Personally I think our first 20-30 minutes is the blue print on how we should be playing for the rest of the year. I have watched Moses highlights from his time since playing for the tigers and it’s evident that he is actually a great attacking component. As shown in the first half with his kicking game and running game, he provides great spark and instinctive footy. However, in the second half he went back to the structured footy which he isn't good at, hence eels struggled. That's what made eels attack so good, we offloaded the ball so much in attack, played instinctive footy rather than all this structure plays which is slowly being evolved out from the game.The only time we look good of structured plays is when Dylan Brown squares the defence up and passes it out to Gutho who then selects a pass between the centre, winger and second row. But with D Brown injured, unless Moses or Field can do the same, this play is useless.
Our middle forwards have been great all year but the past 3 weeks I believe a couple of them have slacked off. Nathan Brown, Marata, Juniour Paulo and Ray Stone should be excluded because I think they have been very solid. However, I think RCG has really slacked off the past couple week. Perhaps a hint that he should have or should be rested for one week. Lane had a great try assist for Sivo, but his hit ups were so good at the start of the year which he hasn’t been providing for us of late. Matterson has been good but has been missing a couple of tackles. Oregon hasn’t had many minutes off late so cannot be very critical. However, he does have the drop ball in him.
The first try Warriors scored should just be applauded. I was actually very impressed with how eels scrambled but at the end of the day, this was a once in year kind of try. The second try was awful defence by our middles. Warriors were going no where in that set, and had a slow play the ball. So there shouldn’t of been such a big hole through the middle. The warriors hooker drew out Marata from dummy half very smartly, but the cover behind the play the ball was horrible especially since Warriors weren’t spreading the ball and just doing one outs so our defensive line should be been compacted. I liked Waqa try saver on RTS, but there wasn’t anyone else except Sivo and Stone (a foward albeit skinny) back there. This is where Dylan Brown would normally be back in cover defence, where he does his try saving tackles as always. The third try was poor defence by Blake. He pushed forward to much, allowing Hiku to easily beat him by going sideways (Hiku always does this so I don’t know why Blake didn’t expect it.) Overall though, Blake bounced back pretty well from last weeks horrendous performance.
PS. I think people should give more credit to warriors and stop acting like we nearly lost to broncos. Warriors are playing a great style of footy and its no co-incident that they were 4 from their past 5.
Replies
Not sure who said it on fox, but he summed it up perfectly when he said it seems like they lose focus. 100% spot on, they know what needs to be done but can't concentrate for 80 min. It's a real worry when we play semi final footy & 80 min of concertration is required just to compete. Our season will evaporate next Friday night if it already hasn't if we turn up with the same attitude as today. It's a real shame as at the beginning of the year we looked realiy dangerous and ready to take the next step up to premiership contender. It's all a faded memory right now
I was there today and the first 25-30 mins was very encouraging but in whats becoming a regular thing we started to lose our way after we grabbed a good lead
Or could it be that the Warriors found thier way? The tries the Kiwis scored were freakish and lucky and we did well to hold on and quite well in the second half, and ultimately outplayed them.
When the Warriors were down to 12 men, we looked good and piled on a couple of trys.
The Warriors were never going to be easey beats, but with Parra up 16 nil we needed to take control of the game. I think BA was happy with the win, not sure he would be halpy with the performance.
I thought at 16 -0 we were in for a big score. Then Parra stopped going up the middle.
The blue print is there for what is our strength. We have a monster pack , they need to beleive in themselves.
Watching the first 30 min was classic football from parra.
I honestly can't fault the Eels much today. Effort was there, Warriors scored through some truly freakish stuff but we had their measure pretty easily.
The biggest change for me was we ran direct. That's truly the key to this season. You can't run around sides anymore. You must go through them. Roosters, Storm, Raiders are all very direct. If we continue to focus on that we will go along way. It seems the message has gotten through finally.
Panthers wil be a big ask but I think it will be one hell of a game and a close one. Eels are thereabouts.
Yea people are discrediting the warriors. We versed a very tough and motivated warriors team today so those expecting a smashing of some sort are ludicrous.
My only fault, is that our middle switched off for a little middle. the RTS try was poor defence by the middle. Also in the second half our attack went back to what we were doing for the past 2 months. We needed to attack with instinct like what we did in the first 30min and at the start of the year. We need less structure and thats when Moses is at his best.
I thought we play better. I think we will be up for next week game. I’m saying a 20-12 win over the panthers
I thought the Warriors tries were super, typical Warriors keeping the ball alive at all cost. Let’s not forget this team has given other teams a good run for their money to the top sides. Their tries had a lot of luck and they went from one side to another with a kick at the end, let’s give them some credit. The thing I worry about is their lack of patience, they don’t back themselves up & constant kicks to the air. Penrith next week, they are going to kill us on the edges, they have big forwards that come at you all day, boy if they don’t take their A game to Penrith this could be embarrassing.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next