Eels Blogs

Have we had the preparation we need?

Posted by RV on August 17, 2017 at 10:17pm

Since we were walloped by the Cowboys in round 14, we have only played 2 top 8 teams.A severely understrength Melbourne and Brisbane.We played brilliantly against Brisbane, but all of the other games have been against mediocre teams or those on the way down: 2 games v Canterbury, and 1 each against St George, Titans, Newcastle, Wests. You could almost count the Melbourne game with six of their players missing, in this category. We've also had 2 byes.It's notoriously hard to play at full pelt against a poor opposition, or certainly an unenthusiastic one.This draw has enabled us to get into the 8, which is great. But the flip side is that we seem pretty unprepared.Next week is a much needed match up and test. I'm glad we at least have one more tough game going into finals. At 32 points I think we are safely in.

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2agd8rk0gah1u August 17, 2017 at 10:50pm

I think the next 2 games will be difficult for the Eels! Can't see them getting into the top 4 unless some results go in the Eels favour.
josh jones August 18, 2017 at 12:29am

Prob not but whatever it's nice to make the 8 mate.
Mitchy August 18, 2017 at 1:41am

Yes true and we can only play who the draw says; if good enough we can go to finals and with confidence. Souths were playing ok too....
Muttman August 18, 2017 at 2:36am

The ladder doesn't lie. We had a very tough draw early and it evened out in the back half of the season. After 26 rounds it's incorrect to say we were gifted an easy run.
I think we've had great preparation. Two Brisbane games are exactly what we needed. The games against so-called easy opposition have taught us the effort and energy required to win (no game can be taken for granted) but we also go into the finals with some momentum and confidence.
If we played all Top 8 sides and limped into the finals on the back of a run of brutal semi-final level games, probably a few losses it would have dented our confidence and sapped our strength. Basically we'd be exhausted.
I see us being in the finals week 1 beautifully prepared and raring to go.
- Mitchy > Muttman August 18, 2017 at 2:40am
  
  Good comment Mutt; it would be great to win the next 2 and have a home semi in Homebush.....i still think there are no easy games; and just hope we reduce the errors and Bevan is ok...
- Full Time > Muttman August 18, 2017 at 7:16am
  
  Last night, the BA lightweight/mobile forward pack came into its own. They were fresh and firing.
  It will be interesting to see if other packs across the 8 have he same freshness coming into the finals.
  The Panthers will, they're young and mobile.
  The Broncos? Older, maybe not as fresh. Storm, Chooks, Shaks, Sea Rats... well there are niggling injuries, age & tiredness in big bodies from a long season in their packs.
  Less so with the storm. Bellamy & Smith do keep them up at the line - amazing quality.
Ross August 18, 2017 at 7:12am

I wouldn't call Necasltle a weak team, they've had 3 on the trot and were on fire with nothing to lose so they could play risky 110% footy and it paid of for them. Even the Tits last night were fired up for that game.
Melbourne are solid even without their stars.
If we play mistake free footy we'll give it a good shake. Just need to cut the brain farts and we're as good as any team.
This reply was deleted.
- Longfin Eel August 18, 2017 at 8:56am
  
  From memory we were all over Melbourne and they were never really in the game. They might not have had their stars, but if the non-stars don't perform, that can drag down the whole team. Melbourne are beatable if you play the right game.
the eggman August 18, 2017 at 9:07am

Last nights second half tackling practice will help although in saying that the two tries they did let in were relatively soft, would have been a big confidence boost if we'd have held them to diddlysquat.
This reply was deleted.
- Longfin Eel August 18, 2017 at 9:55am
  
  Not sure about French - maybe BA wanted to give him some game time. Smith was on the bench to cover for him, so there were question marks over his fitness. Mannah has been playing limited minutes, but this is probably to get more intensity out of him. We have younger forwards like Alvaro who can do the longer minutes.
  
  I see Moses as a future captain. I agree he is a very composed and patient footballer, which is what you want in a captain. Who does BA appoint as on-field captain next year? It seems Norman is taking that role at the moment. Maybe Brown could be a good choice as well?