We have reached the halfway point for all three major grades in season 2022 and it is as good a time as any to reflect on records, results and the overall journeys of the Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and NRL. Sixties and Forty20 have put their noggins together to assess how each team is travelling, who is starring and where the strengths and weaknesses of each squad lie in a sprawling and all-encompasing midseason review.
Jersey Flegg
Sixties says:
Sitting in third last place on the table, it’s difficult to grade the Eels Jersey Flegg team any higher.
However, this group is capable of better results, which must be frustrating for the staff let alone the players themselves.
The Flegg team has probably been more impacted by team changes than any other grade. Injuries in the NRL and NSW Cup teams have resulted in players being called up from Flegg. Their own injury list has been problematic with key personnel missing for significant periods.
Still, this does not excuse periods within matches where critical errors or lapses in concentration have been costly. They’ve been competitive against the highly rated Dragons and Knights teams, suffering narrow and unlucky defeats, yet lost to the cellar dwelling Sea Eagles after letting them jump out to a 24 point lead.
Their worst defeat was probably a round 8, 30 to 6 loss to the Raiders. One month later their best performance was unquestionably a 40 point victory over the same team. Go figure.
If they can find some consistency, they will make the finals.
Forty20 says:
It has been a tough season to date for the Jersey Flegg. No team has had it playing pool drained more across the three major grades and in that capacity they have battled valiantly. Still, they have also proven to be their own worse enemies with poor completion rates, untimely errors and a general lack of attention to detail handicapping their own pushes for victory.
Despite all of that and entering Round 14 running third last, they can still very easily force their way back into finals contention. It will require a far more disciplined approach to gameday but the talent in this team is very much there in order to challenge the best teams in the Jersey Flegg.
Dantoray Lui has been a very pleasant surprise. Capable of playing in the halves or at fullback, Lui has played equally well in and out of structure. Ethan Sanders has made a massive jump from first year eligibility in the SG Ball to starting halfback in the Flegg and has not been overawed. Elsewhere, a stint in the NSW Cup for Matthew Komolafe looks to have unlocked the best in him with the young flanker not only scoring tries in bundles but proving to be an effective worker around the ruck as well.
They will have to dig in and battle from henceforth if they are turn things around but they have the playing talent to do just so.
The Verdict
| They sit at the polar opposite of the NRL and NSW Cup with a 4-8 record but can quickly make some serious noise if they can apply spit and polish to the right areas. Even with results going against them, player development has still been a feature in 2022 with as many as 7 players (ignoring Arthur, Russell and Loizou) spending time in the NSW Cup. |  |
Knock On Effect NSW Cup
Sixties says:
Just like their NRL counterparts, the NSW Cup team has eight wins, four losses and a bye. This currently places them third on the ladder, one win behind the table topping Panthers. Sitting on identical points to the first grade team, I’ve graded them accordingly.
The return of a swag of outside backs from injury has now benefitted both of the senior sides. It’s resulted in Haze Perham, Jake Arthur, Sean Russell and Maika Sivo returning to the Knock on Effect fields.
At full strength, this team has a wealth of top grade experience in the forwards. Bryce Cartwright, Ky Rodwell and Ofahiki Ogden are a class above this level of footy. They are complemented by future stars in the backline, headed by Arthur, Loizou, Russell and Cini.
Their best result was a 44-12 round 4 victory over the Dragons. It was won comprehensively through the middle and finished off out wide.
By far their worst effort was a 28 – 4 round 8 loss to the Raiders. It was around the peak of the Eels injury woes and a powerful Canberra team absolutely demolished them. They avenged that loss just 4 weeks later down in the Nation’s capital via a 30 – 28 victory.
Watch for Jake Arthur to dominate during the second half of the season, and Rodwell and Ogden to push for first grade selection.
Forty20 says:
I am still bitterly disappointed that we were robbed of the conclusion of the 2021 NSW Cup season. A year in which the Eels were building magnificently with a young and talented team at the right time of the season. Thankfully it looks like they have not missed a beat in the following year as they sit in 3rd place heading into Round 14 – only a solitary win behind the competition leading Panthers.
