This is my first post so please be gentle
Getting to the pointy end of the season, seeing the predictament Parra now find themselves in the run to the finals and seeing the discussion between the members here, I wanted to see what/why people think they do about certain aspects of the season, in particular, the draw, the referering, injuries/suspensions, team lists. While some of these are well within the control of the team and club (Matto rnd 1-3 and Dylbro), there are definitely some outside factors contributing to the season so far
The draw - Contentious, but the draw is arguably on the harder scale. The teams Parra faced off the Bye rounds. To say the teams hadn’t benefitted from those breaks, I feel is a little short sighted. After the season last year there was RLWC that a lot of players were out for and would have eaten into their usual recovery time, which in turn affects their pre season. Any additional time off that early on would allow teams to refine their new attack/defence systems after all the player transfers.
Having only playing teams like the Dragons, Tigers and Dolphins once this season, two of those games could be argued would be an extra 4 points, where as we are playing higher ranked teams/tougher opponents more twice. Saying that you don’t know how the teams will perform this year when the draw was created, I believe to be a bit naive as looking at how these teams performed in the previous year (aside from Dolphins) is a pretty good indicator of the quality of the side with the only caveat being the Roosters as they have seemed to implode this year.
Refereeing - This is one of the bigger factors to influence games, not just ours. The inconsistency has been horrendous. Penalties shouldn’t be open to interpretation. Shoulder charge is a shoulder charge, not ‘oh but he’s bracing himself’ if it’s 10 in the bin, then it’s 10 in the bin. Does this lend weight to conspiracy that refs are told which way to lean prior to the match or pure ineptitude on the referees part? Personally, I think this lands more on the ineptitude and training on the referees. Unfortunately these inconsistencies will eventually play a part in the finals series. If players have had a contentious call against them early in the season marking their first offence (Hopgood V Broncos) then when something happens during the finals, this can have them out on suspension when needed most.
Injuries/Suspensions - In a sport as physical as the NRL, injuries happen. The only thing that can be influenced is the management of the replacement and having the talent ready to fill a roster spot without missing a beat. Problem with that is, having people ready to go into First Grade, means they are on other teams radars and then losing them. Greig stepping up after RCG was taken out is a perfect example of the next guy ready, its just unfortunate he himself is injured now. (side note - when is Greig scheduled for return?)
As far as suspensions go, outside of the brain snaps that were Matto and Dylbro, and Im happy to be corrected here, most of the suspensions I think have been fair. Loose play, lazy tackles all fair. My only point is the inconsistency of the standard of punishment across all teams, not just ours. The NRL has it within it’s power to issue notices for dangerous form - Suualli gets repeat citing for his dangerous knees up running form, while Tino’s up and forward ‘fend’ is ok. Sometimes incidents happen and there isn’t much a player can do, if they are committed to a tackle and the opposing player shifts their weight or drops their height and illegal contact is made, its unfortunate and unless the rules change which would open a can of worms as then refs would have to try to determine intent, which they kind of do already with bomb catching but its not an ideal solution for every tackle/play.
Team lists - Not going to go on too big of a rant. Some of BA early decisions around players were questionable. His choice to leave a gassed Hodgson on the field had cost the team points, but I think midway through the season, things had seemed to have clicked until the spanner of injuries and suspensions are thrown around.
Origin - one of the bigger conspiracies I had mentioned in a different post. The selection of Gutho for 3 minutes is dumbfounding. Fittlers own admission that he had no plan for him, Brandy being a selector and then seeing Cleary in the coaches box reek of intentionally trying to derail Parra’s season by his inclusion - not saying his selection wasn’t warranted, but to be on the bench for 77 minutes is a joke. The same for RCG and Souths players - good enough for the Kangaroos, but not for NSW until game 3 with RCG starting to get his fitness back after the injury? You would have to wonder if his knees to the back tackle would have happened if he was properly rested. As for ‘injuries’ I vaguely recall Latrell doing the same last year during Origin season and thought it odd. Then this year, Cleary for games 2 and 3, Latrell which all will be miraculously fit to play the round after Origin is finished. Another oddity is Luai being dropped to play for Penrith for game 3 to as to be available for the Dolphins game after being out against and losing to the Cowboys due to game 2. Again not saying he didn’t deserve to be dropped (I used to think he was a good player 2-3 years ago, but his ego has far outstretched his ability as of late) based on his form, but his form wasn’t great in game 1 and even last year.
The point is - there are a LOT of what-ifs and but-this’ in the long rant. Has the team made things harder for themselves with some of the behaviours and decisions? Absolutely. But while one or two of these outside factors may seem incidental, when they align, it is easier to see how some conspiracy minded people can think the season is rigged. I have no doubt there is some bias and influence for certain teams to need to succeed but if you buy into the conspiracy theory side of things, there are a lot of moving parts that need to be working together and judging by the way the NRL has carried itself, I think that it gives the administration just too much credit to be able to pull something like this off.
Thoughts?
Replies
Great write up and for me personally as I've stated before numerous times are think there is certainly an agenda against certain NRL teams more than others and clear favourable agendas towards others. I most certainly believe without doubt that the Eels have specifically been targeted by the NRL and blues selectors
Good blog mate and I tend to agree with you in most points. The draw is what it is. If we get through to the end of regulation time and we are sitting in top 4 we have put together some serious premiership winning form. To knock of Panthers, Storm, Broncos and cows is massive and will ensure we go deep into the finals. You want to be winning at the end of the year and peaking. We will have a supoer fresh Brown and RCG and hopefully SIVO will have a massive reality check.
Great first up blog, Seraph! Some excellent points. Agree with most of what you've written.
In terms of any conspiracy or agenda against the Eels, I doubt there's one or if there is it's hardly an acute, persistent one. With its huge supporter base, when the Eels go well, it's good for the game generally speaking.
However, you never can discount what goes on behind closed doors in the politicals and the high-end business part of town where deals get made in the shadows for whatever reasons. Dodgy stuff definitelys happen from top to bottom throughout the game without a shadow of a doubt. But, without having some bonafide inside information or a high-level better than Assange-Manning type of investigation which isn't realistic (as who cares about what really happens behind closed doors in the NRL other than diehard fans), it's too hard to assume any of the specifics. So, I'd hold off on making any conclusions on this.
Putting all that aside, at the end of the day, we're facing a critical moment in the season. The Cows game this week is a huge test of our character. Of the entire playing group against a red-hot team.