The 2024 season has been in the “let’s get this over with” phase since just about round 4, but this week feels especially like a game that is making up the numbers. Minor chance of victory, neither team with much to play for, both decimated by injury and post-grand final malaise, just waiting for the undoubtedly brighter futures of tomorrow. News of Eels signings will bring fans far more joy than Eels tries right now, and while this week has been good on that front, it doesn’t help a team battered by injury in the upcoming contest.
This might be called the battle of self pity, as two fan bases tempted with success were ultimately delivered failure and rebuild. The Broncos are missing Haas, Walsh and Mam, the keys to their attack and the motor of their engine room. There’s still plenty of talent there, but it hasn’t come together for them. You all know who the Eels are missing, and just as importantly who is a long way from their best football, and away from home even this reduced Brisbane side is a tough ask.
Let’s get this over with, onto the preview!
Game Info
Date: Friday August 23, 2024
Venue: Lang Park, Brisbane
Kick-off: 8:00PM AEST
Referee: Todd Smith
Bunker: Chris Butler
Weather: Warm, chance of rain during day
Broadcast: Nine, Fox League, Kayo
Sixties Speculates (Odds quoted are NSW TAB)
The Eels concede an average of 29.5 points per game. Brisbane concede 23.5 points. With defensive frailty being the feature of both teams, all roads lead to this being a high scoring game.
Combined, these averages suggest we’ll north of 50 total match points. If you hit the “pick your own total” market and go conservative with 54.5 points or more, the return is $2.05. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can hit the top mark of over 66.5 which is offering $5.20.
Or you might just be done for the year and keep your money in the wallet.
Happy, responsible punting.
Sixties
Teams
| Parramatta Eels | Brisbane Broncos | |
| Clinton Gutherson | 1 | Tristan Sailor |
| Maika Sivo | 2 | Selwyn Cobbo |
| Will Penisini | 3 | Kotoni Staggs |
| Blaize Talagi | 4 | Deine Mariner |
| Sean Russell | 5 | Jesse Arthars |
| Dylan Brown | 6 | Josh Rogers |
| Daejan Asi | 7 | Adam Reynolds |
| Reagan Campbell-Gillard | 8 | Corey Jensen |
| Brendan Hands | 9 | Billy Walters |
| Shaun Lane | 10 | Xavier Willison |
| Kelma Tuilagi | 11 | Brendan Piakura |
| Bryce Cartwright | 12 | Jordan Riki |
| Joe Ofahengaue | 15 | Patrick Carrigan |
| Interchange | ||
| Joey Lussick | 14 | Blake Mozer |
| Makahesi Makatoa | 19 | Kobe Hetherington |
| Luca Moretti | 16 | Josiah Karapani |
| Dan Keir | 17 | Martin Taupau |
| Reserves | ||
| Jake Tago | 18 | Ben Te Kura |
| Matt Doorey | 19 | Fletcher Baker |
Latest Line-ups: NRL.com
Maika Sivo returns to the starting side for Jake Tago after his bench cameo last week, while Shaun Lane moves into the middle for the suspended Wiremu Greig. Kelma Tuilagi earns a back row start, while Luca Moretti and Maka Makatoa join Dan Keir in the bench rotation. The bench is full of triers, which honestly is what this team needs right now, but it is a testament to both the injury toll and just how bad the roster management has been.
Josh Rogers gets another game against the Eels, replacing the injured Ezra Mam, while Tristan Sailor deputises for Reece Walsh. Jesse Arthars is back forcing veteran Corey Oates out of the side. In the pack Xavier Willison replaces Payne Haas while the bench has a very similar feel to the Eels as the Broncos own depth is stretched.
