Eels Blogs

Can we afford to be complacent with what we have?

Posted by Yoshi on May 31, 2014 at 2:42am

With the (albeit unreliable) rumours of a potential move to Parramatta for Anthony Watmough, many Parramatta fans were vocally displeased. The key reasons given were:

1. Our forward pack is killing it, we don't need him.

2. We'll have to release players to sign him.

My question to you is, are our forwards really good enough to justify this complacent attitude, or do we need to pick up 1 or 2 gun forwards to bolster our ranks?

When we're stuck inside our own 20m zone, who can we turn to, to make that all important 8-12m hit-up? A guy like Anthony Watmough could fill that role, while also mentoring some of the younger forwards coming through our ranks.

Who are we to turn our noses up at a guy who is clearly a better tight forward than anyone we have currently?

*Note* - This isn't an "I hate/love Watmough" blog. It's focus is on attitude towards recruitment.

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

★

Votes: 0

Email me when people reply –

Replies

Eel_master-23 May 31, 2014 at 7:40am

I agree completely I think people forget our juniors don't really have any senior players to help develop them ! Watmoughs experience and desire to win along with coming from a club as successful as manly will help fast track guys like Pauli Pauli and juniors carrers a couple years at least!
Look at tim grant when petro was there? Tamou and Mat Scott?
- Tin Tim > Eel_master-23 May 31, 2014 at 8:35am
  
  100%
shane May 31, 2014 at 7:47am

Like I said, with Smith to retire, let Fui and Sefa go and offer the money to Watmough and our team improves and recieves experience.
RIDER May 31, 2014 at 8:02am

We need a hard prop.

Darcy is aggressive but I can't remember him busting the line.

Allgood has picked up his agression but still isn't there.

Terepo runs a million miles an hour but still doesn't break the line.

Mannah last night was soft, but does usually make metres

We need a Fui of 3 yes ago. Well actually we need a JWH or a Moa.

Plus I'm not expecting miracles from Mossop for at least a month or 2.
- Yoshi > RIDER May 31, 2014 at 10:28am
  
  Tim Mannah and Junior Paulo are quality. The rest are questionable...
Tin Tim May 31, 2014 at 8:43am

With Fui, Smith & Tonga on the move, I would think BA will move other players to. Gould went after Kite so Kite could guide the young Panthers through a hard season of NRL. He didn't care how old he was, he not there for the long term, he there to teach. We don't have that, as much I like Mannah he can't lead our young players. A Choc would bring massive experience and calm the team down. In 2015 hopefully Folau will help the backs, he strong, quick, creat things from nothing like Hoppa. Fill in the gaps with our juniors. Our juniors alone can't do this job!!
- True EEL > Tin Tim May 31, 2014 at 8:59am
  
  Agreed TinTim. I said yesterday, getting Watmough on a reasonable 2-year deal would be the go. He could bring experience and add a hard edge to our younger blokes like Pauli and Jnr P. Can't understand why people would not want Watmough....if available
- Tin Tim > Tin Tim May 31, 2014 at 9:10am
  
  We just need that balance don't we. Manly, Bulldogs, Roosters & Melbourne seem to have it worked out. When these players become available, every top side goes for them, there supporters are ecstatic about the prospect of landing there signature. I read there comment & there not bagging the player out, not questioning what the club paid. We need one or two players that we ain't going to find in the lower grades.
Prof. Daz May 31, 2014 at 9:27am

You have a point. While I suggested Wartmough might not be the best choice, not actually because we don't need him now but because long term he might constrain our ability to bring others through, losses like the Penruff loss certainly provide room for doubt. We have had 3 big losses on the back of poor attitude. Wartmough could affect that.
- Bernie Dowling > Prof. Daz May 31, 2014 at 10:30am
  
  Watmough is a perfect fit. Lots of question marks about how serious he is and affordability but full steam ahead with negotiations.