So big issue of late according to Eels fans, myself included, is the way BA uses his bench. It is obvious the use of the bench is in favouring RCG and Paulo for big minutes and having them on the field as much as possible. It can be a good policy, you are paying $1.5mil a year to your Props you want that money on the field. But with both coming off a World Cup where both their teams made the final, both could be in Origin and even Hopgood turning heads with possibility of being selected for Queensland, we need these guys fresh as much as we can for 2023. So that is where our bench comes in. Murchie and Matterson are two definite members of the bench for the year, both able to fill in the middle and on an edge. However, it seems trust stops there, where is player 16 & 17 where BA can say "Throw them in at any point and we will be fine and so will they". Makatoa with 29 NRL games you would think would be that, got 0 mins on Thursday. Momoisea maybe? They shifted Doorey to fit him in. Greig only got 18 mins. For the second in the rotation middle forward, that is nowhere near long enough. Your top two bench players should be getting roughly 25mins on the field, maybe 30. The third should look at 20-25, 4th depends on the position whether they are used as backline cover, hooker and/or halves cover, pure utility or positional utility (Back or forwards). 17th player can be accepted to be used limitedly as an emergency option.
For us now, what would be our best bench once all players are fit.
Starting with the two middles, Matterson is one no questions asked. I will also place Murchie in here too as he would be either 2 or 3 in the rotation regardless. The rest depends on how you want to play Murchie, if you have a trusted middle like Taupau would have been, you could have Taupau as second and Murchie third. In this case right now Murchie was first off the bench so he would be the second once Matterson returns. Greig, who was second on Thursday, could miss out on a few options.
So if we are not going to sign anyone else for now, lets go through who we could go with if 100% fit for option 3.
Cartwright could have played himself into a spot once Lane returns. He also adds value as a 14, so he is very likely to fill in as no.3 or 4 off the bench.
Momoisea came to the club as a middle who has played on an edge, to simply being an edge that can fill in at Centre. Trying to transform him into a Niukore type player. From his form so far, i have seen nothing to convince me that he will be more than a reserve grader this year.
Greig is the option at the moment, beating out Makatoa, Rodwell and Ogden, despite being the least expeirenced out of them. He looked ok on Thursday in his limited minutes, is he able to sustain constant game time? As a third option with Murchie coming on second for Paulo so to speak then moving to Lock for Hopgood and Greig plays 15mins or so then RCG and Paulo come back, that could work for him.
Makatoa, if he didn't get on in round 1 then he is down the pecking order.
Rodwell and Ogden same as Makatoa.
For option 4:
Cartwright, again he can fit into that 14 spot nicely being able to cover the halves, second-row, lock and Centre.
Arthur as cover for the halves or Hodgson, i mean he is an option if you just want a spot to cover a position that is difficult to cover mid game.
Asi, this is my favourite for the 14 spot due to his versatility, can play the same spots as Cartwright, except on an edge, but can cover Fullback also and adds some speed within the middle. Personally if Asi is fit, there is no reason to name Arthur at 14. You could easily have Asi and Cartwright on the bench with Matto and Murchie.
If BA wants a specialist back, i mean Simonsson or Dunster could go on the bench, he has had Dunster on there before, but if Asi is fit i do not see the need considering he has speed to play wing and can play Fullback.
If BA leans towards a four forwards bench, his best option in my opinion is 14. Cartwright 15. Murchie 16. Greig 17. Matterson
But if he is flexible his best bench overall in my opinion could be 14. Asi 15. Murchie 16. Cartwright 17. Matterson. Maybe swap Greig for Cartwright if you want some extra size.
What does everyone else prefer?
Replies
Id prefer that we could get our hands on another 1st grade forward. Missing out on Taupau, Klemmer, Lodge and rumours we are looking at Frizell, Sironin etc indicates we dont yet have what BA is looking for.
I see that the Roosters recently resigned Dylan Napa on minimum coin, and upgraded Lodge, they too are looking for that extra 1st grade forward.
Without any doubt what so-ever Nathan Brown would be my pick on the bench.
If Parramatta said that Nathan Brown is staying for 2023, then i would automatically put him next to Matto and Murchie.
In regards to another 1st grade forward, it is slim pickings in the forward department in the market. Only props i would consider, who are better than what we have, are Liam Knight and Emre Guler. Knight could come to us this year with Souths having decent depth, but Guler wont leave Canberra. Others than can develop would be Fletcher Baker, Mitch Dunn, Josh Kerr, Chris Patolo and Tuku Hau Tapuha but there are on par or below Rodwell, Greig, Makatoa and Ogden so what is the point.
Taupau would've been perfect. Our best hope is Greig but if we are to go outside i would say Liam Knight could be our best chance.
I don't understand why we have 4 players on the bench, and there is always 1 that is not used?
BA did that last season too..
A lot has been said about our play the ball speed.I would think some attention would be made about players on field movement speed in defence. I f players are feeling mobility issues with defence you would think that decisions would be made to substitute them with a fresh player who could hold the defence line better.
We need a genuine utility, impact player or even an outside back on the bench as we usually have 1 foward not getting any game time or only a few minutes on the field.
Why not have someone there who could help us chase points when needed or spark our attack. He wasn't there this week but JA isn't that type of player. I don't have a problem with him on bench if Moses or Brown are carrying an injury and chance of not playing out the game, but opposition were not worried when he got on the field as he doesn't have have any X factor or fear about him.
Players like Brandon Smith or Ben Hunt have been used as great number 14's by filling in as hooker when needed or in the middle to lift intensity and speed in around the ruck. DCE and Ponga played great roles as a 14 in origin and even young Campbell at Titans was dangerous coming off bench in periods last year due to his speed around tired towards. An outside back with strong defence to fill in for HIA or injuries in the backs while also doing a roll in the middle for short periods when needed would also be good option.
These are all better options than 4 forwards in the bench but not getting game time
Good post FM