Poppa's Corner: A macro view of where we are and where we can go

This blog emanated from a post on another blog where I was asked about a view of what we can do in salary cap and player management.

Ok the question was put by Bluey as to what we could or should do based on some egalitarian system of payments.  Adam

R19 v Titans: RCG's Century & A Seven-Year Hoodoo

Reagan Campbell-Gillard celebrates his 100th game for the Eels on Saturday night against the Titans at CBUS Stadium in their 26th NRL clash.

Des Hasler's resurgent Titans are seeking 3-straight wins when when they face the struggling Eels facing 5-s

‘Broncos of the west’: How the Eels landed their man Ryles

 

One piece of the Parra puzzle falls into place. How many remain?

First and foremost, I'm glad it's done.

We have had an open wound since the axing of BA and now that wound can start to heal. So whilst I have no bloody idea why it took THIS long to appoint one of the first two names ever floated as a candidate, and

Pop's Corner: I Don't Like Latrell; But he was One of Two Things that Beat us Last Night.

Sure, I don't really like Latrell Mitchell. But, boy can he play! He is a genuine X-factor player. He was one of two things that beat us last night. The other was ourselves.

Defensively.

We all talk about second-phase play in attack, but what was fr

Jayden Brailey - a hooker for us

Jayden brailey's been given permission to look elsewhere, we should pick him up as we need a proper hooker. He can mentor Hands and Arthur and is much better than either as it stands. Lret's be honest we havent been the same since Mahoney left and a

R18 v Souths; Barrett: We’ll Get the Bounce of the Ball Soon

The equal last-placed Eels and 14th-placed Souths are in polar opposite recent form. Souths are on a red-hot streak winning won four-straight, while the Eels are in a rut winning just two from their last twelve. And it's been five years since the Ee

Optical Illusions and The Modern Rookie Way

One of my favorite optical illusions is the Ames Room illusion. And there is another one doing the rounds in the NRL world. 

That the modern rookie is the "Modern Way" and more likely to be in touch with the modern game - especially highly-touted

Blow up --- Big Jnr Paulo

Anyone else hear or see the blow-up by Junior in the tunnel after full time?? 

Apparently went off like a 2nd hand lawn mower at a fan after it was suggested he give up footy and concentrate on boxing..haha good luck with that one champ leave the big

Pop's Corner: Pacers and Chasers; how many games has it lost us?

Pciture: Bradman Bolt (Copyright Chief) in the clear without an Eels in sight for a double to seal the game after the Eels led 20-16 with 15 minutes to go

Whilst the post mortem's will continue when ever we lose and our defence is NOT GOOD, we nee

The Fades: You Can Set Your Clock to It

Before tonight's round 17 clash against the Knights at Newcastle,  I set my clock to around the 60-65th minute mark and made a note.

That's the time the Eels usually fade at the back end when Moses plays. It's worse without him. You have to set it t

The Cart Before the Horse: The Sweetest Deal v The Best Head Coach

Allegedly, there is chatter the Eels are looking for a head coach who will quasi-guarantee an assistant team and some quality recruits to "seal the deal".

If true, it's concerning. Yet, it would partially explain the protracted delays waiting for the

R17 v Knights: 'It hurts', says Dylan but 'Arthur is a positive in a negative season'

Updated: Friday, 28 June 2024.

Mid-week Dylan Brown admitted it was painful seeing the Eels dead last, echoing what Moses said after Origin the next day.

"It hurts...It's pretty embarrassing to be be fair," Dylan added.

"We just need to find some pr

Resilience and the Truth of Toughness with Brian McDermott

If you haven't done any of your own research about why Brian McDermott could be what the Eels need at this moment in time, have a look at this podcast from a few years ago.

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34vq8p_i234

It's very impressive. He is t

Tough decision to be made; will it get made?

So pretty much everyone knows this roster needs an overhaul, pieces pulled out and put in. But there is one area of this squad that has been apparent and needs addressing before anything else and that is age. Our squad is turning into one of the olde

MINOR UPDATE; EELS' HEAD COACH RACE: THE HITCHCOCK CLASSIC; BRIAN SMITH AN ADVISOR?

It's getting closer to squeaky bum time. With the news Brian Smith has made a last ditch effort to join the race, it would not surprise me if he is appointed as an experienced advisor to the Eels coaching team. That makes sense. Reputable experi

THE EELS' COACHING SAGA: IN FEAR OF THE BOLD, A TRAGIC LOST OPPORTUNITY

The Eels' head coaching thriller began in secret closed door meetings, less than 24 hours after Jason Demetriou's offical sacking from Souths on April 30th. It has been a Hitchcock masterpiece. Suspense. Mystery. Inneundo. And the blonde damsel in d

Pop's Corner with more Coaching Rhetoric: Management Matters

I originally posted this on TCT because they had poor coverage of the coaching situation. Most of this has been covered on here but I wanted to reinforce the management argument over the coaching one.

Please note Wayne Bennett does not get "very" han

The Eels' Head Coaching Dilemma: Left-field is what What we may Need but is that what we Want?

Yesterday, when Greg Alexander was asked who he thought was best for the Eels he told SENZ radio essentially he had no idea. The Panthers' great was much like the rest of us, relying on what we had read on the papers to form an opinion or speculate.

What do the Eels' second half fades show?

Trent Barrett was both encouraged and frustrated by the Eels' round fifteen 28-18 loss against the Roosters.

Miraculously, the Eels came back from a 16-0 onslaught to lead 18-16 with 30 minutes to go. Then, like much of 2024 we could not win the