What a week!
The six grades of Eels matches produced five victories. Local supporters were spoilt for choice with Round 8 of the junior reps shifted to Eels HQ, and NSW Cup taking its place as the curtain raiser for the main game at CommBank Stadium.
As far as the NRL was concerned, the spectacular tries on display made the Eels victory one of the most entertaining games we’re likely to see this year.
And it’s no surprise that we were once again left scratching our heads in the wake of another disgraceful tackle, this time on Bailey Simonsson. No sin bin, no charge laid.
The great game of rugba league is never short of memorable moments taking their place alongside controversies.
Bumpers up.
Did Somebody Say KFC?
There must be a special on wicked wings this week. How else can the MRC explain their decision to not charge Dragon’s forward, Blake Lawrie?
For the fourth week in a row, foul shots (or is that fowl?) have been committed on Eels players with little or no consequence.
Bailey Simonsson
Lawrie’s chicken wing on Bailey Simonsson drew the commentators’ condemnation (how’s that for alliteration), and everyone (including Lawrie himself) probably expected a sin bin. That didn’t happen.
Even more puzzling is that after being placed on report, Lawrie was found to have no case to answer.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t seriously believe that it’s actually an approved open season on the Blue and Gold jersey, but there are some weird decisions being made by the MRC.
We don’t need a crazy crackdown on rule breakers, with the typical overreaction of high penalty counts and nonsensical application of the sin bin.
What is needed is for every case to be treated on its merits.
And that’s something that we’re seeing very little of.
Party Time
That extraordinary try assist pass by Bryce Cartwright drew it’s fair share of superlatives on Sunday. Few players have the ball skills of Carty and that moment will be on highlight reels for years to come.
The score line and clock provided the ideal circumstances for Bryce to chance his hand, and the entertainment value was captured on the faces of Eels players and supporters alike.
It might surprise people to know that it’s not the first time I’ve witnessed Eels players throwing miracle balls or going for high risk plays.
That pass
Eels training involves plenty of game time. I’m not talking about structured opposed footy. Rather, there are games of touch, two hand touch, Fijian footy (forward pass), and a myriad of grid games.
This isn’t necessarily anything unique to the Eels, but those moments give players the opportunity to explore their unstructured footy skills, in addition to simply having fun. Some of the best banter happens during such games.
A number of years ago, Forty and I recorded interviews with Eels assistant coaches, Joey Grima, Peter Gentle and Steve Murphy. Murf spoke about how their first task on arriving for the 2014 preseason was to make training enjoyable for the squad. Games were a huge feature of those early years under BA.
Along with the hard yards, they still feature.
So, while I marvelled at Cartwright’s audacious play, I wasn’t entirely surprised.
Shelley’s Story
Shelley’s latest “From The Stands” column is an incredibly heartwarming read.
She tells the story of two young men, recent arrivals from Iran, attending their first game of rugby league.
More than anything, it’s evidence of how the great game of rugby league brings people together.
I won’t spoil the story. Read it here.
Eels Junior Reps
The recent wet weather forced a change of venue for Parra’s junior Reps, with last Saturday’s Round 8 matches switched from Wollongong to Kellyville.
Apart from my unexpected sunburn, it was a terrific day of footy. Each of the junior rep teams enjoyed good wins, with the Gale and Matts teams securing their places in finals football, and the Ball team causing a boil over by defeating the top four placed Steelers.
I’ll go out on a limb and suggest that all of the teams lifted for this unexpected “home” match. Even though the spectator facilities are yet to be built, it feels right for the teams to be playing at the Eels HQ. The next stage of the Centre of Excellence development can’t come soon enough.
This weekend’s final round of the Junior Representative season will determine ladder positions with the Eels taking on the Raiders at New Era Stadium, Cabramatta.
Parra’s Flegg team also had their clash with the Dragons shifted to Kellyville. Unfortunately the Eels went down by two points after staging a late fight back.
There could be excuses made given there were a couple of last minute elevations to the NSW Cup team, along with a number of players missing through injury.
Nonetheless, there were still opportunities to get the victory and they’ll be looking to execute a little better against the Roosters this week.
Reggies Run Riot
If you didn’t get to CommBank Stadium for the NSW Cup match, what were you thinking!
Samuel Loizou
Our Eels turned on a scintillating performance to absolutely demolish the Dragons by 44 to 12. The eight try romp included a double by Samuel Loizou, whilst Mitch Rein staked his claim to an NRL bench spot with a fine individual try capping an impressive game at dummy half.
With seven players from the top 30 missing through injury, the Eels depth was under an early season test, but they came through with flying colours.
