Parramatta Eels 17
Penrith Panthers 16
Score one for the good guys! Old fashioned slogging it through the middle footy met the new breed of outside back dominated yardage, and while it took golden point and one very nervous moment, the old school game of the Parramatta Eels prevailed.
The Eels were near perfect on Thursday night, making only two errors and completing at an insane 95%. Their opponents were nearly as efficient, leading to one of the great games of field position and territory control you’ll see. Mitchell Moses kicked for over 1000 metres, but it was the last of those kicks that was the most memorable. That it negated a brilliant play from Nathan Cleary and relegated it to memories instead of highlight reels was just all the sweeter. I’ve seen enough of that guy already.
The only real “bad” from the game is the high tackle Junior Paulo put on in the final minute, and even that has a silver lining as somehow the judiciary deemed it only a two match offence. He’ll be missed, but I wasn’t expecting to see him again until May on first watch of the replay.
Credit to Brad Arthur, he switched things up this week and got the results. Bench rotations and a utility player aren’t what made the Eels stop dropping the ball, but they did keep them competitive for a full 82 minutes where the ball spent a frankly insane amount of time in play.
Yet Mr. X-Factor was Mitchell Moses, who watched his opposite extend the game into golden point and calmly directed the Eels into position and nailed a field goal play that the team hasn’t always done so well with. That he did it with a utility making his first grade debut is all the more impressive (or damning for the men who have played that role before this week, looking at you Reed). For the numbers inclined:
Possession: Eels 53%, Panthers 47%
Completions: Eels 41/43 (95%), Panthers 35/41 (85%)
Running metres: Eels 2,120, Panthers 2,096
Post-contact metres: Eels 625, Panthers 548
Tackle breaks: Panthers 32, Eels 12
Average set distance: Eels 49.3m, Panthers 51.1m
Average PTB speed: Eels 3.73s, Panthers 2.98s
Kicking metres: Eels 1,100, Panthers 752
Tackles: Eels 361, Panthers 441
Errors: Eels 2, Panthers 7
Penalties: Eels 6, Panthers 7
Hail to da King, baby! Clint Gutherson put on a defensive masterclass, under the high ball in slippery conditions or facing off against rampaging front rowers an inch from the line, Gutherson was excellent in all forms. His opposite in this match gets all the “most underrated fullback” plaudits, but to me the King is the true underappreciated star of the NRL. You da MVP, King.
Clint Gutherson
1 – Fullback
James Fisher-Harris was in the kind of grumpy mood a dad gets in when he realises his son can beat him in an arm wrestle, and Clint Gutherson cutting him down where he stood to take an all time prop try off the highlight reels probably had a lot to do with that. It’s what we’ve come to expect from the King, but just because we expect it doesn’t make it any less awesome when he makes a giant man his son.
Maika Sivo
2 – Left Wing
Maika Sivo was another who is excellent under the high ball, and while his fellow winger got the highlight reel “steamroller” moment, this was the kind of game you want to see from a “Mack truck with legs” in a difficult slog. Even without a highlight attacking play, this was his best game of the year.
Will Penisini
3 – Right Centre
Big Willie Style had a real big willie moment as he dragged defenders along before getting a killer offload away for Brendan Hands to ice his dream debut. It was the kind of freak individual play that was required to break open a ridiculously tight Penrith defensive line. Will Penisini was again a rock in defence, but it is nice to be celebrating what he did with the ball instead of without it for once.
Waqa Blake
4 – Left Centre
In a game where the team makes only two errors, the embarrassing play the ball from Waqa Blake that accounted for 50% of them stands out all the more. It was yet another brain fade from a player making a habit of them. He had a couple of good takes on kicks and made some good defensive reads early on, but he still had nearly as many ineffective and missed tackles (6) as makes (7). Not a redemption game by any means, but he didn’t cost us.
Bailey Simonsson
19 – Right Wing
Bailey Simonsson was each and every one of us for a brief moment, fending Jarome Luai away like he was throwing him out of Kicks nightclub. Take that you mouthy fraud. The rest of the game was fine; grinding out yards in difficult circumstances and not getting caught out defensively. The Panthers barely tested our wide decision making, and when that happens Bailey Simonsson looks a lot better a footballer.
