I’m not referring so much to personnel changes, as I am the style of play that we’ll see from Parramatta in 2011. Even in his limited public appearances wearing Blue and Gold, Stephen Kearney has already made clear, in my view, that Parramatta will play a different game to what they did under coach Daniel Anderson.
One comment that Daniel Anderson made to this time last year, has always stuck in my head. I asked him if the inclusion of big props like Justin Poore and Pele Peletelse meant that the Eels might play a more intimidating game in the upcoming season - he said he’d take his cue from the players as to what style they would adopt.
I don’t think Kearney will be like that. He has already signalled that his first objective is to improve Parramatta’s defensive structures. On face value, defence was the least of our worries last year. For most of the year, we were probably the second best defensive side in the competition behind the Dragons. So the fact that Kearney still sees issues he wants to address, definitely tells you that we are going to be a far more defence-orientated team this year.
Taking that into consideration, I think you’ve see the last of the razzle dazzle Eels for quite a while. To some extent that will be by necessity. We’ve lost arguably our three best off-loaders in Feleti Mateo, Nathan Cayless and Kris Inu. I doubt any of the players in our starting 17 are going to be at the top of the offload leagues. Justin Horo is probably our most dangerous offloader now, and Patrick O’Hanlon will bring a bit of that to the side if he is able to rise into the NRL side.
However, most of our forwards will simply tuck the ball under the arm and charge at the line. We’re likely to focus a lot more on grinding down opposition sides, rather than disrupting their defences with offloads.
I think given our backline stocks, it is a style we need to play. I don’t see us scoring a lot of points this year. I still believe we’ll sign Matt Orford, but even with his inclusion, we’re still going to rely a lot on Jarryd Hayne for breaking the line. We simply don’t have halves that are going to create a lot of opportunities with ad-hoc play, so I think Kearney will adopt a far-more structured attack that will be focused on getting Hayne and Timana Tahu into the best possible opportunity to beat their opposition defenders.
Key to this, and the biggest challenge for Kearney is the Eel’s kicking game, which was diabolical last season. If you’re playing a defensive game based on winning territory and field position, you need to get repeat sets and find plenty of metres with your kicking game. It is for this reason more than any that Orford’s recruitment is key.
It’s worth noting that this change in style will significantly benefit some players. Eric Grothe’s value in bringing the ball off our line on first or second tackle goes up tremendously. Joel Reddy’s ability to run a line that can finish off a structured attacking raid will bring the best out of his game. Matt Keating’s ability to pass front-on and also long from dummy half will become more advantageous. Jeff Robson’s ability to roll his props forwards becomes a more important attribute.
On the flipside, some players may not be as well suited. Daniel Mortimer’s support play and push certainly won’t bring him into the game as much as it did in say 2009. The key to Mortimer playing a part in this side in 2011 will be a much better kicking game, and dramatically improving his ability to play straight so he can better set up his outside supports.
In some ways you have to throw out the form back when judging how particular players will fare in 2011, because they are likely to have very different roles in what I believe will be a very different Parramatta style of play.
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Your 100% spot on if we are going to play that grinding style similar to the dragons we need our kicking game in order.
Only problem is if we don't sign say Orford or anyone that is known to be able to pin point kick a ball all the hard running work the forwards will do will be all for nothing.
IMO I think for Mortimer to have an impact in 2011 he is going to need to sort his kicking out even if we do sign Orford we need more than 1 kicking option at any given time. If he can’t get his kicking right I see him being turned into a 14.
While I agree with you Phil, TBH I'm a little concerned with this approach. Whilst it worked for the Dragons this year, inevitably the 'grinding' sides often get beaten on the day by the flash sides. If we look at past GF winners, and indeed teams that succeed at the pointy end of the season, you don't find too many stoic, boring sides participating.
The Sharks have traditionally played that style and it's gotten them nowhere and even the Dragons themselves fell victim to such a style in 2005 and again last year. Meanwhile teams like the West Tigers, Raiders, Storm, Broncos, Manly and ourselves (circa 2008 finals) have had that confidence and self belief to pull out the hail Mary play when needed in the big games.
Whilst playing a defence oriented, conservative brand of football might suit the likes of Joel Reddy and MK, I can't see it suiting Hayne, Tahu, Horo, Mortimer or Fui and let's face it - they're the only ones capable of asking questions of the opposition's defence.
You rightly point out that the acquisition of Orford is key - but to be honest, I get the feeling that even with Orford, we'll struggle to put points on and without him, well, we're fucked!
Our support play last season was nearly non - existant, there simply weren't any players pushing up throught the middle. Luke Burt seemed to forget about coming infield and none of our other outside backs were support players really.
This caused a problem for our main attacking weapon, Hayne, because there wasn't anyone providing another focal point in attack and taking eyes off him in the defensive line.
For mine Chris Walker could be (and I stress could because it depends on his run with injuries etc) the buy of the season. Walker doesn't know how to stay on his wing and he is always coming infield looking for an inside pass or offload. He could provide the other option for the ball players that Hayne will need to be at his most effective.
If you are actually going to compare Walker to any of our current backs than you would probably compare him to Luke Burt (and they are also about the same age) but I actually think Walker is the better attacking player when fully fit. By the way I am not bagging Burt and he is in my team at fullback with Hayne at 6.
Structure is what we need most, and cohesion.. That is what brought us undone throughout 2010.
I would like us to work on our mistake rates, and mostly our predictability.
Followed by our sub-standard kicking game
Our team's core has been built around x factor players for a few years now, I'm not going to say that the core group of players we have now can't learn to play disciplined footy, but it is going to take a massive coaching performance to get them to do so at a level that is going to win NRL games.
More than anything however it is going to take time, we have to remeber that Anderson originally tried to install structure within the team without much luck. Kearney has learnt from Bellamy who has proven to be able to install some of the best structured footy that Rugby League has probably ever seen at the storm (abliet with an illegal side).
There are a lot of negatives with the potential Orford signing, however one aspect of his game that is undeniable is his ability to unlock the strengths of the best players around him. His combinations with Watmough and the Stewart brothers at Manly proved lethal, enough so to win a comp. Orford at Parra would help Hayne's running game immensely and obviously take the pressure off Hayne of being the playmaker. I also believe Orford could turn Horo and Benny Smith both into class ball running backrowers, one working on either side of the ruck.
However Orford won't solve our kicking game, as his was always pretty average, nor was he ever the most consistent bloke running around. But if his presence can help lay a platform for the younger blokes we have coming through or for another Half for the following season then I believe he will overall be a beneficial signing, if it happens that is because I have been getting mixed information on the scenario.
For all the talk about Jarryd being ad-lib, I think he looked best last season, when he chimed in on a structured play where he knew exactly where the ball was going to go. He tended to make mistakes when he was having to think too much and got caught in two minds.
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