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The Easter long weekend brings three massive games for the Parramatta Eels.
Sixties and Forty20 analyse the line ups of the Jersey Flegg, NSW Cup and NRL squads and look at how each game can be won.
The Eels are flying high on the back of a three game win streak in the Jersey Flegg while the NSW Cup are running hot and looking to extend their recent undefeated streak. The fellas analyse what has led to the recent good form and the players who are key to their success.
For the NRL though it is a different matter as there has been no sequence is wins. Forty and Sixties discuss the sweeping changes made by head coach Brad Arthur and why they will make the difference on Easter Monday.
I hope the Eels recognizes they are riding into an ambush. This is groundhog day. Only difference Parra has one win.
It happens so often they come up against a team that has been strung up the press and it critics and coming off a hiding the week before. This will be a tough game to win and Mondays are not generally a good day for the Eels. They better be ready from the kickoff and get into it. After five weeks playing top eight potential teams they really are battle hardened. The question is will show in their performance?
Zero, I’m expecting a focussed performance from Parra but I think we all know that the Tigers will lift. If both teams play to their best the Eels win.
Good points in the pod.
Any news on the top 30 and when it has to be finalised?
Jake Arthur is a good player that doesn’t deserve the unwarrented criticism. If you look at Matto, he thought he was a half until BA told him he wasn’t. He went away and came back as a forward with a premiership..
Agree with fullback back up. Every team needs someone that can fill in 100% not a utility. We’ve just been lucky Gutho has played every game and probably played injured because of that. Note his dips in form.
Fitness is an issue for those players stepping up this year; Hodgo, Hopgood, Doorey, Murchie, Greig all are struggling with NRL Fitness. Greig hasn’t been getting match time until recently. But we needed to improve our fitness based on last year and it’s disappointing we aren’t up to scratch.
Russell and Dunster will have some enthusiasm and probably cement their spots. Changing of the guard.
Waqa- his mindset should have been addressed years ago. Everytime he’s tackled it’s like he’s got a season ending injury. He’s always done that. The glimpses of good play are becoming fewer and longer apart. He looks like Tarzan and plays like Jane.. If you look at all other centres in the comp he would probably be one of the last picked. His run meters are low. His carries out of trouble are very rare if ever. He crowds Sivo and runs him into touch. I’m thinking Harper from Manly would probably have similar lowlights.
Tigers is a danger game if we are not on point. Don’t underestimate a wounded Tiger.
Go Eels!!
Pete. I think that is really very harsh about Waqa. His current form has been very low and the faults regarding his carries and his combination with Sivo are accurately reported by you. He needed to be dropped back to NSW Cup until he can rediscover consistent form. But your cliche description which isn’t really appropriate on a few levels, Besides the gender comparison not being cool, anybody who plays elite level rugby league is tough, and Waqa has played 163 NRL games across two clubs. That doesn’t happen to someone who can’t play.
I have cut a lot of slack for Waqa up until last year and credit to him for playing so many games. But the writing was on the wall for a long time. And yes, it’s an old cliche and I’m not Sure how else to illustrate my point. But given his physical attributes. He should be playing accordingly. If you look at Olam who plays the same position. Physically he is smaller than Waqa. But he punches well above his weight. If Waqa played that way i would not need to illustrate with that cliche. When was the last time Waqa won us a game… I honestly cannot recall.
I wish him all the best in cup and hope he improves. But, sadly I can’t see him changing now.
pete, I also think Jake will eventually move to the forwards. I think his development is a lock forward type role. Needs to put some muscle on but he has the potential.
I’ve got a post on that coming tomorrow
Looking. Forward to the team playing well and showing their class. Need discipline and aggression to grind tigers down. No need to worry about early points just dominate the middle and defend well. the points will come against the tigers if we do those things.
I agree wholeheartedly with that Ron.
Well said Ron. Discipline and aggression will get you plenty of possession.
The odd thing about Waqa is he’s had a couple of sequences of games over the last couple of seasons where the team has been really out of touch, but he’s looked superb and being our best on park. But my sense is he hasn’t gel’d with the team when they are firing. Hopefully he gets back to his best and pushes for a spot back in the NRL.
Go the eels.
Well said Mick.
If I have the timezones right, I’ll be 40,000 feet over the Middle East at game time. I’ll be burning through whatever free wi-fi I can on the flight.
On the Tigers, they are stuck in the past. A bit like Parra was. The difference is that I believe Parra has shaken this, to a degree. There is one final thing to do. However, the Sheens/Benji/Farah coaching triumvirate is mired in the past and appears to be a disaster.
Waqa needed to go sadly. Last year he and Sivo combined well in the second half of the season but it has all gone missing. The Penisini/Sivo combo has great potential. I like the new back five and think it will work well.
As for Monday, Parra to smash them and smash them well. Its not that I’m underestimating the Tigers, I’m just not estimating them at all. The past be damned!
And a reminder folks, this is the last week you have a slim chance of The Emu being first try scorer. Get on it!
You’ve heard it first here from Shaun people. Get on Woody for first try scorer.