Dylan Brown
6 – Five Eighth
Dylan Brown started fast, putting in a deft kick to open the scoring before settling into his new role of leading the team around between the 20s. He wasn’t flashy but he was effective, a mature performance overall. One worry is his defensive positioning on the line, where he has been caught out on the rush a couple of times this year. Those might not be his fault, but there is clearly some miscommunication happening around his spot in the line.
Mitchell Moses
7 – Halfback
Mitchell Moses would have slept with his footy boots like an excited schoolkid after what they did for him on Thursday night, setting a new NRL record for kicking metres gained and adding to his tally of match-winning field goals. He defended gamely and ran a bit, but in a game decided by field position his boot ensured the Eels were in this contest from the first minute to the last. The NRL world owes him thanks for wiping away the significance of “that” Cleary kick.
RCG
8 – Front Row
The Parramatta front row finished one lousy metre short of hitting 500 metres gained, taking the 2022 NRL finals very personally. Reagan Campbell-Gillard will hopefully get his chance to get some back on the biggest stage, but here in the rematch he was sensational. 255 metres, 81 post-contact, 27 tackles and 57 minutes for the Metre Mo-chine, what an effort.
Josh Hodgson
9 – Hooker
I don’t know if the plan was for Josh Hodgson to not make it back on the field, but if he is going to get a rest it probably needs to happen a bit earlier. His defensive effort on the Panthers first try was lacking, but while his missed tackle count (7) was alarming, most of those were in the act of making strong first contact. A double act with Brendan Hands seems to be the future of the 2023 Eels, and getting those timings right will help get the best out of the British Bulldog.
Junior Paulo
10 – Front Row
Nothing split the performance of the front rowers, but only one of them will be playing over the next fortnight as Junior Paulo unfortunately hopped and skipped his way to a two week suspension for a flying clothesline Tito Santana would be proud of. It was a getting down and dirty week for Junior, no offloads, only a couple of passes, but it turns out he’s a pretty good battering ram as well as a halfback in a giant’s body.
Bryce Cartwright
11 – Second Row
Bryce Cartwright is making a compelling case for a permanent spot in the back row, getting through a lot of hard work and grinding yardage while being on the spot for the first try and being judicious with his offloading. We know the flash is there, but today was all about the grind and the Carty Party looked good doing the hard work.
Ryan Matterson
12 – Second Row
I expected Ryan Matterson to be throwing offloads and running like a man possessed in an effort to make up for missing a few weeks, but instead he took on the less visible but no doubt just as appreciated role of tackling anything and everything that moved as his penance. 58 tackles, 2 misses is a sensational haul, and a very valid excuse for why Scrooge MatDuck looked exhausted out there at times. This won’t be his role in a full strength team but it was one he did just fine in filling.
J’maine Hopgood
13 – Lock
A real “look at what you let go” game for J’maine Hopgood, who carved out a casual 165 metres against his former club while throwing a few offloads and making an absurd 53 tackles. He and Matto appear to be in a battle to prove who can work the hardest, which is only a good thing for an Eels middle rotation that has struggled without its starting props in recent years.
Matt Doorey
14 – Interchange
Matt Doorey was busy in his bench stint and looked absolutely beat by the end of it, a good sign he used his 20 minutes out there effectively. He deserves a place in the side, but the jury is out on whether bench impact is the role for him.
Brendan Hands
15 – Interchange
What a debut for Brendan Hands, where everything he touched turned to gold. He was on the spot for a crucial try but more importantly provided excellent service, some nice deception at dummy half and was solid defensively. His most impressive moment? Not muffing the field goal play. It’s a small thing, but a very important one in the context of this game. We’ve found our utility player, even if nobody has any idea why we were even allowed to play him.
Wiremu Greig
16 – Interchange
If Doorey used his time effectively then Wiremu Greig was a ruthless monument to efficiency, making the same number of tackles and runs as Doorey in six fewer minutes. In a tough battle we didn’t lose anything with the bench players on, so credit where it is due.
Makahesi Makatoa
17 – Interchange
We might be seeing more of the Big Mak in coming weeks with Junior on the sideline, and more minutes is a role he is well suited to. He played 34 in this one and held his own, falling just short of 100 metres and staying busy in defence.
