The Tip Sheet is also available on Spotify and iTunes!
The Eels finally broke their drought, albeit at the expense of another luckless team in the North Queensland Cowboys, with a 32-16 victory in Round 23. Sixties and Forty20 are on hand as always to dive into the post-game and it is something close to foreign territory this week given the last month of results.
Mitchell Moses stood tall as he led the way to victory for Parramatta but it was an improved week for the entire spine as Sixties gives credit to Clinton Gutherson, Dylan Brown and Joey Lussick. Forty20 singles out Waqa Blake once again as one of the Eels’ best while together the boys note the shift in defensive principles this week.
Of course it was far from a polished game and the boys break down where the Eels got loose tonight given they both bled late points to the Cowboys and left plenty of points on the field themselves.
Go you good things!!!.
👌 👌 👌
Nathan Brown has been my favourite player since he joined the Eels. The high standatd he has set have not been met this season. Drop balls are one thing but he is down on sustained intensity. His 78th minute run used to be just as strong and with the same disregard for his personal well being as his 1st minute carry. He played on or just over the edge intimidating opposition players. We are only seeing glimpses of that. Marata defending on the right edge was pushing out harder than Matto does supporting our centre/wing combo less to interpret. Matto has been our most consistent player. It is unlikely to happen but I would keep Marata on the right edge, bring Matto into to 13 and play in the middle where he defends strongest. Brown could come off the bench to be unleashed and swing momentum with his aggression and offer some point of difference with his ball play. Id rather the 2019 Brown version for 40mins than a watered down version.Very interesting thoughts Kevin, and I reckon I’m aboard with it.
To channel Forty the win was cathartic. That win was better than anything dished out in the last month
I was happy to see Will play so well. He was aggressive in attack and defence and looked like he owned the spot. He did not look like he was playing only his second game of NRL
Also very happy with the big Mal, he truly deserves his spot on the bench. I thought Marata was great on the right edge. Defended tough there last night, great support for his outside backs
I thought MM had an outstanding game. I feel he is starting to shrug off the effects of the broken back.
On the down side Brown’s ball handling is a concern plus as KC above has said his game generally has been a little down. I believe he will work it out.
I would still like to see Cartwright get more minutes. I know he got 20 last night but I would prefer more. He is a real option in attack and I would love to see him with more opportunity
Enough whining. Thoroughly enjoyed the win and I think by finals time BA is going to have a few selection issues to ponder when most players are back including RCG
The big Mal should have read Mak, Makatoa
John, I’d also like to see Carty get more minutes as he offers a point of difference. His injection into the game is far too late for mine.
Don’t know if you are watching the Broncos game. Up to half time Milford is having his best game in years.
Sixties you were on the money suggesting the Eels chase him.
Tks guys, you’ve made me think about a few other aspects of the performance because all I can think about is our number one problem, the porous defence out wide. I know it was only the Cowboys, but it just looked better last night. Niukore showed earlier in the year he could contribute and Penisini showed v Raiders that he had some idea about defensive application and decision making. Both these inputs could be viewed as cameos but
they we’re far in advance of other efforts and should be built on.The only time we ever avoided the problem was when we dominated field position and possession, a default position which evades us regularly. My overwhelming positives from last night were the scoreboard and a 10 game loser didn’t shred us out wide.
Cheers BDon. My main takes are looking like they enjoyed playing, even from the opening whistle, and greater input from the spine.
Marata on a forwards edge is that step closer for those of us wanting him back at centre.
That’s a bit of relief…the pressure can now move elsewhere for a week…(hopefully longer).
Scrappy, errors, poor completions, missed tackles and poor passes (leading to premature baldness…que Tufts of hair being pulled out)
They said they weren’t sure why Will Penisini was dropped after Canberra..(me either). WP was fantastic and he needs to stay there. I think Haze, WP and Marata had a great combination on that right edge… something that has been lacking. It would be better to keep that..if something is working..
Waqa had a great game and finally got to play wing (unfortunately for Mika, but he hasn’t been playing well. Such an unfortunate injury) I think Waqa played great on the wing. I would like to see him kept there.
IWe let in too many soft tries and made to many errors and dumb passes. But if we can tidy that up…who knows what might happen.
Go Eels!!
Pete you know my opinion about Waqa being selected as a winger. The injury to Opacic will probably see Waqa stay at centre but I remain firm in my opinion that he is a quality winger in the making. Regardless, credit to Waqa for his recent form.
It was a win, and welcomed.
We ran some good lines at times and this has been missing for a while. Our completions were down but we used the ball well at times.
Some errors as mentioned and some defence floors again.
Obviously they need to sort this for the next two weeks, but if I am being honest at the moment we are not going to cut it with Melbourne or Penrith unless we learn to compete for 80, limit errors and sort defence. Not a fan of both but they are a cut above the rest at the moment.
I think its too late in the season to make too many changes to our defcne structure, but we can try. Melbourne are relentless as we know….
I thought we saw evidence of more sliding in the defensive line last night Milo. Can we approach the Storm game with a nothing to lose attitude? Why not!
We definitely can Sixties, but as long as they own their errors etc. and back it up with defence, as Melbourne will be patient and also relentless in their attack.
Our defence in my view should be able to adapt in terms of players in the team; and our outside play was better but i think its too late for substantial change now.
We can’t afford similar errors in any week from here on Milo. But we also have to play some footy. The step forward must come from the pack. I thought the spine drove this win. This week I want to see them play off the forwards.
Great analysis as always.
With our centre and wing depth/dilemma or how ever you want to describe it for next year, do you see Hazye Perham being anything other than a back up fullback?
I was pretty impressed with his couple of games at the Warriors a few years ago and stoked that we signed him.
I hope over the preseason he gets an opportunity to develop his skills as a winger and centre. I don’t know a lot about his defence but he definitely has a lot in attack. Having someone like him who could play anywhere in the back line would be great.
Id be chasing Zac Lomax
Absolutely Jonno has size ,skill,speed and defence and kicks goals.
He’s signed till 2025 at the Dragons isn’t he?
Anon, I’d like to be able to see how he fits in over the preseason. I think he has potential to be that back up, but a full preseason might reveal potential for other spots.