Like their NRL cohorts, the NSW Cup have absorbed plenty of injury pressure and through it all Jordan Rankin has led the team exceptionally. Newcomer Zac Cini has proven to be a quality pickup and offers intriguing upside for the Eels if he stays in our system while Samuel Loizou has enjoyed a sustained run of quality footy.
In the halves Jake Arthur continues to impress as he hones his craft. The forward pack is punctuated by a number of quality contributors headed by Ky Rodwell and Elie El-Zakhem. Wiremu Greig has found another gear in recent weeks and Ofahiki Ogden has shown legitimate NRL upside when he has been on the field.
As with the NRL, I am deeply keen to see where the 2022 season takes our NSW Cup squad. They have shown that they possess the tools and quality of talent to make a serious push into the finals and importantly they are healthy at the midpoint of the season.
The Verdict
| The NSW Cup team battled through a tough and prolonged window of injuries, suspensions and promotions to hold the same record as the NRL team at 8-4. They now have a terrific launching pad to not only consolidate their position inside the Top 4 but even challenge for the minor premiership. |  |
NRL
Forwards
Sixties says:
The pack is the key to Parra’s fortunes. The selection of three Eels forwards in the Blues team is evidence of how vital they have been in the Eels best victories this season.
Likewise, when the opposition has won the middle and the edges (see Sharks and Cowboys), the losses have followed.
It seems like the biggest question mark surrounds the starting lock position. The return of Marata Niukore to the edge has shifted Ice to the middle lock spot and Nathan Brown to the bench. After injury issues and postseason surgery in 2021, perhaps Brown’s best footy might be found as an impact player.
My vote for best performing forward to date is Isaiah Papali’i. His game is heating up with every passing round. Ice started the 2022 season with high workload performances and has now added his early 2021 season impact form. It’s a superb mix.
Forty20 says:
The strength of Parramatta’s forward pack has been one of the cornerstones of the club in recent seasons. That remains true through 2022 thus far with Junior Paulo and Reagan Campbell-Gillard anchoring a dominant unit. Isaiah Papali’i has built solidly on his award winning 2021 campaign while Shaun Lane has been a big play merchant against the best teams in the competition. Marata Niukore was sidelined for a long stretch early on in the year but his eventual return shored up the starting unit and added that extra dash of physicality to an already bruising crew.
They haven’t been flawless and I think it is worth reminding everyone that no positional group for any club is but each of the Eel’s four losses included aspects of our forward getting outplayed. That in and of itself is an important lesson for the team but it is also balanced against wins against the Storm and the Panthers. The Penrith victory in particular featured some legitimately true grit from the forwards as they won a titanic arm wrestle in the second half. That ability to level and even tip the playing field in big games will be crucial for the club moving into the business end of the season.
Backs
Sixties says:
Injury disruptions to the backline have been the greatest obstacle for the Eels to overcome this year. Sivo’s 2021 ACL injury was compounded by losing Dunster for the season, then Russell and Blake for extended periods. If you played on the Eels left wing, you were cursed.
Currently, all bar Dunster are now available for selection, creating competition for places across the NRL and NSW Cup teams.
On the right side, the combination between Penisini and Simonsson continues to develop. Will shows maturity beyond his years, and Bailey is growing in confidence. After an uncertain start to the season, the former Raider is challenging the kick chase of most opponents.
Penisini is my pick for best back. Even though he only featured in a handful of NRL games in 2021, there might have been some critics predicting a second year syndrome in 2022. There hasn’t been the slightest indication of that eventuating with Will.
