Parramatta Eels 32
Gold Coast Titans 28
Well hello there.
Observant folk may have already noticed that this grades isn’t from your usual “Grades Guy”, the irreplaceable Mitch, who has, in many ways, been replaced. In reality, Mitch’s fancy new job has meant he has chosen to step away from penning this post, and for some reason has chosen me as his successor. For those wondering, yes Mitch is still a part owner of the site and can still be found running our social media.
As for me, some of you may know me already from the 75,000 word weekly previews here on TCT, but for those who don’t my name is Gol, I can be found on Twitter here and rest assured my wife loves Ryan Matterson just as much as Mitch’s. I can’t promise the wit, banter or good times of Mitch’s grades, but hopefully you’ll all be charmed by some clever nicknames and cheap gags. How about those ninth place Tigers, hey?
Anyway, onto our regularly scheduled grades…
For those that believe in omens, I don’t think you’ll find a better one than Mitchell Moses hitting the upright on a long kick and getting the perfect bounce to set up a try. The fates have decreed it the year of the Eel, and I’m not arguing with fate.
As for the rest of the day, a high heart rate counts as a cardio workout, right? I’m going to be as slender as Reed Mahoney’s chances of getting a free beer at the Rose & Crown in 2023 if the Parramatta Eels put me through too many of these games this year.
That new look attack was beautiful while it lasted; smooth ball movement and sweeping backline plays carved the Gold Coast Titans to pieces with all four members of the spine chiming in with beautiful pass selection. Even as the second half reverted back to the “Corey Norman offense”, the Eels forwards dominated on both sides of the ball with only Mo Fotuaika making any meaningful yards (defined as “100 metres but not doing most of it in one run like David Fifita“) for the Titans while Reagan Campbell-Gillard, Junior Paulo, Isaiah Papali’i, Shane Lane, Ryan Matterson and Oregon Kaufusi hit that mark for the Eels.
Despite this game being the soggy bun, microwaved beef patty with three stands of lettuce and a fingernail of sauce hamburger to the glowing, towering Triple Big Mac box shot that was our pre-season expectations, the Parramatta Eels are first start winners for the fourth season in a row and owners of the best attack in the competition after one round. That’s good, isn’t it?
I’m fairly certain I unsubscribed to the “Eels right edge issues” newsletter at the end of 2021, but here I am getting spammed with bad reads, enormous overlaps and tries flowing down the right side like the biblical rain that has drenched the east coast. Bailey Simonsson is currently behind the omicron variant in the 2022 “most popular arrival” poll and needs to improve, quick.
The only reason the torrent of tries stopped was because the Titans couldn’t get out of their own way in the second half, with the Eels holding a 60/40 possession advantage, outgaining Gold Coast by 500 metres and spending an astonishing 17 minutes inside the Titans 20 for three measly penalty goals. While Sean Russell was having a good outing until he received the “Bull n Bush handshake” of a knee to the ribs and a fist to the chin from Jayden Campbell, his absence should not have caused a Parramatta team that was literally scoring every second set to completely forget how to spread the ball effectively.
That injury to Russell is in itself bad, turning what was a fair concern at the wing position into a five alarm fire. Today proved that the Waqa Blake to wing movement should be grounded, hopefully with more success than Air Waqa in his own aerial attempt. Yet beyond him we are looking at very raw rookies, mullets, and guys who watched this weekend from their couch.
This game might end up framed in Vossy’s pool room for all the quirk it contained:
- A try off a kick from inside the 40 that hit the upright
- A drop-out that hit the cornerpost
- A successful captain’s challenge from a bench forward
- A winning team that scored five tries in the first half and could only kick three penalty goals in the second
- The new “slowest kick from in front of the posts” of all time thanks to Mitch Moses
That court jester Phillip Sami throwing the King’s own dance move in his face would have been funny for a neutral, but I for one am glad we got to throw him in the stocks and tell him to look at the scoreboard come full time.
