“I’m as mad as hell and I’m not going to take it anymore!”
After last weekend, I can’t help but channel the famous Howard Beale character to express my rage.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, your usually affable correspondent is on the angry pills and ready to vent.
As far as I’m concerned, the rugby league world is going mad, with stupidity or ignorance in abundance.
Maybe it’s the frustrations of being in lockdown. Maybe I’m the one with blinkered vision finding fault where none exists.
Fortunately, this column provides the cathartic medium for my mental health.
Hold on tight everyone, it’s going to be a bumpy ride on this edition of Bumpers Up.
Get Real
Everyone is entitled to support their club in whatever way they choose. You spend your money and invest your time and emotions in following your team, so you can feel however you want about the performances and results.
But as a creator and reader of social media content, there are times when the reactions from some Eels supporters leave me dumbfounded and even angry.
This was very much the case when the Eels lost to the ladder leading Panthers by one point. The prevalence of doomsday predictors and “sack BA” proponents defied belief.
Cash Mahoney
I won’t ignore the fact that the Riff were without Cleary or even Edwards. It didn’t hurt our cause. Yet, the media and those supporters almost blissfully overlooked that Parra were without Mahoney and were likewise affected.
The fact is that Parra played a brand of football that should have delivered a win over their Western Sydney rivals, and would have were it not for the missed kicks. The match featured two quality teams, two big rivals, and a one point margin either way was a fair reflection of the ebbs and flows of the game.
In the instant reaction episode of The Tip Sheet podcast, I expressed my annoyance at the match commentary which praised the Panthers and criticised the Eels. It was incongruent with the vision unfolding on the screen. It’s not the first time that this has happened, nor will it be the last. Unfortunately, it seems that there were Eels supporters whose perceptions were influenced by the likes of Ennis and co.
Parra returned to a brand of football which works best for them. Until Gutho threw the intercept late in the first half, the Eels were strangling the Panthers out of the contest, dominating field position and offering the Riff minimal opportunities to attack. In the second half, the Eels defence held resolute against a Penrith offence fuelled by their six again boosted possession.
The expletives flowed at various times at my house, most notably when Burton kicked the field goal and then when Moses missed the penalty kick. There were individual errors which also had me fuming. All up, I was as upset as any supporter would be with the loss.
However, in light of the opposition, the standard of the contest, and in the context of all of the blowout scores, this was a game of many positives.
To find otherwise was ridiculous.
The Cumquat King
I was at odds with myself about whether to give the comments of Ray Hadley any more oxygen. Ultimately I decided that I would make this my parting shot as I don’t intend to highlight his nonsense commentary any further.
I don’t choose to listen to this shock jock. In fact, rather than listening to his oft repeated comparison of the intelligence of footy players to small Chinese fruit trees, I now switch off NRL 360 during his screen time.
However, circumstances sometimes place me within earshot of radios tuned to his program. I also receive text messages from friends whenever this bloke makes absurd comments.
I’m not sure why Mr Hadley is so critical of the club or the coach, but his track record is reaching ridiculous proportions. And the truth doesn’t always feature.
I recently wrote about his laughable description of Papali’i’s knee incident as being one of the worst things he’d seen on a rugby league field in 35 years. When it only attracted a fine, he reacted by naming and criticising the members of the MRC.
But it is his unrelenting campaign against Brad Arthur which has now earned my ire.
At various times over the years he’s made claims that Arthur has lost the dressing sheds.
This week, in his morning program, he referred to social media stories about the Eels replacing their coach. After saying that such people won’t get their wish given the coach’s contract status, he then went on to state that he “knows there are people within the Parramatta club unhappy with the coach”.
Who Ray? You imply that it is people within the club, and by doing so, you try to ignite sparks of instability.
Well Bolts, I’ve had the opportunity to speak with many people “within the Parramatta club” numerous times over recent years and not once have I heard even the slightest whisper of dissatisfaction with the job being done by Arthur. Quite the opposite, as evidenced by his contract extensions.
I won’t pretend that there aren’t Eels supporters out there who are critical of BA, after all, I’ve had a shot at them in the section above.
But to state that there are club insiders with the same opinion, is nothing more than the work of a trouble maker, not a commentator.
Hadley enjoys a massive audience, which makes him an “influencer”. His ego is renowned. To be fair, it’s probably the driving force behind his success.
Thankfully, his influence on the Eels is negligible. His comments are nothing more than an annoyance to people like me.
I now declare this column a Hadley free zone.
Smell The Roses People
Are the lop-sided scores, the mid year transfers, the conduct of players getting up your nose?
If you’re an Eels supporter, it’s time to stop and smell the roses.
I’m no fan of the rule changes (more on that shortly) but our team has been one of the few to adjust to the “new game”. To that end, our losses have had identifiable issues which can be, and have been, addressed.
Other clubs are displaying a multitude of signs of internal disharmony. Of course, some of that can be explained by the strains of a losing season, but for certain teams, it looks to be the root cause of their form.
And when it comes to the Dragons, they responded to a victory with their now infamous Party at Paulie’s – apparently disobeying explicit instructions from team management.
Brad Arthur
In contrast, Brad Arthur and Eels management have reinvented the Eels culture. Talk to any player who’s arrived at the Eels from another club and you’ll begin to understand the family environment that’s been created.
With the club aiming to break the premiership drought, the foundations for success are being built.
We now cheer for a team that we confidently expect to win most games, in the best suburban stadium in Australia, backed by the largest paid up membership base in the NRL.
Throw in the Kellyville development, the professionalism of Eels management, and the financial support of the successful Parramatta Leagues Club and there is great cause for confidence.
Peter – ConfessIon Is Good For The Soul
As a lifetime follower of rugby league, my dismay about recent rule changes is rapidly becoming a fury.
It’s not too late for the NRL to admit that they’ve made mistakes, but there’s no indication that such a confession is on the horizon.
