Friday night's R20 win over the Panthers 34-10 was almost as spectacular a miracle as when Moses last parted the Seas to temporarily free the long-suffering Holy Eels people from their multiple personality team in 2022. Here's some good news and some bad news.
First the bad news.
The Eels traditionally struggle playing Manly at Brookvale (4 Pines) losing the last three straight.
They haven't beaten Manly here for five years (since R1, 2017, 20-12 victory); back in the days when Trent Barrett was head coach. He might end up on the Where are they Now show.
Manly also have the edge over the Eels in recent years. The Eels have only won 1 from their last 4 against Manly.
The Eels only win over Manly in almost three years (since R4,19-16, 2020 at Commbank) was their winning their last encounter back in round 11, 22-20 at Commbank in the dying minutes; losing all their fingernails pulling victory from the jaws of defeat.
If it wasn't for Moses' boot being slightly more on target that Friday night (4 tries a piece and Garrick kicked 2/4) it might have been a different result.
The loss of Moses who allegedly required finger surgery, could be a serious body blow to the Eels' not just for this match but their chances of a top four. Currently on 26 points, they probably need to win at least a game or two from their last 6 to ensure they make the finals.
With our general Moses missing Manly should have the edge in the on-field leadership stakes through the likes of DCE, Foran, and Jake.
And if Jakob Arthur is named half on Tuesday, let's hope the last two years of history can be overturned. We don't travel well when young Arthur plays in the halves.
When he plays in the halves we are statistically worse than 2018's spoon year - scoring less, conceding more.
Team List Tuesday will be interesting.
If Arthur senior plays true to form, his young charge will be in charge probably in the 7 jersey, where Jake Arthur has 1 win from 4 games.
Now for the good news.
On the bright side, Friday nights have been good to the Eels in recent years.
The Eels have won the last 5 straight Friday night games against Manly over the last 9 years, since 2014 when Arthur took the reigns.
It's also the only day we've won all our games this year (4/4).
But none of those Friday nights were at Brookvale (now 4 Pines).
The Eels last Friday night games at Brookvale against Manly back in 2007 and 2008 were both losses.
Perhaps, we shouldn't be shocked Mondays and Thursdays are out worst days in recent times (3 from 10). After all, fulltime professional employees often don't perform at their peak on Mondays and working odd days and hours.
With some sense of synchronicity, Waqa Blake plays his 150th NRL game this week. Gutho also played his 150th against Manly in that round 11 encounter - also a Friday night.
Back on Manly: I wonder will the religio-politico-rainbows-on-the-jersey saga that split their team help us or will it galvanize their playing group (let's stick together, f### the rest)?
Their admirable 10-20 performance against the Chooks, when many feared a slaughtering, suggests they might not be ready to fall in a heap.
It will be an interesting week ahead - indeed weeks ahead - for all Eels' fans.
PS: The other good news is the drama and controversy of Manly's "offensive-to-some" jersey might be over. It's something all club stakeholders and CEO's will need to look at in the future and weigh up carefully. Walking on a minefield of eggshells laced with TNT. It's unclear how everyone might end up not offended and whether advising players ahead of time or a less-offensive redesigned jersey will be the solution. One to watch. Or maybe not of you're one in the minority of silent protesters against being forced into inclusivity.Thank God the players (nor fans) don't actually believe they play for the NRL's unwavering support for inclusiveness with the "normal" jersey. Or at least they don't have to think about it.
Comments
I hardly noticed the Guernsey to be honest. Big deal over nothing when you have footy on your mind. JA just doesn't feel right for me.I hope I am wrong. Maybe getting to the serious time of the year may create some strong desire knowing each game win can help with confidence in our ability.. Maybe time to refocus our energy into on the task ahead.Forget the office politics for now.Time for that later.We can smell an opportunity now for something positive and should go for that. Release the conservative style and enjoy playing the game.as it' ment to be played and why you are doing this stuff
Can we win without Moses! yes as long as the rest of the team consistantly puts in the effort.
Have no problem JA playing, he is our back up half and BA will pick him as the replacement for Moses. Is he up to it well I think he is still 1 to 2 years off NRL level but he will play as we all know and he will do his job as best he can. He knows our systems and how we play so there show be little disruption as to any other option. Lets support him, give him a chance or go and hopefully the other players get around him and support him so we continue winning.
