Welcome to Parradise circa 2022.
Take care where you walk, as you will be required to take two steps forward followed immediately by one extended step backwards.
In this land of the Blue and Gold, we believe in making things difficult for ourselves.
Turning up every week ready to play makes sense, but that’s what you’d be expecting.
We stand for the unpredictable, because football life for our supporters should be like a box of chocolates. You know how it goes.
Bumpers Up!
Passive Parra Punished
Friday’s clash with Souths was Parra’s biggest match of the season thus far.
Though the Eels were without Mitch Moses, and Souths were at short odds in the betting market, there was plenty in Parra’s favour.
A CommBank Stadium crowd of around 23K supporters created a big match atmosphere. The Bunnies had key players out and were fielding a number of rookies. The Eels could confirm their finals place, push for a top 4 spot, and consign the Rabbitohs to the danger zone.
You’d expect the team to come out breathing fire, right?
Nope!
For some reason, the Eels were ridiculously passive and it was evident from Souths opening set. Parra’s line speed was non existent, and the forwards registered zero on the aggression scale.
And didn’t Souths enjoy the lack of resistance! Time and again they hit the ball up behind the ruck, with Mitchell literally telegraphing their intentions as he loitered around the middle.
It’s time for Parra to aim up in matches like this. The excuse card has already been trotted out multiple times this season. The soft attitude was insulting to the jersey.
At 14 nil, the score flattered the Eels effort. Were it not for some big defensive plays from Gutherson, Souths could have advanced their points towards the half century mark in the first half alone.
The look of defeat
Was it any surprise that Kaufusi, Niukore and Cartwright were all introduced early? Arthur needed to stem the tide through the middle and the bench mostly did that. After recent criticism of the lack of impact from our bench, how strange that they were the ones needed to right the ship!
Just on that change, I’ve read comments from people questioning Cartwright being used in the middle. The middle role that Matterson and many other locks play has effectively become an additional spine player. It provides an extra ball player with size and mobility. I thought that Carty did a very good job, missing no tackles, and if he had more support from ball runners he could have posed a greater threat to Souths defence.
I can only hope that the Eels forwards were suitably embarrassed by their own performance. Change to the starting pack seems unlikely, so an extended walk through the room of mirrors seems in order.
Kryptonite
Why do the Bunnies enjoy such success against the Eels? They play really basic football, and given its effectiveness, I fear other teams using it as their blueprint when facing Parra.
Obviously Souths have a clinical left side attack that creates problems for most opponents. Johnston doesn’t sit that high in the all time try scorers list by only crossing the stripe against the Eels.
However, a revolving crew of Bunnies forwards have dominated the Eels much vaunted pack in literally every recent clash. They run harder, tackle harder and stick to game plans. That’s rugby league 101 isn’t it?
I didn’t envisage Souths would go about their business completely unchallenged on Friday night. Did I underestimate them or overestimate our blokes?
Reed Mahoney
Once again, some ugly Parra supporters reared their head after the Eels loss on Friday night. This time it was Mahoney who copped an awful spray from “brave” patrons as he left the field in what is becoming an all too familiar pattern of behaviour.
Reed Mahoney
The one thing that Reed Mahoney will do every single week is bust his gut. His effort or commitment should never be the subject of drunken outbursts.
It hasn’t been a happy year for the Eels hooker. Mahoney’s service, particularly in the red zone, has not reached the standard of past seasons, and that’s being kind. He looks like a player with the weight of the world on his shoulders. I’m no fan of players signing with rival clubs so far in advance and maybe this accounts for a drop in form.
Regardless, Reed is wearing the Eels jersey now and hurling abuse at him is not only disrespectful, it’s hardly likely to trigger a return to his best. Anyone planning to do so should definitely stay away from CommBank Stadium because you won’t be helping the cause.
Gutherson and Lane Stand Tall
I want to give another acknowledgement to our captain, and to the most improved player in the Eels line up.
A couple of weeks ago I was highly critical of Clint Gutherson’s form. I even suggested that he might be carrying an injury, such was his low in both attack and defence.
