The Cumberland Throw

The Spotlight – August 31, 2021: The Moments That Brought Victory


“I think my greatest victory was every time I walked out there, I gave it everything I had. I left everything out there. That’s what I’m most proud of.” Jimmy Connors

There are many rugby league matches when you can identify the winning moment in a game. Consider Jordan Rapana’s “tackle” on Maika Sivo in the dying seconds of Parra’s recent clash with the Raiders or Joey John’s blindside dash that put Darren Albert over for the last second try in the 1997 Grand Final.

On the other hand, there are those games that don’t come down to one easily definable moment, but are rather the sum of winning many moments during the clash. In some instances they might be referred to as turning points or momentum changers. They might just as easily be something as simple as falling on a loose ball. To me, they epitomise what giving everything for eighty minutes means.

The Eels victory over the Storm was such an encounter. It’s arguable that any victory over Melbourne, or any elite team, has to be achieved that way.

In a post match interview, Brandon Smith described the Eels performance as a “constant onslaught through the middle”.

We know that the Eels best football is founded on the forwards winning the collisions, with the attack playing off that platform. They form the basis of “Parra Footy” with specific tactics built from there.

However, the effort areas on display against the Storm were evidence of a desire which had been strangely lacking over previous rounds. And as much as the game plan was critical, so too was that hunger and drive to win.

After going through Saturday’s tape, I’ve come up with a collection of effort area moments won by the Eels. There were probably more than those listed below, but my selections still exemplify the desire which drove the team to their win.

 

1 Marata Niukore’s Early Statement

In the seventh minute of the match, Marata made three tackles in the one set. That in itself is an effort, though not extraordinary for a forward. What was critical was the impact of the hits. In order he brings down Brandon Smith, Justin Olam and Cameron Munster – three key players. Each rises to their feet looking somewhat dusty. Olam never seemed to recover and produced what was possibly the most ineffective game of his career.

 

2 Gutherson Tackles Addo-Carr

In the 23rd minute the Storm find an overlap on the Eels right with Addo -Carr heading towards the corner. Gutherson comes across in cover but maintains composure. By not over-committing he’s balanced when The Fox steps back on the inside and the flying winger is brought to the ground.

 

3 Eels Corral Addo-Carr

With just over 15 minutes to go until half-time, Addo-Carr breaks away from within the Melbourne half, an ominous occurrence for the Eels (and many other teams) over the years.

Almost instantly, Ferguson, Gutherson and Moses launch into the chase. But again there is effort with composure. Gutherson and Moses remain slightly infield, guarding against a change of direction or The Fox linking with support. Fergo completes the tackle.

 

4 Dylan Brown Stops Lumelume


On the back of the Addo-Carr break, the Storm hit the Eels left side. Enter Dylan Brown. Watch as he first tracks Papenhuyzen, then accelerates in cover as the ball is shifted to the wing. Isaac Lumelume hits top gear and flies towards the corner. Dyl’s desperation
 forces the Fijian’s foot to hit the sideline, and a try is prevented.

The try saver was so good it deserves the extra clip!


5 Gutho Prevents A Critical 40/20

With around six minutes to go before the break, the Eels have the Storm pinned deep in their half. In an attempt to change momentum, Hughes strikes what appears to be a perfectly executed 40/20. Gutho hares across the turf, leaping over the sideline to tap the ball back in-field. Somehow, in that moment, the tap back is measured, allowing him to regain possession before the Melbourne chasers arrive.

 

6 You’ll Believe A Prop Can Fly

Seven minutes into the second half and it’s that man, Josh Addo-Carr, again threatening to break away. It would be easy for a front rower to conserve energy in a chase. Seriously, nobody catches The Fox. Instead Junior Paulo busts a gut in the pursuit, and in doing so takes away the option for Addo-Carr to effectively step inside Dylan Brown. Junior himself makes the tackle and JAC leaves the field with a hamstring strain.

 

7 Dylan’s Triple Play

Midway through the second half, Hughes catches a Moses kick and hits open pastures. Dylan Brown begins his chase. He not only forces Hughes to pass, he also covers two more Storm players, who just happen to be Hynes and Papenhuyzen – no slouches in open spaces. Pleasingly, Brown is not on his own in the scramble, with other Eels hightailing it back, and the rush is stopped with a tackle on Papenhuyzen.

 

8 Fergo’s Effort On Effort

Less than a minute after Dylan Brown’s remarkable chase, Blake Ferguson came up with a huge moment of his own. After completing a tackle on Kenny Bromwich to shut down a Storm shift out wide. Fergo chases back from marker to diffuse a kick that had found space on the Eels line. Though penalised for being deemed offside at the play the ball (which actually meant he covered more distance), Fergo’s desire to win saved a likely Storm try.

