Not too long ago I believed that the Eels had massacred their opportunity to control their own destiny for finals football.
Big losses to the Broncos and Souths even had Parra looking over their shoulder as they were not yet guaranteed of qualifying for the top eight.
Now, Thursday looms as the most important regular season match in recent history, with the Blue and Gold playing the Storm for a spot in the top four.
It comes on the back of other results falling Parra’s way, as well as big victories over the Bulldogs and the Broncos. If you’re not at CommBank Stadium this Thursday, then you obviously have a good reason for your absence.
There’s plenty to talk about in PARRAdise. Bumpers Up!
Attitude Adjustment
What a difference attitude can make to a football team.
Just three weeks ago, the Eels were pummelled by the Rabbitohs. Maybe it was a continuation of Parra’s abominable record against the Bunnies, but they were passive and never in the contest.
After a team “honesty session”, the Eels have been a different beast. They’ve started games with intensity and purpose. Our much vaunted pack have won the middle, putting their opponents on the back foot and creating space for the edges.
Try time against the Dogs
If we down play the wins and merely point at the form of the opponent, that would be forgetting that both the Dogs and the Broncos embarrassed the Eels in each of their previous clashes. And for the Broncos, that win at CommBank Stadium was just over a month ago.
Clearly, Parra’s major issue continues to be their headspace. Though I’m not ignoring the defensive problems which continue to flare, it’s obvious that the team gives up the most points when they “don’t turn up.” In each of those matches, the Eels were insipid in both attack and defence.
Can we trust the team to stay focussed for the limited minutes left in the season? If they can, and that starts with a win over the Storm this Thursday, then maybe we can keep the hope alive.
Bench
There has been no shortage of criticism regarding BA’s use of the bench this year. Supporters have fired shots at his selections and the time he assigns certain players.
It’s been a topic discussed on TCT many times, and plenty of punters disagree with the Eels bench. But there’s the point. Whether people agree or not doesn’t mean that the coach is wrong to use the bench in a way that he believes suits his team.
Ryan Matterson has been starting from the bench
Forty20 has broken down how he sees the rotating fourth bench player role, which often serves as providing coverage for backline or spine players. The consequence of the minimal minutes for the fourth bench player is the rotation between NSW Cup and the NRL as BA attempts to provide the player with more game time.
The extended minutes allocated to the starting middles reflects the platform that they provide for the team. Furthermore, the club has invested big coin on them, and you’d hardly pay someone upwards of $650K, then use them for only 40 minutes.
Over the last couple of weeks, Arthur has made a couple of minor adjustments. Junior’s minutes have decreased, whilst Ryan Matterson has started from the bench.
Has BA got it right? The results will probably be a starting point for that assessment.
Sell Out?
Just prior to the Eels clash with the Dogs, I was stunned to learn that the match was officially a sell out.
The Saturday, 3pm time-slot is not conducive to big attendances, and I thought that an excellent response would see 15K roll up.
However, it seems that the warmth of the afternoon sun, along with a traditional opponent, had the fans clamouring for tickets.
Ignore the empty seats in sell outs. It’s typical for around 3000 ticket holders to not turn up most weeks.
Which brings us to this Thursday night.
This is probably the worst night for attracting crowds, but given the magnitude of the clash, it wouldn’t surprise me if there is another sell-out.
There won’t be any travelling Storm supporters to speak of, but if ever the Blue and Gold Army needs to turn up for a match, this must be the one.
Naughty NAS
The media are all over it. Fans are up in arms. Just how does Nelson Asofa-Solomona continue to evade suspension in 2022.
Seriously, can I get this bloke to fill in my Lotto ticket for me? His rap sheet is a litany of rugby league indiscretions, and how the repeated use of his forearm to the head of opponents has escaped genuine punishment is a blight on the MRC.
Remember this hit on Maka
The reality is that NAS is not the only player to avoid logical justice. He’s simply the most frequent flyer. The crazy ride of non charges started in round 1 and it’s continued since.
What upsets most people is that the recent incidents featuring the Storm forward involve completely unnecessary contact with the head of an opponent. They don’t appear to be standard tackles gone wrong.
And as far as I’m concerned, that is where the line should have been drawn.
NRLW Bounce Back
Though they didn’t get the result they fought so hard for, the Eels NRLW team should feel both proud and encouraged by their performance against the Dragons. It was a stunning improvement on their first up loss to the Roosters, and with a bit of good fortune they could have jagged the win.
The forwards were aggressive in their hit ups and the team’s defensive line speed was much better than the passive line they presented just one week earlier.
Penitani hits open spaces off Broughton
Prior to round 1, we were talking up the football prowess of Gayle Broughton. It’s fair to say, that in round 2 everybody knew what we were talking about.