Brittle on Both Sides
Welcome back, Mr. Moretti
The Broncos are coming off a big win against North Queensland, but their finals chances are in mathematical territory despite that victory. Any win over a team as consistently inconsistent as the Cowboys can’t be used as a reliable barometer, but it does prove the Broncos defence can hold an NRL side under 30 points, something the Eels have been unable to do barring their own win over the equally inconsistent Warriors. If we look before that, Brisbane capitulated to the middling Titans and tough Bulldogs while also falling to the Warriors and Dragons. They’re in a similar spot to us, not quite given up, but not good enough and things aren’t going right.
Like the Eels, the Brisbane edges can be peeled apart nearly at will. Piakura and Riki are targets in the defensive line in the red zone, and Parramatta should have the attack to offer some questions to them solely with Gutherson and Dylan Brown directing traffic. Carrigan offers toughness through the centre but he works a lot better in tandem with other threats such as Haas, when he is charging off the back of runs by Jensen or Willison, he’s suddenly not so effective.
The defensive frailty of both sides likely makes this a contest of who can hold onto the ball and maintain their discipline. The Eels were never in the contest last week thanks to multiple lapses of discipline, and given that the Roosters give away by far the most penalties in the NRL and the Eels among the fewest, it shows just how much statistics can be worth week-to-week. In saying that, I’m going to lean on one now that says the Broncos make the most errors of all sides, meaning the Eels will be given chances that they need to capitalise on.
One thing the Eels shouldn’t need to worry about is second phase play; the Broncos make the fewest offloads of any side, less than half the total the Eels have thrown this season. Watching Parramatta football for many years has proven that offloads (at least the slow, out the back ones the Eels make) don’t equate to improvement or success, but they do kill a Parramatta defence that has enough trouble getting back onside and keeping a line five times a set, let alone a couple of extra from a late offload. Brisbane are an up and down running side, and their best up and down runner is on the sidelines.
The Game
If good things happen, they’ll come off this man
This will come down to Parramatta being able to score 30+ against a Brisbane team that has been happy to let points in against mediocre sides. The Broncos backline still leaves the Eels for dead in talent and pace, with Reynolds directing them they’ll find ways to score against a Parramatta backline that managed to get stripped for numbers when playing against 12 men. Each man wearing 2 through 5 has massive defensive deficiencies to exploit, and there is plenty of tape outlining exactly how to do that.
There are some encouraging signs that the Parramatta pack can dominate the Broncos forwards like they used to a couple of years back. Lane in the middle takes away chances for his stone hands to end backline movements, Tuilagi was very effective as an edge runner and Bryce Cartwright will find some joy with a bit of space on the edge as well. Joe O provides a strong defensive presence and effort level at lock, and for all the rumours of Reg staying or leaving, he will still put in.
Sadly I don’t think the Eels are a match for the Broncos backline, and that is where this game will be won and lost. Every one of the Brisbane outside backs is capable of beating a man, and often it doesn’t even take that ability to find space in the Parramatta defence. They might not get a lot of chances, but they won’t need many.
We’re a chance, no doubt, and gee a win would be nice given the Tigers’ opponents keep falling over in front of them. I might be over this team for 2024, but I’ll still be riding this one the whole way.
Go you Eels!
Prediction: Brisbane 36 d Parramatta 28
Man of the Match: Selwyn Cobbo
Gol
We have a history of turning up against the Broncos.
Tonight will see it happen again.
Last week showed that after good games against Melbourne, Warriors and Penrith the outside backs are still easily confused.
I’d have had the Roosters outside defence on a loop this week to drill in the heads that coming in off the wing guarantees a try to the opposition.
The only play worse is the short dropout. Gutho, we need to talk. You are a worse than 50% chance of holding out the opposition if it goes any less than 40 metres off the boot. Park it for emergencies.
While you are at it, stop taking hit-ups on the third play. Make a forward do it.
It’s good to see Sivo back. He could score 4 tries tonight, if he gets the ball. If Penisini realises his job is to put Sivo into space we win by 20. If he runs one out, we don’t get 20 points. Simple as that.
I expect the forwards to give us plenty of go ahead and win the territory battle.
