Eels Blogs

Game management

We did OK at this for a while this year but have gone back to our old ways of trying to score on every set. I suggest that in the first twenty minutes, wearing your opposition down is more important than scoring. Scoring does deny them possession; ho

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How do you solve a problem like Waqa Blake?

Parramatta fans' deepest fears came true on Sunday afternoon as the Manly Sea Eagles exploited the nearly invisible defensive efforts of Waqa Blake to the tune of four tries and a sin binning, leading to a fifth try.

Blake's defensive efforts were do

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Gone back to being dumb - led by Gutho

Gutho just does not get game management. he leads the charge of trying to score every set.

Kicks up a lottery on the third instead of wearing out the opposition. Then we play against 12 and never use the numbers.

With the crackdown tiring out the oppos

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Fast starts, but hammer blow withheld

Not even a bout of gastro was keeping this Eels supporter from watching the game on Sunday. With my phone perched on pillows, among water bottles and me barely cogniscent enough to switch Kayo on, I still somehow found the strength to cheer on the Bl

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words of wisdom among the BS

Bennett in his presser was arguing against the bunker pulling play back for incidents the ref missed and in general against officiating that stops the game and breaks the momentum. During this he said something along the lines of:

It is a game of attr

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NRL tells referees to sin-bin any player guilty of high shots as game looks to crack down on injuries

NRL referees have been told to treat high-contact like punching and sin-bin any player who makes direct contact with an opponent's head.

In an extension of the game's heavy crackdown on high shots, players will spend time off the field for any forcefu

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Clear bias

1. Annesley refused to be critical of referee Ashley Klein for allowing Kaufusi to stay on the field for his hit on Ryan Matterson, that resulted in the Parramatta forward suffering concussion / said he could understand why referee Ashley Klein didn’

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Eels Crow after Slaying Roosters

Do you know how long I've been wanting to write that headline? It's my favourite headline and appeared on an advertisement on the Eels team poster from 1986.

That wasn't pretty and the Eels could pay dearly for that win with possible suspensions hang

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Eels vs Roosters 3, 2, 1

Good controlled win. Forwards were outstanding, and we're honing the power game well. But if the Roosters didn't implode with their errors and penalties, I seriously doubt we win. The Roosters should be more proud of their goal line defence than we o

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Melbourne destroying undermanned Rabbitohs

Melbourne have delivered a 1st half master class against the Bunnies, up 26-0 at the break.

The Fox with 4 tries.

Absolutely brilliant.

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Did the Warriors ruin Dylan Brown

Dylan Brown had loads of potential that he has not developed. He is a tough kid that is happy to take the line on. But he never passes or kicks at the line. He seems to pass immediately or just run it. Defence have no hard decisions. He also had a ru

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Beating the Roosters: A Blueprint

Much has been written of the Roosters' form this season and their lack of luck on the injury front. They're not the Cooper Cronk-led behemoth of 2018 and 2019 but they remain one of the toughest and most consistent teams in the competition.

However,

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Cartwright

Our other bargain buy, Papalii has deservedly got a lot of praise and I hope they have upgraded him to a long term contract or do so soon.

But Cartwright seems to be under the radar. Maybe people want to make sure he can keep this up. But his capabili

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Perenara has got to go

Should not be allowed to video ref Parra games. Its a joke.

 

When a ref is that biased NRL has to step in.

 

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Eels vs Bulldogs 3, 2, 1

Good solid win. Did what we needed to but we never really got out of cruise control. In its own way this is a good thing. Not once did I think we might not win.

3. Gutherson

2. Mahoney

1. Sivo

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Changing Expectations

As little as two years ago, on this very site, many were tipping the team to either miss the top eight or just scrape in.

How times change. In just two years the Eels have gone from "maybe top eight" to "top four and Premiership smokeys".

It's a comf

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Passion, Players, Mercenaries and Life

I have been a position of moving for money and it is driven by factors of ego, financial stability and loyalty.

Sometimes we move occupations because it is a way of progressing careers. Most of us normal people are driven by that and it is more than u

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Rd 7 Review and Player Ratings

 Team Review: (9/10)

1. Clinton Gutherson (9)
   1. Scored a try and got two try assists. Was always read in support as always.
   2. Good tackle on Levi to save a try. Could have done better for broncos try. I know they were defending a lot, but he took the shor

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BA's player loyalty.... it will be hard for him if circumstances have him make choices.... will it become a weakness?

Players such as  Shaun Lane, Will Smith, Tom Opecic, Niukure,  Stone, Hipgrave and maybe even Nathan Brown and Ryan Matterson will test BA's selections in coming weeks.

We now have the position that Papalli, Kafusi, Cartwright are going into the certa

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