Praise is due for Peter V’landys, Andrew Abdo and the “can-do” attitude of the new NRL administration. Their navigation of the code through the challenges of COVID has been world-leading.
Peter V’landys
What was even more impressive was the strength of NRL leadership in the face of the precarious financial situation of the organisation when the pandemic first struck.
But just as fans should acknowledge the magnificent achievements of PVL and Co, so too must Peter V recognise that the “make it happen” stance has not worked with regard to the rule changes thrust suddenly upon the game.
The most significant impact of the rule changes relate to unstoppable momentum in games and the corresponding fatigue.
The question must be asked, wasn’t this an obvious consequence? And if not, wouldn’t it have been evident if they’d taken the time to trial it in lower grade competitions?
Consider this sequence. Back in 2016, the number of interchanges was reduced from ten to eight. In 2020, the six again was introduced. Despite evidence suggesting that the rule had created confusion and increased fatigue, the NRL more than doubled down in 2021 by expanding the scope of six again to offsides, along with eliminating scrums from touch finders.
There are two questions which come to mind.
Firstly, what was so wrong about the game in 2019 that it had to be so fundamentally changed? And make no mistake, the 2021 version is a different product.
Secondly, do those who conceived of this sequence of changes truly understand the game?
Yes, there is a gulf between the top and bottom teams in the NRL which can explain some lop-sided scores. However, we are regularly witnessing unexpected blow outs in matches between supposed evenly-matched teams. Just last week there were scoreboard massacres in Knights vs Cowboys, Titans vs Raiders and Storm vs Roosters.
In each of those matches, once momentum was gained, it was game over.
If your team is being flogged, you won’t arrest momentum from an aggressive opposition giving you six again on an early tackle as they pin you on your line.
Furthermore, you won’t have an opportunity to slow things up or control the tempo by kicking for touch. In one fell swoop the NRL administration removed a century old staple of the game.
This scrum rule change would have been understandable if they were removing an unskilled tactic from the game. However, the intelligent half or game manager used to be able to take hold of the direction of a game, or create much needed rest periods for their forwards, via their kicking game.
Now such skill simply results in a turn over for the opposition with barely a stoppage. And don’t dare suggest that any stoppage is bad. Players are human. Consequential stoppages are an essential part of the game. If you want nothing but hand-overs, then may I suggest watching touch footy.
There are suggestions that the NRL is considering changes to restarts, with scoring teams kicking off. Have they considered the impact that will bring? It seems like rules on the fly, bringing in a new rule to address the problems created by their previous changes.
Surely the simplest solution is to admit error, roll back some rules, and let the game find its feet for a period of time.
Right now, I’m looking for wisdom rather than strength in NRL leadership.
The Draw Loses Integrity
I am somewhat dumbfounded by the lack of criticism of the NRL’s actions in punishing the Dragons players.
The suspension of the “Festive 13” for Party at Paulie’s has affected far more than the Red V’s finals chances. What was never a level playing field in the draw has now become seriously unbalanced.
Forcing St George to go into their next four matches with a significant combination of players absent via suspension will basically award the two competition points to each of their opponents. Furthermore, each of their opponents are likely to drastically improve their for and against.
Some may say that such is the luck of the draw. It’s true that each season some teams have the good fortune of facing the likes of Melbourne, Penrith or Easts without their stars during Origin. Injury riddled periods for some teams can also be beneficial for some opponents. For example, the lucky teams faced Manly early in the year when Turbo was absent. It happens, that’s footy.
That said, Manly, Gold Coast, Souths and Canberra are about to receive an advantage that other teams do not, and it’s one signed off on by the NRL. For the Sea Eagles, it’s their second such gift.
In deciding to spread out the suspensions of the Dragons players, the NRL were reportedly concerned about not punishing the club with the limited availability of players due to
Covid.
However, the first duty of the NRL should have been protecting the integrity of the competition.
If they were prepared to effectively write off four weeks of the Dragons competing for a win, then surely an eight point penalty should have been the best action.
Allowing the players to take the field would mean that their opponents have to earn a win – just as every club had to do.
As it stands, four teams are being handed a decidedly unfair advantage.
A Positive Note
Congratulations to Mitch Moses for his selection as the new Blues half.
Since moving to the Eels, Moses has worked tirelessly to improve his game. Though unjustly described as being a “flat track bully”, Mitch has ignored the critics to become an effective game manager as well as a devastating ball runner.
Mitch Moses scores that try at Bankwest – image courtesy Foxsports
It’s no coincidence that the top four clubs are the homes for the best four halves. Whether Fittler chose Moses or Reynolds, he was selecting a player from a leading club and in doing so bringing in a player in form.
Congratulations also go to Clint Gutherson and to former Eel, Stefano Utoikamanu, for their inclusion in the extended Blues squad. In being pleased for Stefano, I must also admit to being stunned that RCG was overlooked. The big bloke with the even bigger mo is the form prop in the NRL.
He must wonder what he has to do to get selected.
One More Positive
Exciting times lie ahead with the creation of the Eels inaugural NRLW roster.
Last week’s announcement that Simaima Taufa, Tiana Penitani, Botille Vette-Welsh, Filomina Hanisi, and Kennedy Cherrington will set the ball rolling as the club’s marquee recruits certainly stirred up plenty of interest in Eels supporter groups.
It’s going to be a challenge for each of the six clubs to be ready to play in a relatively short time, but every club will be on equal footing in terms of assembling their squads.
Having an NRL team to cheer for this season will be massive for the Blue and Gold Army as well as a huge fillip for the competition. It will be interesting to find out how many members are adding NRLW memberships to their package.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Great Post Sixties.
For me the game today is close to being stuffed, after watching the Riff and eels game, I walked away from the box and have not watched another game since, as it makes me sick as to how the game has changed for the worse.
How do they adjudicate on the repeat sets, when one side gets an almost constant flow of them with repeats going in a big way to one side, with the other side scraping in with one or two occassionally.