Possible sin bins: Carrigan. I expect his temper to be strained against a better forward pack.
I also expect Shaun Lane to have his best game all year, knowing that he won’t have to play 80 minutes.
Parra by 12.
Man of the match Brendan Hands. He’s consistently good week in week out and his ball distribution is improving every game.
TBH I have no idea what type of Parra will turn up; Barrett says we have focused on defence this week, well that is great but defence has been an issue for a while…..we have had lapses at times too often; and hence the blow out last week, but it did not help with the sin bin.
Head tells me a loss albeit it could be a close one or a blow out.
Eels by 8, in an energised performance resulting from individual concern for own playing future and collective concern over wooden spoon. MVP the one player that needs no extra motivation …Gutho
Like that mate
COACH KILLERS
This is a depressing team to watch.
Hang in there mate
What a bunch of bumbling fools. This team is the height of embarrassment. For the first time in my life I’m embarrassed to be an Eels fan. Tear up all their contracts, without exception. Burn down the club and start again. This club is beyond help. .
We gave the Broncs 4 tries, 2 after penalties, 2 after errors, and we may as well throw in Sailor’s try from poor tackle attempt and technique from Talagi. Hard to watch.
Thanks to our stellar recruitment , and a number of injuries , the bench resembles the playing squad at Wenty or StMarys.
Once the starters were off the replacements struggled big time and gave momentum to the Donkeys, add in massive errors and 2 tries resulting from them, looks like it’s game set and match. Listening to Ginnane is enough to give an aspro a headache, he is as clueless as Talagi is at tackling effectively.
Poor old Asi, every time Talagi missed a tackle , Ginnane mixed him up with Asi.
When Talagi passed it straight to Reynolds, Ginnane said it was a mix up between Penisini and Asi !
You are right about the players.
Dan Keir and Makatoa would struggle to get another gig, I don’t know their contract status.
The only thing I couldn’t work out was why Staggs didn’t run at Talagi and Sivo all game.
This lot just do not have it in them to keep it going. Those errors. Lack of concentration. Dumb plays. Boy oh boy. Coach killers. Fan killers . RCG hold your head up high
Curse of the penalty goal!!
Blaze is hand delivering us the spoon.
For a team that tops the offloads why for are we never ready for it.
Ok I’m going to say it again..
Blaize Tagali would have to be the most overhyped junior I’ve ever seen and I’ve been following the Eels forever.
How does Jake Tago feel watching Talagi give up at least 2 Broncos tries and Barrett absolutely refuses to pull him off and leaves Tago on the pine?
His miss of Sailor in the first half was pitiful and let’s try and forget his bumbling effect to pass straight to Reynolds.
He should have been shunted straight to NSW Cup as soon as he signed for Penrith.
What is the club trying to achieve by playing him ???
I can’t wait till the season is over to see the back of the pretender.
A classic case of the player thinking he’s miles better than he is.
He is going to have to improve 2000% to get anywhere near that decent Penrith team and the only thing that makes me smile this year is that we didnt pay over 500k for him 😁
Absolutely correct, Spark. He is not a first grade footballer atm.
Throwing the ball around without purpose can’t end well.
The forwards were really good. Got over the top of the Broncos, especially RCG & Offa.
Lane lived up to my prediction and played much better.
I’m for a total clean out of the 3/4 line.
We have expected too much from Talagi. He isn’t ready for first grade.
Unless he learns to tackle he could be like a Waqa Blake or David Vaileke and cost us a premiership game. That’s not our problem now.
Penisini is like sweet and sour with too much vinegar. When he’s good he’s good but …
Sivo is more hot and cold than a Ray Price game night split between the ice bath and the electric blanket. I thought he was good tonight. Even Gutho has dropped bombs. He came in following Talagi to let the try outside him.
Russell tries hard but in the end you need speed and power.
Would Moses have kept the game going?
Asi’s kicking game was a C- at best. Most kicks were off the side of the boot and in the wrong place.
