In a week where we got our first new Eels head coaching appointment in a decade, the footy feels like a bit of an afterthought. That’s a fair summary of the 2024 season as a whole, an afterthought, as fans look to how things can turn around and who can be moved on from a side that may only avoid the spoon because the Tigers get 50 put on them every week.
In that spirit, I’ll spend the preview doing a bit of complaining and a bit of hoping, then maybe a little bit of analysing. In the end the effort areas are where Parramatta struggles, and any amount of analysis isn’t going to fix the headspace and desire of a playing group who haven’t pulled it together this year.
In a season where the spoon battle looms, this is a huge game for the Eels not just as a match against a fellow bottom of the table contender, but as one of the few very winnable contests that remain on the schedule. After a bye the Eels will be playing three top four sides in four weeks, and while a high effort upset of Penrith is always on the cards, you’ll be able to write your own ticket for the Eels in any of those matches. Can the Eels get it done and finally win a close game? On with the preview!
Game Info
Date: Saturday, July 13, 2024
Venue: Robina Stadium, Gold Coast
Kick-off: 5:30PM AEST
Referee: Todd Smith
Bunker: Peter Gough
Weather: Cool, dry
Broadcast: Fox League, Kayo
Teams
Parramatta Eels
1. Clint Gutherson 2. Jake Tago 3. Will Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Lorenzo Mulitalo 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Joe Ofahengaue 11. Ryan Matterson 12. Matt Doorey 13. Charlie Guymer. 14. Matthew Arthur 15. Shaun Lane 16. Luca Moretti 17. Bryce Cartwright.
18. Makahesi Makatoa 21. Morgan Harper
Like marrying someone you’ve been dating for 12 years, the Eels finally make it official by naming Joe O in the 10 jersey
More changes for the Eels, as Sean Russell and Junior Paulo join the bursting Eels casualty ward, while Mitchell Moses is on Origin duty. Russell is replaced by Lorenzo Mulitalo, another less heralded brother of an NRL player who started the year in a Wentworthville jersey, so anonymous he can’t even get a profile on the NSWRL website. Where Jake Tago’s promotion last week was deserving, if a bit surprising, Mulitalo is truly the last warm body we have. Morgan Harper’s form in Cup is such that he just can’t be promoted, while Isaac Lumelume’s and Zac Cini’s cards are well and truly marked. I’ll rant more about that later.
Another potential centre replacement in Daejarn Asi will instead line up at halfback for Moses, while Charlie Guyer is promoted to start after one high energy game, he’ll take the 13 jersey while Joe Ofahengaue gets to officially wear the starters jersey after a season of late replacements for Junior Paulo. The rest of the back row were demoted to the bench in Cartwright and Lane, with Matt Doorey and Ryan Matterson starting. Luca Moretti joins the bench.
Gold Coast Titans
1. Keano Kino 2. Alofiana Khan-Pereira 3. Brian Kelly 4. Beau Fermor 5. Jojo Fifita 6. Jayden Campbell 7. Kieran Foran 8. Josiah Pahulu 9. Sam Verrills 10. Erin Clark 11. David Fifita 12. Klese Haas 13. Chris Randall. 14. Isaac Liu 15. Keenan Palasia 16. Phillip Sami 17. Joe Stimson.
18. AJ Brimson 20. Tanah Boyd
The Titans have only lost Mo Fotuaika to Origin duty, with David Fifita not chosen for game three in the kind of coaching decision that makes me ecstatic as a NSW fan and despondent as an Eels fan. We’ll talk about how light on the Titans pack is later, with Josiah Pahulu and Erin Clark starting. Klese Haas returns from injury in the back row, as Beau Fermor fills in at centre.
This could all change should AJ Brimson make a return from injury, he’s named as 18th man but could push into the centres most likely given the form of Kini and Campbell in the spine. We’re better off with Brimson taking another week to rest up, but a late shuffle to fit him into the side might break down some cohesion in the Gold Coast attack.
Ch-ch-ch-changes
One game and he’s already in the running for best Eels forward of 2024.
I’m choosing to believe that it was Charlie Guymer’s debut last weekend that forced Trent Barrett into drastic action; dropping Shaun Lane and Bryce Cartwright to the bench after they were shown up badly in effort areas by the first gamer. With Guymer, Moretti, Ofahengaue and Doorey we suddenly have a pack light on game breaking flash but high on effort and intensity. Given what flash has got us this year, I’m excited to see it.
