Former champions says Eels will make NRL finals series

By Dean Ritchie From: The Daily Telegraph August 11, 2009 Tipped for the finals...the in-form Parramatta Eels. Source: The Daily TelegraphMIGHTY Parramatta, the team that has set alight the NRL with four successive victories, are ready to barnstorm into this year's Telstra Premiership finals along with rivals and neighbours Penrith.The Daily Telegraph yesterday polled five former champion players to reveal which teams would finish in positions five through eight given St George Illawarra, the Bulldogs, Gold Coast and Melbourne have all but sealed top-four places.Parramatta received four votes from the five, as did Manly, Penrith and North Queensland.The panel of Glenn Lazarus, Steve Mortimer, Bradley Clyde, Paul Langmack and Terry Lamb, collectively, could not find room for Brisbane, Souths, Wests Tigers and Newcastle. The Tigers did, however, attract three votes. Souths and Newcastle were completely friendless.Seven Sydney teams remain in contention for this year's NRL title.But it was the Eels who were the shock finals choice, given the club is still in 11th place."Parramatta is playing with a lot of confidence and they have momentum," former Canberra, NSW and Australian back-rower Clyde said."Teams that have momentum use it well at this time of year."I think Parramatta has a good mixture of youth and experience and they are all playing for one another and for the jersey."Lamb, the former champion Dogs player, also supported the Eels."Parramatta are on a roll," Lamb said. "They have a good halves combination and Fuifui Moimoi is the key. They also have Feleti Mateo to come back."Wests Tigers are too flamboyant for me. They throw the ball around too much although they have a great second-rower (Gareth Ellis)."Langmack, who won three premierships at Canterbury, likes the Eels and Tigers, but not premiers Manly."Wests Tigers have improved their defence," Langmack said. "Earlier this year, their defence was dreadful. Gareth Ellis has shown the way. He is smashing people."I think Parra has momentum too. Daniel Mortimer, he isn't an athlete - he's a footballer."Manly should have won their last two games. They have lost momentum. I think they will go down as a side that won the premiership but couldn't make the finals the following year."Mortimer likes what he sees in Daniel Anderson's Eels."Wests Tigers have a tough draw and have been too hot and cold this season," Mortimer said. "They can't afford a slip-up. Parramatta is on a roll. They look like a side building toward the finals."Lazarus was the only former great to omit the Eels from his final eight."Parramatta have a lot of momentum but I think they have left their run a little too late," he said."They are in the unfortunate situation of having to hope for other teams to lose."http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/former-champions-says-eels-will-make-nrl-finals-series/story-e6frexnr-1225759987132

"Haha yea it was like manly lose the ball on first play. Then eels lost it on first play. Then manly lost it on first play. That's what it felt like if it didn't happen "

Replies

TKBK August 11, 2009 at 11:19am

Well, if you're going to be left out by someone, you'd probably want it to be the brick with eyes
blueNgold August 11, 2009 at 12:06pm

The brick with eyes, and half a brain.
Parraloft August 11, 2009 at 12:11pm

Cant we just wait and see... is noone superstitious on this site? My wife complaining cos my parra shirt starting to walk home on its home after the game after I refuse to wash it after 4 victories.Lets get the supposed 'given' out the way first agst the warriors .
- Fui Fui Moi Moi > Parraloft August 11, 2009 at 7:15pm
  
  Could you repost that i didnt get a word of it.....hahahah
Finchy August 11, 2009 at 9:28pm

"Mighty Parramatta" .. wow, what a difference a few weeks make.
Gil Carter August 11, 2009 at 9:57pm

I think since DF left & Ozzy came, the club has transformed!
- TABONE > Gil Carter August 11, 2009 at 10:01pm
  
  Didn't you know that they are making a Transformers 3 battle of Parra!!!!!!!!!