For the numbers inclined:
- Eels 54% possession, Titans 46%
- Eels completed 24/29 for 83% (didn’t feel like that in the first 20 minutes), Titans 22/27 for 81%
- Parramatta won the penalty count 7-1
- Eels forced 3 line drop-outs, Titans 0
- Eels 2087 running metres and 547 post-contact, Titans 1617 total and 449 PCM
- Eels missed 35 tackles and made 264, Titans missed 27 and made 307
- Eels 10 errors, Titans 6
- First 44 minutes: 54 points scored. Last 36 minutes: 6 points scored.
Mitchell Moses looked to be a certainty for this one as the points racked up in the first half, particularly after the beautiful no-look pass to deliver a hat-trick to Sean Russell, but any halfback whose team spends 17 minutes in the opposition quarter in a half and comes away with just three penalty goals is excluded from any award. It’s the rules.
That means our first workhorse of the year gets this one, with Reagan Campbell-Gillard showing up to the tune of 181 metres off 16 runs, 70 of those post contact. He passed the eye test as well, getting the Eels out of trouble with some tough runs when the Titans did manage to put some defensive pressure on. Your name might break the formatting of the grades table, but today you da MVP RCG.
Clint Gutherson
1 – Fullback
Rough day at the office for the King, who was mocked in his own court, pushed aside not once, but twice by a man named Erin as he scored a try, and made three errors. I liked a few of the new shapes and spots that Gutho showed up in along the left edge, but it was an uncharacteristically slow start for mezzo capitano. That’s “Google Translate Italian” for “half captain”. I’m sorry.
Sean Russell
2 – Left Wing
Jayden Campbell’s knees stole what might have been a record-breaking day for Sean Russell, who continues to demonstrate the skills that saw him top his class at finishing school. Get well soon Sean.
Googles what finishing school is.
Stuff it, I’m sticking with the joke. Sorry Seano.
Will Penisini
3 – Right Centre
Today was a “left side” kind of day and didn’t really let the skills of the man of one thousand unspeakable nicknames shine. Will Penisini got involved in the rucking game to the tune of 9 runs and 93 metres, and got away with kicking on the second tackle, at least on the field. I imagine Brad Arthur will be reviewing his kicking license following that one.
Waqa Blake
4 – Left Centre
Waqa Blake backed himself and crossed for a classic “ball hog centre” try in the first half, then spent the second as a makeshift winger where he backed himself, got airborne and spiked the landing for a “20 metre restart” from the judges. He may yet be our best option on the flank going forward, especially with Tom Opacic having a big day in NSW Cup this weekend to ease the concern about losing Waqa’s tackle breaking, if somewhat crabby work at centre.
Bailey Simonsson
5 – Right Wing
As far as debuts go, this one sits between Greg Smith for the Knights and Craig McLachlan’s stand-up on the Footy Show. The only people who would be more concerned about their right edge than Eels fans are Titans fans.
I’m willing to give him a chance, but only because the next man up is probably Paul Carige.
Dylan Brown
6 – Five Eighth
Dylan Brown was still the minor player on that left edge behind Clint Gutherson, but when the first half attack was running down that side he looked comfortable in his role. Once he shifted wide to cover for the injury to Sean Russell, Dylbags may as well have been invisible.
I can forgive him for not bringing David Fifita down when he made his break off the loose pass, if he’d have met him straight on I’d back Dylan to put him on his rear.
Mitch Moses
7 – Halfback
With most of the Red Sea transferred to Sydney Harbour and the Pacific Ocean, the Prince of Egypt has shifted his miracle work to kicking footballs through keyholes and making time stand still on penalty kicks. He was in everything in the first half and on every injection into the left edge he created a chance, but as soon as that structure broke so too did “New Moses”, revealing the 2018 edition for most of the second half. A+ for the first, C- for the second I think averages out to a B+. Go easy on me, I’m new at this.
RCG
8 – Front Row
Big Reg was a difference maker when he came on for his second stint, dragging the Eels out of some medicore sets with powerful charges. It’s what we come to expect from the man the “Mo of the Month” club had to make a super champion just so somebody else could get a turn at winning.
