Analysis: Why we can go all the way

If you went by the numbers there is no way the Eels should have won yesterday.Dragons had 54 per cent of the ball, largely on the back of a 6 to 2 penalty account that constantly seemed to swing the momentum back to the Dragons. However, it's important to note that so much of our tackling happened at the very start of the game, on a particularly hot day. Teams seldom come back from being hammered for 20 minutes as that early sapping of energy, generally makes it very difficult to stay on pace for the full 80 minutes.However, this is both a very fit and committed Parramatta side.Given the amount of ball they had, the big Dragons forwards should have again dominated but the Eels forwards truly excelled themselves. Both Justin Poore and Matt Prior, the Dragons two main carriers were kept to approximately 6.5 metres per hitup.Meanwhile, the Dragons failed to contain our forwards like they had the match prior. Fuifui Moimoi again was targetted, and was asked to make a lot of really tough runs on the weekend. On every tackle, he had three and four Dragons trying to bring him down and to get up close to eight metres per hitup was a mighty effort. Meanwhile, both Nathan Cayless and Tim Mannah were up around the 10 metres per hitup. Eric Grothe's tough runs under pressure are priceless.Having conquered this Dragons pack, considered by most as the best in the competition, despite having everything against them, the Eels should have no fear of any forward pack in the competition. They know the level they have to play at now, and we can go into the rest of this finals series knowing that we're not going to get belted around up the middle.Our goal-line defence was obviously superb. Nathan Hindmarsh really makes such an incredible difference, defending on the right where we had been destroyed the match prior, we almost always numbered up correctly - the single, most important facet of defending your line. Overlaps generally aren't the problem of your outside men, although they more often than not cop the blame. It's generally because one of the inside defenders have fallen for a decoy or panicked and left their man. With Hindmarsh playing just inside the right-side defenders we got it right most of the time, and an excellent slide defence made up for the instances where we didn't.Finally, we showed again that we have players who can produce moments of brilliance even when there is seemingly nothing doing. Jarryd Hayne, Eric Grothe, Luke Burt, Daniel Mortimer all produced slices of attacking inspiration. We had very few attacking opportunities in this match, yet we still managed to put on 25 points against a team that has excelled in defence all year round. We never got a chance to really throw the ball around, due to the fact that we were mostly rucking the ball out of our own half with just 13 offloads - a minor number compared to some of our more expansive efforts.To win this game truly was a monumental feat. When you get on top of a side, like Melbourne did against the Sea Eagles, it's not that difficult to put your opposition to the sword. However, when everything goes against you and you can still come away with a comprehensive victory you know you're dealing with the real deal.What we had to work against:A 54% to 46% share of possession in favour of the DragonsA tough opening 20 minutes in hot conditionsA Dragons home ground advantageA 6 to 2 penalty count against us including some very dodgy decisionsNo Krisnan Inu and an inexperienced replacementLimited attacking opportunities inside the Dragons 20 metresSupposedly the competition's best forward pack and defence

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Replies

Robisms September 14, 2009 at 11:47am

We were spectacularly committed. The boys played for each other fantastically and I put this mostly down to Hindmarsh being there to make the other players lift their games too. He is truly inspirational.
stevo September 14, 2009 at 11:48am

phil can u tell me if the supporters bus stops at the train station on the way back from the sfs
- Phil Sim > stevo September 14, 2009 at 11:55am
  
  Can't help you Stevo. There were people on here on the bus this week, so they'll probably be able to let you know the route.
  
  By the way, if anyone was on the bus and saw the little red volkswagen with the top down and the cutest little Eels fan in the world in the back seat, along side you, that was the 1Eyed Mobile!
- iamnot > stevo September 14, 2009 at 12:45pm
  
  Stevo, the bus doesn't stop at the station. It goes straight back to the club
blueNgold September 14, 2009 at 11:51am

Your Absolutely correct 1Eyed, the stats just back-up the obvious which was we put in one hell of a gutsy performance.

The Parramatta of old would have crumbled in the cauldron which was Kogorah yesterday, though through tenacity, desire and pure will to keep our season alive we defeated the minor premiers in emphatic fashion.

Now that weve got past the dragons we have been put onto the easier side of the draw with the Titans and Dogs, and pushed the Dragons onto the side with the Broncos and the Storm (both played in home cities).

Come on Eels, lets keep this bad-boy rolling!!!!
Slaytanic September 14, 2009 at 11:53am

I wonder how much this effort is going to take out of the boys with such a short turn around to Friday night. Let's hope they have the energy to put in another 80 minute display against the Titans.
- Robisms > Slaytanic September 14, 2009 at 11:58am
  
  Having won they won't hurt anywhere near as much as if it were a loss. They played so well they'll still be lifted for a day or two. So that will make up for a day of rest, if you see what I mean. 5 can equal 6 after such a great, tough win.
- Phil Sim > Slaytanic September 14, 2009 at 12:04pm
  
  The Titans have only had an extra 24 hours though. I do admit though, its my biggest worry with the match.
- RealEel > Slaytanic September 14, 2009 at 12:57pm
  
  It might be a good thing, keep the momentum going.
- Gil Carter > Slaytanic September 14, 2009 at 6:57pm
  
  whoever decided that in the 2nd week of the finals, one is played on Friday night, is an imbecile - why not Saturday & Sunday - there's only 2 games after all. - Of, course, the part owner of the game, the media