When did the rules change that allow gang tackles on opposition players who are dragged and pushed over the sideline after the ball player has been stopped, and the 4th one comes in and pushes the player across the side line. Where are the Held calls made?
The NRL has to address a lot more in the game if they want it to continue, there was no need for these gong, bells and whoopee whistles that are so one sided, as there winning side has been decided on within the first 10 minutes.
I don’t watch or listend to halfly or most of the commentators anymore as they are just like parrotts in a tree trying to outnoise the others in the room.
Good observation about the current gang tackle trend. It has crept back in, and we’re witnessing those huge drags back into the in goal or over the sideline. Likewise, we are also seeing the players standing for very long periods in the tackle without held being called. This is the catalyst for such tackles or for the extra man coming in to hit the legs. This is surely a recipe for disaster.
sixties, its bad enough when 3 defenders are involved with the gang tackle to take/pull the player towards the side line often by holding the player down with feet on ground, but when the 4th comes in he is used to push the player with the ball and increase the momentum to the side line. At that point the Ref needs or has to call held, wasn’t the rule in vogue that once the forward momentum of the ball runner was stopped, the tackle was deemed to be completed?
How many games would many of the player fairies make in the games of the past when most tackles were completed by one defender or occassionaly 2.?
The other aspect in the push players is when the side with the ball has their run stopped by the defence, the dummy half will come in and push the back of the player with the ball forward, for some distance, the player who has the ball, also launches himself forward to gain more ground, I notice some refs are stopping the play now and telling the player to go back on the mark.
It is becoming a concern as you noted Colin. In one instance you have a recipe for injury, in another, pedantic officiating. Yet, there are players who are allowed to step to the side to play the ball, making markers out of position and opening the chance for them to be pinged for their defence. It seems like they get the call to play it on the mark wrong both ways.
Going back quite a few years, I remember when RU & RL were very much competing with each other as to which code would end up at the top of the ledger board, at the time the Ra Ra’s tried to gain a supremacy by calling RL Running Wrestling, for many years that term stood but faded out as RL got to the ascendacy over father time.
We are now in a new decade, and I wonder how long before RL will regain its tag of Running Wrestling?? One of the other big areas in the game brings that term out very noticably, and that is when the gang tackles, of 2-3 tacklers come in to hold the ball player up and then twist tackle the player to the ground, no time does one hear the ref call held these days, which should immediately stop the tackling effort.
I guess if all players were forced to wear the old style head gear that many hookers used that covered their ears, to prevent the cauliflower ear syndrome, then the call would not be heard, if its given.
Like yourself I barely watch any other game other than Eels’ matches these days especially when I hear the score is so one sided. If they’re going to stick with 6 agains they have to get the scoring team to kick off to give the other team some possession. Forget about the threat of Covid, these one sided games are quickly killing off the game and it needs to be addressed urgently.
Honestly the refs need to have various hand signals to show viewers what the call is for as most, like myself, have no idea which is frustrating. Also the perception is that some teams are heavily favoured with the 6 agains despite appearing to lay on opponents much longer than the team being penalised. Case in point I went to Storm game at Bankwest and we were continually yelling at ref to get them off yet rarely did we get the 6 again. It was so obvious that a Storm supported behind me was saying that they get away with murder.
At least watching from home, you get the buzzer and 6 again and some other pop up, I wonder if its heard at the games?
The riff got their first try IIRC after repeat sets close to the try line, and was in a flurry of plays, that gave the defenders no time to reform into their positions. Only indications one can see is if the ref waves his arm/hands to the other teams supporters who chear as a result.
I am personally jack of the rule as its a total joke, especially the repeat set, we have/had a rule that gave a penalty to a side for an indiscretion, usually it was rare to see more than one in any given set, the line kick provided a fair advantage to the team receiving the penalty but also the defending team at least had the chance to defend following the tap.
The game overall is being destroyed by these rules, maybe Vylandey’s considers the game should be competing at the same pace as found on the race tracks. The new rules have not helped the game but rather its taken the game backwards, the new rules are not going to help their push to get extra teams into the game, rather it will create more departures in supporters and rather than expand it will self suffocate as supporters walk away.
The next step will then be owing to less spectators at the games & there will be forced amalgamations of teams. DF will be rubbing his hands with glee.
Glenn, Parra regularly have a slower play the ball speed than their opponent. We work hard to not concede penalties or 6 again in the ruck, yet it doesn’t seem to pan out that way.
As for a kick off rule change, I’m dead against creating another rule change to fix a rule change error.
But let’s say that rule does come in. If the scoring team kicks off they have the opportunity to pin the other team deep in their half and potentially get the ball in a better position than they would have off a normal kick off reception.
When the non scoring team kicks off, they have the chance to compete for possession via a short kick or to kick deep to force an error. In fact, how often do we see the receiving team not get to their kick due to an error. I believe we’d see bigger blow outs.
How can we decide about a rule change? Trial the change in lower grades for a season. See if it works. Simple solution.
Anon, doesn’t happen very much but I totally agree with you on this point. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the present system, as against the other option.
It’s almost like the referees are adjudicating based on who the favourite is. I hope very much that is not the case.
You’re not suggesting preconceived ideas or a referee tip sheet are you. That’s a bit naughty Longfin 😁
This was an absolutely great read! Thank you
Cheers David.
On point yet again! Love your work – a highlight of each week!
Thanks Anon. There was plenty to write about this week.
My biggest complaint is the blind faith and inability to see that The BA criticism is justified.
I’ve said time and time again I applaud and appreciate all BA has done but it’s becoming clear that there is limitations to where he can take this club.
Sack BA may maybe not add more or new assistants yes absolutely.
We competed with a under strength Panthers we showed we are still have a way to go. Apparently voicing that here will have people call you a fake fan or stupid etc.. I take of my eels glasses and I see the warning signs.
Offside, blind faith is believing in something without evidence and reason. And yet my faith, or the faith from others in BA is based on what he has done for the club. And the direction he is taking them.
