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There are instant reactions and there are instant reactions. This is definitely the latter and this episode of The Tip Sheet truly hits different. Why? Because the Parramatta Eels have drawn the curtains on their 2021 campaign despite one of the most determined, desperate and whole-hearted team efforts seen by any club in a long, long time.
Sixties and Forty20 convene for the final instant reaction of the year after the Penrith Panthers prevailed 8-6 in a game that was played in arguably the most intense and physical cauldron seen outside of a Grand Final or State Of Origin. The two teams absolutely hammered each other for 80-minutes of pure brutality. The boys can’t help but feel of the effort they witnessed tonight and that drives the discussion for the entire podcast.
Of course, there are some complaints about how the game was officiated at crucial moments and the show is even paused momentarily so Sixties and Forty20 can dip into Brad Arthur’s post-match press conference. Parramatta’s commander-in-chief takes the extraordinarily rare step (for him at least) of suggesting that Penrith’s carry-on in the press over the last fortnite influenced the contest tonight and he certainly has room to be upset given a string of critical calls that were missed.
After venting their frustrations the fellas make a point of focusing on the 17 players and the coaching staff that did themselves so proud and we hope that is the sentiment shared by fans following this loss. The Eels were all heart tonight. They were brilliant. They were courageous. Above that all though, they were desperately unlucky and that is sometimes just how it goes with sports.
Gutted but listening to this was some solace. We have the team and coach than can compete with the best in the comp. Onwards to 2022.
Bang on Shaun. Thanks for listening to a particularly difficult episode.
Indeed Shaun, we do!
So proud of our team, but so utterly utterly frustrated. Trying to focus on how good we were, and not my anger/disgust.
No idea why Klein was chosen to be on the field this week, but he surely isn’t next week. The list of errors is extraordinary. I don’t hold high hopes for Annesley acknowledging it – I’m expecting them to be on the defensive after BA’s comments. The explanation for why Luai wasn’t binned for taking out Moses should be interesting.
I totally support the purpose of the rule that trainers can stop play for a major injury where a player is at risk. But a trainer who isn’t even on the field cannot possibly make that assessment. There have been multiple examples during the season of teams exploiting the rule, and it needs tweaking.
Our defence was unbelievably good, there cannot be any complaints about our commitment, they left it all out there. That was definitely good enough to win a premiership. I’m sure the BA critics will be out in force, but anyone who cannot see the improvement in our team is seeing what they want/expect to see. Oh, but for a dummy-half.
Wilhelmina – there were three infringements missed in that one Fergo break.
one – the interference on Moses
two – the interference on Penisini
three – the knock on from Penrith
Astounding incompetence from all concerned
I was yelling at the telly at the time – hadn’t picked up the Moses interference, but both the others clearly warranted review. Cannot believe the bunker doesn’t get involved in that, given how willing they are to go back several plays for other issues.
Don’t get me started on the Gutho strip in the corner, Ice copping one round the head in front of the posts, or the farcical six again calls on the first that apparently give defensive teams free rein for the rest of the set…
I felt like we had taken a trip back to the 70s Wilhelmina.
Mr Annesley was asked about the obstruction ruling when Dylan Brown was obstructed in the
Newcastle try from the last game and said he couldn’t recall the incident. One of the major talking points from that game and he couldn’t recall it. He said he would take it on notice. I’m not expecting him to follow up on it.
He plays politician to often.
Yet he’s had a couple of memorable times calling out errors during Eels games in the past. Stand by for a Forty post.
We carried the handicap of an error/penalty count 18-9 and still almost grabbed the game. That is some effort and we were not exactly on the right side of luck and calls either. In the last 5 minutes the Gutherson strip was also a 6 Again, 2 infringements let go in one play and Papas head actually jolted from a high shot near the posts (that head is hard to jolt), Klein was happy to whistle soft high shots on Panthers all game. Great game, credit to both teams.
BDon, the Gutho strip was surely a penalty! I’m beyond furious.
great listen this. Well done lads as always.