Not that those demoted can’t be saved. Lane has looked his best this year (not a high bar, admittedly) when coming off the bench for impact in short stints. His future in Blue and Gold might be in that role. Cartwright has never really come back from that early rib injury, and asking him to impact a game off the bench will either bring out the best or worst in him. Both should have been playing for their footballing futures for the last month, but now a new coach is confirmed and taps on shoulders are being openly discussed, the time is now for out of form players who are off contract at the end of next year.
These changes alone probably don’t fix the mid-match malaise that strikes the Eels (at least not without a similar change in bench strategy from the coach) but it does bring a different energy to a side that desperately needs it. The 2024 version of Junior Paulo won’t be missed, he hasn’t broken a game open in months after a few good bench performances early in the year, but Lane and Moretti coming on as first change middles will hardly strike fear into an opponent. It screams RCG playing another big minute game that his body simply can’t handle this year. Maybe we’ll finally see Joe Ofahengaue play more than 40 minutes? Guymer is capable of bigger minutes too, at least at Cup level, but it would be a big ask of him to play 60+ at first grade intensity in his second game.
Disgrace
The laughable blame game being played by Eels executives regarding roster management has grated on me all week long. Several times it has been reiterated that Brad Arthur had first and final say in recruitment, to quietly lay the blame of any roster inadequacies at the feet of the former coach. At a high level Arthur deserves some blame; he wanted a big money front row and a forward heavy side, and while the retention (or lack of retention) decisions around Niukore, Papali’i, Utoikamanu and Mahoney made sense in a vacuum, ultimately all four would waltz into this side right now as starters over the men chosen to stay in their place.
I very much doubt that it was Brad Arthur who made final decisions on the problems the Eels face now though. No first grade coach would want to go into any season three or four roster spots down, especially not when at least two have been wasted on unnecessary contracts for players with no shot at first grade. Did Arthur really push to sign players with no form or market for their services to multi-year, top 30 deals? Did Arthur look at the desperate lack of outside back depth at the club and say “no thanks” to all available options, or was it that the club so badly mismanaged cap space that it could offer nothing but bare minimums to any potential recruit? What makes more sense?
The facts are we have had two debutants this season that started the year as part time footballers, and two more top squad members at the start of the year have mostly played part time footy all season, first at the Eels then at other clubs. There is exactly one other first grade player from season 2024 in those round one Ron Massey Cup teams (Bulldog bench prop Lipoi Hipoi, for the curious). It is an unacceptable situation to be in while at least three top squad spots sat vacant.
Until this blatant mismanagement can be fixed, no new coaching appointment, change of attitude of broom through the roster will amount to any improvement in on field performance. Given all the talk this week of players potentially being tapped on the shoulder, I can only imagine the mess that could be made of early payouts by a club that can’t even hire 30 first grade footballers.
The Game
If we are to win this one, Brown needs to step up and take the team on his shoulders.
I should probably talk about the Titans a touch in this preview. They’ve been very up and down all season long, another side unable to really defend but more than capable of putting on points when motivated. That spells trouble for the Eels, who remain slow and disinterested in defending out wide and have no answer to the pace of the Titans backs. Add the devastation that David Fifita leaves in his wake, particularly in Eels clashes, and the chip he will have on his shoulder after another inexplicable Origin snub.
The Titans are also there to be steamrolled if the Eels can channel some of their old school brand of football. A converted hooker is starting prop alongside a 12 game rookie, while another hooker is playing lock. The bench is similarly light on and features an outside back reserve. If the Eels can just hold the ball for once, they could steamroll the Titans early and be running downhill all day long, even without Junior Paulo in the squad.
Even with a downhill run, Parramatta are certain to leak points all day long. The over/under on long range tries is 2.5 and the over is being bet like Black Caviar against a field of donkeys. Once the Titans are through it is game over, they’ve got so much speed that the Eels just can’t match. Kieran Foran has been in good touch while Jayden Campbell is lightning off the mark and Keano Kini is similarly electric in support. Only effort is going to stop those half chances becoming tries, and effort hasn’t been a strong point for the Eels in 2024.
That’s just how the Eels season is in 2024. They’ll never be far enough ahead to kill off an opponent’s hopes and dreams. They’ll grind out a lead then throw it away with some lazy efforts and long range tries. They’ll fade out and be run down. I’m predicting yet another close loss, a game that is there to be won but the team just aren’t good enough to do it. The youth injection could prove me a fool, but I think waiting until I see it to believe it is a fair strategy with the 2024 Eels.
