That was certainly one out of the box. The Eels produced some of their worst and best footy inside the same game as they nearly broke a NRL record in their ill-fated comeback attempt against the Rabbitohs in Indigenous Round. The Tip Sheet breaks it all down from the awful first half to the big fight back and everything in between.
Thoughts are raw but were live
Yes we made a good comeback. But don’t kid yourself, yes the effort is commendable, but the reality is the line break count was 3-10 and they didn’t have a half back for 50 minutes.
1st half:
Who is to blame for this?
Ryles/Moretti: Ryles picked Moretti to start. That’s on him.
I’ve been saying it for years: I know Eels fans want to believe Moretti is an NRL player. But no other club would pick him up if he went on the market, so he isn’t. Never has been. – Just 6 days ago we made close to 20 errors and Moretti decides to try an offload a ball 20 odd metres from his own line on the 4th tackle of the game!!! Seriously. 10 minutes later it’s 0-14. He should never have been picked and he should have been dragged right away.
Kelly: In a vacuum I can’t blame him for getting sin binned. But I wanted to slap the chewing gum out of his mouth. And the stupid, deliberate last tackle, 1m off the line penalty that led to a try in the next set – and again, he looked like he couldn’t care less….
MoN: You make your big name signing JDB – frankly we’re lucky not to be last given we have the worst squad in the NRL.
Attack coach: Do we have one? Seriously 3 weeks in a row. We tried Volkman kicking for Moses. Is there a single other play we have tried 3 times in the last 3 weeks? It’s all we have got and it is embarrassing!!!!
Ryles/R&R:Yep, we had an injury to a backline player. But when every week you use one of your 17 spots to start a 35 year old who gives you 3 hit ups, every week…. You reap what you sow.
Did you know Big Sam started the game?! First (and last) I saw of him was him lying on the ground when Brandon Smith made it 0-14.
2nd half
Volkman. DO NOT TELL ME we are better off with a “couldn’t care less” Luai, than, a “trying my guts out” Volkman. There is nothing to suggest we will be. Nothing. It’s utterly ridiculous. If our youth aren’t ready. THIS guy should be pur insurance! It isn’t like we are going to be able to spend our cap.
We get a penalty. Moretti takes first hit up and gets put on his backside. Next tackle Big Sam picked up and sat on his backside. WE NEED PROPS! – (but not Leota, he was dreadful in NZ, had looked his age all year).
TDS… That he is our leading try scorer as a hooker is embarrassing. Thot he makes bad decisions in the red zone every single week, is more of a problem.
I don’t care that Samrani isn’t the fastest, or most skilled. He wants to win. You just find a place for guys like that .
Ultimately. We stunk royally in the first half and it can’t happen.. People will blame refs and injuries, but the other team have the same gripes. Own the fact, we’re not good enough. Be worried, we’re not getting much better.
BTW: Hayden Watson, who started the year in Flegg, played his 2nd first grade game for the Storm today, at half back. and killed it. We won’t even let Fletcher play NSW Cup!!!