 

9 Penisini and Moses With The Clutch Tackle

There’s just over ten minutes to go and Justin Olam makes a powerful surge to the corner. Eels rookie Will Penisini hits him around the legs but the PNG international is sliding over. Mitch Moses has moved to fullback and in desperation he dives in to prevent the try.

 

10 The Ultimate Scramble

The Eels left side defence had been targeted all match and with eight minutes remaining the ball again finds Lumelume with a bit of space. Haze Dunster, Dylan Brown and Waqa Blake epitomised the Eels attitude by driving the Storm winger into touch. Melbourne had fired their last genuine shot at Parra’s line.

 

If the Eels can maintain their desire to win as many moments as they can over 80 minutes, they have the capacity to advance further in the finals than many thought possible.

The team has now proven that they can match one of the Premiership heavyweights, to themselves as much as to the fans.

But just like they needed to turn up in more than one moment during Saturday’s game, they will need to repeat their efforts beyond last week.

Bring on the finals!

Eels forever!

 

Sixties

 

 

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27 thoughts on “The Spotlight – August 31, 2021: The Moments That Brought Victory

  1. BDon

    Well done sixties, I thought earlier in the year our scramble was great, certainly re-appeared with a vengeance in that reel.

    1. sixties Post author

      Thanks BDon. Personally, I was stunned when watching this again. It made me appreciate the efforts even more, especially from Dylan.

      1. Achilles' Eel

        Dylan’s play was phenomenal. He basically prevented three separate Storm players from scoring a try. It would be good if the media gave it the credit it deserves. It’s said that stopping a try is as good as scoring one. What if one stops three in the one play like Dylan did?

  2. Jonno

    Excellent examples of “effort plays” the best thing is it was a team effort, thats what we can do, the passion is back

  3. Dave

    My daughter got married Saturday and I missed the game, the only free to air game I have missed and even forgot to record it.
    Hey if they play like that when I don’t watch them I’m happy to not see another game this year. From what I see of the highlights I missed quite a game qnd my highlight was watching Dylan running down 3 players, words can’t describe that
    Let’s keep it going guys

  4. Clive

    Great to see the desperation back. I really hope the Eels keep Marata, he is a fantastic player and for me he presents better value than Matterson. I have been disappointed in Matto since his return to the Eels and he needs a huge finish to the season to justify the money he is on.
    Dylan Brown was fantastic and that was the best team performance since our last win over the Storm.

    1. BDon

      Clive, have been thinking the same but reluctant to state it. Marata embodies what the top sides require as a given. Runs, tackles hard, not selectively it’s in his DNA, high energy, doesnt whinge gets on with it. You can no longer have a couple of forwards there for particular skills but soft on the basics.Look at Junior, revved up on the basics and killed the Storm.Marata must start in finals, having him sitting on the bench removes what we really need from the park. Penisini is similar. The 2 of them make a big difference.

      1. Clive

        I don’t think it’s a coincidence that when Marata was in the centres early in the year our defence was rock solid and now he returns to the edge again the defence has improved. He just gets the job done with no fuss and is far more reliable than a couple of our other edge options.

  5. pete

    Great work Sixties putting this together. It really highlights the importance of the team effort that took place. I think we have seen that BA can prepare this squad and get them up for a big game this year. I believe he has done a great job with our squad. Yes, we’ve had our flat spots and times when it looked (from the outside) like the boys almost hated each other…
    If anyone said we would beat Storm twice in the regular season 90%of people would have laughed. That’s great but we must do that in September.
    After this round we will go into an entirely new competition. BA was under huge pressure (external) BA knew what he had to do. He refreshed the team (after the Manly game). And he has been prepping the entire squad for a tough finals campaign. The strongest squad will win the comp. I believe BA is getting the squad ready to fight and we won’t die wondering!!
    Go Eels!!

    1. sixties Post author

      Pete, I miss being able to watch them prepare. People make assumptions about what is done or what isn’t being done based on some ordinary games. It was like last year when they were being questioned about their workload and people assumed that it was too much, when they had actually lightened the load to freshen them up – and I believe that they were fresh in last years finals.
      This year, with it being so publicised, there’ll be no questioning that the goal has been to freshen them up.

  6. Longfin Eel

    Our defence last week was amazing, and was measured and controlled. The only concerning thing that came out of those videos was how Melbourne were able to easily counter-attack off the back of our bombs. I think that’s an area we’ll need to focus on. We ended up defending these attacks well, but it only takes a momentary lapse to have a different outcome.

    1. sixties Post author

      Longfin, I was concerned as well, but the other factor was that the bounce could have gone anywhere and literally every one of them fell fortuitously for the Storm.

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