Personally I can't see us being a better side than '09 but hey stranger things have happened. To be honest I am stoked where we are this year, we have exceeded expectation and I would think most Eels supporters would be happy no matter what, we can finally see the light at the end of a massive dark tunnel.
Jarryd Hayne and Parramatta Eels hotter now than in 2009 NRL season
- 1 hour ago August 13, 2014
CONSIDERING the dire position Parramatta has been in, in recent years, it’s easy to forget how
magical three months of 2009 were for the club.
Has there ever been a better run by a team or player like Jarryd Hayne? Well, Big League can tell you there has been – from that player, right now.
The 2014 Eels are averaging more points this season than they did in 2009, while their new breed of forwards are more powerful than their previous incarnation with ball in hand by an average of 80 metres per match.
The Eels of yesteryear had it over them in some areas, though, their ability to offload overshadows any side before or since.
“In 2009 they just started to play a style of football where they just started unloading the football, which not a lot of sides do. There was a lot of second-phase play,” says Mick Cronin, a four-time premiership winner in the 1980s.
“This side plays some good attacking football and they’re good to watch. But Jarryd Hayne is just more in control now. Chris Sandow is going great and Will Hopoate is only going to be a player who gets better.”
The biggest surprise comes in the composed but lethal Eels attack.
The side that hit one of the greatest purple patches in history was well versed in scoring long-range tries – 11 in 12 matches – this year’s team has already created more scoring opportunities from their own half than what Mortimer and co. did in the whole of 2009.
“The Eels are so dangerous because they’ve still got a fullback who can run 100 metres, and
you’ve got a winger in Semi Radradra there who can do that too,” adds Cronin.
The 17 tries Hayne has scored so far give him four more than in 2009 – and are the most he has scored since his rookie year in 2006 – while he is also averaging an extra two metres each time he touches the football, equating to an added 14 metres per match.
He has also set up more line-breaks for team-mates and is on track to assist in more tries.
Replies
Hayne is having an exceptional season - he has been consistently very dangerous and is playing very well.
The Eels are NOT "hotter" than the 09 side but certainly have made a lot of teams sit up and take notice.
09 was just plain freaky - Hayne led the freaky charge and the team responded - I doubt we will ever see play like we did "back then".
That said - The Eels aren't doing too bad for "spooners" - AY!??
My wildest UNICORN dream is to see them do the same as the Rorters and go from spoon to TROPHY.
Nice to dream until reality sets in.
Ride on little Unicorn - ride on...................................................
Watching video of him do the things he does best make my hair stand up on my head
I'm still not over the Nathan Peats and Manu Ma'u injuries. We'll get Manu back soon enough, but the loss of Peats was absolutely massive. I'd consider us a vague premiership chance if we had Peats and Ma'u fit and firing.
While I'm getting excited about this year, I'm thrilled that we're looking so good for 2015.
Couldn't agree with you more Yoshi! I have been saying that all along. Peats and Manu are an enormous loss and are irreplaceable. But in saying that, the team we have is doing very well so keep the faith and enjoy the ride.To beat the top teams we need all our best players on the paddock but you just never know what Jarryd can come up with..
Mm. Yeah, I can't agree that the Eels are hotter than in 2009. We've won 3 games in a row, which included the bottom team, and scraping a win against second-bottom.