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Ah yes, The Parra Special. Take an incredibly unlikely stranglehold over the best team in the competition only to let it slip away in the final moments. Throw in a string of controversial calls and no-calls and you have the recipe for an insanely exciting game rife with hope and ultimately heartbreak. Sixties and Forty20 record a morning after reaction in the wake of last night’s insanity with feelings still coursing strongly.
A certain podcast just this week popped off about inconsistencies in the interpretation of obstruction. Lo and behold that very subject rearing its ugly head in the single most critical juncture of this game with the Panthers scoring the game winning try on the back of an incredbily contentions blocker run by Liam Martin. The boys sound off about the no-call and discuss what else went wrong for the Eels in that period.
The rest of the game gets broken down after the fiery takes get dialed back to a more gentle simmer as the effort of application of the Eels gets praised for another week running. The boys hand out their 3, 2, 1s and also give a couple of shout outs to the NSW Cup.
The second half of the podcast features Michael Buettner as part of the Pre Game Show with the Parramatta and North Sydney star giving his insight on some topical matters. Why do young talents head to other clubs? Buettner gives his personal insight on the decision to switch from the Eels to the Bears and what goes into such a decision. The show looks at some Xs and Os and how you look to upset the Panthers and what is the best course of action when it comes to trying to nullify the impact of Brian To’o.
Despite the ultimate disappointment and frustration the basic reaction to last night’s game is positive. The side which turned in somr appaling capitulations earlier in the year has becomr a competitive outfit against top opposition. Can Barrett take credit? I think so. I wouldn’t be surprised if we won our last four games. It’s a change to be looking forward to next week
I agree Noel, they’ve been playing a lot better than earlier in the year. Let’s not forget a lot of the side are reserve graders. Plus without our best player Moses.
I agree thatBarrett is clearly someone who has value to offer. He will be an asset to whichever team picks him up. I would have liked to see him remain as assistant but I get the need for a refresher.
The more we move on from brad the more it is apparent that change was needed. I still don’t agree with how it was handled but I’m keen to see what a refreshed coaching team brings (and hopefully some new players to bring an element of competition for spots to players who have been complacent for years under BA)
Brad Arthur saw us through dark dsys through sherr quality of character and biuilt a side that by 21-22 was at least one of the two bedt in the competition. That’s the past and clearly it eas time gor a rebuild. That is no discredt to Brad whose place in our history is secure. Asto Trent, I wouldn’t want hi aound if I were coming in. It would be inetable thate become a credibe “second voice” to players.
The Arhur years are the past. Trent will certainly find aplacaothere. Wr now look forwatd to the endbof the year and 2025 with ore confidece than we had a month ago. I’ll feel betterstil when I read that we’ve signed DJ Asi and Simonssen for next year anf beyond.
I agree and his legacy should be remembered fondly in my opinion. He was great for us in a time which was diabolical and thereafter built a very good team.
But brad didn’t have the ability to adapt to the new game after the introduction of the 6-again rule and the introduction of downtown penalties (a big blow for a team that was always terrible in kick chase and couldn’t cheat as much in that area anymore). He wanted to stick with power game and that simply isn’t As effective anymore. We need new ideas and new faces
He did well for us BA during some tough years, and delivered some good years for our club. As Ron mentioned, his undoing (and our teams), was evidently associated with the 6 again rules and down town rule changes. Faster game, paired with our bigger & older players not suited for it. Lots of fans say our team quits after 40-70 minutes. But our roster simply isn’t as fit a conditioned as other teams. The panthers & storms fitness, work rate, energy, is miles above us. Storm & melb also have a lot of young players in the team. We’re had the opposite. I truly believe once we adapt, we could shoot back up the ladder again. Youth, speed, and good defensive systems Imo is all it will take for us to be solidified in the top 8 again. We have gun halves and a lot of good players just in desperate need of better conditioning & better defensive coaching systems. Particularly on our edges.
I think Trent has done a good job with the team, considering the number of injuries. I personally would have liked Ryles to have kept Trent on as an assistant, – he is obviously well liked by the players, and they have responded to his coaching, as the efforts in the past few weeks have indicated.
If the players ‘have a go’ and get beaten by teams better on the day, there is not a lot you can do about it. That is just a fact of life!!
Unfortunately when there are 3 defensive liabilities on one side they will eventually be taken advantage of by good teams. Asi , Tago and Talagi are not NRL standard defenders, that’s why we saw Penrith shift to their right from even inside their own 10 and go full length of the field.