Now to the whys.
Kelma – why the chargedown? Why not pass outside instead of inside?
Gutho – WTF are you doing in the scrum?
Why did we change tactics once we got to 16 and had them beaten?
Why do 80% of the side try and grab instead of drive in with the shoulder?
There’s so much wrong, I could to say that Ryles doesn’t have to do much to improve this team.
Look the things I look forward to is –
Ryles will absolutely smash this team to get their skills and fitness up to the required standards.
Gutho is odds on to move to the centres to pair with Lomax.
This will improve us out of sight.
Iongi will start at fullback next year.
Penisini will start in NSW Cup.
Older players like Keir and Makatoa will not be seen. Ryles is very big on juniors and we will see some of the kids from either our junior sides or from other clubs, promoted.
We can only improve.
We will finish with the spoon and we deserve it.
Trent Barretts head coaching career is over.
Well in fairness to Baz, he called out a number of players for dumb plays, incl Sivo, Tuilagi & Penisini. He didn’t pull any punches in his presser.
I’ll wait for the instant reaction before I give the prize of the Kiss of Death to Sixties. I have never in all my time supporting this club ever read someone getting it wrong more than him when it comes to judging players and coach.
Jake Arthur, Matt Arthur, Brad Arthur, Blaize Talagi, the Rouse Hill brigade, Hodgson. It never ends. Do us a favour 60’s never talk up anyone again. Actually I’ve already done it. No need for an instant reaction. This is mine. See you in 2025, you dribbler.
The 2025 wooden spooners. Pathetic organisation from top to bottom
Absolutely no chance we will get anywhere near the spoon in 2025.
Sorry meant 2024
I’m so fed up with the season I made a mistake thinking we were already into the next
All good mate but have hope. We are bringing in some professionals.
The sun is about to shine again.
I think it depends on how many out of sivo, lane etc we can get rid of at the end of this year. sivo especially is putrid and on big coin. If we move him and lane on + rcg (unfortunately) that’ll give us a good platform to rebuild with younger players. If sivo and lane decide to stay and collect their money, ryles will be quite hamstrung in player market. Sure we will improve next year with iongi and Moses etc back but there are some players in the team that are on big money and barely reserve grade. They can’t remain a part of this team
Sixties
I for one absolutely appreciate all your preseason news ,updates and opinions. They give me an insight that I would never have without your complete dedication to all things eels.
Not our year. If we can get a run of luck next year hopefully we can make a significant turnaround.
Go you eels.
Hiding behind a fake name ‘avenger’ and spewing out juvenile comments. Seeking cheap thrills through wind ups and abuse is also a reflection you and character, however much you have.
Go and create your own fan site and hang out there by yourself. It’s pathetic coming here to the TCT to abuse Sixties in any circumstance, but especially when it’s his own site.
Sixties and the TCT do great work making content for fellow fans and that’s very appreciated.
100%…and just diverging, watched the Crichton non sin bin. He hit a blokes head with the point of the shoulder who was being held and no chance of avoidance. So simple, no attempt to tackle. The bunker says ‘high level of mitigation’..the only level of mitigation was that maybe his left arm was prevented from being involved by his team mate but that shouldn’t come into it at all, basically there was no mitigation. Another bunker fantasy call. These guys are seeing things that no one else can.
Yeah it’s so subjective isn’t it.
The problem is that the call can absolutely change a game and a season.
It should have definitely been a sin bin and Annersley will confirm it on Monday but what use is that to the Warriors?
Well said mate
The parramatta Eels are the most unfit I’ve ever seen them in my entire life.
Thank you Ba & co for the good years, but whatever you did or didn’t do over the last two pre seasons has caused our club to completely collapse.
If a mole infiltrated the eels and intended to sabotage us with poor preparation and lack of fitness, and over fed us every week to fatten & slow is up intentionally,
The outcome (even then) couldn’t turn out as bad as it has for us.
