A mercy to us all, by 8PM tonight season 2024 will be in the books, one way or the other. Either the Wests Tigers or Parramatta Eels will take the dreaded wooden spoon, both deserving candidates but only one can be the worst of the worst.
The Eels are a historically bad defensive team, responsible for turning the wit of thousands of mates asking “do you think we’re safe now?” as we ticked over the 40 point mark last week into a scary truth about a side that simply can’t stop an opponent from scoring when they decide they really want to. A third consecutive spoon for the Tigers would be a fitting lifetime achievement award for the perpetually mediocre franchise, a similarly but less spectacularly defensively inept side to the Eels (indeed the loser of this game will also claim the worst defence title for 2024) but instead of pairing it with a league average attack, they’re also the worst side in the comp with the ball, too.
As the worst team on both sides of the ball, without an injury crisis for the ages as an excuse, the Tigers clearly deserve this spoon more than the Eels. When it comes to games like this one though, deserves got nothing to do with it. Who wants it more? Or more accurately, who doesn’t want it more? Tigers. Eels. Campbelltown. The sun still up on a Friday night. It’s the match of the season, the wooden spoon playoff! Let’s get stuck in.
Game Info
Date: Friday September 6, 2024
Venue: Campbelltown Stadium, Campbelltown
Kick-off: 6:00PM AEST
Referee: Peter Gough
Bunker: Chris Butler
Weather: Hot, dry, windy
Broadcast: Fox League, Kayo
Sixties Speculates (Odds quoted are NSW TAB)
The speculation delivered big time last week. I was very confident that over 61.5 total match points would be surpassed, and the odds of over $3 was too good to resist.
You could easily dive in to the same market again this week, with both teams conceding a whopping 30 points per game.
However, I’ve deciding to end the tipping on a high. I am honestly unsure what to expect. It probably involves lots of points, but it feels like a look on contest.
Keep your money in your pocket. Enjoy the game. Good riddance to 2024.
Happy, responsible punting.
Sixties
Teams
Parramatta Eels
1. Clint Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Will Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Shaun Lane 11. Kelma Tuilagi 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Joe Ofahengaue. 14. Joey Lussick 15. Makahesi Makatoa 16. Luca Moretti 17. Ofahiki Ogden. 18. Jake Tago 20. Ethan Sanders.
Wests Tigers
1. Heath Mason 2. Junior Tupou 3. Solomona Faataape 4. Josh Feledy 5. Charlie Staines 6. Lachlan Galvin 7. Latu Fainu 8. Stefano Utoikamanu 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. David Klemmer 11. Alex Seyfarth 12. Samuela Fainu 13. Isaiah Papali’i. 14. Sione Fainu 15. Fonua Pole 16. Alex Twal 22. Tony Sukkar. 19. Alex Lobb 20. Reuben Porter.
Sean Russell is back on deck and on the wing after missing last week, taking the place of Jake Tago, who may have played his final first grade game given the injury and roster talent crisis of 2024 should surely resolve somewhat in 2025. Another in that bucket is Dan Keir, who has played hard and done good in his late-season cameo but will miss this one under concussion protocols. Kelma Tuilagi returns to the side, pushing Ofahiki Ogden to the bench via Shaun Lane’s return to the front row. If Ogden had played all his Eels footy like he played that chase downfield last week, he’d have been a superstar.
The Tigers may not have endured the same injury toll as the Eels this year, but they’ve certainly copped a few for this crucial clash. Aiden Sezer is out as is Jahream Bula, bringing in the combined 14 games of experience (11 from the bench) of Latu Fainu and Heath Mason. Justin Olam is also out, while Adam Doueihi may never have been truly in given how often he is injured. Two former Eels who chased the coin to Wests are playing their last games in Tigers colours, Stefano Utoikamanu and Isaiah Papali’i enjoying wooden spoons so much they’ve taken unders to fly off to the two teams likely to contest the 2024 grand final. Should’ve stayed in Blue and Gold, boys.
Speechless. Without Speech.
The rumour mill would make this the last appearance in Blue and Gold for Big Reg.Thanks for all the big efforts, big man.