I would suggest that those wanting him sacked are doing so without valid reason.
I don’t call you or others of that belief fake fans. Where have I or any other TCT author done so?
I disagree with you opinion. However, in this post I cannot ignore the calls for BA’s sacking following a one point loss to the Panthers. It angered me because it was ludicrous. Opposition fans would laugh reading Eels forums calling for the coach to be sacked. Seriously!
Don’t call that Panthers team under strength. They were impacted by the loss of Cleary, and to a lesser extent Edwards. And Parra was missing the player that handles the ball more than any other – their dummy half. So we too were impacted, especially in attack.
Not you but other supporters are quick to attack those who dare doubt BAs ability to take us to the next step. I would love to be proven wrong but if we bow out in straight sets again this year I think the pressure for change will increase and rightfully so.
Nathan Brown made finals alot as Dragons coach when it was felt he couldn’t go that next step in came Bennett a minor premiership and premiership followed (yes he destroyed the salary cap apon leaving)
Maybe BA is a Brown type coach no shame in that if we are where we have been the last 2 years at the end of the season questions have to be asked regardless of the job that’s been done the question will be can he do the next job.
I think BA supporters like myself are quick to defend him rather than “attack” those who would want him replaced. I will always defend with evidence. I don’t recall too many “fake fan” cries on this site, but maybe I’m wrong?
As for straight sets departures, I’d be disappointed if that happened but I’d also look at how it happened. Eg, last year we gave the Storm their toughest game of the finals, then lost both wingers, Marata and then Jenko on the day of the Souths game – yet we played out of our skins for 65 minutes. Unfortunately, that rebound off the goal post completely changed the game. That said, had we won, I don’t think any of us would have expected us to go much further with so many of our backs missing.
Anon I think the blind faith are those who believe sacking the coach is the path to instant premiership success
Show me how in the past sacking coaches has brought instant success and premierships to the Eels.
There was a long list of coaches after Brian Smith but still no cigars
Well said John. If Parra weren’t on a different path, if we hadn’t become regular finalists, I would also suggest that we need to change our coach. But the evidence is that we are solidifying our place as a leading team – when so many others are a rabble.
I’m yet to see a workable solution from any of the “Sack BA” brigade. I think they want to drag Bellamy or Bennett to Parra. Apparently it’s just that easy and they will walk away from their current contracts and/or postpone retirement plans.
Very true. They are the two names always mentioned. Or even the bloke who is barred from coaching. Imagine that!
What I would like to see is a transition plan for the future if BA gets sacked or walks away for a better offer who in our current system is ready to step in
How many clubs would have a coaching transition plan? Maybe a club that knows a coach is leaving, like Souths. Outside of that, the main thing is to have the best possible coaches at each level in the lower grades and pathways, and while a coach is in place, each coach ensures that an overall club philosophy is maintained.
As for Parra’s current coaches, I’ve gone on record multiple times that Ryan Carr will be an NRL coach in the future.
I think he’s shown alot to suggest that and as such should be moved into the assistant role. I worry about the lack of new voices around BA it’s been the same group for a while I think one or 2 new voices/philosophys every couple of years is good for the squad and for BA, i haven’t seen alot of evolution in our playing style apart from the halves switching sides 1 thing that has changed is reeds output in games.
It’s very conceivable that BA becomes the longest serving eels coach and have zero trophy’s to show for that time.
In the NRL era no coached has been at a club as long as Brad without playing in a grand final I believe right or wrong when brads contract is up that should be the thing he’s judged on.
Yes he rebuilt the club and he’s been rewarded for that with a extension after a wooden spoon sentiment gets you only so far he should be judged on the end result that’s a premiership
Ryan is effectively an assistant coach. He’s full time. He is involved with the entire session for training. There are times when he takes the reggies aside for work, or positions himself behind their line in opposed sessions. After all, he’s their coach. But he also gets involved in skills work with everyone. Even more so during the preseason.
The continuation of his tenure after the spoon followed on from the external review.
The reality is that there are a lot of things in the club which have only just come into place in the last few years. Boards at NRL and PLC level. Training and admin facilities at Kellyville. Watching them prepare at Richie Benaud oval was mind blowing. There were zero facilities there for the players – some toilets was about it.
There are many things which go into making a successful club. It’s now in place, and the team is now a regular finalist.
I want a premiership just as much as any other supporter. I invest ridiculous time in that support. I’ve attended and spoken at every PLC AGM over the last 5-6 years to get the constitutional change to ensure that the financial support of the football club is written in that document and to guarantee better governance. I have been involved long before TCT existed.
The thing is, I’m an Eels supporter first and foremost. I back people who can deliver what’s best for the club and I don’t base that from just one perspective.
I’ve been in a position to be able to speak with players, staff, families from junior reps to NRL. I’ve spoken with and got to know board members, admin, footy staff – past and present, be they volunteers or professionals.
I don’t know everyone or everything, nor do I think that my opinion is more valid than any other supporter. but I reference my background to emphasise that I don’t blindly support anyone.
if I didn’t believe, through my experience that BA wasn’t the best person to lead this club forward, I wouldn’t support his continued tenure.
Its that simple.
This is a solid article.
Although i accept that we largely played well against Penrith i do not think we can grab a finals win (we can compete but not win) against Melbourne or Penrith at the moment. This is for the following reasons.
First, we do not have top-shelf attacking structures in place. Further, there are not enough “strike players” to grab points against the aforementioned teams within our average attacking structures. This is particularly so where Dylan Brown (who i have a really high opinion of and consider the best defensive half in the comp) has one try assist and one try for the year. His ball playing is subpar (i will cut him some slack as he is so young but the stats are dire) and from the eye-test his running game (although potent) is often mistimed and result in him surrendering to tackles in fear of running a Shepard. In that context, we are too predictable in attack and this is compounded by Gutho who almost exclusively attacks down the left side.