And I don’t think sacking coach mid season is the reason for it.
We copped multiple 50 + thrashings with a near full strength squad.
We haven’t had that since Baz and that’s with 5 + reserve graders in every teams list and a severely depleted NRL team.
Whatever has happened could be studied.
I’ve never seen a team collapse so fast and look so unfit.
It’s almost embarrassing, and the broncos if we are being honest are playing at 50% capacity.
Can 2025 come any faster?
RCG & gutho try very hard and I do feel very sorry for them.. those men are always hard workers for our parramatta eels!
A grandma after drinking a can of red bull could defend similarly to Blaize Talagi.
If people are wondering if Iongi is better than blaize.
It’s like comparing a Mitsubishi sigma to a Lamborghini at fullback.
The kid has years before he could be the parramatta fullback, ifs a blessing in disguise he won’t be a parra fullback.
He misses more tackles than he makes. Gutho had dramatically better defence than that even at nsw cup stage.
Re Talagi Muz it’s just not his defence.
He had a simple catch and pass to put Sivo into the corner and he badly butchered it.
Add up the two tries that he directly caused that’s a three try difference from one player !!!
Yet another highly touted junior that is nowhere near the headlines he’s getting.
Regarding Fitness, I agree. Blind old ladies can see that we are unfit and that’s why we decline so badly at the back end of both halves.
Unfortunately that decline is directly on Brad Arthurs plate.
Players like Sivo CAN play but they require a professional strength and conditioning program and proper professional defence coaching, something we just haven’t had for many years.
We have been left to decline so very badly that it’s going to take a monumental effort to get us back on a even keel but I believe that we have finally employed the right people. Gutho and Moses are going to absolutely love the new coaching team because they are professionals and understand that we had to change and were going nowhere.
I can’t wait till next year.
I’d keep Tuilagi though, there’s points in him and he’s only 24.
Agree
Tks Spark, Sivo, Penisini, Kelma T, Russell all would benefit from targetted, intensive programs under the right coaching regime. Hopgood would move into an improvement trajectory, he’s a gun but flatlining, Moretti would make or break (this guy has great ingredients yet to fully gel in 50 minutes of NRL). Blow me down, Lane has to learn how to catch under pressure and not grab at ball carriers, as a middle he consistently makes yards…there’s a strength there. Not a bake, an example…Kelma T last night made some poor calls, a charge down and I reckon 3 catch and pass to open pastures opportunities squandered. But his ball running and off loading were great. Bellamy would jump on the bad stuff. Winning and confidence is a circular puzzle, but both do wonders with players looking to improve aspects of their game. Just have to keep and properly coach the right ones.
Blaize probably will be a decent first grader eventually but in parra style like all our jnrs, can’t defend, has limited speed. And shows minimal work load capacity just like almost all other highly touted parra ones who get nrl opportunities.
This is where I don’t fall for the excuses & wishful thinking either that they ONLY need more time.
Iongi for the panthers in his first NRL game showed panthers style work load & efforts with I believe 240 + combined meters on his NRL debut.
This is a kid who’s stuck at nsw cup and got his first sniff of the NRL.
Even our most highly rated young guns after 1-3 years of first grade in all honesty still defend like reserve graders.
I know this might sound attacking or Pessimistic but it’s the sad factual reality of the club.
Under BA, baz and whoever else is at the club still in recent years.
We literally have had the worst or close to worst edge & try line defence in the whole competition.
We can’t (as supporters) go on any more blatantly being naïve supporters of this clubs development & first grade STAFF & players as being some super stars when they simply are not.
60’s and co do a great job and I love the site & podcast
But all of us fans including them may need to reassess our position on blindly supporting this clubs coaches, young players, development, and club’s decisions.
All of our best players are not parramatta development players.