What can you say about a team that nearly let a 32 point lead slip away in the space of 11 minutes? If you aren’t safe to just sit back and enjoy a game of footy once the scoreboard cracks 4-0, when can you be safe? There isn’t a lot of joy in supporting a team that can be run down from any point in the game, and joyless is a great way to describe the fan experience of supporting the 2024 Parramatta Eels.
While the Tigers are a popgun attacking side with few strike weapons around the park, surely last week was the tipping point for any opponent of the Blue and Gold to throw the ball around early and often, and basically play like you are down by 24 for the full 80 minutes. Combined with the “nothing to lose” nature of the spoon battle, Benji Marshall’s gameplan might be as simple as “throw it around all day”, and I fear evidence suggests the Eels will not be able to cope with that.
Throwing it around with reckless abandon from the opening minute is, no doubt, a risky strategy. The Eels capitalise on good field position well, are great downhill runners and you can attribute their vulnerability to massive comebacks to their fitness levels, poor defensive structures and lack of combinations, the first of which won’t be a concern in the opening minutes. Early spreads against a more steady defensive line is a recipe for going nowhere, making errors and giving good ball to a team who has proven they can use it.
Yet even if the Eels use their good ball well, what lead is safe? How concerned would the Tigers be about giving up field position, or tries? It’s a dangerous game when your opponent is never out of the contest; breaking the spirit and will of your opposition is near impossible when they believe (and there is proof) they could come back from as much as a 30 point deficit with ten minutes to go. How do you demoralise a side that could go into the sheds down by 40 and they can actually believe their coach when he says “you can do this”?
For whatever reason, there is always a big chip on the Tigers shoulder when it comes to the Eels. I’ve only read two interviews with Lachlan Galvin and both times he’s cried “poor me” about the Eels rejecting him as a pre-teen. He played his junior footy at that noted Parramatta stronghold of Eagle Vale, for crying out loud. What’s he upset about anyway, losing the opportunity to sook his way out of a contract at 19 years old in Blue and Gold instead of Tiger stripes? Give me a break.
Maybe they’re upset that nobody took seriously their claims to CommBank Stadium being as much their home ground as it was ours. It might be that they look with envy at the sterling run of management the Eels have endured for the last 35 years, which still looks like the New York Yankees compared to what Wests has dished up. If I was them I’d be upset that every attempt they’ve made to poach Parramatta players has resulted in underperformers that can’t wait to get out of the club, except for Alex Twal who instead they’ve been trying to push out for years. If they’re upset that Tigers legend Mark O’Neill is now running football operations at the Eels, I’m willing to make the sacrifice and let them have him back if it means I get to stop hearing “woe is us” little brother whinging from Tigers fans.
The Game
My pick for player of the year, Joe O. Because when you are bad, your best middle forward gets the player of the year award. That’s just how the rules work.
If it feels like I’m taking every opportunity to sink the slipper into the Tigers, you’d be right, because if we lose this one I’m not going to be able to stick it to them for at least 12 months, perhaps longer if they finally hit the road to recovery by filling up on Panther off-cuts. Then again, by that point they might be the Western Suburbs Magpies once more. I’d say that maybe that change would mean the next time a club legend passes away they don’t go out and get 40 put on them by halftime in the tribute match, but I’m pretty sure Tommy Raudonikis is the only legend the Magpies have ever had.
I’m just grateful that the Tigers are the gift that keeps on giving, even after the departure of the clown show that was Pascoe and Hagipantelis. The gall of Balmain, who survived only by the generosity of Wests (and perhaps their reliance on the Tiger branding) after years of financial mismanagement, thinking they can go it alone, never considering if the NRL would prefer a team in one of the only remaining growth corridors in Sydney or if they pander to one legacy suburb in Sydney that loves rugby league so much that the only reason locals don’t flee the area on gameday is because traffic is so bad they’d never get to the end of their street by kickoff. I bet Balmain Leagues is going to be packed with Tigers fans tonight cheering on their local team to avoid three consecutive years of failure.
The Tigers deserve this spoon. For three years of some of the most miserable football ever played, for the baffling coaching decisions, the Centre of Excellence on cinder blocks and the Tiger Town documentary (the gift that truly keeps on giving). They deserve it for Blocker on commentary, for $40 tickets to the Leichhardt hill, for Our Jungle and for ruining Eye of the Tiger. They deserve it because they have been, by far, the worst team in rugby league this year.
