Fluke or future?

Everyone I've spoken to that was lucky enough to be at Bankwest Stadium on Monday has agreed that there have been few better nights to be an Eels fan. It was at once a fairy tale, a party and a celebration. The big question is, was it an omen?

I went on record in the pre-season as saying that, despite our awful year prior, there were plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the 2019 season. That followed an earlier post I wrote, expressing optimism that Mitchell Moses could finally be ready to grow into the half he's already threatened to be.

After Monday night's game, all those causes for hope are bearing fruit and then some. As well as the young players and new players exceeding many expectations, many of the the old guard are back producing performances like it's 2017 again.

Yet, I'm a long-time Parra fan. I'm more than used to getting my hopes and expectations up, only to see them ground into the dirt again.

So when my Parra mates start talking top four, right now, I'm cautiously optimistic. I felt we were a team that could slip into the eight at the start of the year, and right now that's the level I'm tempering my expectations at. But gee, it's nice to be able to dream again.

But let's look at, how much of that Monday night performance we can take out as being some sort of indicator for what the rest of the year might like look like.

The two key pieces for me, that have me most excited are actually the two major items I highlighted in those pre-season blogs. And that's the form of Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson.

There has been no bigger tout of Moses, than myself. He just has everything I would want to see in a modern-day half. When he's on, I'll argue till I'm blue in the face that there actually is no better seven in the competition right now. However, he's still to be prove that he can produce A-level performances week in, week out. He's still to prove he has the calmness and composure that good playmakers and leaders have, that gets you home in those tight, grinding matches. He's still to prove, he has the game mangement skills, including a dependable kicking game, that tightens the screws, rather than ocassionally releasing the pressure valve. He's still to prove that he's a leader who brings people with him.

It would be premature to suggest otherwise on the back of Monday's performace, but the signs are good. He looks like he is learning. He looks like he's really thinking on the field and not getting too carried away. He looks like he's enjoying stepping up as a senior player. What we, and I"m sure Brad Arthur, will be looking for, is that he doesn't allow himself to get carried away, with what I'm sure will be a night he will remember forever. That he recognises that he's still got work to do on his game, and keeps working on those parts of his game that will only come with time and hard work.

Meanwhile, Clint Gutherson continues to blossom, and not just as a player, but perhaps even more importantly as a leader. Gutho's probably naturally a role model rather than a leader - a guy who sets the example and tempo that the coach wishes everyone else would follow - but contrary to many popular belief, leadership is a learned skill like any other. I watched him pretty closely out there on Monday (and isn't it great to be so close to the pitch again) and he's defying my belief that you can't be a good captain as fullback.The fact that he plays quite differently to most fullbacks, rather than hovering out the back, he's always got his nose in and around the ruck, so he's always close to the action and capable of getting into the ear of the referee. 

For mine, Reed Mahoney has been the guy who has exceeded my expectations. I thought it was too much to ask of a kid of his age to step up as an eighty-minute hooker and give you reliable high-quality and consistent performances, but he's brilliant. Throw in Dylan Brown and we have a spine that can carry us forward for a long time and deep into this season. (And add the fact that Jaemen Salmon proved he's more than capable of filling any holes and it's the best shape our spine has looked for a looooooon time). 

Our pack obviously demolished the Tigers, but they were poor and again, I keep reminding myself not to get carried away. BUT. Junior Paulo is a beast. Right now, he's got to be in Origin calculations and I don't think there's any prop going better than him right now. That doesn't surprise me, however. But he's certainly not on his lonesome. Peni Terepo is playing out of this world and the platform those guys set in bashing holes in the defensive line, brings everyone else up with them. In Lane and Niokore, we have a couple of giant edge runners who draw in defences and that's giving our outside backs space again.

And aren't they revelling in it. Michael Jennings and Brad Taikarangi look to be re-born. A cynic might suggest its not coincidence that heir form spike has coincided with them looking towards new contracts but if you're being kinder you might just say they're finally getting the kind of space that makes any outside back look good. And for mine, our wingers are the real deal. Ferguson and Sivo are going to be great all year.

So no, I don't think it was a fluke. I think we have a team with young players who are only going to get better. I think we've got pretty fair depth and with even luck we should be able to navigate a normal number of injuries (and maybe even some rep appearances this year). I think the future's looking pretty bright.

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  • Nice read Phil. I think how far we go hinges a lot on Peni Terepo. I think to have another prop who wants to match juniors hit ups and who is starting to have self belief and loves the culture of the club will be the difference in us making the top 4. If we keep the go forward going we could go a long way this year. I was at the game on the weekend and hope to be back against dragons. What a spectacle it was last week. Go Parra

    • Ive been a fan of resigning Moses for a long time. He is the real deal in the making.

       

      Go Parra

      • I posted this on another Blog as well.. 

        Moses has been consistant, he is second on the Dally M this year, and last year our pack gave him no room what so ever. Most half backs would have struggled last year with the way our pack was dominated nearly every game, and when we did have space, our centres dropped the ball, or were MIA. Throw in the ragdoll comming out of our own end and Norman spitting his dummy every 10 minutes, its amazing we won a couple of games last year and its more amazing that a half of Mitch's qualities is still considering staying at the Eels.

        Its a new year, and we are heading in the right direction. Moses and Gutherson with Brown and Mahoney are our future. They will be the Nuculeus and heart of our team for the next decade, others will come and go, these 4 will be mainstays and the team will be built around them.

        Its no Fluke, It is our Future.

        Go parra

  • Reed Mahoneys service from dummyhalf is the best in the comp. Both sides of the ruck his passes are crisp and precise ,especially his long ball.

    If he keeps working on his kicking game and and his selective running he becomes that attacking option in the middle third we’ve lacked for so long.

    If he keeps improving he could be anything. I’m enjoying watching his progression.

    • I didn't think he would be this good this early in his career, if i have one criticism it's that little pause after he picks the ball up. He picks the ball up off the ground and when it is about 1 foot up he seems to steady himself before passing, this aloows the defense to be a step closer to the reciever before they get the ball. If he can improve that little glitch we will be even more potent.

    • Mahoney's long ball from dummy half is one of the best in the NRL. He forces the half to run onto the ball and that opens up the outside men. You always hear from Andrew Johns about how important it is for the hooker to pass the ball in front of the half in an attacking position and Mahoney nails it virtually every time.

  • I’m with you Phil on Reed Mahoney...far out wayed my expectations, so far.

  • Mannah certainly deserves some accolades as well. He has turned back the clock a number of years and is looking great.

    As someone who wasn't able to get a single ticket to the game, it was rather disapointing to see so many empty seats on a "sold out" game. The club needs to be careful to keep the game open to all and not just those holding season tickets. That would only alienate the majority of fans.

    • Tickets were available on the day, talking to a truck driver at work he got tickets, he said he kept checking all morning until some were available.

      • That was poorly communicated then. They could have sold all 1000 of them

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