Reed Mahoney
9 – Hooker
“Only in it for the Cash” Mahoney had a first half that exposed Eels fans to the kind of anxiety previously reserved for ex-boyfriends of Taylor Swift when she releases a new album. His deception and timing around the ruck continues to evolve and that 40/20 was as beautiful as his moustache is wispy. I’m not sure I’ll come to terms with knowing he’s leaving at the end of the season, but at least I’m not alone…
Then I had to check the NRL website to remember if he’d played the whole second half or not. 30 tackles with 5 misses isn’t up to his usual efficiency, but a bit of Reed magic as we parked in the Titans red zone like we were protesting against them would have been nice.
Junior Paulo
10 – Front Row
The new (half) Eels captain took to the responsibility like Peter V’landy’s to a last minute rule change, rolling through the Titans middle to the tune of 135 metres from 11 runs. I’m assuming all the time he spent learning how the captain’s challenge works meant he missed the “play the ball with your foot” memo, being called for one that led to a Titan’s try and playing at least two more that could have been pinged.
Shaun Lane
11 – Second Row
The Tall Glass of Water carried his impressive pre-season form into the Titans clash, making several half breaks as he sat in Mitchell Moses‘ pocket like a particularly stubborn ball of lint. The result was a try that I’m glad wasn’t sent to the video referee, 112 metres from 12 carries, 50 post-contact metres and a try assist.
Lintball Lane might want to give his ball carriers a little more room, but he appears to be the primary target on that lethal left edge and, provided his defensive commitment remains firm (31 tackles and 2 misses today) he’s on track for a big season 2022. I’m not sure I was ready to love Shaun Lane again, but my heart, it is aflutter.
Isaiah Papali’i
12 – Second Row
The 2AM Jimmy’s Kebab (as a man who makes poor decisions, like signing with Wests) had one of those games that looked better in the stats sheet than I thought it was on the field. He runs hard (4 tackle breaks, leading the team), gets the yards (169 metres from 14 runs, 85 PCM), but where Shaun Lane was looking likely every time he ran so close to Mitchell Moses‘ hip he could steal his wallet, Isaiah Papali’i just didn’t look threatening.
I’m sure the replay could make this take look foolish, but much like I felt at the end of season 2021, and unlike a Jimmy’s Kebab, Papa doesn’t seem dangerous.
Ryan Matterson
13 – Lock
Middle-Man Matto took to his new role, playing the solid link man while also making 102 metres from 10 runs, throwing an offload and making 26 tackles. I think I liked him as the hard-running edge forward more, but like I’ve heard far too many times from my wife: that isn’t what we need right now.
Maka Makatoa
14 – Interchange
Maybe the Mak Attak got unlucky with timing, but considering he is in a tight battle for a middle role with Oregon Kaufusi, his 7 runs for 58 metres in a 30 minute stint doesn’t compare favourably to his fellow benchman. That captain’s challenge was nice, though.
Oregon Kaufusi
15 – Interchange
While I’m heartbroken about Reed, upset about Isaiah, and “well good for you guys, but damn” about Marata and Stoney, I was feeling Oregon Kaufusi might be the only pending departure I wouldn’t need to listen to Alanis Morissette and drink box wine over. Big Country didn’t show up five kilos lighter in a short skirt with highlights and makeup after the summer, but he did look pretty good in his 29 minutes that delivered 110 metres from 12 runs. I’m going to be seeing him in the halls for a while yet.
Ray Stone
16 – Interchange
While I’m a big fan of those “cut a man in half and steal his soul” tackles that are the Ray Stone A-side, I didn’t mind the “aggressive running with limbs flying everywhere” deep cuts he pulled out today. In a short 23 minute set Stone Fold hit all the right notes to the tune of 67 metres from 6 runs, 10 tackles without a miss and a tackle break.
Jake Arthur
17 – Interchange
We’ll never know how Brad Arthur was planning to use his son from the bench this week, as Jake was thrust into the action to cover the injury to Sean Russell and it won’t escape notice that the Eels went from scoring 5 tries in 33 minutes before that point to no tries for the rest of the game.
That isn’t Jake Arthur’s fault and he shouldn’t be blamed, but the structured attack that saw Parramatta terrorise the right edge of the Titans fell to pieces with the change and it highlights the Eels attack is still a work in progress. One that has some nice new wrinkles and moves, but is not yet at a point where pieces are interchangeable.
