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The Tip Sheet goes back-to-back off the public holiday as Sixties, Forty20 and Clint talk NRL & news. The boys take a final look at Parramatta’s sweep of the Bulldogs before celebrating Mitchell Moses and Junior Paulo earning selection for the Blues.
One of the most fascinating team sheets of the season was released and it answered the question of who will replace Moses in the halves. ‘BA’ has a plus sized answer as Ryan Matterson returns from injury to don the #6 for the Eels. ‘Matto’ partners Daejarn Asi while Joe Ofahengaue also returns in a massive double boost for the Blue & Gold. The news gets even better when it is revealed that Wiremu Greig is just 6 weeks away from a return!
The Cup and Flegg are doing it tough at the moment and the show looks at the why of it all before Sixties unloads on the NRL for a bizarre draw that sees the Eels as the only club to not receive a beneficial bye during any of the three State of Origin games.
The NRL news focuses largely on State of Origin but the boys also look at Jake Arthur getting the nod to start against the Eels. Shane Flanagan is set to be the next head coach of the Dragons while Trent Robinson and the Roosters are feeling the heat in 2023.
Oloapu was never going to get to Sivo. He never had a lane to Sivo.
He was loitering in midfield and ran at Bailey Simmonson when he saw him slowing. Touching Sivo was never an option. Tackling him an impossibility.
Spot on John!
Tino’s first action is to lean and surge into the front on tackler at the same time his arm also pushes forward. It’s not like a blatant projection of the elbow (John Harvey, Les Boyd style) but the double action is double force and just as dangerous, as Koroisau found out. Astounded he copped no sanction, but let’s see if he cracks a few more heads and the penny drops with the MRC.
All the experts have yet to agree that Cleary has mastered Origin. Moses might just offer some differences that count. His first game was under injury pressure but still went OK.
It’s an interesting selection choice going forward around Cleary. He is easily the best performed half on a weekly basis so earns his spot. But in the Origin arena he’s had some very average games.
Great listen gents, I know Reed Mahoney got a bit of airtime but we can extend to all the players that has left. Niukore is on fire and would be the only one I want back. Papali’i and Mahoney got all the headlines for leaving but we have covered for both seamlessly. I really don’t see much difference between Hands and Mahoney, Reed has that long pass out of dummy half and Hands has a better and more selective running game than what Reed offered at Parra. Papali’i is a shadow of a player that he was at Parra. Ray Stone is doing well at the Dolphins and Oregon Kaufusi hasn’t stood out. (Although I haven’t watched him that closely this year).
Iron, I reckon that’s the risk players take in moving on. It’s not just the form of their destination club, it’s whether their game can shine in the same way in their systems. I guess they have to back themselves and/or take career best money. I was disappointed to lose Ice and I believe the club erred in delaying a contract extension. I never thought we’d lose Marata but as it turned out the family situation made it near impossible to keep him. As for Reed, his work ethic was elite, his long passing game was also elite, but I argued with anyone criticising the club’s offer that we ended up offering overs based on the seasons delivered to that point. The Dogs are rumoured to have paid around 700K. I believe that the final Eels offer (plus a rumoured TPA) made it close to 600K for him to stay. Regardless of the accuracy or inaccuracy of those figures, I don’t rate any season from Reed as being close to a $500K season. Injuries over the years certainly impacted that, but regardless, any deal worth north of 500K was based on subjective potential.
Marata is playing big minutes and killing it. A lot to like about that Warriors pack, Fonua-Blake , Tohu Harris, Egan, Curran, all playing well. Curran has an impressive work rate and they will be better when the high work rate Tevaga returns.
I rate Curran very highly. Former Eels junior rep player and I’ve long hoped that they would try to bring him back to the fold.
But did the Doggies actually recruit well? A lot of cashed was splashed around but in the end ti what effect?
Injuries aside, they have no halves and I agree Burton is not a halfback. The team has no direction and relies on either the Burton bomb (which seems to have lost effectiveness) or a shift to unlock their speed kings usually without earning field position. It can be spectacular but also was pretty predictable.
As for the draw, I agree with Napoleon who famously commented about the NRL saying “Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.”
Must remember that quote Shaun!
But did the Doggies actually recruit well? A lot of cashed was splashed around but in the end ti what effect?
Injuries aside, they have no halves and I agree Burton is not a halfback. The team has no direction and relies on either the Burton bomb (which seems to have lost effectiveness) or a shift to unlock their speed kings usually without earning field position. It can be spectacular but also was pretty predictable.
As for the draw, I agree with Napoleon who famously commented about the NRL saying “Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence.”
Love your Napoleon moment.
I read somewhere this week that the Doggies are back on the lookout for another half.
They probably have a 6 but definitely need a new 7. Burton is a Centre. Not a 6 or 7.
Perhaps Ben Hunt?
That is one of the names that has been thrown around. I think it would be a good get for them. It would however be short term obviously.
I want to comment on something Clint raised. He talked about the Eels lack of equity. It is a view I have held for a while.
When you have a comment that “stats don’t lie. The Eels have fallen off a cliff “. That comment was still up on Fox the year they made the GF 2022.
Whether it is because we have not won a GF, salary cap debacle 2016, inept board for years or the wooden spoon in 2018. Maybe it’s because we don’t have a Politis or a Crowe but as Clint points out we have no equity among the media and commentators.
As a result this thinking is picked up and adopted by the NRL administration and board.
There is rarely any analysis on the the trajectory of the Eels club and the wins that we have achieved since 2018. I think the issue that Shelley raise’s in her post above would be partly answered through lack of equity.