a fair call.
Thanks guys, always interesting to hear your post game thoughts.
I think Sivo is so out of sorts that he can’t be risked against the storm and It’s not the type of opposition to try and rekindle his confidence if that is his issue.
Anyone on the wing who will better follow their role in defence, at least attempt to catch a high ball and run at pace when open space presents unlike that jog against the sharks is a better option at the moment in my opinion.
I’m not at all against giving a young guy a chance, but I expect that Sivo will be named with some movement in the reserves list.
The storm are rarely off their game and the eels will need to be at the top of theirs however it’s a great opportunity to show that they are in the mix. Looking forward to Thursday night.
Cheers mate. I’m still looking forward to the Storm clash. I’m sure that the boys will lift. The coaching staff don’t have their head in the sand about Sivo, but I’d be surprised if we’ll see changes this week in such a game. I can see the logic there. I said I’d be tempted around using Taka. If it wasn’t the Storm, I’d debut Haze.
I reckon we’ve seen enough from BA to safely guess there are no changes this coming week. So I hope Maika gets early touches and comes to life – confidence will help Him regain some form.
I like the Taka option if there was a change agains Storm – He’s a better option than H D for now at least. taka is a known quantity, has size, and experience on the wing in 1st grade.
Really hoping Parra lifts for Melbourne if they get beaten handily; it will be even harder to get over Melbourne come finals time. Must win imho.
Sam – I’m confident we’ll turn up. I’ve been hanging out for this game for weeks. Is it possible that the players had been looking ahead???
If they had been? It could explain the fear and bewilderment on Sivo’s face every time the ball comes his way in D and O
I kind of felt abit the same when we just seemed to switch off against the bulldogs a few weeks back. Are these guys looking ahead? Just doing the bare minimum to win a few games until the bigger shows?
cant say that it’s the best attitude to have though, much better to give it your all and keep the form rolling than trying to kick start it from the mud with a few weeks left.
ill be absolutely shocked if we don’t start well Thursday…my concern is Melville won’t go away so we need to play for 80 and win comprehensively for our psychological benefit. And simply for the fact that with 10 to go and Parra only up by a few it will be almost impossible not to back Melbourne in. Their systems and consistent applications is just so very good.
we can do this though; we need to if we are any hope come finals time. Draw a line in the sand – Melbourne won’t bully us anymore after Thursday night! (Fingers crossed)
Lol “Melville” obviously an autocorrect of “Melbourne” yikes. Sorrry guys
Cheers Sam. I agree with your line in the sand statement. And where better to do so than our home turf!
If you want to play Take I’d rather him in the centres with Waqa Blake shifting to the wing. I’d really like to see Waqa running the ball more. I think he can be a real weapon in full flight.
There’s been a thread of opinion with a few people I speak to about Blake being a winger. Not a bad call.
A great call in my opinion.
Tks men. Another thing with Sivo, I can’t remember if he was bundled over the sideline a few times recently, but he looks like he”s running as if the stripe is a snake ‘I’m not going near that thing’..he had 10 mtrs to work with but actually veered into that Dragons forward. He hasn’t pulled off many Tedescos since he Tedescoed Tedesco.
It’s like he’s second guessing everything that used to come naturally to him before.
IMO, sadly that can’t change in a week. With Sivo in I believe we get flogged. With Sivo having a rest back in Fiji? I reckon we get our mojo back and play with a lot more confidence.