Eels can sniff September

The daily tele article;THE EELS CAN SNIFF SEPTEMBERPARRAMATTA plan to send the NRL an early, early RSVP for the finals.Eels players believe they can assure themselves a September berth in the next fortnight, provided they beat Canterbury on Thursday night and then Melbourne without their Origin stars the following week.Eighth-placed Parramatta have another bye, a clash against the lowly placed Gold Coast, Newcastle and the Wests Tigers, as well as six of their final games on a Thursday or Friday night.Already on 18 competition points, the Eels know if they win their next two, followed by the bye, they will mathematically require just two more wins from their remaining six rounds to return to the finals for the first time since 2009 — and potentially end a 31-year premiership drought.A refreshed Michael Jennings and Kenny Edwards were happy to talk up the blue and gold assault, and the benefits of locking up a September berth a long way out from the finish line.“These next two games are really important (in terms) of cementing that spot for finals,’’ Jennings said.“We’ve broken our season up block by block, and we’re in a block now where we want to concentrate on getting a finals position.“You do play better footy heading into the finals if you’re secure in that (ladder) position. It’s exciting times.“If we win the next two, then with the bye, we go into the run home with a real confidence boost.’’Edwards said it was a rare luxury to return from a bye and return to the top eight.“At the end of the day we don’t want to wait until the end of the year and rely on other teams to make the eight,’’ Edwards said.“It’s in our hands now, we’ve got to put our best foot forward by stopping the big Bulldogs pack this week.’’Meanwhile, Edwards said Cameron King was likely to win the race for the No. 9 jersey after a season-ending injury to regular rake Kaysa Pritchard.In a battle with Will Smith for the starting hooker position, King had served a solid apprenticeship, said Pritchard.“I think Kingy is going to slot in, he’s done his time in reserve grade in the last year and a half, and I think he really deserves his opportunity,’’ Edwards said.“Kaysa is a massive loss for us, and we just started to get comfortable.“We love having him next to us because he can put a shot on and the energy he brings.“But Kingy has earned his position, he’s been waiting for an opportunity and hopefully this week he can put his best foot forward.’’The Eels have done well given they have lost several key players to injuries during the first half of the season, and will only improve if they can keep Clint Gutherson at fullback and new recruit Mitch Moses in the halves with Queensland outside hope Corey Norman.

"They've inserted a plate, so he needs time for the bones to heal. Fortunately, the insert of a plate generally speeds up recovery as there is something solid for the bones to heal to."

Replies

Parramate2 June 27, 2017 at 9:12am

Just need the refs and nrl to see the same way you do Kenny and we should make the finals!
Eel for life June 27, 2017 at 9:13am

Lets hope they dont get complacent. Take it week to week.
Tin Tim June 27, 2017 at 9:25am

They need to finish as high as possible. Then it's game on!
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 June 27, 2017 at 10:05am

This is bs. They just need to concentrate on beating the dogs.

It's virtually a grand final for the doggies so look out
- John Eel > Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 June 27, 2017 at 12:30pm
  
  I agree with that also there are players in the team who have been tapped on the shoulder for next year looking to impress future suitors as they strive for a contract in 2018.
CP June 27, 2017 at 10:09am

We're gonna miss both Kaysa and Scott heaps for the rest of the season. It'll be touch and go for the 8. Also storm without their origin stars are still dangerous, they almost beat the Roosters who I think was only missing Cordner.
ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER June 27, 2017 at 10:11am

That all we can do sniff because we wont be there
- CarloEEL2 > ARNOLD SCHWARZENEGGER June 27, 2017 at 10:27am
  
  Surely it's our turn lol
Muttman June 27, 2017 at 10:52am

Just beat the Dogs. That's all you should be talking about. Far out you haven't won 3 in a row this year and already talking up the next two weeks.
Btw the Storm in Melbourne without their stars. Did you not see them against the Roosters. We'll be lucky to be anywhere near them.
- ParraTime > Muttman June 27, 2017 at 10:57am
  
  We have won 3 in a row, but I do agree, we can't just expect to win, that attitude is poisonous. We need to step up against every team like it's our last game.