Second, our bench rotation is average. Oregon is an average young forward and has not kicked on as expected. It may be that we have to continue to let him develop as a prop as they tend to find their feet later than backs but BA has too choose between him and Lane on the bench (i despise Lane and his laziness just as much as the TCT. Also, Lane let in a similar line-break and try against Penrith in the trial this year. Teams know he is a liability in defensive and it costs us severely). IMO Joey Lussick should hold a spot with Cartwright such that the bench is Marata, ?Oregon?, Cartwright and Lussik.
Third, our work in bringing the ball back from our end is so one dimensional. We just expect out players to run one out into three defenders and somehow skittle them to manufacture a quick play the ball. Sure fergo used to be able to do that but he is dropped (rightly so). As such, there needs to be some short passing or creativity to ensure the opposition don’t compress and manhandle Haze, Gutho etc.
Those are my current thoughts and i would be interested in hearing how other people see performances of the team. Maybe Reed will offer the other point of attack from the left side that we desperately need in order to take the next step (assuming our right side defence is sufficiently solid which i don’t believe it is).
I have all the faith in BA and trust the team is working on its weaknesses.
GO EELS!!!
Cheers Mathias and some fair observations.
I do see possible victories over the Storm and the Panthers based on our two games against them this season.
But I also make a proviso in that comment and it relates to our attack. I think it is critical to find a couple of extra points in attack.
Earlier in this season we were throwing questions at defences from around the ruck/dummy half. These included some of the plays that Andrew Johns works on. Even before Reed’s absence, we were using such plays less and less.
So, I’m less concerned about our plays out wide and more interested in how we draw defenders in through the middle. When we do this well, it disrupts opposition defences and ultimately opens up opportunities out wide.
Had reedy played our whole game would have been a yard faster with more questions asked around the ruck , reed opens up the middle quite often nowadays , his presence was greatly missed , lussic is a competent backup but he plays a flat game similar to nathan peats and cameron king and that just dosent get it done under the new rules , his service is to slow and way to many times his passes disjoint our attacking speed , your whole game seems to depend on the speed and competency of service from the dummy half more than it ever has .
I think we’ll see much more attack thrown out there when Reed returns.
All good points Mathias. Yes our attack is too predictable but sacking BA is a step too far for me atm. He is a coach that players like and respect and as such should be retained but his assistants need to be changed. A decent attacking coach is badly needed and perhaps a new defence coach. With the team BA has assembled we should be one others talk about as a premiership threat. Currently four clubs feature heavily, Storm, Penrith, Souths and Manly are the ones mentioned but not us.
Glenn, whilst I’ve agreed with areas to improve our attack, I’m not sure whether people are aware that the Eels currently have the third best attack in the NRL – only 21 points less than Penrith (they are around 1.3 points per game better than us in attack). Manly should move past us this week – though they have a soft draw that continues to get softer.
The other thing to point out is that there is a misconception about needing fresh coaching voices at the club. The Eels have relatively new staff in Ryan Carr (IMO NRL coach in waiting), Joey Johns and Trent Elkin who all had their first season with us last year. So we are talking relatively fresh voices. Many coaches normally have a trusted assistant or assistants that they keep with them, even when they change clubs. Murf (backs) is the long term assistant and is BA’s right hand man. Kidwell (forwards) only just hit three years having joined in mid 2018.
I think people are not referring to the new staff but Murf
I know they are referring to Murf, but my point is that many coaches have a trusted long term assistant. And you get new blood rotating in with other assistants. But again, I don’t get the criticism of Murf.
Every manager of people I have ever known including myself has taken people with them that they can trust.
It has advantages in that you have someone who’s a supporter watching your back and who’s judgment you trust. A person that will not be frightened to disagree with your decisions when you are going off reservation.
I went off reservation a lot.
True John!
Not people just the same person !!
Agreed Roy. There has been one man by BA’s side from the start. I’ve never spoken to BA about how important Murf is, but I’ve obviously watched Murf coach and had many conversations with him over the years. Joey Grima has spoken to us on the Tip Sheet about Murf and how important he is to the club. I completely understand why he’s Brad’s right hand man.
Ray Hadley on NRL 360 tonight was a disgrace. He yelled and screamed and showed no sympathy at all towards Paul Vaughan. You don’t have to feel sorry for him but acknowledging that it is a hard time for him and his family is simply being a good human being. Vaughan made a very poor mistake and has paid a heavy price, I don’t blame the club they had to do what they did but it has possibly cost him and his family over a million dollars. Ray Hadley should know that men in there mid to late 20’s sometimes make really bad choices, just as his police officer son did. It is amazing that he pleaded for his son to be forgiven and he was eventually left off by the courts due to mental health issues yet he finds almost joy in celebrating the downfall of another man, who like his son is someone’s son, father and husband.
I think Hadley is advocating for his dear friend Mr Flanagan. I have said numerous times I don’t want BA replaced, full stop. He does however have to keep the team and club improving/ moving forward. But if Flanagan or anyone associated with Hadley ever comes in as coach, my family and I walk.
Shelley, absolute spot on. Hadley was close to foaming at the mouth tonight, he continues to denigrate the Eels and push agendas that just aren’t there.
Tonight underlined how close to a verbal bully he has become.
BA and the current management at Parra annoys him because he cannot get any inside mail and he has no power over the choices made. I will never forget 2016 when Greenberg gave in and gave Hadley what he wanted and even announced the decision on stripping our points on the radio before members got told simply because Hadley thought his mates would be put in charge of the club by the government. How wrong he was.
2016 was a blessing, it gave us an opportunity to get rid of the factions and the power brokers such as Hadley forever.
Glad sixties has made it a Hadley free zone, as Hadley is nothing but a horrible narcissist.
I can see why 360 gave him a spot – here we are debating him. The problem is that his spots are about himself – who he knows, how he has it on good authority etc. He was sharing his conversation with Hook last night. Imagine sharing an off the record chat with him!
yes, this column will be the last mention.