Go you Eels!
Prediction: Gold Coast 34 d Parramatta 26
Man of the Match: David Fifita
Gol
Thanks Gol, fair comment.
I am concerned where our attack comes from this week, and also our defence on edge.
Glad we have some new kids in the team.
Good read Gol.
Parra have been very active in the charade department.
Dylan as halfback
Lane an 80 minute player
Lane edge forward
Lane middle forward
Lane a committed tackler
Lane a ball player
Junior named to start in No 10 but late Switch to start from the bench. So not to upset Junior for the obvious decline and the failure to address it. Just pandering and enabling poor performance. Exposed badly by Guymer.
I’m still very annoyed with Junior for attending the Bulldogs game whilst “injured”. Potentially, making or risk making the injury worse. Perhaps in a desire to miss out on another preseason. He’s about 15kg too heavy and needs to report to training at x weight or face the axe.
Just hope the team can find something for Baz. All this talk but no action is really getting old. Baz has been great! Then losing is NO endorsement.
Pete the fact that Arthur and now Barrett keep picking Lane show their lack of observation as coaches. Let’s hope Ryles a front rower sees his lack of effort and punts him completely. I’m sure our other forwards will thrive under the new coach.
Gol, Samuel Loizou doesn’t deserve a run? Parra put a lot of time into him but, considering our shortage with backs – does he rate or not?
I always tip the Eels – my hope never dies until the full time whistle.
They are a heartbeat team and this year they seem so disinterested at times. Who said they are professional footballers? What will get them up today – a fair go from the referee. Will they win – we find out at full time, maybe earlier.
Man of the match Gutherson.
The CEO and his henchmen acknowledge zero accountability. That BA is totally responsible for our abysmal R and R is totally laughable and just a downright lie. If there are no changes in our admin I am very concerned for Ryles attempt to turn our rudderless ship around.
Gol and Sec 50,
Do you have any EVIDENCE that the board was solely responsible for what you have stated ?
If you are able to provide evidence, I’ll march with you in fact, I’ll grab a drum and lead the way.
Sec You have your opinion and that’s fine, it’s an opinion.
You seem absolutely emphatic that they are lying, what evidence do you have to back this up ?
Gol, ‘ more than likely ‘ is your opinion too but as a guest contributor I would say you may be covered by the same rules regarding reputational damage that the editors are.
At the end of the day we are dealing with the reputations of all concerned.
The board have emphatically stated that BA had a proportional say in the recruitment and retention and it’s up to BA. to either confirm or refute the statement.
The fact that he may have more class to engage in this is immaterial.
The fact remains that we can all have opinions but none of us truly knows who is responsible and we shouldn’t trash reputations unless we do – and that’s just my opinion 😊
There’s a very simple thing that you’re missing Spark – if BA had the sole responsibility for all things R&R as, what was the point of having a 5 man Committee? I mean, if the Board is now saying he was the man, why didn’t they say something in the meetings, or are they suggesting BA went rogue and signed players without their approval? We know that simply could not happen or he’d have been sacked ages ago. And in the past BA has said he was hamstrung by O’Neil, so there was already some smoke there, if not a fire. Without knowing it for a fact, I’d suggest it is nigh on impossible for BA to have been handling all the recruitment, negotiations and balancing the salary cap while still coaching the team.
I think it’s pretty easy for the blokes still in a position of power to lay all the blame at the feet of the bloke they just sacked, but in doing so, they need to be careful – at present in saying it was all on BA they’ve made themselves look silly by not putting a stop to it sooner.
Stubby I believe that the board has said that he had a persuasive voice or similar in the R&R meetings.
As I said – just because we can draw a logical inference doesn’t mean that it is fact and shouldn’t be represented as fact by inference or otherwise.
We are dealing with the reputations of people with families and careers here.
It’s true that any out and out statements that the board is wholly responsible is as outlandish and rediculous as any statement stating that BA was in turn, wholly responsible without evidence to support the fact.
If the board have made a pointed accusation then it’s certainly within BAs rights to correct that.
To be honest with you, I can’t wait till Ryles gets here and we can just move on.
Hey spark, I’m of the opinion it’s not black and white either
The coach got his team for the most part
Most of the cap is in the forward packs – or more so than most other clubs
Most other clubs don’t have huge money caught up in so many power players / big forwards
This indicates brads for the most part gotten his own type of team
There’s not just been this year, but many many years in a row now
Where we constantly sign new ones or keep forwards on huge salary’s
Yet – for years and years we never invest into quality backs
I find it very hard to believe that for say, 5 years BA couldn’t land 1 high priced & high value star level back
It wasn’t his playing style
Now Gal on channel 9 made a good point recently
He said moses shouldn’t be blowing up telling off all the players
Why??