Parramatta is a flawed side, severely so, but they’ve not given up this year. They’ve pulled off some upsets, some scares, and even, very occasionally, played some good footy. If games ended at half time they’d be premiership favourites, which isn’t really a compliment but given where we are this year, it is something. The players have talked a big game, which we’ve all heard before, but if ever there was a time to grow a backbone in season 2024, well it was back in round 3 if we’re being honest, but now is a decent next best opportunity. Go out there and put this sorry excuse for a football side away, and end the season on a high. Next year will be better.
Go you Eels!
Prediction: Parramatta 47 d Wests 46
Man of the Match: Clint Gutherson
Gol
Western Suburbs legends Keith Holman, Arthur Summons and Noel Kelly but so long ago no one would remember them. Maybe Les the Thug Boyd.
Two men stand in the way of a Parra victory. Peter Gough who has the insane sin bin mentality for any reason and Api K who it seems scores a winning try against the Eels.
If it’s a seventy minute Parra are certain but it’s the last ten minutes. I don’t understand why the team think they have it in the bag and with a big lead clock off. That is a mental thing they have had for a while especially against the Tigers. A close game it’s the Tigers and to be safe Parra needs fifty. They can do it – their attack over the past month or so has been great. I am not a betting man but they need big early points to shut that crowd down. It will be like going past the Claxton hotel near Suncorp stadium. It will be wild but they can do it.
My tip Parra by nose.
No they might do a Secretariat – a big runaway win.
Zero, my family were big Enfield Federals/Wests supporters when the west was more east than it is now, we moved out to the much wilder West late 50’s and through school and mates I broke ranks to Parra as the 60’s wore on. Noel Kelly ( and Thurston) have always been my favourite non-Eels. Kelly got his reputation not by starting the dark stuff, but finishing it.True footballer and person, and legend.
Has a game in the NRL ever produced 100 points? Maybe this is the one.
Apparently the Knights and the Raiders 2006 102 points
Parra’s highest scoring game beat Cronulla 74-4
Year??
Galvin keeps spiking about the eels. He is a lifelong eels die hard who like most former eels feels like he wasn’t treated good when leaving. Is it truth? Who knows. He was told he was too small. Gus guild thinks the kid could be the one of the best kid halves he has seen at his age with minimal nrl experience.
The Kids hatred & anger towards us is driving him. The kid’s emotional and using it as a driver. Don’t be surprised if Galvin puts up a fight here and embarrasses the eels.
Really hoping that it doesn’t happen. The eels mentality is piss weak and we often lose the games which we should win. We desperately will need some luck and fair refereeing today. Dylan brown better step up and stop Galvin from us making us collect another embarrassing wooden spoon. MON D- Brown (or) gutho if we win..! 💛💙🤞
Sorry, MOM* Dyl brown or gutho. Imo that’s the two players who can stop us from getting the wooden spoon today.. if brown goes missing we lose.
Muz,
Don’t be surprised that Galvin ends up at the Eels one day.
He still loves the place.
Spark I had that thought he might end up back one day for the right money..
he is probably just an emotional kid having a whinge.
Just a comment,Wests scored carbon copy tries that the Dragons inflicted on us. Pointless making a fuss about it, last game, new direction coming.
100% mate. we don’t improve defensively week to week and don’t learn from mistakes. Sean Russel coming in when not even needing to opened up the try where the cut out ball went outside of him to the tigers winger to easily score. This is systemic poor defensive coaching for long periods of time. Our team leaks 2-4 tries every game by a winger coming in and not making his man or rushing in or up early. Next year cannot come quick enough. Can’t wait to see if different defence coaching can help them in 2025.
I am happy to say Parra would have a big runaway win.
And they did.
Let’s leave it at that.
As I write, it’s over. What a disapppinting season including t he dismissal of a much admired coach.
For what they are worth, my awards and questions:
My Are You Srrious Award – to those who believe we would be a better club if only we could get rid of Mika Sivo.
Question of the season – What is Clint Gutherson’s best position for 2025? Seems to me it is unquestionably full back. Not sure whete that leaves our recruitment from The Panthers.
Best number 24 – Lussick. He ius a very competitive centre forward., not a great dummy h a lf but he can play there. We shouldn’t forget tha t he’s played at 6 and 7 in NSW Cup.