Forty20 says: It has been a wild ride in the backline for the Parramatta Eels over the first half of the 2022 season. An unprecedented injury toll meant that if your job title carried the word ‘winger’ in it you were probably burning sage everywhere you went in order to cleanse evil spirits. Haze Dunster, Sean Russell, Waqa Blake and Solomone Naiduki all wore significant injuries while Maika Sivo was unavailable for selection as he continued to rehabilitate a 2021 injury. Players were Tom Opacic and Hayze Perham proved integral in holding the backline together until reinforcements arrived.
The one winger who was able to stay healthy amidst the insanity was Bailey Simonsson and he quickly proven to be an outstanding acquisition for the club. An adept finisher that is also exceedingly difficult to tackle in general play, Bailey has also produced a number of withering tackles on fullbacks and halves that dare to sweep down his side of the field.
Will Penisini quickly assuaged any fears of him falling to the dreaded second year syndrome and has been nothing but class for the Blue & Gold working in partnership with Simonsson. Between the two of them it would seem the Eels have their right edge sorted for a number of years to come.
With Waqa and Maika both back in their customary positions on the left edge Parramatta are finally back at full strength and it is fair to say that I am hugely excited to see what the backs can do given the scorching hot form of their five-eighth and halfback this year.
Spine
Sixties says:
I’m predicting the spine’s best football will be seen in the run to the finals. Though Moses and Brown have been amongst the best halves across the NRL, Mahoney is yet to hit his peak and Gutherson has found some uncustomary errors.
I could equally opt for either half as my best performer. Moses has become a more mature footballer in the last couple of seasons and his kicking game provides the team with a significant edge. However, Brown’s dynamic form and sheer will to compete puts him slightly ahead in my assessment. I hope I continue to experience difficulty in separating them during the back half of the year.
Forty20 says:
In 2022 it is Dylan Brown’s world and we are all just living in it. Parramatta’s boom five-eighth is having the kind of breakout year that puts him firmly on the radar for individual awards and representative selection. His form thus far this season is reflective of just how dominant he has been at every level below the NRL and comes as he just begins to tap into what he is capable of.
Dylan couldn’t have asked for a better running mate than Mitchell Moses either. Moses has proven he can easily slide between game manager or field marshal and dominant on-ball playmaker over the first 13 rounds of play. His ability to complement the best of Dylan’s game while also been able to stamp his own impact on a contest is invaluable. Thrown in his unrivalled long-kicking game and you have unquestionably one of the top halfbacks in the NRL.
Outside of a few uncharacteristic errors here and there, Clinton Gutherson has been Clinton Gutherson – a bastion of consistency for the Blue & Gold at the final line. I don’t think it is unfair to suggest that Reed Mahoney has been below his best as we arrive at the midway point of the season but the team will need him in full form as we approach the finals.
Bench
Sixties says:
I’ll restrict the bench to Kaufusi, Makatoa and Matterson as they have been the mainstays when it comes to the Eels interchange.
Makatoa and Kaufusi have provided consistent workhorse contributions. Errors are rare and defence efficiencies are high. On the other hand, Matterson has been used for big minutes off the bench, and delivered significant impact via team high run metres and plenty of offloads.
No prizes are on offer for selecting the best bench performer. If you earn an Origin jersey from your club’s bench, that says plenty.
Forty20 says:
I can’t talk about the bench without first mentioning the heroics of Ray Stone who simultaneously won the Eels a crucial away game against the Storm while also ending his season and time at the club due to the knee injury he sustained. Stone is the absolute fiercest of competitors and has been one of my favourite members of the club ever since he joined the Eels way back in 2017. I wish nothing but the best in his time at The Dolphins.
Beyond that it has been almost completely the Ryan Matterson story when it comes to the interchange bench. Matterson has elevated his game this year to the sort of heights we have all known he is capable of and become a field-tilting presence for the Eels from the bench. Indeed, despite not been listed as a starter he inarguably the primary lock forward for the club and a strong argument for the value of having key players on the bench.
Oregon Kaufusi and Makahesi Makatoa have been the other mainstays of the interchange and both bookends have been solid without setting the world on fire. The final spot on the bench has proven tricky to fill with Jake Arthur, Mitch Rein and Bryce Cartwright all getting shots at making it their own. Most recently Brad Arthur has settled on a four forward bench rotation with the return of Marata Niukore allowing him to push Nathan Brown to the interchange.
