Round 3 Drink Of Choice – Starward Two Fold
It was never going to be easy, was it? Naturally the mighty Melbourne Storm were always going to be a fearsome mountain to scale in their own right in Round 3. By the same token it just felt like the Eels were always going to an unnecessary layer of complexity to this match. That feat was certainly achieved when a gift field goal attempt was overlooked and overruled deep into the battle but even so the Eels found a way to win.
The 28-24 triumph in golden point marks a remarkable third straight victory over the Melbourne Storm for Brad Arthur and the Eels. It was a game that featured transcendental highs balanced against perilous lows but the dogged resilience and sheer want-to of this team, personified entirely in one Raymond Stone, carried the day in one of the most intense, insane and bittersweet conclusions to a regular season match you will ever see.
The End Of The Stone Age
MAN OF THE MOMENT 🔥
Ray Stone wins Eels the game! 👏
✍️ BLOG https://t.co/vRAZUbjGVi pic.twitter.com/YjxriPBU1a
— Fox League (@FOXNRL) March 26, 2022
If there ever was a sequence of play that could somehow simultaneously capture the dizzying euphoric highs and devastating almost inexplicable cruel lows of our great game it would be Ray Stone’s game-winning try last night. Forget the fact that he put the Eels ahead in the 70th minute with a play so cerebral he used an opposition player’s noggin to stay one step ahead. Just focus on the fact that in the 81st minute of a torrid contest played from end-to-end from start to finish, not only did he ensure he was onside when Mitchell Moses attempted a golden point field goal – he was the only man to push through and chase.
It was shades of the legendary Ray Price or his modern counterpart in Nathan Hindmarsh. An engine that keeps running when all others have conked out. A desire and drive to win that is all-consuming. Thus it should have come to no surprise that when the Moses’s kick hit the uprights, Stone was the only player from either team to be in position to claim the bouncing ball and win the game. What would be considered impossible for most anyone else and even improbable at best for some of the game’s finest was just another Ray Stone play.
Pure, undiluted competitiveness.
The fact that it has likely cost him everything with a suspected ACL tear to his right knee makes me sick. It has been a true pleasure and an honour to be able to cover the rise and rise of Ray Stone since he joined the Eels in 2017 as part of the Holden Cup squad. His likely last play as an Eel is as memorable and definitive as you could have ever drawn up for the man and the player he is. I am truly thankful that he was able to secure a 2-year deal with the Dolphins from 2023 because god damn does he deserve it.
If this is indeed the end, thank you for everything Stoney.
Open Season On Eels
I was originally planning to try and weave as many big hits from the rapper NAS into this stub as possible when discussing a pretty damn serious issue. There was some legitimately good options to run with as well. Surviving The Times, Less Than An Hour, It Ain’t Hard To Tell and Halftime among plenty of others. Ultimately I couldn’t bring myself to bring any sort of humorous undertone to a serious ongoing issue for the club.
After three rounds of footy it is starting to feel like the Match Review Committee is almost endorsing open season on the Parramatta Eels.
Jayden Campbell suffered no consequences for exceptionally dangerous contact on Sean Russell that brutally maimed the young winger. The Cronulla Sharks were able to run a systematic and cynical campaign of off-the-ball attacks on Mitchell Moses with near impunity. Now in Round 3, Nelson Asofa-Solomona has managed to execute an ugly cannonball tackle on Junior Paulo and deliver a reckless and late high shot on Makahesi Makatoa with nary a care or cost in the world. The on-field price of his foul play? A sin bin? No sir. A penalty surely? Come now, sweet child. No, ‘NAS’ was completely exonerated of the first such charge and only put on report after the fact for the second.
Then again, like Campbell and the Sharks, why would he pay any kind of in-game toll for his recklessness when the Match Review Committee continue to essentially green-light such behaviour? Asofa-Solomona is facing a hefty fine of $1500 for his actions on Saturday night. Realistically it is more likely to be a $1000 fine once he takes the plea.
I am tired of watching and writing about blatant acts of foul play against our club getting overlooked. Something has to give and soon.
And who didn’t enjoy this little slice of footy karma?
The Real Dyl
Dylan Brown just goes from strength to strength in 2022. Potential is becoming fully realised into outright dominance and his influence on the result against Melbourne was staggering. Brown tormented the Melbourne right-edge with his running game, blowing past Jahrome Hughes and Felise Kaufusi to put his captain Clinton Gutherson over. He then backed that up with a gorgeous cut out pass to set up Waqa Blake for an iconic try in the corner.
At just 22 years old, Dylan is coming of age as a top flight NRL playmaker. The fact that he has done it with the burden of a world of expectation on him makes the feat all the more impressive. Sit back and enjoy the show as this young star continues to search for his ceiling.
Good & Bad Part Of The Slow Build
Not to take the gloss off of a massive win but Brad Arthur and the team will know there is a great deal they can hone and improve from the 4-point victory. From the 8-3 discrepancy in linebreaks favouring the Storm (Edit – Stats have now been updated to reflect a far closer 7-5 split to Melbourne) to a bizarre overcalling of Mitchell Moses in the final moments to throw away a near certain 7-point lead, the Eels made life hard themselves until the very end. It can be frustrating at times to watch but the club clearly has a plan to build into the season at a steady pace this year.