Shelley remember when Ray tried to sell us Piggy Ridell as a new director of the leagues club.
Please I enjoyed Piggy as a player and personality but as a director rebuilding the damaged club. Ray has no idea.
Respect to Mark as a player but doesn’t he take the role of comedy relief in radio calls?
I heard Sixties calls into the Hadley show under a pseudonym? Called Ken.
I won’t defend Vaughan, and could have included him in my rant. That said, you could see the look on the faces of the others. I was in the process of changing channels when the camera was panning back to show him in the studio after the Vaughan interview. I didn’t switch because I was transfixed by the other faces. They looked embarrassed.
Isnt rays son a failed drug taking cop
Youd think hed be fairly understanding of young men making some big mistakes
Unlike shock jocks, I don’t want us to go down the path of targeting family members in our criticisms. Let’s not do that.
Agreed on this one. Vaughan and co made a poor choice. Let’s look at Jai Arrow…an Origin player in origin camp in his supposed bubble of love, and he brings in a female.
Can someone pls tell me what is worse? A bbq of players and one wife ( we are told) or an origin player bringing in a female during origin time showing less respect for his teammates, and yet the media and co go light on the origin player. I think Saints were an easier target….maybe they want the origin week to be less tainted and for me Arrow is a bigger dope than Vaughn and co. I for one am not fussed if they had a bbq together – its not as if they were at a night club etc. and yes they behaved and acted like dopes, but an Origin player bringing in a female and i don’t think it was the local librarian for a Doc Seuss read.
Given that it was apparently an act of infidelity, involving a player in the codes showpiece game, and following on from the Dragons breach, you’d have to argue that it was a worse breach – or at least dumber.
Hey Sixties,
Really enjoy the podcast, the articles and your analysis. You know what you’re talking about.
A few queries?
Peter Sterling always says he thinks an area of improvement for us is to throw the ball a little wider on occasion coming out of trouble. He thinks our forwards expend too much energy taking it up one out from the ruck which saps their juice for later in the game. What is your take?
I also note in the Penrith game, I thought our forwards got pushed back a lot more often by their forwards compared to what we did to them. To me this showed in the metres gained stats. Not sure if you agree, but if you did what would you put it down to? Panthers forwards having a better structure, desire, technique? (I thought they often made good initial contact and were able to lift our players a bit before pushing them back)
Cheers
Chris
Cheers Chris. I’m not sure about Sterlo’s criticism of us not pushing the ball wider. I think we do that when the opportunity is there to attack – see the Tigers game. But where I think we can make improvement is the forwards linking (as Nathan Brown can offer when he offloads at the line) when coming out of our half. I also noted in a reply above that we can and should throw more variety around the dummy half play. When Reed returns I expect this to be so.
As for Penriths defence, I would prefer to comment if I was at the ground. When I’ve seen them before they’ve been allowed to move early. I suspect that this happened on Friday. You could see them swarm and there was barely a six again. I also have issue with how long the referees are waiting before calling held – and that’s across all games. (See my reply to Colin Hussey above).
Peter always knows best !!!
Penriths forwards were making first contact far closer to the advantage line than we were, cutting down momentum and post contact mtrs. The problem with TV is that they rarely give you a longer shot of the defending team’s 10 mtrs (or 9 or 8 or 7). Top marks for attitude and consistency, it’s in their DNA, but as you say sixties, you can only make judgement by viewing at the ground.I always offer Warren Ryan’s referee management systems at theDogs in the 80’s as hard evidence of coaching around the rules, I often wonder what are the modern day techniques? Whatever they are, if the Panthers have a system, they’re doing it well.
I can’t knock them. They’re standards are high on a weekly basis – much like the Storm. That’s amazing across an entire season.
Nice read Sixties, your comments about all the talk around Cleary being missing and nothing regarding Mahoney really resonated with me. The League pundits for the majority of the time roll out the same comments i.e. Moses isn’t a big game player, the Hasler ambush when Manly wins, player is under fatigue when he misses a tackle in the 12th minute etc etc
It is extremely rare that you get a disagreement on a panel and genuine discussion on the game based on opinions, it is as bad as the player interviews with “credit to the boys” etc. One from our backyard, my opinion, Waqa is a good tackler, when he hits, he hits hard but he is a bad defender, he cant read the attacking structure in front of him, two very different things in the scenario of defence.
It burns me every time I hear a commentator say, he missed that tackle under fatigue and it is the 15th minute of the game, their are so many other instances of the “party line” (for want of a better phrase) being rolled out. It is lazy commentary, for those that watch overseas football (soccer) you get some great, sometimes heated discussions, on players and tactics, that is genuine pundits expressing their opinion.
I do not include NRL360 as genuine discussion, I was a big fan of Kenty early doors but it has fallen away to agenda driven garbage. He can be a little divisive due to his comedy, I like him, when Matty Johns talks footy and tactics it is brilliant, we need more of that and more like him.
Jimmy, that’s an astute observation regarding commentary. You’re right. They do rarely disagree in coverage and post match. The result of course is the chorus saying the same thing which then has viewers being heavily influenced.
i was stunned listening to the commentary of the Riff game. When the Eels were camped in Penriths half I was encouraged by it, not critical. I wanted Parra to build pressure and strangle the Panthers. The commentators wanted something different and all jumped on the same bandwagon.
Agree completely regarding the Riff game, we had them beat at their own game, hold possession and grind them out. Unfortunately two errors by the King in either half cruelled us, the intercept and the forward pass. The games were not played in conditions to provide a 30-24 score line, barring very bad defence allowing it.
The one thing I really took heart from was that in the middle part of the second half Penrith was on top and dominating possession and field position but late in the game we were able to turn momentum and wrestle back the upper hand when the game was on the line. The forward pass ultimately killed that turnaround but we were able to do it and do it against the best side in a big game. Yes we ultimately lost, however even in the last second through enthusiasm and will to win we were able to create an opportunity to win by gaining a penalty that came about through want to get to the collision.