RCG is a former panther. Gutho was a sea eagle. Moses was more or less a tiger. Hands was a panther. Sivo was a panther. Mahoney, Papali’i, Marata were also not Eels.. Matto & Lane I believe not eels Jnrs, Hopgood a panther…
Our best players generally are not from parramatta and our work ethic and development falls dramatically short if we compare them to players we get mostly from the panthers and everywhere else.
I’m a parra fan so it’s obviously annoying that I even have to a knowledge it or even admit this is true, and our culture of work ethic & elite playing ability development is very poor.
What I believe is this is partially due to having no good coaches in the system who can train our players in all grades how to defend and play at an elite level.
Hopgood was a reserve grader in 2022 in our grand final year, and by the end of 2023 and now 2024.
You could argue he is actually our best forward at the eels and he is a panthers nsw cup player we recruited.
The work ethic and excellence displayed in some of our players generally are not products of parramattas development and training.
Enough of the obviously glaring issues the club has (hence not premierships since the 80’s)…
The clubs not a place of elite development and expectations. You can see the energy & work rate / work ethic at our club is miles below In standards compared to the top teams who consistently every year display high levels of performance.
We have fallen so low since the 80’s that we think success is just developing players who are good enough to play a debut game and just barely make it to first grade standard and graduate past reserve grade.
The club still has too many yes men in it, not only inside the club but in the leading fan groups and amongst supporters.
So long as people think the eels are succeeding just by being average and that’s the expectation that it’s “ok”
Then the club will continue to be pretenders. The fans deserve not just “ok results”, eels fans are the most loyal supporter base in Australia.
Eels fans deserve a premiership and nothing less.
It’s taken 1 season with a good coach, good assistant coach, and a full clean out of the roster (he didn’t have his desired roster last year).
And the bulldogs have gone from stuck near the bottom consistently for YEARS.
To the #1 defence in the NRL and the most consistent team in the comp so far this year.
The Eels sat back loyal to mediocrity and never in a million years thought thr bulldogs could overtake them this quickly.
That’s the power of getting highly competent people in the club and cleaning out the staff and roster who are evidently not capable of providing the club with premiership success.
The bulldogs are more consistent in 2024 than the Eels have been in probably 10 years.
And all it took was people with footballs brains and proven elite defensive coaches to take the helm and recruit fit , fast, highly competitive players from other clubs.
I’m not suggesting it’s only our clubs fault either.
Us eels fans need to Demand success from the club and stop boot licking them even when it’s clearly evident the whole system has been broken for many years.
We have one of the highest membership subscribed NRL clubs in Australia and a giant financial pool of capital supposedly in the leagues club and NRL team.
Yet we constantly fail or at best become mediocre.
Help it make more sense to me, it’s ridiculous.
Some great points there Muz.
We don’t use our resources to our advantage. All clubs have salary cap restrictions but the best clubs use their internal resources to attract talent and keep existing talent.
The Eels are not a destination of choice but they should be.
The Roosters do it the best, the life style their players are afforded off the field has to be seen to be believed.
A simply observation is their injured players sitting in the stands wearing Armani suits.
In return, the club expects 100% dedication on the field and 100% loyalty to the club.
Melbourne have a similar culture, The Bulldogs are now following a similar strategy led by the Dibs, their players and their families don’t pay for fuel, food or accomodation.
Simply example, player X owns a property which is rented out, meantime player X lives in free accommodation for the term of his contract. That gives player X up to $200000 on top of his contract. Add fuel, food, clothing, free schooling, child care, medical ect and it’s little wonder these clubs recruit and keep who they want.
All players from all clubs get perks, only the best clubs afford their players significant, life changing perks.
I haven’t touched on the jobs for family members and garenteed job rolls after retirement.
Our club needs to go all in and play the game. The media praise teams like the Roosters for never losing a player they want and more often than not sign a player they want, like they’re some super power on the negotiating table when the reality is money talks and we know the rest.
Compare these teams to us, we were held over a barrel by a 19 year old and his manager who ultimately ram rodded the club. Isaac Moses would not pull that shit on Politis.