Shaun Lane
Over the last three weeks, we’ve seen a return of the King.
Even in a badly beaten team, he made Souths battle for every point. Were it not for his defensive plays, I hate to think what the score could have been. When a fullback has to make 11 tackles, that says plenty about what’s happening in front of him.
Then we have Shaun Lane. In a side that couldn’t register one point, he ran for 178 metres, with 92 post contact metres. Throw in 42 tackles and it was a massive effort for an edge forward. His charges provided some of the few moments that put the Rabbitohs defence under pressure.
If the Eels do any damage from this point onwards, Lane will probably have a key involvement.
Eels NRLW Ready To Fire
The Eels kick off their 2022 NRLW premiership campaign with a first round encounter against the Roosters this Saturday. Expect to see a faster, and more exciting brand of footy from the side this season.
Simaima Taufa addressing the middles at training
After attending two training sessions last week, I compiled a report (available here) which noted that the speed of the play will go up a notch (or two) on their inaugural season. The opposed session against the Flegg side was fascinating to watch, and the attack posed questions to the Flegg defence.
I refrained from mentioning it in my report, but I’m now prepared to declare that Gayle Broughton will immediately catch the eye of Parra fans. The former All Blacks Sevens player is a major talent, and at fullback she’ll pose a threat with her vision and her pace.
Another new player to keep a watch on is Rima Butler. Hailing from the Wenty Harvey Norman team, she definitely looks ready to make her mark at NRLW level.
Once again, I’d like to thank the Eels NRLW staff and players for the access and for making me feel so welcome at training.
Reggies Shine
If you didn’t turn up for Parra’s NSW Cup game against Souths, you missed a cracking game from our team.
The match pitched 5th vs 6th on the table, and in their last encounter, the Eels had to come from 14 points down to defeat the Bunnies.
This time, the Eels dominated in a 32 to 10 hammering of the myrtle and cardinal boys.
Jordan Rankin returned in the half back role, and the spine completely outplayed their opponents. That said, there are a couple of other players that had massive games.
After being dropped to NSW Cup, Makahesi Makatoa made a statement by running for an astounding 242 metres! But it gets better. His post contact metres clocked in at 115, with three tackle breaks thrown in for good measure.
I was particularly impressed with the way he held the ball in two hands, looking like he was about to pass. In fact, he passed the ball on seven occasions, offloaded in the tackle once and threw three dummy passes. Gone was the one dimensional play that most would have associated with him.
Sean Russell
The other player I want to single out from this match is Sean Russell. The young winger had one of the most physical performances I’ve seen from him. In attack, he hit the ball up hard into traffic and he was rewarded with three tries. In defence, he made 15 crucial tackles, quite a significant number for a winger.
As a final note, I’m pleased with two additions to the Eels ranks this year.
Zac Cini should play NRL again. He has genuine X factor qualities and is making great strides transitioning to the centre position at Parra.
Toni Mataele is an Eels Junior who returned to Parra after a short stint at Newcastle. He has bounced back well from a long term injury sustained during the preseason and has added impact to the Eels attack on the left edge.
By the way, anyone in the stadium should still be talking about the tackle that Wiremu Greig put on a Rabbitohs player late in the game. It was one of the most ferocious one on one tackles that I’ve witnessed in over half a century of watching footy, and it was probably a message to BA who overlooked Woody when elevating Ofahiki Ogden.
I’m hearing that the Souths player suffered a broken leg, but the tackle was completely legal, hitting the ball runner near the ribs. We wish him all the best. Rugby league can be a brutal game!
Finally, I want to congratulate the Flegg team on their recent victories. It’s been a tough season for the fellas. A large number of new recruits and elevated pathways players were thrown together at the start of the season and I can’t recall any week without a swag of changes.
The side has hit their stride just a bit too late in a competition where only the top 5 feature in finals footy. You can read our live blog of their win over Souths here.
Blue And Gold Alliance
This Saturday, the Blue and Gold Alliance will stage their much anticipated annual Parramatta players reunion.