I’d said in the preview that a win here still doesn’t qualify as revenge for a grand final loss, and while I am very happy to be off the mark in 2023 and even happier that it came through a clutch play against the “Iceman” and his band of grubs, the quest for revenge is just getting started. The Eels looked every bit a premiership contender on Thursday night, and I’m getting a touch excited.
But gee, the Panthers take some beating. This was near perfect Eels football and the game still went to golden point. They’re just so hard to put away, and if we need to complete 41/43 to beat them every time it is asking a lot of the men in Blue and Gold. Yet it was enough this week, and that is what counts.
Now that the Moses contract saga is behind us and the “0-5” talk is dead, we can all go back to tolerating NRL media and looking forward to the rest of the season. The Roosters next weekend is another huge test, and mercifully it is our last Thursday game until round 26. We’re on the board, baby!
Until then, stay slippery Eels fans.
Gol
Stats and images provided by NRL / Eels media
Hands should be in the 17 every week. Upgrade time!
Great summary.
Still can’t believe Fisher – Harris wasn’t penalised for his dog shot on the King…
And the Fisher Harris slap to the head he does at least once per game and he needs to be sat out for it. But no.. he gets away with it every time.
Another one he should’ve been penalised for was not wrapping his arms when tackling Mitch on a kick. Funny how this is always picked up, except when it’s Mitchell Moses. He has to be the most unprotected half on kicks in the game, surprised they called the one against leota.
Many teams don’t hit the kicker now unless it’s beyond doubt, there was a crackdown on it but we’ve moved on to other things and Moses is definitely on the opposition game plan, even when beyond doubt he gets run into, pushed,jumper pulled, swung to the ground etc…just south of penalty stuff.
BDon this is not a new thing. Mitch has been copping It for a few seasons now.
JFH also changed direction and dropped his shoulder into Hodgo blocking his run on Clearys first kick. Again no action taken!
Annesley got on his soap box at his round one or two presser and rambled on about the blockers on tackle 5 being illegal and that if they were deliberately blocking defenders they’d be penalised. I’ve just watched the replay and EVERY SINGLE TIME the Panthers were making contact with our defenders by moving to get in their way.
It is infuriating how much Parra stick to the rules but are disadvantaged by doing so. I’ll bet money that they decide to have a crackdown on it and a refs decision will cost us a game when they do!
Yes JohnBoy, we are too by the book. Especially when it comes to play the ball speeds and we don’t slow the play the ball or push offside to the limit…
Is Hands future at Utility or 9?
Both. He can cover halves as well.
Given the matches I have seen of him in the past, and what I saw against the Riff on Thursday, I see him work his way into the 9 position and for him to possibly own it.
Not sure though how this will fit Hodgson into the team seems we have two English halves playing and which one of them has the grip on the 9/reserve spot.
Who is the 2nd English half?
I may well be wrong but I believe it could be Jordan Rankin.
I see him as a lower grade half but an NRL 9.
Brett that is how I see it as well. He was playing as starting 9 ahead of Rein in State Cup. That tells me how BA was thinking.
Give him that utility job this year and next and we’ll have a good idea if he can replace Hodgson.
100%
I don’t give you too many wraps Gol but I appreciate your explaining the missed tackles stats that come up for JH.
“but while his missed tackle count (7) was alarming, most of those were in the act of making strong first contact”
I am getting annoyed at these type of stats because they are so misleading, Hopgood suffers from the same type of counting and historically we know that half backs normally head this list because they are quiet often first contact as well. Mostly targets.
I thought Hodgson for the first 30 mins (thats when he should have been rested) was the best player on the field, his mongrel kept us in the game up until then whereas the grand final we put out for about 8 minutes, you would have sworn JH had more to get even than the others in the pack who were not emotionally attached.
I believe he should be picked in the front row in Junors absence and let Hands play 9, because he will take no shit from the Roosters forwards, whereas they will walk through the Greig’s and Makatoas
Walk through Greig? I dont think so.
Anyone not within a 1 metre radius and you “i dont think so” with a haunting confidence, I don’t think anyone that has actually watched him could say that. Why do you think they walk through our middle when the boppers go off.
Anonymous (why use such a name?) have you seen how many points have been scored against us in the first 3 games.