All 3 mentioned have issues reading the attack against them , Asi gets stranded far too often, Tago is what he is, and Blaize has issues against fast moving , elusive players, defends well front on but arm grabs when taken on the outside. Those issues coupled with their lack of speed was too much to overcome when they were attacked.
The short roster with too few NRL backline players has to be addressed, and not sure about all the injuries but changes in that area are needed as well as recruitment.
Forwards stood up , the referee happy to watch the comeback rather than adjudicate, and as fuor the bunker, Stevie Wonder in there again.
Next year can’t come soon enough, and news on changes will be welcome.
You’re correct, however none of these 3 will be with us next year
I’ll regret it if we let DJ Asi go. His defensive inadequacies are obvious enough but his defence did improve markedly thus year as did his kicking game. I see him as a useful member of our second tier of players, continuing to improve.
I give Trent Barrett plenty of wraps. He’s a quality coach and will add value to any system that he joins.
My feelings is that Ryles just couldn’t leave him in that position due to the fact that if times get tough, and they are about to.. he doesn’t want some players seeking out Barrett and trying to white ant the process.
That’s no slight on Trent but it’s natural for people to seek friendly sympathetic faces in times of stress.
By bringing in an entirely new coaching staff, the players have no friends and no allegiance.
It’s the way to go.
Yet another good decision by Ryles.
Spark Trent had helped them play good. People will argue he has failed, but he has been at the helm during an extremely tough period. Injuries galore, media circuses, club instability, key players being severely out of form, players wanting to leave, every cards been dealt against him. We must give Props to baz. He has actually gotten more out of a few of our players too. Also props to our captain Clint gutherson. The man has given 110% effort for us. He cares deeply about our team and our club. He works harder than anyone. I would rather him put fullback than talagi next year anyhow, it might be a blessing in disguise. It’s no offence to blaize. But this team still hasn’t got anyone close to the level of gutho besides moses in terms of leadership.
Spark totally agree with your comments on Barrett. He had no choice
Thanks for doing the pod guys, it was needed respite relief.
We should be able to celebrate a team so down on form being so competitive throughout the game. But over the last 2 years (and extend to almost 40 now), we’ve had so little to celebrate with things just seeming to go from bad to worse, its losses like that which really grind you to the bone. I’m really speechless as to what to say, other than 2024 can get in the bin. Oh and anything but the Panthers or Dogs winning the GF, thank you.
Great effort.
The boys tried hard all game and clearly were disappointed at the end. As we all are.
The obvious difference in fitness has been highlighted yet again and I don’t blame the players.
We can compete with anyone for 60 minutes.
It’s clear from the 60th minute we become vulnerable.
The 60 minute mark is equivalent to the championship rounds in boxing.
We tried hard. But when fatigued we were unable to find that extra gear in the championship rounds.
I just wish we had this effort all year. I think Baz has improved that this year.
I agree Pete, I think Barrett’s improved us this year as times gone on. This is with a severely depleted roster, reserve graders galore, and we no longer rely solely on our props “winning the collision” or we can’t win a game. We are starting to find a more diverse approach to winning field position, winning games, and younger men getting more consistent opportunities has been great for our long term success. Tago, Keir, Hands, and Tualagi before his injury… all these men getting consistent opportunities is going to pay dividends for the parra eels over the next two years. I’m greatful that Baz has not stuck with Harper etc and blocked the younger players such as Tago.. who’s turned out to be a good depth player.
Agree Muz,
It seems Tago despite not having an Eels preseason is still just as fit as the others. He did a lot of training with his brother Isaac. Incidentally Izaac used the extra training with Jake as extras above and beyond the Panthers gruelling military style fitness regime. Jake knew he had to get fit to get into first grade.
The other thing of note Harper and Kelma both arrived at Eels preseason and were able to keep up. Despite both mostly playing Cup with Manly the previous season. I dare say they probably found it easy to fit in.
Nobody ever says they couldn’t keep up at Eels training. Melbourne on the other hand players get destroyed in every preseason and then rebuilt.