While the bench has been solid overall, there are several form forwards in the NSW Cup putting plenty of pressure on the coaching staff to pick them and that is far from a bad thing.
Best Win
Sixties says:
I can’t go past the away win over the Panthers.
Not only do the Eels stand alone in the “Vanquished the Riff” roll call, they achieved that feat backing up from a horror loss to the Cowboys in Darwin. Furthermore, the way they withstood the extended pressure applied by Penrith in the second half, spoke volumes about the resilience in the team.
I was even more impressed with the way that the team pushed aside that awful missed knock on in the lead up to the Panthers try just before half time. Reflecting on recent seasons, their mind set that night was the best that I can recall. It proved what is possible for this team.
Forty20 says:
It is almost impossible to split the twin triumphs over the Storm and Panthers. I will lean towards the Round 3 28-24 upset if only because while BlueBet Stadium has become a fortress in recent seasons, AAMI Park has been a wasteland for visiting teams for practically two decades. Not only did the Eels win in golden point but they did on the back of game saving and defining plays from Shaun Lane and Ray Stone. Even more, it extends Parramatta’s reign of supremacy over the Storm to an almost unheard of 3-game win streak.
Biggest Surprise
Sixties says:
My nomination for biggest surprise might be something of a surprise in itself.
Shaun Lane has featured in a number of match defining plays this season. His offload to Reed Mahoney to set up the penalty try kept the Eels in the contest against the Panthers. Likewise, his long break through the Raiders right edge to set up Brown’s try came right when the Eels needed some inspiration.
Lane had a strong first season in the Blue and Gold. His big moments this year are reminiscent of that.
Forty20 says:
This one is actually pretty hard for me to qualify given that the Eels have largely operated with the parameters I set for my expectations this year. Maybe in a more general sense Bailey Simonsson has surprised a segment of fans that were baying for blood after a modest opening to the season but I had Bailey tipped as a big-time contributor on the right flank.
Perhaps Parramatta’s gumption in battling through a ridiculous string of injuries in the back line was the biggest surprise. Seeing the team fully embrace the ‘next man up’ philosophy and grind out tough wins may have caused more than a few heart palpitations but it also shows the growth of the club as a whole.
Greatest Disappointment
Sixties says:
In contrast to the against the odds over the Riff, the loss of a couple of winnable contests has provided the greatest disappointment. The team was unmercifully humbled by the Cowboys, but gifting last minute wins to the Sharks and Tigers in the manner that they did really stung.
Despite being far from their best in either match, Parra placed themselves in the box seat for the two points, only to throw both away.
Forty20 says:
Definitely a consensus decision here with the winnable games that the Eels squandered in the first half of the season. While the Cowboys handed Parramatta a certifiable whooping up in Darwin, the losses to the Sharks, Tigers and Roosters were lost largely on the back of self-inflicted wounds. We know the Eels have an incredibly high ceiling given their wins over Melbourne and Penrith but raising their floor in order to ensure those other games don’t slip away will be imperative moving forwards.
Ken Thornett Medal Frontrunner
Sixties says:
This is tough. Does it require consistency in every game or standout performances in just enough clashes to win the gong?
It’s probably a four way battle between Moses, Dylbags, Ice and Matto. As team captain, Gutho might even have secured enough votes despite a couple of “unGutho” games.
Forced to select just one, I’ll suggest that Dylan Brown might be just ahead of the others. Should he continue his current form, he‘ll be hard to hold out and the Eels will go close to a title.
Forty20 says:
It is one of the more stacked fields in recent memory for the Ken Thornett Medal in 2022. Dylan Brown and Ryan Matterson are commanding plenty of attention for obvious reasons but consistent performers like Isaiah Papali’i and the pairs of props in Paulo and Campbell-Gillard should never be slept on. As it stands I think Matterson might have the slight edge on the back of his incredible run over the last two months.
