So where do we here sit on BA 5 rounds in?
The first 3 weeks we looked very good and there was improvements in some of our key players games.
However, after tonight, and I know its only 1 loss.. I think we are back to sqaure one with BA. It was a massive reminder than no matter how well we perform rounds 1-26.. its the big games where we need to improve. Tonight was round 5 and not a big game on the scale of things , but the Dragons bought a semi final game plan and once again BA was bamboozled and our team was under prepared to deliver.
That was a coaching masterclass by Griffin. They slowed the game down and were prepared to give away 6 agains at any stage in the set to stop us playing downhill with momentum. They limited the offloads and they exposed Mahoney and N Browns over enthusiam in the chase and line speed with changes of direction and inside balls. They targeted Marata in the centres (how we have to play a forward in the outside backs after 1 injury is beyond me), they jammed in on the edges with a fast defensive line (just as the Panthers, Roosters, Bulldogs, Storm. Raiders etc..) have done to us over the years.. and they weathered the storm of our fast start and 'front loading' our efforts as BA calls it.. and then what did we show? Once again, a big fat nothing.
Like I said, its round 5, we've started the season great overall. We have close to the best forward pack in the comp and we have seen some improvement from Mahoney and Mitch esp (although Mahoney thought he was Cam Smith tonight and overplayed his hand and Mitch wound back the clock to a vintage 2020 panic performance- overall they have been better).
It was a huge reminder for all that BA has question marks over his coaching aside from his handling of juniors. He gets outcoached by the smarter coaches in the league and the worry for me is he once again we delivered little in that style of game. We have the Raiders next week, a team that is going to do exactly what the Dragons did tonight but better and he has an opportunity to show how we respond and what he can come up with. Sadly , if its another week of 'owning effort areas' and 'want and desire' and what not... and we show those things and nothing else - I think it will be time we make the tough call to start to plan our move away from bushy. There has to be an attacking game plan to counter the up and in agressive defence so we're not 100% reliant on the offload and our forward roll ons .. as they don't come as easy away from home and in finals.
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I'd put next week down as a loss no matter what I can't remember last time we won in Canberra honestly I think we'd have to go back 10 years plus to find a win.
Good blog.
Arthur has no plan b. Never has.
That is a great assessment of tonight's game GWF-100% right. Surely they knew what was coming-Saints played with attitude tonight but they are not going to be in the same ballpark as Souths, Pen and Melb. Very well coached with a crap roster. They get 3 in a tackle, hold down as long as they can and then rush off their line in defence.
It's probably the most basic strategy there is and is put to bed with players offloading and 2-3 passes off the ruck + wrap arounds. Souths showed everyone how to overcome it in the charity shield yet we seemed to have no answer to something we had to know was coming. It's hard to believe that not one person in a first grade coaching roster didn't pick up on this
BA will see out his contract, without taking the Eels to a grand final. But this year will probably put a dent in his Coaching CV. It's not just the loss, it's the inconsistent way Parra play.
I am not sure we are a top 4 side after the Tigers and Dragons games. Maybe 6 or 7.
I feel there is a disconnect between the coaching staff and the players here.
BA has a game plan for the Eels that is very simple.
power game through the middle and kick to the corners.
no errors and no miss tackles.
Possession is king and he knows that if the Eels, who have probably the best forwards in the competition, play this way, they will win most of their games.
Unfortunately, the team just goes rogue and I blame the game managers, Gutho and Moses for not correcting this and just sticking to the game plan.
Not only do they not arrest this, Gutho and Moses are fast becoming the instigators of this frenetic high risk play.
BA basically said the same thing in the presser tonight and he must be sick and tired of repeating it.
The continual repeated set restarts should have led to more than 1 Dragons player in the bin for 10 minutes. It was absolutely atrocious refereeing from the referee and bunker. No, that wasn't totally why the Eels were beaten but it contributed to any possible comeback. The no try because of Paulo supposedly obstructing a Dragons player was ridiculous. The continual and purposeful Dragons players laying all over the Eels players to slow down the play the ball again warranted penalties and sin bins which again didn't eventuate. It was clearly obvious the refereeing had no intention of allowing an Eels victory. Yes, Anthony Griffin is no slouch and is a good coach but the Ees will bounce back next week in Canberra. Marata wasn't targeted any more than any other player and in my opinion Marata looked like he was carrying a slight injury and this game was probably his worst in the centres which was bound to happen sooner or later.
I don’t think it was a Griffen Masterclass, it was his assistant Elliott’s game plan no doubt.
Herein lies the problem - BA has had the same Nuffies for years. If he was dead serious he would’ve brought in an Elliott or a Taylor years ago. Sad fact is he won’t because he would feel threatened.
If the Eels were to part ways with BA immediately, I would offer the gig to Matt Elliott.
He is a smart operator and I believe he would suit the cattle we have.
Who do we think will take Browns spot in the halves? Will Smith?