The Cumberland Throw

The Tip Sheet – 2023 Ep 23: Instant Reaction, Eels Ease Past Bulldogs

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The Tip Sheet is live from Jacks Bar & Grill as the Parramatta Eels accounted for the Canterbury Bulldogs 30-4. Sixties and Forty20 look at a game where the Eels rediscovered their physical edge but were still far from their best.

Reagan Campbell-Gillard returned to his rampaging best while Ryan Matterson, Will Penisini and Clinton Gutherson all continued strong individual starts to the season. One player who didn’t enjoy their return to CommBank Stadium was Reed Mahoney and the boys discuss where it went wrong for Parramatta’s former rake. By contract Brendan Hands performed admirably in both his first ever NRL start and first ever 80-minute effort.

The show rounds out with a guest star appearance from young Fletch before an announcement of a live site at Parramatta Leagues Club for the game in Darwin!

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22 thoughts on “The Tip Sheet – 2023 Ep 23: Instant Reaction, Eels Ease Past Bulldogs

  1. Shaun

    I’ve been overseas for two games and Parra has won both. I’ll be still away for the Broncos game.

    I’ve only seen the highlights but a comfortable win is a good win. Loved the strength shown by Penisini in his try and It seems the combinations are coming back. Good work and go Parra!

    1. John Eel

      Shaun I think that the combinations are coming together and that was a big part of the win last night.

      Defence was good last night keeping them to one try but will need to be better against the Broncos

      1. Shaun

        It was good to see Penisini in open space. Showed he had some speed. I’m quietly confident Parra will improve as the season progresses. They had the slump early this year.

        1. John Eel

          Well said. I thought he had a good first half last week as well.

          My son always complains that Will has no speed but I tell him he just does not get enough early ball.

          He showed plenty of speed in his Try and Mitch’s try. In fact I fancy that is the best football try the Eels have scored in some time.

          From RCG with a crash run off the line to Lanes offload to the try. All players involved. Great team try.

    2. sixties

      Shaun and John, I think it’s been taking a while for the attack to gel and it’s still got a way to go. The most important first step is the defence and there were improved signs, albeit against a Dogs spine that doesn’t throw much except for torpedo bombs.

      1. Shaun

        Burton does seem to have a limited bag of tricks as a five eighth. The Broncos will be a good test for Parra. A win then there is a good chance of a roll to climb back into the top eight.

  2. BDon

    Tks men, You just got the feeling we were threatening to really dominate that game but the steady error flow just keeps on holding us back. I was also trying to get a sense of whether our red zone defence out wider is improving, I think it is but the Tiges and Dogs ain’t the best measuring sticks, next week might be a better guide.
    Lane is getting match fit, Hands is very competent,someone has told Sivo to run hard, Dunster was better,…all pieces of the puzzle.

    1. sixties

      All better signs and it’s difficult to draw a form line through other teams. What we have to look for is winning the games that we should and thankfully that’s happened across the last two weeks.

  3. Spark

    I thought the performance was very controlled.
    Yes, there were a few clunky bits regarding execution but it appears that the coaching staff and the players are well aware that they are not playing at a level they could be – that’s a good sign.
    Russell is willing but could do with a little more pace and size but I understand that centre is a totally unfamiliar position.
    Dunster, whilst a lot better is, I believe still a long way off the pace.
    I understand that it was a horrific knee injury but hopefully we can unite the Simmonson / Russell combo against the Broncos.
    Gutho was absolutely immense.
    Good signs to build upon.

    1. sixties

      Spark, I’m expecting Simonsson to return in the centres, leaving BA with the choice between Russell and Dunster for the wing spot. Both will probably travel to Darwin.

  4. pete

    Great win!!

    Mahoney- Pin ball wizard.. Reg will be living rent free in his head after that. He sounded so flat in the presser. He tries so hard. I noticed Flanagan pushing Pangai into position near our line for a crash play…Reed didn’t give him the ball?? He knew better lol.

    Reg was a beast!
    Gutho was inspired
    Penisini was brilliant
    Moses, Matto and Lane were great.
    Much improved differential.

    1. sixties

      Reed quite frankly had a shocker. He has obviously been obsessing about this match and overplayed his hand then lost the plot in a number of moments.
      Nice difference to differential indeed.

  5. John Eel

    Our error rate is way too high at 13. Against Panthers we had 3 errors and a 95% completion rate.

    That is where we need to be.

    What was great about last night, the 7 minutes where we scored three tries.

    1. sixties

      I was complaining about our completion rates all game John, but we know what the ceiling is and we scored a landslide win despite playing so clunky.

      1. John Eel

        I enjoyed the win. No mistake. Furthermore as a result I had some great bragging moments in the coffee shop this morning.

  6. Milo

    Happy with the result tbh.
    V happy for Hands and RCG; they were v good.
    It was a well organised / controlled game and yes we had errors but seemed better in defence albeit against C’bury.
    The tests get tougher with a trip to Darwin and for me this is a big one; we get a win here and we come home for Newcastle which again will be quite physical.
    We need to string a good month and more together in order to get back on track and build that confidence.
    Look Mahoney is young and I wish him well; he’s getting paid v well and will learn more. But it’s C’bury, so no care factor here.

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