Festivities for over 100 former Eels players and staff commence with a luncheon in Parramatta Leagues club where no doubt many memories will be relived and many tales will be shared.
This fine group will then be honoured at CommBank Stadium when they do a lap of the ground prior to the first grade match.
Many Eels supporters should already be in their seats to cheer the “old boys”. It’s a massive triple header match day, with the NSW Cup kicking off at 11am and the NRLW launching at 1pm.
Hopefully the NRL team can make it a day to remember with a victory over arch rival, the Bulldogs.
Winston Hills Tigers
Another wonderful family-focussed Eels junior club featured in the most recent issue of our Parramatta Stories series.
The Winston Hills Tigers came into existence in the early years of the suburb itself. After celebrating their 50th anniversary a couple of years ago, the club now looks back fondly on their early years of resourcefulness, when car boots functioned as the canteen, and flagpoles were fashioned into goal posts.
Located in the heart of the Eels catchment, they are a club that sits in the heart of their community. If you haven’t already done so, you can read their story here.
The Tip Sheet Live
Despite the terrible performance from our Eels, a full room of supporters turned up for our live appearance in Jacks Bar and Grill in Parra Leagues with special guest, Brett Kenny. We always enjoy meeting our listeners and extend our thanks to everyone who attended and especially those who took the time to say g’day.
If you haven’t caught Brett Kenny’s takes on the game, you can listen here. Bert is always good value and very generous with his time. Many fans took the opportunity to grab a photo and have a chat with him after the podcast concluded.
Please note, we won’t be appearing this week as Parra Leagues will be featuring Sounds West artists in their post game schedule.
We will return after the final home game of the season in Round 25.
Eels forever!
Sixties
This is a recurring theme Sixties and as a supporter for over 40 years changes need to be made. Now, I’m not calling for sackings. Kidwell left a few months ago and has been replaced with Ryan Carr, who is not a defensive coach. Surely, the powers that be could bring in someone like Dean Pay who was a great defensive coach post playing career. My confidence in the running of the football club is at an all-time low and, without change, I can’t see us challenging for a premiership anytime soon.
Its well known that Brad’s assistants are hand picked by him. Im not sure if that’s changed but it was reported for many years that ba got who he wanted. Its too late now, the lack of defensive nous especially out wide will be Brad’s downfall. Anyone can see that we can’t win a premiership with these systems in place.
Sure we can turn up for the odd game when everyone gives 120% and puts their bodies on the line, but the team cannot keep that up for successive games especially in the finals where you’re virtually playing 4 origin games back to back.
That’s where coaching nous comes in. Great attacking and defensive systems that can back the team up when there’s a slight drop in mental aptitude Thats where Brad fails. If we had great assistants that would have helped, but ba for reasons know always stuck with his assistant mates instead of getting the best
What NRL coaches don’t have a say in their own assistants?
Sixties yes but our wide defensive deficiencies were there from many previous seasons. Fergo and even Semi used to rush out of the line and leave the winger open. Souths have had our measure for many manyyears. Also our attack is much the same with so many wasted one out plays.
Brad should have realized this and asked the club to seek new assistants and new ideas
McGuire was apparently told to change his assistant coaches.
He didn’t last anyway.
Apparently Maguire seen talking with BA today. He was seen with Bulldogs last week…. Assistant coach Job interview perhaps..
I guess we watch this space
Pete, I’m pretty sure that Dean was our defensive coach when Ricky Stuart guided us to a spoon season.
Peter Gentle is looking for work and was a good defensive coach
I know one thing. BA wants to coach the team forever. He absolutely loves the club. There is no way he will ever step down.
I hope that the board, contrary to what they have stated, do have a set of KPIs for BA as everyone, including BA has to have measurable markers.
He just can’t stay there for life.
Unfortunately, I foresee the only time that the board will show him the door is when the team tumbles so far down the ladder that sponsors and affiliates demand a change.
If that happens, it will be a shame to see him exit like that.
I think you nailed it Sixties. Frustrating and two steps forward and a backwards step. Sums it up. We get a few wins in 4/5 leading to last week. But the problem is the deflating that occurs after such a capitulation. That is what causes the most concerns.