Most improvedvplayer – Again no doubt in my mind it’s DJ Asi.
He came to us as a cente/winger with defensive problems. He i s now a ptesentable 7 witn an outstanding kicking game. I wonder if those of us who want to be rid of him are sure we can come up with a b etter performer.
Off season n oiw. Wortj close attention
Tks Muz, I thought someone might bake me with ‘aren’t you happy with 60-26?’. I am, but those 2 tries had every aspect of the Dragons’ ones in the terrible 10. A bunch of things, one being how thin and easy we look..not a soul pushing across in scramble, just pop the ball through the line or bait us into wrong calls and there’s nothing left.
I see that, probably, we’ll be without Dylan for the first half of next season. The obvious replacement is DJ Asi.
Noel if dyl is out for a good chunk next season we start on the back foot. Wonder who would be starting #6. Asi is apparently going (which is crazy because he is actually improving / playing decent). Interested to see if they change mind on Asi, or simply Seek Hawkins. Hawkins is more a #7.
Think DJ is taking the money and running to Super League, where he’s guaranteed a first grade spot and will probably be a star, rather than a back-up. I’ve got to the point where I’m disappointed to see him go, but I can’t in the slightest blame him – it’s the best option for him, he’s not a first choice half in our team.
How we do fill that gap though… *sigh*
Gutherson is the obvious replacement for Brown.
Like Darren Lockyer did, I think he will fit beautifully there, and with his energy he could last as long as DCE in the top grade.
I’ve never given up on Sivo. With a good centre inside him he could score 50 tries in a season.
It’s madness punting RCG. He has the biggest heart of any front rower in the comp.
It’s sweet to finish ahead of the Rabbits.
All 3 bottom teams have non-functional boards.
Make Parra matter for 2025.
56 I hope gutho plays at 6 he would probably do well. Lots of energy and has decent short kicking game and can defend / tackle well. We must not forget Iongi will be in his first year of first grade, he could get injured easily or not even be up to scratch to play at #1 every week. If we drop a few games or if Iongi isn’t up to scratch yet Gutho will be at fullback and Iongi to the wing. Rookie fullbacks rarely come into first grade and have it all worked out. Gutho is still our best player. I wouldn’t be surprised if gutho plays a lot of fullback again next year. People criticise gutho but even busted with broken ribs, town quads, evidently sore knees, he still had more heart and consistency than any other parramatta eel. In the post game press baz said this is how much the players and this team means to him. He did that for us to ensure the club avoided a wooden spoon
Yeah Bdon I get you mate, it’s when you see the same patterns and mistakes happening and don’t get improved defensively it gets frustrating. At least we won I guess. The last thing we needed next season was having the label “last years wooden spoon team.” It was sad to see RCG possibly play his last game for us and he is legitimately one of the next props I have ever seen at parramatta. He still our best prop. Regardless, hopefully next year some of our younger forwards can fill the void.
Agree Muz
Nobody wanted Reg gone. He’s a fan favourite. But he’s probably the only forward offered that another club wanted.
Junior is too big an asking price. Lane meh. Matto activated his player option.
Gutho is a warrior. We all know he’s been playing busted this year and most of last year. His knee being drained regularly. But if reports are true. He’s also had a torn quad and broken ribs. He is the Eels talisman that always gives 100%.
Sorry to see Reg go. But he’s probably just added another 50k to his contract as a goal kicking prop with 100% accuracy. He may well end up at Broncos following Barrett…
I couldn’t bare another spoon. We were lucky to sneak into 15th.
Gough allowed Tigers to sleep in the ruck and slow us down massively in the first half.
At last the misery is over!!
Pete yeah I saw in the post match press baz said guthos got broken ribs and torn quad and played for 3 weeks. That’s also not even considering his knees that’s been not 100% all season it looked like. The RCG thing is apparently him as well he wants a 3 year contract to solidify his employment as he enters a agein his career where money & employment becomes uncertain. But I still think he has 3 years as a nrl prop. Gutho said RCG would look good in a catalans jeresy so maybe they are interested. RCG isn’t even a bench prop yet, he could last 2 more seasons as starting prop. Where’s Paulos already a bench prop. Unless Ryles can pull off a miracle this off season