Maybe I am “glass half full” but after throwing some cushions around and many expletives as the kick missed I liked what I saw on Friday.
Sounds like my place after the siren Jimmy. And I agree with your observations.
mate i have solved all my dislike to the so called experts there is a mute button which is now used for all games involving PARRA and like you that thing makes an appearance on 360 it’s switch off time for me. Keep up the good work Craig
I should follow your lead Joe!
The relentlessness of the media trying to open up gaps in the Parramatta club are true amazing. The fact that the club and players in particular have held firm despite this is credit to them. I suppose fans are trying to come to terms with a long premiership drought and are asking questions on when and how this will be broken, but we should expect much better from trained and experienced journalists. No doubt each are feeding off the other, so this cycle is not likely to be broken any time soon.
Regarding the rule changes for this season, I think there needs to be a balance. In 2019 the game had too many stoppages, and teams like Melbourne were able to invent new (barely legal, if that) ways to slow the game down to suit their style of play. I like that the game is now faster and more flowing, and that is not something we should lose. In any event, teams should be rewarded for playing to the spirit of the game, so if you are defending your line for multiple sets, there should be a way for the defending team to earn a break, other than to take the ball over the in-goal line for a dropout. Maybe teams need to utilise the 20/40 kick more?
Longfin, I have little doubt that if back in the 90s we were achieving the consistency that BA now is, there wouldn’t be the slightest murmur of discontent. This is where some perspective and context is needed. The club is now heading in the right direction to change its fortunes.
I heard commentators praise O’Brien’s coaching after the Knight’s win over the weekend. I rarely hear that about BA despite the consistency of results.
Agree with the write up, lots of talk of the rule changes. Its been obvious many teams Penrith ,Storm and others bending the rules whether it being offside at the ruck or just using other teams as mattress testers( lying on the player toooo long in tackles). We all see it, the real qusetion is why dont the NRL start penalising players for this, not 6 agains 5-10 minute send offs?
Johnno I reckon the refs are feeling the pressure. The NRL bring in these changes that have to be enforced by refs. They try to enforce it, but the rules don’t work for various reasons – coaches find ways to exploit them which basically shows that the rule was flawed to begin with. The job of enforcing flawed rules puts refs in the spotlight and it gets even tougher for them.
we all know that 6 again on a zero, first or second tackle is often a tactical one. If our team is in possession we’d much prefer a penalty. It’s a major flaw in the rule. The 4th or fifth tackle ones we blow up about if our team is defending.
You know what….I just hate the rule!
It may have been cathartic for you to pen these words Sixties but it has been cathartic for me to read them. Reading some of the comments on another Parra social media site after the Penrith game made me wonder whether they had actually watched the game and whether they are real supporters of our club. It was a great game between 2 of the best 5 teams in the comp.
I have been in a Hadley free zone forever. He bases his stupid comments on bs and is nothing more than a shock jock.
I watch most league games on Fox because I loathe ads and Guss. But In saying that the commentary on our game was very one sided with Ennis being the worst protagonist.
I totally concur with your views on the rule changes. It is now a different game and one which I am less fond of. The old adage ‘if it’s not broke don’t try to fix it’ comes to mind. I actually cringe when I hear the signal for six again and the usually ask myself the rhetorical question: what was that for? And often have no answer.
It is about time the administrators started listening to the fans because they are dwindling rapidly in numbers.
Thanks for the read Sixties. As always a considered and fair exposition of things Parra.
Thanks Sec50. It really was strange to watch that game and listen to the commentary. Joe (see above) suggested that I should watch matches without commentary and sometimes I think about doing so. But then I am always interested in how others see things. I enjoy reading replies to our posts because there are occasions when our readers will notice something that I didn’t. Likewise, I look for that in commentary, but what was being said flew in the face of what I was watching. And as Shelley wrote in her post, it was even self contradictory.
As for listening to the fans, that’s what PVL claims to do. Maybe that’s why we ended up with this hotch potch of rule changes. He listened to too many opinions.
Sensational post mate.
Cheers Steve.
1) Hadley is best mates with Denis Fitzgerald, both peanuts would rather the club fail than succeed without them. As for Papa, whiIst I don’t agree with Hadley’s over the top call, IMO Papa was very lucky to get away with a fine. He intentionally sank his knee into a players head, albeit not with malicious force. Given the head contact crackdown, I fully expected a two week suspension, and would’ve been thrilled to only cop that.
2) As I have said before, I agree with the 6 again rule in principle. It was designed to stop clubs, ie the Roosters from constantly giving away penalties to disrupt the opposing teams flow. That being said referees are now giving them away like candy. Most games there should be no more than 5 total 6 agains, and they should only be used for that reason.
3) I have no issues with the way the Dragons suspensions are being staggered. The club was not at fault, they shouldn’t have to struggle to name a team in this circumstance. In fact, this is SOP in pro sports the world over when mass suspensions are levied against players from the same team. I’ll refer you to “The Malice at the Palace” for a reasonably similar scenario in terms of suspensions.
4) Mitch Moses was easily the right choice. Gutho should be in the team ahead of Wighton, should’ve been for the entire series.
Only way ice could have gone was mister 3 times munster going first !!!!!!
Very true
1 The Papa incident probably deserved a week and I would have copped that. However, the NRL has done similar with a repeat offender like Munster who has actually lashed out in frustration and anger – far worse than Ice.
2 Six again should only be blown if the ref would have previously blown a penalty. As you suggest, there’s far too many.
3 I understand the rationale completely as it related to mass suspensions. Unfortunately the integrity of the draw has unquestionably been smashed by virtue of suspensions. My point was whether there was an alternative to mass suspensions.
4 Agree completely re Gutho/Wighton
Well said sixties. I agree with everything you have said. Like you sixties i was shocked that RCG didn’t get picked for soo. I really don’t know how much more he can do to get picked for soo.