Our problems start way at the top, can our board grow a set and become ruthless in their quest for success? Ryles can’t do it on his own.
There is no reward without risk and corruption, the big boys know how to play, our clubs risk free and cautious approach has got us to where we are today and it needs to stop now.
J, are you telling us, for example, that a back-to-back home rental deal, probably worth $100-150k pa on a $4mil home does not come into salary cap calculations? I’m learning something new every day on TCT.
It’s funny, the last time I bought a new car, I was walking around the lot with the sales guy and we stopped to look at a flashy second hand number and he said ‘this was a (club name) car, we do the players cars here’.. but when I shot some questions at him he said ‘we just provide the cars’. I wondered how all that worked.
Joseph I didn’t know in that detail what players at other clubs get on the side as a bonus for being at the clubs.. but had heard some rumours.
I know us fans can rant all we want but my points I believe can be achieved (many of them at least).. simply by us employing the best coaches & trainers top to bottom, steal or hire proven head of football who’s top of their game, and bringing in the former top players from eels of the past who played origin, etc.. or were just eels players who were leaders for our club as role model players who have value & guidance to provide our younger players.
We’ve got lists of former Eels who were origin & rep level players who absolutely love our club with a passion, and are no longer involved with the club or juniors. People who have more football brains & experience than 99.9% of people (besides Baz) who are employed by the eels. This would significantly bolster the culture and passion at the club, younger players would love to have former origin & Eels legends like Hindy & Hayne, being part of the clubs jnrs and development.
This would even positively impact our first grade teams culture. Hindy was for example an elite level, rep & origin forward. I’m certain having Hindy in helping out our forwards both Snr & Jnr forwards in training or mentorship aspects would only have positive outcomes for our team.
These are not radical or even unrealistic ideas being suggested.
These suggestions are exactly what all of the top teams basically do and install the team culture by having respected former players who are passionate in the club to then mentor & build relationships with younger players.
If you look at the storm they still have Billy slater involved with the team and have holding strong relationships with players, Cam smith is still connected to them, Bellamy keeps his old players who were leaders as role models & good football brains to help guide & retain his younger players by making them buy into the club culture like a big family.
Roosters do similar things. Boyd Cordner is an assistant coach I believe. You can regularly see other former start rooster players involved with the club, people who are passionate in the club & jersey.
As far as I’m concerned we do not do any of that. Or if we do it, it goes less noticed.
The closest thing WE have got to a true club man and leading player in recent times who we could consider as a Eels legend…
Is Clint Gutheson.
You can put him up next to Hayne Or Hindmarsh. That’s how much he means to most of us fans and the club.
Instead..? We hear rumours he’s leaving. They let contracts go to media circus status every time.
And 8/10 chance Gutho will get shopped off and have nothing to do with the club after he’s gone.
This is stuff that can be changed. The board and the ceo need to stop guessing and thinking they know what’s best.
They could Simply model what other successful clubs are doing to create meaning & winning cultures inside of their NRL teams.
In many areas we do exactly the opposite of what leading NRL clubs do.
That’s probably why we have record winning spoon.
Why can we all see this but the board & ceo cannot ?
Hey Sixties and the TCT team – ignore the critics. I don’t understand why people would complain / criticise a site that is FREE to access and that you don’t have to visit. It’s like the radio – don’t like the song – just change the channel. There are plenty of fan sites that people can go to if they don’t like this one. Or they can start their own – and realise just how much work it takes to put together the content and run the site – and do it for free – just a love of the game and a love of the club.
It’s been a tough year for the Eels and their fans – and 2025 will hopefully be better. And keep putting your opinions out there – its considered and discussion based, and an open forum – and I think most readers respect and appreciate that.
Go Parra !!
Fwiw spoke to a bloke who knows ryles from his Wollongong days and he said they will be so fit and play like animals every game , also suggested we have picked up 2 lower graders from stgeorge but not sure who they are or there ability