Thanks Mick. Was tough to record to be honest
Hard to fathom that we can repell that side the entire second half with all the dud calls plus a couple of our own errors and still be in that game with seconds to go.Truely amazing effort and as you guys mentioned ice, will ,Dylan,Haze who come of age last night and add Marata to this are all only 22 21 and 19 .
This was Gianni sorry
Gianni- the best years of many of these players are still well into the future.
The team played out of their skins which makes the game/result so bittersweet.
Apart from the instances that have been mentioned there was the forward pass that is reported in the Herald this morning as “some good fortune found Penrith when a blatant forward pass was missed in their own half, before they ventured into Parramatta territory and levelled the scores”. You could hear the crowd go off over this.
Is it really asking that much for the officiating in such a high quality season determining game be at even a pass grade level. It is so frustrating to see the obvious go unnoticed or ignored and the minute get disproportional attention…..for what intent?
Fantastic effort form the 17 payers and the coaching staff that deserved a different result.
Many thanks to the both of you for your unbelievable commitment throughout the season.
Cheers Trapped. That inability to see the most obvious is infuriating. Three blatant infringements occurred in that Fergo break. All of the officials missed every one of them.
I admire your courage to back up with such a measured commentary on a game that has ripped the hearts out of our team and all of our supporters. There were so many bad calls from the referee that went against us we would need a bible sized book to publish them, not one call went our way. Conversely the panthers many indiscretions were ignored by the officials, I say ignored because they could not have missed so many by accident.
We were the better team on the night and it is clear the referee’s decisions had a major influence on the result. Having said that our team stood up and showed all the knockers that we are a major force to be dealt with in the NRL, we will be stronger, smarter and even more ready in 2022. We should be very proud of our EELS and to everyone associated with them, I’d like to say thank you to all of them.
Cheers LakeEel – I had a barometer who refers to herself as Yoko sitting nearby during the pod. If she thought I was letting my emotion get the better of me she’d shake her head. It was almost like having a radio dump button.
Great work guys.
It’s going to be a very long off season. We were not part of the narrative the media was peddling this year and it’s that simple.
in saying that. This is the best loss in our history. Sounds weird to say that. But I feel this game is a huge turning pointand learning point for our clubs culture. We made some crucial errors. But we fought tooth and nail and that is something we can all be proud of.
I’ll try and not mention the dud calls or the 50/50 calls we didn’t get or the blocking that Yeo was doing to protect Cleary. Fisher Harris and fake HIA. Crucial delay tactics.
I won’t mention that Ivan Cleary manipulated the entire NRL competition with his whinging last week and how that pressure created an atmosphere that ensured Panthers would get a saloon passage the next game. Who told Ivan what Bennett had said.? I think he exposed how the officiating can be easily corrupted. Gould said referee’s read the papers and that type of media pressure (from Ivan Cleary) obviously had the desired effect. It shows the reason for the difference between the so-called “top teams”
I’m sure Ray STONE would be gutted as we all are. I still think we should resign him. We can use this pain and channel into a better year next year.
I think BA has done an amazing job to get us to this level.
I love the way Parra played and that performance is something to be positive about over the off season.
Go Eels!!
Pete, when you used the term “fought tooth and nail” it made me wish I used it – because that’s exactly what they did.
BA is a great coach and is the man to continue leading our club. And Stone has extended for 2022. He’ll sort out 2023 next year.
I’m heartbroken.
The boys didn’t deserve to lose that game. They played with so much commitment and grit.
A bit of bad luck for us and a huge helping hand to the Panthers.
They had the rub of the green far beyond 50%.
The no calls where Klein overlooked multiple penalties in the dying stages of the game was breathtaking and beyond unfair.
The Panthers did not deserve to win that game.
2 on 1 strip on Gutho = no penalty given play on
Luai with a professional foul on Moses = play on
Cleary professional foul on Gutherson = play on
Klein please never ref an eels game ever again.
Great podcast 60s and F20. Utterly guttered but equally proud, if we play like this even 50 % of the time in 2022 it will be the year of the EEL!
Thanks to you both for your analysis and commentary all year! Looking forward to more in 2022!