The Verdict
| The Eels enter the second half of the season sporting an 8-4 record and in possession of 5th place on the ladder. An excellent platform to build off by any metric. Slip ups against the Sharks, Tigers and Roosters cost them an ‘A’ rating but their iconic victories over the Melbourne Storm and Penrith Panthers show that this team has what it takes to slug it out with the competition’s best. | |
Decent comments on all grades, still disappointed at the performance of the Flegg, even when accounting for injuries and promotions. The run till the end of the season will tell us a lot re their ability, Kolomafe is the stand out performer when thinking elevation.
Our senior teams are in the hunt, as I have said before the crucial thing will be recruitment and retention. Certainly the signing of players basically 18 months from the conclusion of the season is awkward, how to replace the 5/6 forwards leaving is a test for the coaching staff and HOF. Appears slim,pickings, so the need is to ensure recruits are signed which enable the team to continue their run in the top 4. Over to Mark ONeil , a difficult but hopefully not impossible job .
Derek, I think there is a roster story yet to be told before the year is out. The development of players such as Rodwell, Ogden and Woodie is continuing – in fact, I reckon that Rodwell is unlucky to not be playing NRL now.
It’s more about who they are replacing and do they bring the same impact, sure we need to infuse talent from the KOE , but we can’t underestimate the class and production of the players moving on.
Agree the players mentioned will be useful in a roster sense, but there is a need to bring in a level of talent that enables the club to perform. We shouldn’t see ourselves as not being able to compete with the Roosters and others when requiring to add players of a standard of those we lose.
I would have thought the Cowboys have shown how young, keen players have pumped their side to third in the comp.Payten has given them a chance and they’ve rewarded him.
That they have. I was very wrong about them Prometheus. I thought they’d get the spoon!
Todd Payton has so far shown to be a very good coach. He did more with a limited Warriors squad than any coach there in recent time.
He has stamped his authority on this current squad at the Cowboys despite getting negative feedback last season.
West Tigers have talked about getting one of their own to lead the club. I wonder if they ever considered this Tod.
How long is his contract at the Cows? I reckon he has the opportunity to set up a strong coaching reputation up there and with a young group. He’d be crazy to ditch that for the Tigers.
They have and the Cowboys let them know in no uncertain terms what they thought of the idea.
Derek, you mentioned the class of the guys leaving, it’s that very class that has made it impossible for us to keep them. A guy like Papa is simply outplaying his contract by at least 250-300%, hence the big deal he’s gotten from the Tigers. The same for Niukore. Let’s remember few had even heard of Papa when we signed him, most of us, myself included, didn’t even have him in our best 17 coming into last season. You just never know who is going to emerge. But if they’re in our system, at least there’s less of a mystery than trying to get lucky with another Papa.
Great write up lads. On a side note I’d love to see some origin stuff on the site. For example all this talk of the “speed” of origin. Would be good to pick that apart. How many extra metres do they run over the 80mins….. I wonder if it’s hype real.
On the Eels season, it’s an interesting one. I go off watching each match once, reading this site and gut feel. My sense is that RCG, Matto and Ice have done most of the work. Lane has performed as I expected (which is a good thing, a lot of others bash him), and the rest have underperformed, including in particular Junior. He’s had a poor season, as have Brown and the rest of the bench. There have been good moments, or 40 minute periods, but on balance not good enough.
The backs have been valiant in the face of adversity.
The spine, Moses and Brown outstanding, Reed poor and Gutho ordinary.
This is all in the context of us having one of the most stable squads that should be clearly top 3.
Hopefully we’ve seen out the adversity for this season with injuries and imbalance in tough away games, and we romp home into the finals.
Thanks Mick. We tried to cover Origin analysis in the podcast, though we didn’t dive into analytics. It’s difficult to argue with much of your assessment. Perhaps you’ve been a bit harsh on Junior, though I think Reg has edged him out as far as best performed prop is concerned.
