The first loss of the season never gets easier, although better to come in the 5th week as opposed to the 1st.
Concerning was just how the Eels achieved their first loss. Let's look at some key stats courtesy of NRL.com.
The Eels won the metres game 1,664 to 1,620. The Eels won the post contact metres game 707 to 679. This is despite having 20 fewer runs with the football.
The Eels had convincingly more tackle breaks (34 to 19) and went further on each set than the Dragons. Kick return metres, offloads, both in the Eels favour.
We made more tackles but had half the amount of missed tackles (19 to 36). Conceded less penalties, way less ruck infringments and didn't have a sin bin.
Reading all of the above stats, you'd assume we were well on top. So what happened? 14 errors to 8 and a (flattering) completion rate of 74%.
If we got the errors to even out in the game, we win. We were statistically better in most key areas, but we played low percentage football over and over and found a way to lose. Almost a carbon copy of the passage of play against the Tigers last week. This wasn't about effort, it was about execution. It was about needing a calm head steering the ship when the game got unsteady. If we had a Cam Smith type player tonight, we win.
The question is, do we have the right characters in the team to be those calm heads? To stick to the plan and keep the footy IQ high in the heat of battle? To my mind...I'm honestly not sure. But I sure hope we find who it is because until then we'll continue to be a team that can go on the tilt.
Onwards and upwards. Next week is going to be harder than this one.
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Good points, but hope is not a strategy!!
Unfortunately it's all I've got until BA starts answering my calls!
The Dragons definitely deserved the win. However, the Eels could have won except for
1. Poor Composure
2..Extremely poor officiating from ref and bunker. A real momentum shifter.
3. Execution - too much panic
This is a great analogy. I was at the game and completely agree.
I was so surprised by those stats. Because watching it live it felt like the Dragons bashed us through the middle. Their contact was excellent and they also wrapped the ball up very well. Offloads were hard to come by.
The ref didn't help. That disallowed try cruelled us but we had plenty of other chances to win it.
I was worried about this game. I saw some really poor decisions against the Tigers and a very casual approach. Fergo leads the way here.
I get you don't want to be playing 100% in April but you also don't want to throw games you should win. This loss will hurt.
I was worried too after how we limped across the line against the Tigers. We are still our own worst enemy in a lot of games. Hopefully this loss hurts in the right way and gets us through a win against the Raiders (who will be like the Dragons on crack - same game plan, but they're better at it).
We do look pretty impotent inside the opposition red zone. We look much more dangerous when we get a roll on through smashing up the middle and getting offloads through the big guys after bending the line. Then we get to have a run in broken play and that's when we look dangerous.
Yep, our problem is on field leadership and game mangement
We don't icecenough opportunities when inside the 30. We try the power game,if that doesn't work we just throw the ball around and hope.
We just haven't got the smarts to be a top 4 side. We will win plenty but also loose plenty.
I hope we've got the right people working with Gutho. His enthusiasm is awesome and infectious and his effort is second to none, but we also need our Captain to calm the team at the right times. There were several times in the game when we just needed to settle and get back in the grind. Every single try was off an error where we invited them in.
Go set to set and the stats say we win.
If Gutho can't give us those calm heads maybe it's time to elevate a co captain who can, or start grooming DBrown or someone else in that role.
Precisely. Our team mirrors mitch moses temperament
To be honest, we had a great win against Melbourne but all the rest have been ordinary (we were shocking at times against the Broncos and the Tigers, and the Sharks had no bench for the second half). We are a mid table team at best. For me, we need some changes, the coach would be a great start (the bench yesterday was stupid). We need more composure, maybe a different captain, although not sure who that could be - maybe Paulo. Lane and Fergo need some time in reserves.
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