I didn’t think Jake had much of a game, that limp bomb into the in goal was the type of thing you just don’t see from NRL halves in the “seven tackle set” era and his running game was non-existent. I’d rather see him in NSW Cup for now developing his craft, but he is still far more maligned than he deserves as a 19-year old with a handful of first grade games to his name.
It might have been a tough watch, but a win is a win and in a week where the Rabbitohs and Roosters were upset I’m just glad we didn’t fall victim to backwards week. Much like the venue for next week’s game, the 2022 Parramatta Eels are still a work in progress. Unlike Shark Park, we’re on target for completion this year, the build just doesn’t quite match the pictures yet.
Until next time, stay slippery, Eels fans.
Gol
Photos courtesy of the Parramatta Eels. Stats courtesy of Champion Data.
“Post game grades, Mitch – Who?” 🤷🏼♂️
Gees, this is off to a rough start.
This is the 1st thing I look for after the game. I was very disappointed when I didn’t see Mitch as the author of tonight’s grades. This changed quickly and thoroughly enjoyed Gols take. Well done 👍.
Nice work Gol. I hope you haven’t used all your wit up on the first post. I agree with your grades and had a good laugh. Keep ’em coming.
I’m giving you and your analysis an A ✅
I agree with the thoughts on Papalii. Makes good metres but there doesn’t seem to be a threat. I also think the issues with the right edge defence start with him and cascade out. No one player is completely to blame but everyone out there needs to sort it out quick.
Also agree on JA. His defence though was pretty good.
Yeah the only reason I’m going to go back and watch this one is to try and figure out where the right edge went wrong, but those overlaps definitely started in-field. Papa gets through a mountain of work but I’d prefer more of those bumping and brusing line runs from early last year to the yardage work we get now. We’ve already got plenty of yardage forwards, we need attackers.
I was quite disappointed in the eels plays, especially after Russell went off, he added a good amount of flair to his game, will be missed. Simonsen had great reviews as to his arriving at the eels, but did not live up to that one bit.
What I saw was a repeat of the creeping backs that were the bane of our wingers last year, with the exception of Dunster who made decisions that showed he was up to the task, his loss showed in the game.
One other point of notice was looking at the stands, and seemed to me the Comm bank brand had a lot deposits that were missing. Lowest number I have seen at a first round home game of the eels for many a day, & there was not even a spot of rain to dampen it.
Colin, there was 18k+ there. The issue wasn’t rain. The fans were accumulated in shaded areas as an arvo game in warmer weather is tough going. The sun just blasts the eastern stand. The top deck of the northern stand was very heavily populated – much more than normal.
In that respect I’m wondering if the righ side defence will improve when NBrown comes back and Matto shifts to the right edge? Papa on the bench.
Welcome Good and good 1st write up.
Reg, Lane and Russell were great and I’d include Junior.
Great composure at the end to ice the win, we’ve lost plenty of those tight games in the past.
The Bad was very disappointing, but our numbering up on the left was awful – hoping not to see that again.
‘Bull & Bush handshake’ – high watermark Gol.
Mate at least put your name to it if you’re going to throw hands.
Yes our left side was abysmal as far as defence goes, but I believe Simmonson was not entirely to blame, someone on the inside was not getting across, Simmonson and Penisini wetre constantly out numbered. Early days
100% they are not completely to blame, the winger always gets blamed when a try is scored on the outside of him, we just had to slide and mark our man quicker before the play the ball.
Yes….. Poor Fergo comes to mind. Houston…..we have a problem on the right side….. And we do seems to resolve it…… Help! But I will ask the question….. Is it our defensive structures and do we look at the coaching?
Can’t disagree
Right side?
Think there’s reasons for what we saw yesterday. Loosing Sean disrupted the whole backline that already looked a little thin. Actually thought JA did alright and I think BA knew the risks of losing a back so he needed a utility.
Titans had all off season to gather salt, plus there not a bad team, all considering we got the 2 points move on to next week. Marata and Brown will be good to have back.
That definatley disrupted our attack in the 2nd half having Dylan at centre and Arthur at 5/8 after that great start to game where everything just looked crisp went crusty instead. Gutho had a tough afternoon as well and will be better for the run.