I didn’t know all that. It’s impressive then the Tago bros both working so hard together. Young tago would have been able to let him know the amount of fitness & work load needed, he looks brilliant Imo for a guy who hasn’t had a first grade Eels pre season. Good on him. Imagine with a pre season and some more coaching, I mentioned this earlier that BA going and all these young men getting opportunities who normally wouldn’t will result in us discovering 1-3 players who may suprise us and become proper first grade assets if given time + opportunity. If our first grade starting 17 is stacked next year in the backs, at least if Say Russel, Bailey, or lomax gets injured. Now we have Tago who can slot in there and we know he will have far more of a go than say Sivo. IMO, our backs (especially wingers) should vastly improve with an off season with Ryles & co. We have two former rep playing league players in the coaching staff, and a former wallaby assistant who’s highly regarded, and another player who was a respected forward. This is a lot more playing experience than we have had previously in our overall coaching staff. I’m confident our backs just need a solid off season perfecting their edge defensive systems and suddenly we look like a completely new side. Jason’s got the knowledge of both storm + chooks defensive practices plus was a rep player himself. It’s hard to imagine he can’t improve their defence, I think our defence is second last on the table and we can still almost beat the elite teams. Imagine if we had a top 5 defence? And Nobody doubts our ability to score points.
V good effort all round I thought- shame we didn’t make some better choices late in the game and be composed
Contentious last try – anyway
We def look better and used the ball well and did this without some key players. But this for me is what we should expect – I didn’t expect to win but expected the effort we saw.
Definitely some areas look better but I also feel some of the players have more to prove now that Ryles has been named and media speculation abt some being tapped on the shoulder.
Who know but glad we showed the effort.
Great work. And Flegg are doing wel…
Thanks Gents, disappointing result but so proud of the effort.
I’m glad Russell got an honourable mention, that was by far his most polished performance in first grade. I’m hoping this game was a light switch moment for Sean and the confidence kick start he needed.
Brendan Hands is really growing as a player, barely gets a mention from commentators, he is very much underrated.
I enjoyed the chat with Mick, wow what a season 01 was, Mick was on fire that season, I’ve always thought the Tamana Tahu try was beyond blessed and breaking point of the game. That try has haunted me ever since, it was like accidentally catching a baby that fell out of window.
I have it on good authority that the NRL 2024 Capitulators Championship trophy is heading to Parramatta Leagues Club come September-October, unless the Warriors pull off a better effort than their weekend golden point loss to Dolphins.
Snatching defeat from the jaws of victory on a regular or spectacular basis is a talent that should be more widely appreciated.
Wow.. see Matto apparently broke 3 ribs in first half VS panther?
Such a shame.. he’s playing well.
Only issue is he has waited again until it’s time to perform for a new job / contract before giving his own 110% effort again like gutho does weekly.
Matto was really good for us defence over the weekend and did a lot of hard work.
Annesley has cleared Liam Martin of obstruction on the basis that Talagi attempted a tackle on Martin who tripped on Talagi’s foot and cannoned into Asi. Watch it again, Talagi turns towards Martin but does not attempt a tackle. Martin does fall into Asi but as Trent Barrett says it doesn’t matter how he takes Asi out of play, Penrith gain an advantage by interfering with our defensive line. So we have a new rule ‘accidental obstruction’.
So it was Talagi’s first try assist for his new club? 😊
Bdon what a joke. So maybe next time a parra player gets on report for a head high. We should claim “accidental head high” as the player tripped and fell into it???
The hypocrisy and inconsistency of them is disgusting. Every week you see penalties be awarded for the same situations and try’s disallowed?
I’m of the view theirs now not enough accountability ABOVE these refs and Annesley.
They are covering up for their mistakes & incompetence at this point.
What about the Riff’s players offside from every kick off like sixties mentioned on the podcast? Or McLean being off side when he effected Will P and causes him to make a mistake. The system is rigged or broken. Bias towards whoever the leading teams are. No accountability, just ass covering and BS…
So now you can run in and take out players just make sure to run into someone’s leg on your way in to perform a slight trip on yourself and you are all good? It’s not like Blaize stuck his foot out to trip him.
I like the play the ball story in the SMH this morning
https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/the-nrl-play-the-ball-has-become-a-farce-the-panthers-miracle-win-proves-it-20240811-p5k1hs.html
Only one legal play the ball in the last 3 sets.
Melbourne have never won a premiership without some form of cheating.
Wrestling, chicken wings, crushers – whatever.
Now Penrith have joined the bandwagon with tunnelball and blockers.
56, my memory is in its twilight years, but I’m sure I posted a comment a few weeks back about waiting for the first whistle to blow on this. My thinking was ‘you just couldn’t blow the whistle now could you, and be credible?’ But now the media is on to it, there will be ‘a process’ of interpretations,,warnings and threats ( in time for the finals) to make it look like a justified, sensible crackdown. The way Annesley massages dud decisions into sound officiating.