Defensively the Eels obviously have a lot to tune up. From the linebreaks already mentioned to missed tackles and the general problems manifesting down our right edge – there is a lot of headroom to grow into. Offensively we are yet to see our 1, 6, 7 and 9 all firing in the same game but that too will happen in due time.
Set Of Six
1. Shaun Lane is quietly having a really good start to the season. The towering backrower is one of the slept-on difference makers in the side when he is switched on and dialled in. He was plenty effective against Melbourne but his charge down was a pivotal moment in the clash.
2. Speaking of that charge down, Tom Opacic stepped up and made himself counted with a clutch recovery of the loose ball. He also bagged an important try and held down the left-edge all day.
3. Melbourne may have won the ruck in the opening exchanges but seeing Reagan Campbell-Gillard (197m from 20 carries, 2 tackle breaks) and Junior Paulo (192m from 20 carries, 2 tackle breaks) take them to task in the second half was a thing of big-man beauty. I love my props damn it.
4. It was ultimately a mixed bag from Waqa Blake. Two ugly drops will mar the memories of a lot of fans but on the other hand he scored a truly memorable try in the first half when he yeeted Ryan Papenhuyzen into next week. He has been given a tough assignment out-of-position and done mostly pretty well. He might need a bit of time under the high ball this week at training though because you have to think the Dragons are coming for him.
5. It was a tough day at the office for Reed Mahoney with a number of errors and critical missed tackles counting against the excellent rake. It happens, he will be better.
6. The universe has a funny way of balancing things because just as Reed cashes in a bad game Clinton Gutherson explodes back to top form. It was nice to see a minor shake up to our attacking patterns that freed up Gutherson to roam and support a little bit more and he made the most of it.
The Final Word
This is a game that should be remembered for the heroic efforts of Ray Stone. It is a game that should be celebrated for not only knocking over the Melbourne Storm for the third straight match but consigning a certain cherry picked stat to a Daily Telegraph dust bin. The Parramatta Eels are 2-1 and starting to find their groove. Next up are the St George Illawarra Dragons. Bring it on.
Hi Forties, love your insights and also avid listener of the podcast.
Can I ask your opinion, I know I watch these games with only 1 eye opened, but when I watch Storm against other teams and certainly against us it blows my mind at what they get away with compared to the opposition. The holding down in tackles is an absolute joke and the rushing off the line is olympic sprinting-esque if they are onside at all. When opposition do anything similar it seems penalties and six against are given out like candy. How do they get away with it, or am I over critical?
On NAS, he is the BIGGEST Grub in the game currently yet gets away with consistent foul play. Watching Broncos v Cowboys today a shot nowhere near as bad as NAS on Maka was instant penalty and report.
I don’t know if it has become a self-fulfilling prophecy or some sort of paradoxical chicken and the egg scenario but Melbourne are clearly afforded a different kind of latitude in the ruck. Obviously Bellamy and his brains trust are at the cutting edge of finding every new gray-area exploit and that helps but the are plenty examples of old-fashioned ruck spoiling that get ignored.
Sixties and myself have tried to explain it a plenty in the past but the best I can offer is that it has simply become ingrained into the fabric of the modern game. Everyone knows it happens but it is merely considered part and parcel of playing against the Storm and officials rule in a manner that perpetuates it – as maddening as that is.
NAS has long since cornered the field as biggest grub in the game. The match officials made an embarrassing gaffe when they failed to sin-bin him for that dangerous shot on Makatoa but that has been par for the course over the first three rounds. Jayden Campbell and Teig Wilton both should have spent 10-minutes off the field as well.
Tks Forty. Have been watching in other games the late hits on kickers, most teams look like they’re being coached to avoid the late hit penalty, some harass but don’t tackle, some harass and grab the kicker to stop him running back into the play, but the Sharks definitely targeted Moses. I always remember Manly’s Ron Gibbs, commentators technically assessing whether he was late or not in hitting the kicker like a missile. The fact that he usually half killed his target was irrelevant to them.
The tackle that Gibbs was doing was banned by the RL, IIRC the tackle was given two names, 1:Torpedo, 2:Cannon Ball. I forget who the tackled player was and as the tackle was aimed at the legs, a opposition player ended up with a break in the leg also damaged knee.
The tackle still goes on these days but not to the intensity of what Gibbs was doing, nor the consistency.
They saying goes….4 seasons in a day….. Well let me tell you…..I had the equivalent of emotions during this game. Stupefying highs to the lowest of lows……I did not miss anyone in the first 15 min….. Our players with amateurish errors. … Storm being Grubbs….refs being inconsistent…….. Them after that period it was game on…. Still with aforementioned issues…. But just a great game. Where I found my joy in the game was the hypocrisy of Cam Munster waving his finger at Ice after he hit him simultaneously as the ref called held …. The nerve of that team playing and getting way with all sorts of amazing border line illegal acts….. Then having the nerve to lecture 😜😂. We have put the NRL bully in its place 3 times now…. Watch the fireworks next time we meet….. They will go next level with their thuggery…… All I can say is be prepared boys be prepared.
