Eels Blogs

Howdy Folks,

Sharing the pain and frustration tonight. I think - deep down - we all saw this coming (straight sets defeats) given the poor lead-in towards the finals.

I've put together some thoughts on player ratings based on 2020 only. Have tried to be realistic given our "successful" third-placed season, but finals form has also been considered.

I haven't rated bench players as I couldn't be bothered, but have instead opted for our typical 1-13 line-up, or 'best on paper' as seen by the coach.

I suppose I did this for my own sanity and to digest another season gone begging. I think it's become fairly obvious where our deficiencies are. In any case, ratings are below.

Feel free to share your thoughts.

1. Clint Gutherson. 9/10 – Incredibly consistent season. Clearly puts 100% effort in each week and challenges the referees when needed. Mostly well-timed passing and line running when he chimes into the backline. Runs miles off the ball to be where needed in defence. Great haircut.

2. Maiko Sivo. 5.5/10 – Excellent finisher but question marks remain over defence going into 2021. Needs to hit the line harder when coming out of own end. Pace...?

3. Michael Jennings. 7/10. Apart from Gutho, our most consistent back in 2020. Mostly excellent defence and can still put on a good move in attack. Has lost that blistering pace from his time at Panthers and Chooks, but can still move quickly when needed. Headline news doesn’t affect score. 

4. Waqa Blake. 4/10. Rocks and diamonds. Won us the game against the Panthers but that’s about it apart from an occasional nice leap or tackle bust. Defensive liability. Cool haircut. I think.

5. Blake Ferguson. 5/10. Strong metres coming out of trouble. Several costly errors. Would have been 5.5 had he scored “that” try. Not the player he was. No haircut.

6. Dylan Brown. 6/10. Does try to straighten the attack and defends well. Still very inexperienced and will hopefully lean to build pressure on opposition with percentage plays and set restarts and general ‘icing’ on attacking plays. 

7. Mitchell Moses. 4/10. I’m not sure if the continual bombing blame should fall on MM or BA, but in either case, a far too predictable 2020 for a player who promised so much coming into the season. Still has the ability to find a hole, defence improved-ish (particularly in first half of season), but failed to deliver in games when it mattered. Also failed to build pressure when we needed it.

8. RCG. 7.5/10. Super first half of the season, but lost a little of that energy in the back half of the season. An excellent buy and partner in crime for Paulo. 

9. Reed Mahoney. 6.5/10. Thought hard about this one. Some really positive signs for Mahoney, particularly with his crisp delivery out of DH. Occasional nice kicking game, seems to have good vision and tackles well. Love his passion, but he is not quite up to a strong 7+ IMO.

10. Junior Paulo. 8.5/10. Had a stellar back half of the season. Was in our top two forwards for most games this year and his offloading was sensational. Great hands and footwork and mostly solid in defence (can occasionally get caught out by speed through the middle). 

11. Shaun Lane. 5.5/10. Looked good early on, but perhaps a lack of confidence halted his form. Ran great lines in 2019 but that has disappeared. Defence okay-ish without being great. 

12. Ryan Matterson. 6/10. Also promised much coming into 2020. Had a few incredible moments and offloads (that pass to Waqa Blake early on was dynamite), scored tries early but then went off boil. Solid without being great. 

13. Nathan Brown. 8/10. Would have been higher if not for poor discipline on occasions. Would love to bottle up his passion and give to the others. Always makes good metres and tackles hard. 

14. COACH BA. 6/10. Got us into the finals three times in fours years, but is clearly not a strategist. He is an excellent man manager and patient with the media, but that doesn’t win you premierships. Finals records not great, but credit for regular season this year.