ROUND 22, 2022 NRL TELSTRA PREMIERSHIP 

FRIDAY AUGUST 12, 2022 

RABBITOHS 26 Defeat EELS 0

COMMBANK STADIUM 

Crowd: 22,958 

Welcome to Stats That Matta without the stats.

There’ll be no pretty maps. No deep dive into the numbers. No statistically outstanding player of the week. There’s really no point. I couldn’t see a game plan. There was zero attack. There was nothing even close to an attacking set and no attempt to build pressure.

With Eels fans wondering why we are playing like this, I’ve decided to look at this match with a performance analyst eye.

It is impossible not to be critical of the team or even certain players, I guess that’s what we do. But if you are going to criticise then back it up with reasoning.

Junior Paulo (photo Eels media)

Everyone knows that Parramatta’s form in recent years is up and down and unfortunately there hasn’t been a resolution to it. Watching the post-game pressers, with the coach and captain saying the same things, gives me no confidence that we can turn this around or that they have some answers to this fluctuating form. 

One thing I couldn’t understand from this match was how Souths kept making holes through our middle. Parramatta play a compressed defensive line, yet time and time again the Rabbitohs just ploughed right through the ruck. The Eels A and B defenders were absolutely terrible.  

It was merely a training run for Souths as they continued the same play over and over again. Why change something if the Eels weren’t stopping it?

Parramatta had to make close to 70 extra tackles as Souths ran riot. Making that many more tackles will drain your tank very quickly. Having only 45% possession and completing at 71% just doesn’t win football games. 

Our attack was non existent. I like the development of Jake Arthur and no one outside the change room knows what his role is on the day. However, all we could see was little more than that predictable hand-off inside ball and that didn’t ask a single question.

Ryan Matterson (Eels media)

The Eels kicking strategy made no sense. Kicking away from Latrell Mitchell is the wrong option. Kicking straight to Latrell makes him work, and tires him out quicker. Watch how Latrell structures his involvement. In defence, he stands deeper than most fullbacks, which gives him time to get his breath back and reenergise. And when a break is made, he can accommodate it. He is also very selective about his involvement in attack.

A little observation about Ryan Matterson – he has gone off his game since re-signing. His runs are not as potent as earlier this season. This could be a bit harsh as he is probably playing with a few injuries. But if he is injured, then rest him and don’t expose him to the risk of further injury. He’ll be more valuable at full strength in the finals. 

The use of the bench is a massive concern. I thought that bringing Ogden in was a great move, but he only got 5 minutes. The Eels were haemorrhaging in the middle and it needed to stop. But it was poor bench use from Brad Arthur. Junior only ran for 63 metres and RCG 89 metres. With the lack of ball and all the defending, there needed to be a bigger body in the middle, not a ball playing back rower.  

I can see that BA wanted to get the attack going, but the Eels also needed to stop the Souths onslaught. As they say defence wins matches. 

For now, the best that we can do is look forward to the next game and show a massive improvement. 

With three games remaining against the Bulldogs (H), Broncos (A) and Storm (H), Parramatta can either win all three and have a massive boost going into the finals, or we could potentially lose all three and limp into the finals in 8th spot.

These next few weeks are definitely going to be heart in mouth stuff for the Blue and Gold Army. 

Yours in Blue and Gold

Colmac

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