First point of note, is the Eels went into last night's match, with a strong, positive attitude. There was good energy in the warm-up and you saw that translate into a strong first half performance. We dominated that first half and the Titans just didn't look like broaching our defence. All very good signs and gives me hope that if we get a change of luck with still can come through and win our remaining four games.
Certainly, luck deserted us last night. As has been pretty well documented, everything went the Titans way last night. It was eerily similar to the Roosters game the previous week. But it has to be said we allowed the Titans to get on that role. Parramatta has never been ruthless team. We're not a team that suffocates a side out of match once we gain the upper-hand. Indeed, we always find ways to invite teams back into the contest.
We have the defensive capabilities to do that, but we lack the kicking game. The Titans showed tonight what a good kicking game means in today's NRL. In my view, there is no more important facet of the game.
However, our side is ordinary in every way when it comes to the kicking game. We don't seem to respect this skill. We don't use it properly, and we don't defend well against it.
Our lack of respect for the kick, started with the club's decision to bet on Daniel Mortimer as its half back for this season, and presumably beyond. The lessons of last year's grand final were ignored. Even Daniel Mortimer's greatest fan, could only defend his kicking game as average.
The best three kickers in the club are Jarryd Hayne, Kris Keating and Luke Burt. When neither of your halves rate in the top three kickers in your side, it screams one thing - we don't value this skill.
We should be scoring alot of points from kicks. We have some terrific jumpers in the side - Kris Inu, Jarryd Hayne, Ben Smith, Joel Reddy, Jonathon Wright, Luke Burt are all great at plucking the ball out of the air. Jarryd Hayne's influence on opposition defences, mean tacklers have their eyes firmly on the ball - but how often do the Eels take advantage of that by kicking behind the line.
It just doesn't seem to be in our playback. Again, no respect for the kick.
And finally, I don't think there is a worse team in the comp for defending against kicks. Whether it be Jarryd Hayne's positional deficiencies or the lack of urgency we seem to show wanting to clean up the loose ball.
It was right back at the start of the season, that I noted the Eels would always let the ball bounce, and we just haven't got any better. That try the Titans scored last night from the messy kick was symbolic of our lack of desire in cleaning up. Jump up and knock the thing dead, for crying out loud.
Then of course, there were those key penalties. They were just clumsy and not needed, and the last thing you need when you're up 12 to nil fighting for your life. Discipline has been an issue for us all year and our lack of it, was the key that the Titans needed to open the door to a second half come back.
The first half of this match, showed why the Eels might still go on to win all of their remaining games - and if we do we should make the eight. But our lack of a genuine, consistent kicking game will continue to haunt us and make that task so much more difficult.
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One other thing i noticed is when we are in the opp 20 our nly go to man is J.Hayne, The titans havce Campbell , Rogers and of course Prince who are all genuine playmakers and can create something out of nothing. All good teams have atleast 3 players who can do this, we have 1
Regarding cleaning up the loose ball...when the kick went up against the Titans, our boys just turned around and watched. There was no urgency to get back and help out if a mistake was made. It was lazy stuff. And I think this laziness has become a little ingrained in our culture over the last decade. Especially laziness in the mind.
On the kicking game of our halves, many halves have entered the top grade scene with poor kicking games and worked hard to develop it into a strength, so all is not lost there. Allan Langer is one which springs to mind. Cooper Cronk is another.
Sure it helps, but I don't think you need to be a strong kicker of the ball to be a good kicker also. Morts isn't a strong kicker but at the moment, he doesn't have an attacking kicking game either and for a half that just puts so much pressure on us.
Reckon I know what Dan will have him doing in the off season. I'm confident he can develop it into a strength too.
The way I see it , if this were to happen, is that we would end up on 30 with the warriors. The warriors have a better points diff. therefore we miss out in ninth position.
Might be a bit of wishful thinking here....but the only way I see us making the eight is for us to win all four games and the tigers to loose all four. This may seem ridiculous but if you look at the remaing games (use ladder NRL predictor) this seems the only way.
Thinking that the Tiges will loose against:
1.panthers
2.eels
3. This game is the one I am worried about...I am hoping the storm show up for this one
4. titans
The other teams above us are now un-catchable from our position given the games in front of them
IF we do get in? and its a big IF. It surely would indicate our rotten luck has turned and we could give it a shake in the finals
Thats why we are where we are today!
Reddy was terrific.
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