Well noted Chris
It is set in stone at the Parramatta Eels from way back that wingers get left high and dry in defence and cop all the blame when it really is the men inside them that cause those 2-3 man overlaps. It’s been happening since, well since When Daniel Anderson was coach really. Poor Eric Grothe Junior got blamed for a 1000 overlaps he couldn’t stop because his inside men didn’t slide out to mark man on man.
It’s round 1 and with our coaching staff i know they will see the issues and improve on them. We have some depth this year but I’m not sure we can afford another injury to a winger for a while.
Oh absolutely, Bailey’s grade today isn’t for “letting in” four tries, it is for how lost at sea and indecisive he was in trying to shut them down, for his pathetic effort on the try Sami scored on the bomb and his generally ordinary work rucking the ball out.
I think contempt breeds when making points, I think the kid was shattered when there was not right side cover to help him. Pathetic attempt was harsh when analysing the attempted catch on Sami’s try. It is nearly impossible to stand up and jump from a stationary position of the ball going down your throat, the player running through always has the edge in such a situation as the stationary catcher is the perfect guide to catching it. i.e. the hard part for Sami was timing and catching, which he did perfectly, for Simonsson the whole process was nigh impossible other than turning his back to the ball and there by making the jumper go over him…..hard task when he was having an absolute shit of a day at the office…..I’m waiting for some wags to come out with a worst debut game than Gutho’s first.
Finally Jake Arthur is not a FG 5/8 yet, he may be a half (7) but stults the attack and virtually takes DBrown out of the game. I’m not knocking the kid, he is just not ready yet and the dislocation was obvious.
Gol your observations on Moses second half were grossly unfair when considering the difference that JA of playing outside of him. For JA some of those kicks were downwright embarrassing and could/would/should have been taken by Moses (arguably the best kicker in the game at the moment(.
I’ve said this to you a few times Poppa, Papali’i needs to play in the middle, his lateral movement is terrible. Nuikori or Matto need to start out wide. Kaufusi is not running hard, seems to slow down before the line then tries to push through the line. In my view, Stone is in front of him.
Actually what you said about Papalli was proven right Mick and it was also one of the reasons we were so badly exposed on the right edge. I actually can remember Papa cover defending in the first part of last year. Maybe that little bit of extra desire is not quiet the same, now he has proven himself. Him going may not be as bad as it looked.
I thought Makatoa also look a bit ordinary and yes Kaufusi isn’t quiet there yet either.Matterson looks very comfortable at lock. more so than an edge and maybe Nathan Brown may have to find himself in a bench middle.
You’re right about Makatoa, the bench we had made him look worse than what he was. Kaufusi is not strong enough, Stone is a lightweight goer but you can’t have those 3 on the bench at the same time. Not sure what our bench will look like this week, my bench would be, Perham, Brown, Papali’i and a toss up between Kaufusi, Stone, Makatoa and Grieg.
Thank you for your effort ..great read and prob agree on it all.
Tks Gol, well done! Some of our errors were worth double to the Titans. Open invitations to nail us. Very frustrating that mostly we contained their sets but anything ad hoc seemed to unravel us. That quick, well executed, wide shift thing still lingers. Twice simply caught for numbers and once when numbers OK, poor read.The Campbell knees, check our tries out wide, I’d say good young bloke, needs to adjust his technique.
Well done Gol-pleasure to read
I said this before the game, JA is not a 14. Our attack always lacks penetration when JA is on. He just does not trouble the opposition. DB and Moses must stay our halves if they are fit. Don’t destabalise our best spine. Maybe in 2 years JA will become a good enough half to change this; but this year Moses and DB are by far our best halves and you do not mess with that.
No sure if your games stats match the NRL but Parra in the second showed class in tight control of the game. Exclude that freak try Titans didn’t look like scoring.
Simmensen had a game he would like to forget but I don’t believe it was his fault. Both Penisini and Simmensen and those inside of them were caught out with those long passes. What I didn’t like was when beaten they gave up the chase.
Sean Russell’s injury I think threw the team out of harmony when he went off. My concern is why not 10 minutes in the bin and no 8 point try. In some ways it was a bit like Dylan Brown’s effort against East that led to that infamous crackdown. The club should query why no action was taken.