Good to see the Reggie’s are doing well.
The Roosters bought Lodge and are just bullying through the middle more than before because JHW has a buddy.
Broncos needed to win so they started with 3 big middles to set the tone.
Last time we played the Bulldogs they bought in that young father that lost his children. They used his story as extra motivation to thrash us. We are in a must win situation and it’s old boys day. Both of those scenarios usually mean one thing. I really hope I wrong and I hope we have a bounce back victory over our mortal enemy. Il be interested to see how Mahoney plays (if he’s not playing Reggie).
Go Eels!!
I wouldn’t be hanging my hat on that 4/5
We had the spoon favorite Tigers
NZ who have been awful this season
Penriff- we started very well but who knows what would have happened if they retained 13 on the park
Manly are a shell of a team since the rainbow jersey. Titans flogged them so easily
Pete, there seemed to be little backlash from supporters when the Roosters signed Lodge. I wonder whether our fans would have fired up in protest if the Eels had looked to secure him?
Roosters will do whatever it takes.
I would of seriously considered cancelling my membership if Parra signed Lodge. He should never have been allowed back into the NRL.
I think our biggest problem lies in the fact that we have a forward running one out to bend the defensive line without close support. The defence just gang up on the runner and push him back. I had a look at the last couple of games and the team just allows that runner to be isolated. Sometimes the player doing the hit up is 10 metres in front of the rest of the team ! If we had a couple of close supporters, the defensive line couldn’t afford to gang up on the runner lest it leave a hole. Souths, when they did the same hit up, they had supports both sides in case a short pass or an off load was available.
Anyway – what do I know ?
It’s just another depressing end of year fade out.
Spot on. We play our best when we support the player with the ball and give him opportunities to pass and get that second phase play. When we lose, that all goes out the window for some reason.
Tks sixties. Somewhere you mentioned players committing to leave on 12-15 months notice. We had 5 then Opacic joined the exodus, Nathan Brown lurking (any others?). I just can’t get convinced this is healthy for the team and its mindset.Mahoney and Niukore have not developed further this year when I and many others thought they would be at the core of a top 4 and GF tilt. But the issues are numerous ,including coaching. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it, we’ve had signs of breaking so this is when you do fix it. Not crowing about this, but you can check my comments 3 maybe 4 seasons back, our defence out wider has been substandard, broken but not fixed. Penisini, I reckon a real talent,has been set up to fail and people are already saying he needs time in the seconds. Wrong diagnosis, wrong solution, but just an example of of where we re at.
Bdon, you make some excellent points in regards to some players, looking over the players leaving end of season, there are 6 who have signed elsewhere, of the 6 only Papa I believe would be worth keeping and somehow helps the others, Stone was a good player but injury prone.
With the addition of 3 new signings, and perhaps the club may have another shot at getting Tapou who would add a lot more strength with the forward pack creating a more solid forwards rotation, for a 33 year old next season he could really add to the team, as he does not hold back, a new club and 12 month contract with CO attached, is not that bad a signing, he still hits and tackles hard and does not stay just on one side of the field.
The public announcements on who are leaving the eels is possible for them to not play to their real potentials and with the eels who are still on the books and letting the team down? I would hope that, that does not enter the minds of the players and they play to their real potential.
Way I also see things is the number of players in the NRL who are being released and looking for new clubs. At seasons end, we have 16 players still on contract, + 3 development players, there are also 4 others from the lower grade who have potential for signings, making 23 on contract, give or take a couple of them.
There 3 main players who are off contract end of 2023 and the club will hard to keep them.
One other factor for the consideration is that the former Coach of the Knock on cup Ryan Carr has been signed part way through the season as assistant coach. Give him time to work with certain players in their positions can also be a bonuse to the club/team.
Should the eels turn their game on with 3 matches prior to the the finals and able to lift up, and remain injury free, no reason why the team cannot make a serious run to the end games.