As someone who has had their property savaged by the recent rain bomb in Murwillumbah the win against the Storm was beautiful in it’s distraction. When Mahoney went off script and left Moses at the alter of field goals I was shattered by the dumbness. Euphoria, fortunately, was not far away with Stones amazing football IQ and courage under fire.
You are so right about open season on the Eels Forty. Apparently the letter of condemnation to the NRL from Parra went unread. There have been multiple and severe indiscretions that have gone unpunished. Maybe it is time for our CEO to shirt front the NRL executive. It is only a matter of time before one of our players is seriously injured because every team we play realises we are free game.
Thanks for another distraction Forties. Always a great read.
I remember when I loved the sound of rain. It’s raining again and the uneasy feeling is all encompassing.
There was a good build into the game which has been noticeable in the two prior games too. Not sure if that represents the forwards being a little slow to hit their straps. The early penalties against the eels were a factor. Moses and DBrown are managing the game better which is certainly part of the stabilisation.
I think you could be right about our forwards starting a bit slower and building into games. Throw in a handful of errors, penalties and missed tackles and we are putting ourselves on the backfoot. Normally that means game, set and match against the Storm but Moses and Brown deserve plenty of credit for keeping in step with them.
Looking forward to the game where the 1, 6 ,7 and 9 are all firing.
Great game but I’m critical of BAs bench selections and rotation. Our edge forwards need a break and many of their errors were thru fatigue. Cartwright would be the ideal solution, 15-20mins before and after half time, to give the edge forwards a break. And a genuine utility, with dummy half nous, would be ideal also along with 2 props. And for the full 8 replacements being used, not 5 as with this game otherwise our middles will be burnt out come near the end of a long season.
Long time readers of musings will know I have been plenty critical of BA’s bench rotations in the past. Arthur has consistently proven himself to be an excellent coach but his bench management has been frustrating at times.
There is definitely a good argument to have Bryce Cartwright on the interchange. Ditto for a deputy to Reed Mahoney.
It was nice that you mentioned Dylan Brown in a positive way. He tried really hard and did a great job. I think at half time storm watched a video of Brown in an effort to curtail him. Clearly it didn’t work.
Shaun Lane would be so much better if the Coach gave time off five minutes or so each side of half time. Brandon Smith ran past him for the first try and again for their last. Lane is not a complete 80 minute player.
Stone – what can you say – from rocks to diamonds. One week he doesn’t think next week he is an Einstein. Great thinkung try.
Why did Waqa change his catching style in the second half. The first half he was safe. The second half your heart is in your mouth.
Gutherson was brilliant in defence. Moses was brilliant with his kicking. RCG is king of the forwards.
The negative – according to the grades report, Arthur used 5 put of 8 replacements. If this is true then why. Despite all the noise about his bench rotation and replacement you can only conclude one of two things. 1. It was act of defiance against that criticism or 2. He is a Hill Billy when comes to this role. 5 out 8 and used only 3 bench players. I cannot fathom his thinking. Maybe others can.
By the way in the grades Penisini was given a C. He marked the hardest bloke in Olam. He did really well and deserved a B.
Great game – great result and to top it off the Broncos got slaughtered.
One more thing Klein is consistenting too soft on the Storm. They continue to get away with outright thuggery and with no consequences particularly when he is in control. The MCR is truly loyal to Klein.
I never want to hear anymore talk about Dylan Brown and his knees.
Last thing Nathan Brown had a great game and we clearly need him out there as with Maranta.
For me the big takeout in this game was the form of both Ray Stone and Dylan Brown. They were both exceptional and probably both had their best games in the Blue and Gold.
I will be extremely disappointed if what seems at this point likely, we never see Stone in the Blue and Gold again.
With possible injuries to Stone and Pauli to contend with I am not looking forward to TLT. Maybe Marata will be back from injury that would be positive.
Following this most marvellous of wins, Storm in Melbourne, BA still has plenty to work with to get the team performing at a higher level.
The errors and missed tackles are still there. The team played really well today and played with intent. Based on what we seen from them last season the best is yet to come.
That is something to look forward to on Sunday at Commbank Stadium against the Dragons.
Ray Stone’s performance in scoring that try can not be overestimated. I have done ligaments in my knee, too, and hit the ground like the proverbial bucket the second it happened. Somehow he kept going. Unbelievable. I have a feeling that if Makahesi had taken matters into his own hands, NAS might well still be in Disney Land. He also looks to be one tough bugger.
The fact that Stone didn’t even come close to dropping the ball in that moment is just another testament to how tough he is.
Makatoa handled the running feud really well and should have comprehensively won by TKO with NAS going to the bin. Unfortunately, the officials handled it extremely poorly.