In case you missed it the first time, the Kiwi Sevens star engaged the defence and put Tiana Penitani through the line not just once, but twice.
That wouldn’t have been possible had the other players not perfectly executed their role in the set piece which was designed to provide the fullback with both time and space to perform her magic.
Unfortunately the Eels couldn’t find a way to utilise Broughton as effectively in the second half. But if they can use their round two form as a launch pad, their chances of getting the win this week will be greatly enhanced.
Finals Footy For NSW Cup Team
Jake Arthur
The Eels KOE NSW Cup team have rightly qualified for finals footy after their last round victory over the Knights. Only the top 5 teams participate in the playoffs, with the first round of the finals taking place at St Mary’s Stadium on Saturday.
It won’t be easy. They’ll be taking on the Bulldogs, a team that has had their measure in both clashes this year, though only three points separated them in their last meeting.
The big question mark will surround regular half, Jake Arthur. He was only used for ten minutes in the NRL clash with the Broncos and so he doubled up to steer the Cup team to the last round victory over the Knights. If he again plays minimal minutes against the Storm, will he back up on Saturday?
Kick off for the Bulldogs clash is 5:15pm.
Flegg Finish On A High
Flegg Captain Corey Fenning
It’s been a year of fluctuating fortunes for the Eels Jersey Flegg Cup team. They’ve produced some quality performances then thrown in some inexplicable lows. After an impressive final round victory, there would have been many wondering what could have been.
This mixed form was the reason behind their failure to qualify for finals footy, though they weren’t helped by an ever changing line up, especially during the first half of the season when injuries took their toll. Nonetheless, there was a definite improvement on what had been produced during the previous Covid interrupted season.
There were a swag of new faces in the 2022 squad, which was a combination of new recruits and elevated pathways players. Given the youth of the team, including a number who were still SG Ball eligible, I’d expect to see quite a few going around next year.
If their last match defeat of the second placed Knights can be a genuine springboard into 2023, then they can look forward to greater success next season.
The Tip Sheet Goes Live Again
Join us in Jacks Bar and Grill on Thursday night after the clash with the Storm for our live presentation of The Tip Sheet Instant Reaction.
Parra Leagues is the Home of the Eels, and it will definitely be the place to celebrate the big match. Head to Jacks for a drink, a pizza and plenty of footy talk with our special guest Neville Glover.
It has been a massive season for us back at the club, and we extend our thanks to Parra Leagues for giving us the opportunity to host the post match event alongside Eels legends.
We also wish to thank the Eels supporters and the followers of our podcast for getting to Jacks after the game. There have been some losses along the way, but we’ve been buoyed by the turn out and by the people who’ve gone out of their way to say hello.
I’d also like to encourage readers to have a listen to our special edition players reunion podcast from Jacks. We recorded a collection of short chats with former Parra players and it’s a terrific insight about what motivated these blokes to play for the club and what their time in the Blue and Gold was like.
This Thursday may not be our last appearance of the season. Stand by for details of the match day schedule for any home finals matches.
Eels forever!
Sixties
I expect the boos to ring out on Thursday night whenever NAS or Munster touch the footy! Bring it on
The atmosphere will be something else!
My nerves have already kicked in big time.
Those nerves have hit me throughout the last two games. I regard that as a good sign.
NN on Thursday night, in other words. Nervous Nellie.
Our win last week was a big one both on the scoreboard but also with the quality plays from the team as a whole.
I sincerely hope that Solomona is brought down by his targeting of opposition players, he and Kafusi sit to the high stand in the grub tactics, the sorrow is that the storm coach seems to enjoy their playing style, as he has done nothing about it, maybe – just maybe the coach and refs will pull these players up and send them off if their grub plays keep going.
I think we can expect more of the same from them Colin, especially if we can get the early ascendancy. Frustration will kick in and entrenched habits will come to the fore.
Agree totally, but that is what has to happen, and the coach needs to warn the players as to the plays. Its not just the issues with a couple of the players, especially the big buffoons but also its there all but through the vast number of their players.
As I watch games this year, I am totally sick of seeing the multiple teams that have players come in to the tackled player and assist in the pushing of the ball carrier, away from the tackled/play the ball position, its not just the pushes on the players but the twisting and levering the ball carrier up off the ground and push/take the ball carrier back from their position that the initial tackle was had.
That lifting tackle actually has a name. Players refer to it as a forklift and it’s used against a team trying to get out of their quarter. It is something that the Riff have perfected and I tipped some time back that other teams would attempt to copy them. You can hear the call of forklift go out in the first couple of tackles after a deep kick, even in lower grades.
The season gets real from now on, will it be our year…… Penrith being the clear benchmark it is a very open finals series thereafter, game on.
