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Match Preview: Eels need to attack Titans

Posted by Phil Sim on September 18, 2009 at 1:02am
There's a reason that Parramatta is none for three against the Titans. They play a brand of football we find uncomfortable to play against and I feel far more concerned about this week's match then I did last week against the Dragons.Last week, it really just came down to Parramatta's forwards stepping up to the mark. The Dragons play a simple, predictable game build on muscle and discipline. You have to earn a win against the Dragons, but they are very beatable, and playing for the lives I felt the Eels would do that.The Titans are pretty much the opposite. With their little men and their speedy but inexperienced outside backs, you never quite know what you're going to be in for - and with the cat and mouse games that John Cartwright has played with his backline this week, that's even more so the case.When I think of all the players who have really cut up the Eels in recent years, it's generally smaller players, with great acceleration and if they can kick all the better. The likes of Aaron Payne, Robbie Farrah, Cooper Cronk, Lance Hohaia all spring to mind. Likewise, in the Dragons match last week, the only player who continually troubled us was Jamie Soward when he ran the football. I'm also always worried about the kick behind our line. Particularly of late, we've played with very good line speed and our outside backs like to push up and in. Neither Eric Grothe or Luke Burt are that quick to turn and chase and quite frankly I'm still surprised that the Dragons didn't both to try that play last week - especially when they were finding it so difficult to go through the Eels.So let's look at the Titans. Nathan Friend is exactly the type of dummy half that scares me witless. He'll pounce out of dummy half and he's also got a great pass that can isolate a smaller player, like Matt Keating or Kevin Kingston on our goal line. Then of course you have Scott Price, who represents a double threat with his great acceleration and also his clever kicking. He'll almost certainly try his luck with the grubber or chip behind the line on multiple occasions. And of course if you give Prince too much attention, Campbell takes over and can do exactly the same thing.The Titans also have some very quick outside backs and they can create and execute an overlap very professionally. If we get rattled around the ruck, that's been a very effective way for teams to put us to the sword.So whereas the Dragons game, I couldn't see where they were going to score a lot of points, you just can't say that against the Titans. If any team is going to be able to put on three of four quick tries that seemingly come from nowhere to knock you out, it's the Titans.On the flipside, I can see us scoring a lot of points against them. They're forwards don't really aim to dominate the ruck, they just aim to control it and slow play down as much as possible. So they're quite susceptible to second-phase player. They're defensive line also quite often holds back, a prospect that will have the likes of Jarryd Hayne and Feleti Mateo frothing at the mouth. Their little men are also a defensive concern on the fringe of the ruck and our backrowers will all be aiming up to run at their halves. And finally, they have a few inexperienced blokes in their backline who are susceptible to errors or making a bad decision in defence.There is a potential for this match to resembles the Broncos and Titans match which was just a try-athon. If Cartwright wants to turn the match into a very fast-paced, open affair which is really the Titan's traditional strength then I do like our chances. I think our defence is better than there's and I think over the course of 80 minutes of free-flowing footy we'll score more tries than they will.I'll be more concerned if Cartwright takes the more unexpected approach, and tries to turn it into a dour affair. If there are a lot of stoppages, a lot of completed sets, and the match is kept to as few points as possible then both luck and individual moments of skills can decide the match. And with players like Prince, Friend, Campbell and Rogers in your side, your always a chance of producing enough quantities of both to jag a win. What's more with the latitude that the referees gave, both in terms of the narrowness of the ten and the slowing of play in the ruck, the Titans might think they're a chance of really slowing everything down which will limit Jarryd Hayne's opportunities.Anderson was quite prepared to play a very controlled game against the Dragons. We didn't offload a lot in comparison to previous games, we were very, very patient and we won the game on defence. If I'm Daniel Anderson this week, I'm going into this week's plan with exactly the opposite approach - I'm trying to blow the Titans off the ground with my attack. It still means I'm backing my defence (after all, that is out strength right now) but not in the hope that they can keep scoring to a minimum, but that our defence can minimise the damage that might be made in playing an open, attacking brand of football.What I don't want is a repeat of our clash earlier in the year. That was a pretty dour, grafting affair which came up at three tries a piece but the Titans won on the back of superior goal-kicking. If this match is left to come down to a couple of crucial moments, I can see the Titans being just that little bit hungrier. This is the biggest moment in their club's history and they will be desperate for survival. I'm sure we'll come out as the ocassion merits, but I can't help but think we might be just that little flat in attitude as compared to last week.I just have this nagging feel, it's Eels by plenty or...Let's just stick with Eels by plenty.
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  • Camo73 September 18, 2009 at 6:44am
    I'm feeling nervous too. It will take a lot to prove that we are the '09 Eels and not an older version of past sides. Games like this are always a concern. Everybody is backing us and we're short priced favourites. The Titans aren't considered a premiership threat and we're playing the game in Sydney. It brings back memories of the '99 final against the Storm and the '05 capitulation against the Cowboys.
    I have to keep reminding myself that we are a different team. We have a new coach and very little baggage from the days when we'd choke come finals time. Our players seem to want to go all the way this year and as I objectively look at the competition I have to admit that we are red hot and the team that every other team should fear.
    I'll be there tonight and I'll be as nervous as ever. I didn't start to relax until we were 24-0 up against the Panthers and against the Tigers I don't think I relaxed at all. I know we can win it and I really hope we do.

    Thanks for another great preview Phil.
  • blueNgold September 18, 2009 at 8:11am
    It's the short turn around that has me the most worried. We managed to beat the Dragons on a Sunday which would of had the boys heads in the sky for a few days then all of a sudden its friday and we have a game. I'm hoping we have just been training on adrenaline all week, pumped to continue our roll.

    The Titans are a very capable team on their day, they have alot of skill and a hardworking pack. We will need to aim up, and get on top of them early then continue to apply pressure.

    As 1eyed said they are a team that is capable of conceding points when they are on the backfoot. I honestly believe we are the better side, im still a little concerned though.
  • waldo September 18, 2009 at 8:42am
    What's that? You're sagging and Eels by 20 you say? Your'e confident! But I agree, that was then, this is now, we're playing 5 star football and are improving week by week. I'm not quite as confident as you but Eels by 15. Oh and if you want to stop sagging lay of the pies!
  • crow September 18, 2009 at 10:00am
    I think we're all a little nervous, at this stage of the season no game is a given, after all we are playing the side that finished 3rd but we are playing as well as any of them and if we continue to play with the same commitment and desire especially in defence we should win, one point that we keep hearing is we have never beaten the Titans, but really, 2 losses last year ( when we were diabolical ) and 1 loss this year ( up at skilled park with no Jarryd and only beaten by goal kicking ) I think the Titans are going to have to play the game of their lives to beat us !
    GO GET EM PARRA !!!
    • Bourbon Man > crow September 18, 2009 at 2:19pm
      But you think we'll smash the opposition every week! Make no mistake, I admire your loyalty to the cause, I'm just not sure whether you're necessarily the best judge of a result!
  • Clint September 18, 2009 at 10:39am
    I'm pretty confident we'll get them guys, while they have got us in every game, I think our hunger and recent form will get us home.

    My best mate was able to score me corporate box seats for tonight - so if we lose look for the guy crawling out the gates on his hands and knees crying like a baby!
  • m4t September 18, 2009 at 12:22pm
    i rekon we will do it easy they have young wingers n grothe n burt can make them look crap
  • RealEel September 18, 2009 at 4:52pm
    If we stand off and watch Scott Prince he will cut us up. He has done this before running across field and picking up runners . I too am nevouse about this game!
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