The need-for-X-factor talk has quietened over the last month. The Eels have been on the rise winning 4-straight for the first time in over two years, whilst the Dolphins are heading in the opposite trajectory losing the last two by heavy margins and last 3 of 4.
As Eels' fans have come to expect, Gutherson (above) was on fire last night (R16) against Manly at Commbank. He leads by example, exuberance and passion.
We took it personally after Round 3.
They came out and said our middles were pretty soft.
Gutherson post-game talking to Fox's Mal Meninga
Ogden was outstanding and scored an important bustling try on the line (Getty Images).
Although, we don't have the speed merchants out wide that other teams have, we have played with plenty of courage, toughness and skill. With the team and depth players standing up in our hour of need.
Hopgood was on fire against the Eagles and is proving one of the NRL's buys of the season (Getty Images).
Both teams will end round sixteen on 18 points, but the Eels will be in either 7th or 8th place, in the top eight for the first time. The Dolphins dropped out the eight last week (R15) after being top four earlier in the year, surprising everyone.
Everyone expected them to be more like last week against Manly (R15, 58-18) - capitulating with their heads on a stick.
If form is a guide - where the Eels just beat the Eagles by 30 (34-4, R16) and the Eagles beat the Dolphins the week before by 40 (58-18, R15) - we'll see a cricket score.
Surely, the Master coach can get the Dolphins revved up for atonement after the embarrassment, after a bye, after they worked so hard earlier in the season?
The Eels have only played at the Sunshine Coast Stadium once ironically it's against that team again. Manly. And it was a demoralizing 56-10 loss for the Eels (R22, 2021) almost 2 years ago.
Additionally, Brad Arthur has an awful record against the master coach, Wayne Bennett 7 / 16 at 23.1% losing the last 4-straight (Arthur's record is only worse against Craig Fitzgibbon and Shane Flanagan who Arthur has never defeated either in 7 games).
The last time the Eels won five-straight was over two years ago (R6-10,2021). They didn't even manage it last year in their grand final year. Can they continue this run?
Comments
One rising one falling? hmmm
Looks like the Dolphins are getting a reboot
"BYD’s latest launch, called the Dolphin, set for Thursday on the Gold Coast, triggered speculation after the company promised it would deliver “the most affordable, high-quality EV launched in Australia”.
Feel like we are a very different team to last year. Dolphins started the year with a bang but now starting to sputter, but Dolphins do have home ground advantage which looks to be sold out.
Eels by 8 points, provided Moses backs up...
something has obviously happened with how we are playing this year. I wonder what has been happening behind the scenes as lots of unexpected changes. I hope we continue to rotate the bench and give big minutes to bench players to have a lot of confidence to prevent burnout issues at the end of the year.