JA will be a good player but the game highlighted the difference between a trial game and the real thing. He needs more time in the Reggies to polish his skills. It’s like that old shampoo add – it won’t happen overnight but, it will happen.
Cartwright would have been a better choice and having said that Ray Stone should have come on earlier. His defence is a pick me up.
Anyway, sometimes you play your best and inexplicably lose. Yesterday wasn’t their best and they won. That is what matters.
Forget that game there is another one next week.
Zero58 I think that your comments on the Russell tackle are spot on.
Looking at much of the commentary on the incident since the game and surprisingly it is very quiet.
In contrast Dylan was pilloried after a similar incident. Still gets mentions about it now. From what I saw it was not intentional but a technique problem.
Notwithstanding that he went into the tackle with the knees and possibly broke ribs. At that point an eight point try and a stint in the bin would possibly have killed off the game for the Titans.
John, totally agree and it will be interesting if there is not a charge against the Titans player for the same thing.
In saying that the NRL has announced changes in many area’s of the game.
JE, couldn’t believe Billy Slater, his verdict ‘not intentional’. Hasn’t he heard of careless and reckless? First point of contact was knee to ribs, he led with his knee, isn’t that the test? I mentioned above all our tries out wide, Campbell’s knees were always in the frame.
Definitely technique, not bad attitude.
Commonsense observations Zero
Agreed that JA needs to spend a year in Reserve Grade. He hasn’t had that luxury over the past couple of years, but this will do his development every good. Yesterday’s game also showed that we need a real number 14. I don’t think JA or Stone are really the answers to that. Having Smith come on last season to spark something different worked well.
I liked our attack during the first half – that showed a lot of promise for the season ahead, but as you say, that right side defence was a nightmare. If Russell is out for any length of time, we are in serious trouble for wingers. A lot to work on for next week. We need to be much better than that or we will struggle to beat any but mediocre teams.
I will admit. I questioned JA selection. However…. His defence was first rate… Even when it seemed the player has passed him. Well done lad.
I agree Mahoney had a great game; though his charge down (although skilfully executed) got us on the back foot. Honestly don’t see their value given that I reckon it is greater than 50% (due to player positioning) that it becomes a six again for the kicking team.
Yeah I meant to mention the charge down, we do a lot of them and they are low reward plays. Until they don’t count as playing at the ball, I’d prefer we just pressure the kickers without attacking the ball.
The Mahoney charge down on the 5th tackle was the game changer. They scored directly afterwards.
A very low percentage play.
I want to know what Hayze Perham has done to not be considered ? He’s the absolute perfect 14. Can play anywhere in the backs but JA beat him to the position. Most teams would kill to have a player of his skill available. I’m a fan of JA but his selection on the bench was absolutely atrocious. Which team disrupts it’s spine to accommodate a halfback on the bench ????
I don’t subscribe to the nepotism talk but BA does the kid absolutely no favours sometimes.
Agree with Spark. Perham’s performance on Saturday proved he is up to NRL standard. Had a great Cup game. His versatility makes him an ideal 14. Has played in the spine and outside backs.
I hope he’s a good chance for this week, either starting on the wing or in that utility spot.
He won’t start on the wing. I believe that it was put to BA in the presser and BA basically rubbished the idea. If Gutho went down was the idea to move Brown to fullback and JA to the centres ??? Just can’t understand the thinking behind having someone so limited in the utility role.
Great read Gol. Plenty of chuckles and home truths. As for the game, I’ll take a shitty win over a courageous defeat anytime.
All about the Gol train
Great read Gol.
Ugly win but I’ll take it.
Question to NRL: Are knee’s allowed in the tackle?
I feel for Shaun Russell out because of a cheap shot or at best reckless shot.
The referee was so bad and it was shown up in the captain’s challenges. For years we would just have to cop those wrong decisions.
Simmonson needs improvement.
An ugly first round win is better than a loss with plenty to improve upon.
Good start Gol.
As for Loving lane, get on board the Lane Train while you can.
I think that you did an excellent job!
Does anybody know if Marata is injured or not???
Sensational effort. Great read !