It’s been a challenging first half of the season, and though the opposition won’t get any easier in terms of who we have to play twice, there is the advantage of less travel.
Yep intend to listen to the pod this morning. Looking forward to it.
Junior – I know it’s controversial, Parra fans love him. But in my view as our premier forward and co captain he’s not cutting it. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t drop him, but he’s not running with enough sting and he’s making too many errors. On the flipside hes been good in defence. When Junior tucks the ball under his arm and runs (with the occasional offload, or fancy play) he’s the best prop in the comp. When it’s the other way round, he’s frustrating to watch and pretty ho-hum.
Mick, I’ll concede that the balance in running vs ball play isn’t quite right at the moment.
Good reading, do you think tevita taumoepenu will push for nrl in coming year’s .the flegg forward pack looks to be all similar built , thought might be like nrl side all different shape and build ,which seems to work well for over all team,play.
Tevita has done very well and held his place. I actually thought that Peter Taateo did his job when elevated early in the season.
As for body shape in the Flegg, when Colovatti, Hollis and Mataele get on the field they offer different middle shapes.
Great in depth analysis here and thank you mate.
For me we need to roll up to each game with the right mental attitude and we can do just about anything then. I for one will be interested in how we go this week and then next against Easts i think as our mental side will show.
I strongly feel we will know by round 20 how we are going in terms of a shot for the top 4, and while this does not guarantee a great end to the season it will tell me how our consistency is going. The bye coming now could be a good thing….our depth and stocks seem good so we need to aim up each week and roll on.
Agree Milo we need to put the Dogs away with a standout performance then go on and beat the Roosters by by achieving what we should have done the first time.
HI John, hope you are well mate. Yes we need to win the middle and then be patient to use to the ball. If we can show the discipline here it will show me we have the game to go to the end game….Parra just need to play their game.
I said on the podcast that the boys need to earn the win against the Dogs by the old formula of winning the middle and being patient that points will come. I don’t want the early unearned shifts. I think that the class gap should then bring about a decent margin which will help the points differential. That said, such an eventuality should be the consequence, not the goal, as thinking about big wins doesn’t treat the opposition or even your own footy with respect and that leads to problems.
Well said.In my opinion that is exactly what BA will be looking for.
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Correct Sixites, they need to be patient and earn the right to shift etc. Patience for me is key.
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Enjoyed the read,tks. We should be 10-2 but we’re not. The Tigers loss and Cowboys flogging stick in the craw. Keen to see the consistency factor now that squad is healthy again. Love Junior, but he has fallen back to that slower leg speed thing, like he’s thinking on his feet, pump those trunks dude, smash them with and without the ball, and the next time someone holds you into the scrum, do something legal but brutal to them. Our spine has upside, good news for the run home. Could the football gods keep Marata on the park, he’s too in and out but a huge plus when firing.
Marata brings our fear factor, but he’s literally been a non participant thus far. His presence will be a bonus but his absence has also been a reminder that there is life after he leaves.
Great synopsis guys. Very hard to disagree.
I actually don’t mind being under the radar and lurking in the top 8. We had a lot of traveling and injuries in the first half of the comp.
Our defence has to improve and I’m sure it will. Junior has been below his best and it may be a small injury that will resolve prior to September. We still have room for improvement and hopefully NO more injuries. I good run home will see us gain some valuable momentum. No point being premiership favorites in June and not in October.
Looking forward to seeing BA blood our next up and comers.
Go Eels!!
Cheers Pete. That’s one thing that we touched on, but not in detail. NRL debuts? Will we see a genuine NRL debut this year? The closest to that is probably El-Zakhem.
My questions surround Brendan Hands, Elle El-Zhakem & Ky Rodwell.
1) Is Hands someone we can hand the 9 jersey to, and if so, next year or beyond ?
2) Is EEZ ready to be an edge starter next season ?
3) Has Rodwell shown any ball playing ability ?