BDon, you are spot on. Especially about Penisini. I feel if he was on left edge we would be talking about how many tries he scored and how many times he’s put Sivo over. Unfortunately the right edge is where all our problems have been and he’s just been stuck there. Frankly he’s done pretty good in defence given the amount of traffic that gets sent. He’s only young but his workload has been probably too much. Also, our attack just doesn’t flourish down that side maybe because too tired from defending. ICE has been very good but doesn’t really offload. Simmonson has been just randomly jamming in leaving Penisini in the lurch. Waqa just forgot Johnson was playing last week and left the line wide open. Just basic numbers. But Waqa has a bit of xfactor down that side. A short kick in behind the line for Waqa and Penisini on the 4th tackle would be a great change up. Spread some early ball down the blind and scooting from dummy half more…. Just need to open up the entire field.
Penisini’s first 4 games late last year showed his talent, he outplayed the best centres including Olam. You don’t lose that capability but boy you can get blunted by what’s going on around you, the system and the attitude. He won’t burn out, he’s mentally strong and is getting an NRL education. He’s far from our problem.
Sixties was hoping one day we could meet up 4 a coffee, Are u in ??
Sure.
Ok
My biggest takeaway is the feeling that we are , as a club, just treading water and have done for years.
Whether it’s the coaching, the players or the administrators we just seem to be going nowhere and just making the same mistakes year after year.
I look at the Bulldogs and the positive moves they have made to address where they are – from looking at the structure from top to bottom, bringing in Gould and bringing in a new young coach.
I reckon the bulldogs will be a powerhouse long before we get out of our long sleep.
If you were a player would you be attracted to the Eels or the bulldogs ?
We are really the sleeping giants of the league and I can’t help but wonder what someone like Gus would have done if he was handled the reigns ?
We just need someone of stature like a Peter Parr or a Bennett to come in and bring us into 2022 otherwise I fear we are just going to be left behind.
Spark, the Bulldogs haven’t done anything yet. Not a thing. They have been in trouble for years. They just emerged from getting rid of a coach and appointing a rookie to a 5 year deal. Five years!
Now Parra have been down the path of Constitutional reform of the owner (PLC), merit appointment of the Board, relocation of the football HQ, record sponsorships and memberships, and they’ve been in the top 8 for every round since round 1 2019.
Now the Dogs might turn things around, but they thought they would with Barrett. Your comparison is nothing but speculation.
Of course it’s speculation! – that’s what a glimpse into the future is !
My concern and the concern of others is that it appears that the Eels are stuck in a ‘rinse and repeat’ mode.
I , like yourself, talk to some pretty decent footy minds (although I’m in Brisbane) and one – an absolute legend of the game – even stated to me a couple of months ago that they thought that the Eels are playing the type of football that the Storm were playing 10 years ago. A simple bash and barge, low risk style.
Great to stay mid table but a style that will never win you a premiership because it asks limited questions of a modern defence.
I couldn’t argue with that.
Yes it’s great that we have had constitutional reform and have been in the top 8 for a period of time but our ceiling is so much greater than that.
We are indeed the sleeping giant of the league and we desperately need someone like a Gould to kick us in the backside to realise that potential.
As for the bulldogs at least they have identified where they have stuffed up and have taken solid measurable steps to remedy it.
I applaud them for not just sitting back and letting the years go by.
What measurable steps have the Eels taken to improve team performance moving forward?
Why are the same maladies that have beset the team, still unaddressed ?
Why are we still playing the same bash and barge, one dimensional, chase the collision offense ?
Why can’t we organise a simple defensive structure – a structure that gets picked apart, time and time and time again?
Hahaha I was taking to an old Eels player this morning, we talk on the phone fairly regularly and he said to
me – “ you do realise that we have been having the same conversation , pointing out the same problems about the Eels for the last few years- we are just treading water” and he’s absolutely right – that’s what precipitated my original post.
Anyway – it’s just an opinion. The Bulldogs MAY go bust and the Eels May win everything in sight but if I were a betting man ….
Long way to go until we start waiting for 2023 season. Why not just enjoy the end of the season games..It ain’t over until it’s over.
Before too long we will be ‘bored’ waiting for new season to kick off.
I’m hearing ya on that Pete