I’m expecting more players from the NSW Cup team to either make their NRL or Eels debut this season, with Ogden at the top of that list. If you were at the game, you’d surely be nodding in agreement right now.
The Next Rhino
The Brad Arthur coached Rouse Hill Rhinos team produced four Eels NRL debutants in 2021 – Will Penisini, Jake Arthur, Sean Russell and Sam Loizou. It was an outstanding achievement for the teenagers and the Rhinos can feel justifiably proud of them
That Rhinos team with the Under 14 Shield
But these boys might not be the last of that team to pull on the Blue and Gold jersey in the top grade.
Powerful middle forward Peter Taateo is making waves at NSW Cup level this year after graduating from SG Ball in 2021. With the Rhinos backline stars grabbing the headlines, Taateo will be looking to be the first forward from that team to make an NRL debut.
Taateo was earmarked to play Flegg this season, but has stepped up to senior footy and really impressed. Whether he’s moved back to Flegg when some of the injured players return to action remains to be seen.
For now, mark him down as a player to watch.
Thanks Parra
Regular TCT visitors would be familiar with Joe Briffa. Many more would have met Joe at the football over the years and enjoyed a conversation or two (make that hundreds) about his beloved Eels.
Joe Briffa
His passing last week hit us hard. He was a dear friend and plenty of tears were shed.
As a lifetime Parra supporter, he was well known to the club. He attended junior rep matches, lower grades, awards nights. You name it, if it involved the Eels, he’d be there.
I’d like to thank the club for acknowledging Joe with the wonderful tribute to him on the big screens at CommBank Stadium on Sunday.
It won’t quite be the same without our mate, but we’ve all been comforted by the many kind words from those who knew him.
Rest In Peace Joe.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Sixties, I remember Joe from the past, and a great eels supporter is lost, thanks for the post regarding his passing.
I have to admit that aside from following the eels, I have pretty much lost a lot of enthusiasm for the game, primarilly owing to the crap new rules and the amount of blind match officials, that seem to get worse with every year.
I seriously wonder at what point will the NRL bosses need to simply take their wages and not get involved in the game, applies to the rev’s and the lucky dip.
I agree about NRL bosses leaving the game itself alone Colin.
I’m glad you knew Joe. We are certainly missing him.
Colin Valandys has done a lot of good things for the NRL. However his level of expertise is commercial.
He turned around a lot financial problems from the previous administration, carried us through the Covid debacle and we must be thankful for that.
In my opinion he performed better than any administration official of any code during that period.
Getting involved in football and rule changes is not his level of expertise. He seems to be a passionate supporter of the NRL but this does not give him the level of knowledge required to analyse the game and recommend rule changes.
Should have read John Eel above
Agree John
Tks sixties. There was an 8 point try awarded in Souths v Penrith. The Souths player, Ilyias, slid in with his knees but swung a leg around towards the ball and struck with his foot the try scorer (May) on the skull. The knee contact was minimal. May felt the blow to the head but got up and joined his team mates, no complaining. It was nowhere near the impact and outcome of the Sean Russell incident. This sliding in with the knees just needs to be stopped regardless of whether contact injures or not. In fact, I thought it was prohibited.
BDon, I have no problem with the Panthers getting the 8 point try, but it was insulting that an 8 point try was found for that incident and not the others because, as you noted, it wasn’t as serious. Russell was put out of the game for an extended period whilst Moses copped a leg cork.
Sixties, great read again.
The refs and the MRC have something in common, its called consistency, and i mean consistency in doing the same thing which is nothing. How long have we all scratched heads about decisions and then lack of decisions? I saw that Henny Penny sponsored chicken wing and while it didn’t break an arm or hurt his Pec muscle, it was intentional and deliberate. It’s poor form from the MRC let alone the on-field officials. P Kent had a go at them last night, and merely mentioned they need to sin bin players and keep doing it until coaches get the drift.
Great to read about the juniors and Reggie’s. Hope they keep it up. I am also sure Peter T was part of the v young juniors program at school level. I will check on this but i am sure i recall his name somewhere years ago. Hope he comes on well.
Good to hear Parra gave Joe a fitting send off and no doubt he would have been proud of this and also the teams effort last week.
Titans will be no easybeats this weekend, and they wont have Friday on their mind….
Yeah, we don’t need a crackdown, we just need appropriate handling of foul play. What about the rushed changes to the MRC and the processes to get it done by match eve in round 1. How long did they have to get it together. Now we see the results.
The original Three Blind Mice were burnt at the stake. This MRC is heading for the same fate. Lawrie, no charge to answer ? Get the matches.
It was a disgrace Prometheus.
No real surprise to see Lane as a late scratching. He was an ambitious selection with his injury.
Very true mate.