This is close to where we wanted to be. If we can finish in the top four, only top two would have been better. And let’s face it, nobody tipped Eels to finish top 2.
Totally agree about grub Nelson. Maybe this is the week officials take a stand. I don’t normally watch 360 but happened to hear Kent lambast officials and the MRC over this issue. The NRL is losing whatever credibility it had. And RCG goes for an accidental contact. It has gone beyond a joke.
I am feeling and sending positive vibes for tomorrow night. The power of 30,000 butterfly sneezes (or Parra fans cheering) will see us through. I think next week could be a good time to play Penrith.
If anyone wonders why the Eels don’t challenge the judiciary more often, it was there to see in RCG rolling the dice last night. He was found guilty for that carry into contact and been fined. The Storm players have used what appears to be deliberate forearms to the head of opponents. There is a massive difference there.
Yeah sounds like the NRL are telling RCG he should have used a deliberate forearm to the head, and none of this accidental rubbish. Am I missing something?
You’ve nailed it.
Discipline will be the key particularly with AK as ref. He can find penalties at crucial times in a game for infringements that he has ignored earlier. Melbourne get away with a lot in the play the ball.so it will be interesting to see how he responds. He was pretty dismal policing it in origin. Whilst ever the NRL keep issuing fines and not suspensions to big Nelson for forearms to the head of defenceless players on the ground he will keep doing it.
I do not understand how Klein can be “rested” from his duties after a very poor game then get what is arguably the top game of the round.
I just hope the game is without controversy and the best team wins. This game in my view will be harder to win than next week against the Panthers if we get through. Storm are playing tough. We need to be ready.
Joe, I reckon that all we ever want is for the best team to win without officiating controversy. Here’s hoping.
I still can’t see past his handling of our 8-6 loss to Penrith lat year … probably more critical of him when watching games because of it.
It was awful, but he was hardly supported by the flag boys or the bunker that night. Remember, they all missed Moses being dragged back, how on earth that happened given the minor stuff they’ve pulled up this year. And the bunker called the high tackle penalty against Smith.
I’m anticipating coming home hoarse from yelling at foul play, slow ruck speed, forward passes from dummy half (cos they were trained by the best) and utter inconsistencies from Klein. I want our team out there with that siege mentality, despite the crowd on their side.
I hate when players lay down to get the penalty (a la NAS vs JWH last week), and I’m generally proud that our team don’t do it. But my goodness, it seems the only way to get the actions of Storm players scrutinised. Mind you, I have little-to-no faith in the bunker to get it right or be consistent, so there may be no value in it anyway.
I’m assuming Niukore will start again, as that’s been highly effective, as has Matto off the bench. I’m really hoping JA gets on the park, as that’ll mean things are going well. But while ever nobody has properly laid claim to that last bench space, rotating players makes sense. I’d be surprised if someone else doesn’t get the job next week.
Billy, the first call from the bunker in the Broncos game stunned me. Opacic, caught the ball, clearly kept his hands on the ball, and the Broncos player got up like a player who never had possession. Yet despite the evidence, the bunker dismissed the Eels challenge, it wasn’t even a case of insufficient evidence, challenge retained. Seriously baffling.
That was appalling. The Broncos player was perfectly happy to play on, as he knew he hadn’t made the steal. I could almost understand if we’d kept the challenge, but to turn it down completely, based on… I dunno, something only he could see apparently. I can forgive the on-field ref for making mistakes, they’ve got an awful lot to keep track of at once. The bunker fails every week with no excuse besides incompetence.
I expect there’ll be another overhaul in the off-season, which it needs. But no doubt it’ll happen without consultation with their key stakeholders again, cos there’s a few God complexes running around who don’t need anyone else’s input.
Absolutely fair call Billy.
Billy, the guy who introduced the bunker to the NRL has accurately diagnosed what is wrong.
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/the-man-who-introduced-nrl-to-bunker-concept-warned-it-could-get-out-of-control-they-didn-t-listen-20220730-p5b5vu.html
That’s an interesting read, thanks Shaun. I can’t see them pulling it back to tries only, but it’s definitely too much as is. Tries plus two challenges?
Let’s face it, they can’t decide what an obstruction is or ignore blatant milking, so it’d still end up controversial.
I am just wanting to avoid the risk of having to meet Souths in an elimination final in Week 1.
I know to be the best, you have to beat the best – and there are no easy match-ups from here on out (maybe whoever finishes 5th, which I think is out of our equation, and will likely play the Raiders at home will be the best placed in W1 finals).
But a chance for a second go or a week-off, versus the real prospect of do or die versus our recent records vs Rabbitohs ….
I can barely handle the nerves.
The nerves are definitely kicking in. They have done for the last two weeks. It’s been a good thing.