Totally agree re Hodgson and Hopgood, first contact head on with Leota, Leniu and even Fisher Harris will mess your stats a bit. If you don’t stick at first contact but disrupt the run then re-engage when the second and third man arrive, is that counted as a miss?Reg and Junior rarely have clean sheets. Poppa will have to take a break and think about your Greig/Makatoa comment. To me Makatoa seems to have a different head screwed on this year, really focussed on each side of the ball.
I think that Makatoa and Greig are playing at a level that is as high as they have shown since playing NRL at the Eels.
Not about to label them superstars but they are earning their contracts. Doing the job BA has asked them to do.
Bullshit JE, that means you are accepting them in terms playing for the Eels (BA is not doing that emphasised by the time he is giving them) and I am assessing them as not first grade standard. I will say to you like I did to someone else, We were getting 30 points scored against us in the first 3 games because we opened down the middle and these bench forwards were not up to it. Defend them when we are not giving up 5/6 tries a game.
Best you follow some other team Pop, find a positive in our win!
70 plus years and I know how to spell my name, best you learn what yours is before you lecture me.
He is still only getting 6/10 minutes and I am probably being unfair comparing him to Greig but he has no authority. I thought Hodgson actually had more authority up front than any of our pigs…..I think he intuitively did this as well, as the wily old pom he is……its been donkey’s years since I have seen that from a Parra forward…..Greig does have some punch with the ball but he seems to get hammered soon as he comes on and then builds from there, he has no idea defensively in terms of positioning or herding the defence i.e. being part of the herd rather than isolating himself as described when turning his back on the opposition..
Reading these post game grades is the highlight of my week. Keep up the good work. Hopefully the eels can be as consistent as these reviews are enjoyable!
Great game, excellent grades. Reg was awesome in that last set. His two hit ups got us into great position for the field goal. The penalty also helped a little.
Big Junior set the tone early on and tried to play more like Fui Fui Moimoi than a hero 5/8.
I tortured myself and watched the grand final again, and unfortunately big Junes efforts early typified why we lost that
game. Save the stepping and dummying for when you’re 30 in front.
He also didn’t have a big enough contribution in last year‘s final State of Origin. Hopefully by this point in his career, he knows what the team needs.
Nice to see some aggression from Sivo. More of the same please.
When Juniors first instinct is to go sideways (worlds biggest 5/8). The opposition licks their lips. Head on he’s a nightmare. But he’s much easier to tackle side on. He was too sideways in the GF. But not Thursday night.
If I had 1 criticism it’s how we tried to challenge the high tackle and managed to get junior sin binned it was the most Parramatta thing we could do.
All 17 put in a solid shift my brother a casual league fan made a fui compression with Greig I think that’s a fair way away but he has the potential to get the crowd on his side.
Justva great game of footy
Junior was always going to get binned for what he did, the challenge was simply a ploy to waste time and settle down for the next play. There were 17 seconds to go at that point.
Great footy game , Arthur at last got his bench selection and usage pretty right. Grieg hurt the Panthers, Hands showed his potential. Moretti next, he can play. And Nathan Cleary , one of THE moments I’ve seen in 70 plus years of footy.
Absolutely.
Greig took the ball up ok, but he is an enormous liability in defence and he committed the cardinal sin of getting up off a tackle and turning his back on the play and trotting back with “look at me, I made a tackle” I would have pulled him off the field for that alone.
My wife actually said “he’s a big boy” I said yeh! I call him the marshmellow man as when he first comes on he goes backwards.
Hey Prometheus did you note that TCT got a Golf sponsorship after talking about Mitch Moses biomechanics, golf swing and goal kicking LOL
I’ll see you out there one day, but watch out I’ll clock you in the back of the noggin with one of my less than perfect bio mechanical swings. Give Greig time, he’s a brute. Might just develop.
We haven’t got time, you would get more out of him carrying your golf bag, or maybe your wife’s, he could start with the lady weights. LOL
People forget John Muggleton kicking a field goal in the wet at the SCG I think against Easts to win a game and it was with a leather footy! Beats Cleary to me and that wests player from the early 90’s I think at C’town!
Jarryd Haynes left foot from the sideline about 35 metres out wasn’t bad either, right on half time as the bell was ringing or whatever it did in those days.
Was going to bring that up also. However it was not a clutch moment in the game more a good play based on the circumstances.
Notwithstanding it was a great kick and equal of the Cleary kick
Cute you think it was left foot. It was right foot from about 15m in from sideline lol
Well I was there, maybe you were at another game?
