Eels Blogs

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      jjeel > LB April 20, 2026 at 3:05pm

      That was a piss take from NRL Cental on X
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  Nitram April 20, 2026 at 11:33am

  I think their issue is their spine, particularly the halves. Personally i think if you swap the halves in the parra and manly games i think the dragons win both those games.
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    LB > Nitram April 20, 2026 at 12:04pm

    They don't have a player, when down by 2 with 5 to go or up by 4 with 10 to go to see it out with class. Look at Moses, tough start to the year but his kicking put us in the position to win.
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      Nitram > LB April 20, 2026 at 1:40pm

      They were also ripped off in vegas. No one will remember that now they have lost since. Its as if that didnt happen... I know it wasnt us and i dont care that much but i still hate it when teams get ripped off badly like that.
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    steveeel > Nitram April 20, 2026 at 4:54pm

    Absolutely it's the halves. Flannagan runs too often when he should pass or kick...and vice versa. He's had some success there previously , but needed to change things up this year 
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  John Boyle April 20, 2026 at 11:38am

  

  The club took a backwards step when they invested in older players looking for short term results.

  This decisions has put the club back a few years to where they are now, they would be in a lot better position if they made the right decisions a few years back, all they have done is delay the inevitable.
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    Muttman > John Boyle April 20, 2026 at 12:32pm

    

    I believe the thinking was the older players would set standrads and bring about a cultural shift. Standards and culture are great but if the older players are not performing then it's a disaster.
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      John Boyle > Muttman April 20, 2026 at 12:47pm

      

      Yes been a disaster mate, Valentine Holmes is on $1million a season, truly staggering.

      Gutherson on $800k a season is even way too much, I doubt there was much interest apart from the Dragons when he signed.

      I don't mind Cook on $600k, would be a very handy bench hooker at 34yrs of age.
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      LB > Muttman April 20, 2026 at 1:01pm

      

      The intentions were fine in getting the likes of Gutho, Cook and Holmes for experience. Issue is how many of them they got. Cook turned into a mistake with Liddle coming out of nowhere to be better but Flanno consistently went with Cook then wanted to extend him. I mean yeah you signed Cook wanting a Hooker and Liddle becoming better just happened so fair. But to double down and try to keep Cook instead of using Liddle as full-time Hooker was dumb.

      Gutho was an ok idea but in a team with limited speed on the edges he stood out further.
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        fake midget pseudoachondroplasia > LB April 20, 2026 at 1:27pm

        

        The rule changes killed Flanno's career with his lack of speed especially in the spine.  He seems a bit like BA and believes that an effort based game is enough to win games.  It may have worked in the past but the skill level of young kids coming through is phenomenal as is the fitness and agility after developing from early ages with help of sports science now given to younger and younger players.

        Val holmes has the biggest question mark though.  Has he given up or dramatically declined as a player.  Holmes was probably Flanno's best signing.  Those who weren't Parra fans probably said Gutho was the best signing but we knew his lack of speed was a problem as the game changed. 

        I wonder if new coach will get rid of Holmes and if he is worth a shot on heavily reduced contract with Saints carrying some value for 2 years.  The new coach should be looking at what Ryles did with a massive clean out.