Because he’s on apparently over 1 or 1.2 million per season
Some speculate it could be $1.4 m per year – (who knows exactly)
He said you can’t be blowing up telling everyone off
When you and a few others are eating up all the salary cap 😂
But it’s actually true
Moses and our forwards are on unbelievably huge money
Apparently we don’t have cap space more or less
Moses IS worth 1 million to us
BUT
We have a TOP heavy roster with HUGEEE money all tied up in forwards
A power roster full of high paid forwards
Paul Gallen is actually right
And I don’t agree with his most of the time
Our players got greedy seeking massive contracts seeking huge deals that often increase by the year
I’m going off track here I’m sorry
But what I’m trying to say:
Blaming the club (only) isn’t a logical view point
BA got all his high paid power forwards
That was his playing style
It’s not a coincidence or mystery why we have a top heavy roster full of big paid forwards
But the issue with the club / R & R staff is this
If it is true:
“all brads fault”
Why on earth did you allow him to put so much money into old forwards?
And literally never recruit superior back like talent?
It’s not hard
It’s not even the lack of players on the market
Tigers backs often are miles ahead from us in terms of speed
There’s backs who can’t hardly get a run for the broncos
Who would run rings around majority of our backs in terms of speed
At most other NRL clubs
There BACK UP / upcoming backs
Are faster than most eels starting backs
You can’t make this up
There’s (BACK UP) backs at the sharks, broncos, manly
That are light years faster or have more potential than many of our starting backs
So whilst I’m not saying BA is totally to blame
The R & R think tank of decision makers should not of let this happen
The parramatta eels have the slowest team in the comp
How did the CEO & Mcelduff not step in or sack people when for years in a row
The parramatta eels had the slowest backs in the comp?
I understand the coach builds his team
I get it
But it’s not good enough to simply Blame the coach only
There’s people who should of been more educated on the game to see this strategys short falls
The clubs obviously a basket case in some respects
But to say it’s only the clubs fault of only BA’s fault is ridiculous
Nobody on either side should of let this happen
Jnr paulo & a few others contracts in regards to our forwards salary’s on this roster
Especially at their ages
Is absolutely ridiculous!
If there’s any lessons here for the club
They cannot make the same mistakes again
If the club honestly just things BA is the only issue
Then we will not move forward as fast as we would all like to
Let’s see how the new coach goes
If we see him swing the roster and sign fast backs and make moves repetitively smart
Then suddenly improved our depth issue within 2 years
And no more excess money going into forwards
Then I’ll gladly admit BA was largely the cause of it
But until then:
It’s a systemic issue from both party’s
The committee who decide on players R & R alongside BA
Should also be taking accountability
Those individuals are there to create better outcomes with regards to decision making
What’s the point of them if BA is the scape goat and got everything he wanted as suggested?
It makes zero sense
All of us fans just want to see accountability
Its not just BA’s issue
The club themselves have let this low back depth & low speed issue happen for YEARS!
At other clubs – even the donkey tigers or bulldogs they never let this happen
You simply cannot afford to have a NRL team who never takes back like positions seriously enough to ever try and recruit elite players for those positions
The clubs are not helpless here –
The tigers CEO himself was over shopping off players to England
Our ceo & co make our BA was a dictator who made every single roster decision
A coach is not even close to being the most powerful decision maker in the club
Like we saw – they could remove him at ANY TIME
So what I’m suggesting is:
We need to improve accountability and the ceo cannot let stupid decisions keep on happening on the roster
If the coaches or HOF etc screw up.
Sack them.
He and the board can do that,
I say this every week now, but our best hope is low errors/high completions, we just go into weirdo world off the back of a few errors/penalties/6Agains. We can’t seem to get through the early sets without handing the ball over 3 or 4 times.The nitpicking ruck penalty when there is absolutely no disadvantage to opposition from the play then clicks in. It usually comes just when we’re going OK and becomes a turning point for a team one whistle away from the crest of a slump.
Mate you will find also that the higher placed the team is, the more advantageous the interpretations they receive from the officials.
It’s a statistical fact.
Our defence on the edges is so bad teams can get a try every time they go there
It’s unbelievable this is even a NRL team in regards to the defence
Where gunna get the spoon