Really find it hard to believe that a club like Parramatta Eels struggle to find a better halves replacement than Jake Arthur...
Or is there one out there that is just plain missing out due to BA continuing to say 'I don't care what the fans or experts say, I'm picking my son!'...
Like I have said before, none of us are the Eels coach, but we've watched the side, week after week this year and it doesn't take a coach or expert to figure out when something isn't working...
Would Jake be the first halves replacement for any other NRL side in the competition??...
The only thing I would ask for from the Eels fans attending the game this week... Please don't boo him as it is not his fault... There are still 16 other players on the field that need to produce an effort... And let's hope Mahoney, Brown, Gutho and the crew can carry him...
Sort of getting used to the sinking feelings these days!
Sean, I agree with you. Well said. The stats suggest JA makes the team significantly worse the more mins he plays, especially in the halves.
But, playing devil's advocate there's the Brett Allen defence: You or I haven't coached an NRL game (what do we know). BA's coached 221 or whatever. And, weren't not flies on a wall party to all the inner workings (what do we know).
Nonetheless, all that aside, this team has talent and potential. Let's hope they pull it together somehow over the remainder of the year.
Hahaha the 'Brett Allen Excuse'.
Good read, thanks HOE. Liking those Friday night stats, but not so much the Jake stats. Not feeling too confident about Manly with or without Moses due to our edge defence.
What are your thoughts?
Looks like they added a finger in Moses' surgery going off his X-ray, that'll come in handy.
Nice work HOE.
NOS, I'm not sure buddy.
It's likely BA will choose JA in the halves, and we might hear the "everyone just needs to do their job", be "professional" with the "next man up" mantra.
BA has used similar themes.
He often talks about players being "professional" - and just "do your designated Job". Front loaded effort. Chasing the collison. And how the sport is not a sport anymore it's just a business. Or Junior and RCG are paid a lot to be on the field as long as possible.
All sounds fine and it's nothing new. There's only one problem.
Full time workers are also by definition "professional" or should be, and yet many also tend to also switch on and off like us. Many hate Mondays (like us) or working outside normal hours (like us on Mondays and Thursdays recently) or when things get uncomfortable (not unlike us).
I suppose, If history continues (doesn't get worse) we will win at least 1/4 and get a few hidings, which unless we're lucky means our finals appearances might come down to the R25 clash with the Storm.
Let's hope history doesn't continue, and we don't get a few hidings and can win more than one game in the next month.
HOE,
What a disappointing predicament we've found ourselves in when we are hoping to win 1-2 games (and not be flogged) in the next month. Unfortuantely, its 100% realistic though.
Good points there, these guys are human after all. Im sure we'll hear all those buzz phrases & more HOE.
As enjoyable as Fridays win was though, it didnt change anything for me in regards to where I feel we finish, hope to be wrong, but now without Moses its hard to see it.
Dont like sounding pessimistic, but concerned this season might go down as our most disappointing in a long, long time.
Until then, hoping for the best. A win over Manly without Moses could do wonders to everyones confidence.
NOS, hear, hear. Let's hope.
In recent weeks, Dylan seems to be getting more involved and contributing to our tries (e.g. great kick and cut out passes last week to set up the Ice and Sivo tries) not leaving it all for Moses to do.
He will need to step up this week to counter JA's sluggishness.
We know he's a great tackler and has a good running game when he's on, but this side of his game really gets me excited - if he can continue it and stay on. He does have a bit of a tendency to switch on and off too, imo. Maybe, it partly depends on his off-field life (loves a good time from what I hear). Something he need to watch.
And we do like Friday nights (best record this year and good in recent times).
Last year when JA had played half with Moses out we won 1/4 scoring at an average of 10.5ppg, conceding 22ppg. Versus the 20 games with Moses at 7, scoring at 26.2ppg, conceded 18.45ppg.
Let's hope history doesn't repeat itself with JA or get any worse. Hard to get worse, anyway. The only way is up (almost).
Agree HOE, DB has looked to inject himself more of late.
His first 20mins against Panthers was so important for mine. As you say though, we can't afford for him to drift in & out now. BIG challenge for him this week.
Liking the Friday record, but man, that record without Moses is scary. Especially the difference in attack.
Really hoping BA releases the shackles with our game plan a little, nothing to lose from mixing it up & being creative now.
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