Well Origin’s loss is Parra’s gain. That can be our positive!
Am I making this up, or did anyone else think in Manly v Raiders last night that Manly were allowed to constantly lay in the tackle until finally some 6 Agains were called and then they offended less but still tried it on. The Raiders weren’t perfect but to me it looked like one team coached to do it, the other thinking well if they’re doing it, why can’t we?
Absolutely BDon. And we saw more of what Colin picked up about teams lifting and driving the tackled players in gang tackles.
Watch the Melbourne Storm
A player is tackled to the ground held and then another Storm player comes in and lays on top of the tackler.
Why isn’t this penalised?
Should be.
Yesterday I had a busy day entertaining my grandson. School holidays. It was cold so I went to bed early and listened to the game on SEN.
While I do not want to blame SEN alone, but why do commentators not recognise the Eels as potential GF winners. It is not just SEN it is common narrative around NRL commentators
Giving it some thought I think the reason is Unconscious Bias. The Eels have not won a GF in a long time.
However isn’t the term Unconscious Bias an oxymoron?
I might just steal that term for future posts!
Mr Sixties, I am somewhat surprised at such an emotionally charged post. I love it. You are normally quite calmly objective when it comes to Parra.
Parra the Le Misserables of the NRL and one would ask why? Parra is not known as a dirty team and having watched them for over sixty years have often bore the unjust treatment of the referees and the press. So what! Parra has outlived many referees and journalists.
Maybe we should ask Mr Hadley what has Parra done to him. I believe some years back he was a passionate supporter. So what happened? Was it because of Dennis Fitzgerald? Who knows.
And in your post you referred to in as Ray. This man has made himself into a demi God whose opinion can never be matched by the “plebs”. He is an emotional volcano who has a lot to say about nothing.
As for our beloved Coach – I have to say sometimes he deserves a shot across the bows. His rotation of the bench during the match is of some concern. And I think it is because he becomes so involved that the bench issue is overlooked. Other than that he is a good coach and it is clear he has the players respect and support. He is an asset – and we should always protect our assets.
Losing to Penrith was a bit of a killer. I was certain Mitch would deliver that last kick. He missed and it hurt. As a long time Parra supporter every loss hurts but, it is never the end of the world.
Let’s face facts – Mitch has won more games for Parra than he has lost. Mick Cronin was the same – he missed a few that cost badly but he also won a lot more.
As for the rule change – the clubs must have some power to move Peter V on. Why do we put a person in charge of our game who has had no previous relationship with it.
Madness takes many forms. We can only wait until common sense prevails.
Question – does common sense still exists – I have serious doubts.
Cheers for the in-depth reply Zero. I have lost faith in common sense in these current times, but that’s maybe my own lockdown frustrations kicking in?
Hadley is that emotional volcano indeed. I’ve had many opportunities in recent years to speak with Fitzy. I’d never heard him being critical of BA.
BA’s bench use? I’ve heard quite a few fans who aren’t fans of his bench use. As far as I can tell, he uses the bench in a way he thinks it’s best for each match. We normally see him getting long minutes out of starting back rowers, hence shorter minutes for blokes like Carty. But then we saw him inject Smith and Carty early against the Broncos in Darwin.
As for Mitch and that kick, like you I recall kicks missed by a legend like the Crow. Mitch won’t be the last established kicker to miss a crucial goal. It’s footy!
How about the miss by Luke Burt against the Tigers?
Was there for that too.
i didn’t see the Crow miss in 1977. I was on the hill behind the posts but closed my eyes. This bloke next to me said “you have to watch this mate, we’re about to win”. I couldn’t and we didn’t.
But here’s the hypothetical – would we have had the success in the 1980s if we won in 1977? After all, I don’t believe that Gibson would have been brought to the club if we had already won a recent title.
Things happen for a reason. It’s why I don’t hate Ricky Stuart for walking out on us. It led to BA’s appointment. Can you imagine Ricky sticking strong in 2016 when shit hit the fan?
With regard to Ricky every cloud has a silver lining.
The problem for me with the Luke Burt kick was that I was at the game with my brother and he is a Tigers supporter.
As Luke was lining up the kick I was preaching to my brother that if there was anyone you would want to take the kick to win the game it would be Luke.
Don’t you hate those moments!
Not a kick, but Luke’s best was a kick return after the final bell when he dropped the ball in the tackle and Tigers (again) scored to win. He could have run the ball dead. Life can be cruel.
I think that it was the Panthers. He could have run the ball dead but was tackled into touch. Panthers stopped the clock by packing quickly for a scrum, then scored off a scrum play.
I won’t debate that sixties, it might be that both happened, and Luke Burt doesn’t deserve to be reminded.
Very good read Sixties.
For a long time referees were reluctant to penalise players tackling the kickers late. So it got of of hand.
We now see the markers in the play the ball putting a hand on the player playing the ball nearly all the time. It too has not been penalised and has now got out of hand.
It’s a penalty, not one of those silly 6 agains.
Thats the problem. If it’s an early tackle, the team takes a punt on not being seen and forcing an error. And if it’s seen, it’s just one extra tackle.
Hadley has had it in for the eels for a bloody long time. I remember it clearly as if it was yesterday.
Hadley got invited to the league’s club for lunch by Dennis Fitzgerald what Hadley didn’t expect was smithy being there.
Hadley was telling everyone that cared that smithy had lost the dressing room. This was when Jamie Lyon walked out. So 1 disgruntled player = lost dressing room in hadley’s eye’s.
When Hadley n Dennis Fitzgerald had finished lunch with smithy Hadley got up Dennis Fitzgerald n told him in no uncertain terms that he was ambushed n was not very happy with Fitzgerald.
Hadley is a egomaniac gender driven talk back motor mouth. If Hadley doesn’t think you agree with him then he will call you all kinda name’s or he will blow up deluxe.
I’ve seen enough of his rants to switch off.