!5m out right foot hardly would be worth talking about.
Tks Gol, no A+in in a performance where there may have been a couple or three. Indicates a strong team dynamic in this game.
Just on the bench, the podcast mentioned the good run mtrs, they also made 74 tackles/2 misses.
I actually think the team looked more cohesive when Hands came on. Less ball hitting the ground and sideways running. Hopefully JH will get his groove back in coming weeks but for now looks a little clunky.
Random thoughts.
Emu’s first few runs were average but he then made some strong runs showing what he is capable of.
Sivo has really developed into an all round winger. Took some hard runs and was excellent under the high ball.
Hodgson is doing ok. Yes he can (and will) improve but lots of energy early.
Hands was excellent. He may be a rare player where he is more suited to the NRL than the NSW Cup.
But a great team win. Bottle that and it will be a good year.
Agree with all of your points Shaun
Agree with all the scores. A very good read thank you. Ryan Matterson was excellent. That was a great way to make amends. Campbell-Gillard was absolutely fantastic! My pick for MVP. Unbelievable! What a game
Thanks Gol agree with the grades.
Great result!
Great effort for 80+ minutes.
95% completions is almost the perfect game.
Great to see the bench used as an asset instead of a hinderence. Showing faith is so important. Nobody is developing if they just sit on the bench.
I really wanted to see Hands used as a PJ Marsh style injection with quick legs lifting the tempo making tackles instead of just holding the fort. Credit to BA for doing just that. Hands did so well and got good minutes. He’s basically cemented himself into no 14. How was Momoisea in front of Hands?
Doorey added spark.
Makatoa and Greig did well.
Cartwright is playing for a new contract…
Waqa – cannot be re-signed
Great team effort!!
Does an attempted tackle where Waqa completely missed his target count as a missed tackle? Complete liability that has me screaming at the TV that needs to go NOW!
Agreed Glenn, so frustrating he’s letting everyone down in each game.
I thought you were a bit harsh on Hodgson, he was tackling his heart out on the field and more importantly seemed to be keeping good communication out there. Yes he’s not as fast as we’d like but I did like the sub from Hands. I believe Hands now can’t be used for several weeks unless we put him in 30? Is that how it works?
I believe our weak link still lies around Waqa, despite a much improved game. The cover tackle that should have stopped the first Panthers try was his and he missed it badly. Sure Hodgson at mark didn’t help, but that’s why we have cover. He was often slow back to line and looked tentative in positional play. Tackles with the grab, rather than a decent body and arm check.
My other concern is our inability to penetrate into the line. Our line breaks were minimal, but they led to a try at one end. Our metre gains all come from Moses kicks. We need another plan as an alternate. Hopefully when Lane gets back?
RCG made some great runs, backing up in sets and his great run at the end set us up for that field goal. When it mattered he gave us another 10m we shouldn’t have had. So I rated his game A+
Not many teams make a lot of line breaks against Penrith. I think our attacking form in the two weeks prior was good enough to not be too worried about the attack.
Hodgo was strong for first 30. He was putting some sting in his hits. He was holding a relentless assault in the middle similar to the GF. In the GF we lost it there by the first 30..
Is that right about Hands, does anyone know?
Maybe that replacement for Waqa will be Gutho. It is being reported on Fox that they are in pursuit of another fullback.
The young Knights’s fullback Lachie Miller, today was outstanding.
They are looking to fill the 30 man roster and hopefully sign a gun back. Gutho is safe at fullback.. Miller is a star in the making.
Without watching the game just highlights and from what I’ve read hands has to be in the 17 permanently now and as someone commented before similar to a pj marsh style
Good grades here. People need to allow JH to get into the season as his past injuries take time and he will be good for us. Hands was v good and pleased to see bench impact.
Our spine and Prop all had v good games…this is what we need more of.
Well said Milo and the other biggie for me was the almost lack of errors.
Cheers John, yes mate that was enormous for us.
Hands was great in his stint on the park. Time for hands to be upgraded n extended by 2 yrs.
As for hodgson been a great player but surely the eels part ways with him at seasons end.
Mitch moses n Dylan brown seems something is missing. Their playing like if it’s their 1st time playing beside each other.
Time to maintain the rage against the rooster’s. We can beat them. Even on their own home ground.