Match Preview: Eels vs Warriors

I started writing this match preview by declaring that I couldn't see anyway Parramatta could lose this one. The Warriors are out of form, missing their captain and most important player and playing away from home. They can't make the finals and have nothing really to play for. Meanwhile, we've won four in a trot against better teams than New Zealand, we have the form player in the competition and we'll be at home in front of a good sized crowd. Then I got nervous. Every time I've written something like that in the past, we've lost. Late last year, I promised myself I'd never declare as morals again. I quickly pressed CTR-A and the delete on the keyboard and deleted what I'd written, for fear that I'd let out the Parramatta Eels favourite hoodoo. Then I said to myself that was silly. Parra has proven over the last couple of weeks that they're a transformed team. We can't lose. Then I got nervous again. This just may be the game where we can finally put that perception behind us that the Eels only turn up when it suits them. We really should lap the Warriors with a leg in the air. Will we do so? You could argue that the game against the Sharks was symbolic in that everyone had raised the point that we had a crappy record against favourites so there was additional incentive not to put in an ordinary game. Newcastle may have been down but they were still ahead of us on the table and coming up against Brian Smith will always provide us with additional motivation. This week, nobody expects the Warriors to win. if Parramatta was ever going to dip into complacency then this would be the week for it. I'm not expecting it is going to happen. I think Jarryd Hayne is a significant reason for the Eels being able to maintain their consistency. Parramatta coaches and players have long maintained that the effort was always there but for some reason or another things just didn't fall into place, when Parramatta wasn't having an "on" week. For Hayne, things are simply falling into place week in, week out. He is in such dynamic form that he is creating opportunities and points a half dozen times in every game and the rest of the side are feeding off that. When Hayne was off, the week he was sick against the Tigers, the rest of the side fell back a level. The beauty of being fullback is it is very difficult for opposition side's to take Hayne out of the equation. You can not kick to him and teams are doing that but when we have the ball in our hands, he has opportunity to pop up where ever he and the coach sees opportunity. And you can't run at him all day, either, to sap his energy because he's behind the line. With Hayne in full-flight, the only way I can see our undoing is if our handling fails us. For all of the prettiness related to Hayne, our great second phase play, the power of Fuifui Moimoi and the brilliance of outside backs, our handling has really been the foundation of our winning streak. I'd argue it's been even more important that our defence. We've had good completion rates, week-in, week-out throughout this winning streak. If you go back to when we were losing there is a dramatic difference in handling. When you drop the ball, it seldom matters how much of the rest of your game is on song, because you don't get a chance to attack and eventually under sustained pressure all defences must crack. As all football games do, it will start with the fundamentals. If the Eels get their completion rates up, the rest of their game should flow on there. As long as they don't try too hard to score too many points and they just let them come naturally, they could easily rack up a big total. The other question that all Eels fans are dying to know is will Anderson pull a late switch. Will Feleti Mateo or even Kris Keating come into the side at the last minute. He is maintaining it won't happen. But gosh, if ever you were looking at a game where you could take a few chances on bringing players back, this would be it.

I mentioned in another thread that we can't forget that the Warriors put a HEAP of points on the Panthers two weeks ago. I'm just hoping the boys don't go into this one thinking they'll win in a landslide...

I'm pretty confident that the boys can build on the 'Brick Wall' defense of the last few weeks and work up a pretty good score. I just hope that like a lot of games that we were 'supposed' to win this year, we don't let it slip. In saying that, this is a very different side to the one that started the season.

And I'm still wondering what will happen at the last minute... You're 100% correct in saying that this would be the game to try something. Maybe Ando realises that although we should really win by 50, we can't take any chances on our way to the finals.

"Paulo is a shadow of what he once was and is getting worse each year. He looks like he hates the collision these days. Sadly that is what he would display if kept around as a leader for our pack for others to follow. Sam T already seems to follow in…"

"Did you watch him play in this years final for Souths? He was owned by old man Gagai. Laurel went missing all game although he did pass the ball from dummy half a lot to the other outside backs to work it out of their end. Massive NO."

Replies

Jarrod August 14, 2009 at 1:06pm

Great preview. But why did you bring up the dreaded curse! Parra to lose by 13 now :(
Dan August 14, 2009 at 1:14pm

I mentioned in another thread that we can't forget that the Warriors put a HEAP of points on the Panthers two weeks ago. I'm just hoping the boys don't go into this one thinking they'll win in a landslide...

I'm pretty confident that the boys can build on the 'Brick Wall' defense of the last few weeks and work up a pretty good score. I just hope that like a lot of games that we were 'supposed' to win this year, we don't let it slip. In saying that, this is a very different side to the one that started the season.

And I'm still wondering what will happen at the last minute... You're 100% correct in saying that this would be the game to try something. Maybe Ando realises that although we should really win by 50, we can't take any chances on our way to the finals.
RealEel August 14, 2009 at 1:33pm

Don't balme you for being nervous Phil, after all there is plenty of history to feed your fear.

I agree that this could be a defining week, however, every week from here on will be defining. If we can beat all teams leading to the Dragons, and make the eight with either a win or a fighting effort against the Dragons, we will deserve to be there and who knows what will happen!!!
1Eyed Eel August 14, 2009 at 1:36pm

You would have to think though, if you don't bring Feleti or Kris in this week, that assuming we keep winning you have to maintain that stance until somebody screws up royally or there is an injury.

It's seems unfathomable that you could have players as good as Feleti and Kris sitting on the sidelines...
- EelLectric > 1Eyed Eel August 14, 2009 at 1:58pm
  
  I was just thinking the exact same thing. If the boys keep winning without Mateo and KK then just when will they get their opportunity? Especially with Cayless out this week, it was taylor-made for Mateo to come on to the bench (at the very least). I can understand not wanting to mess around with the halves (hence no KK) but the ommision of Mateo puzzles me.
  
  In saying all of that, I don't really care who plays as long as we keep winning!
RealEel August 14, 2009 at 1:45pm

I also think we need Mateo & KK in the side and firing to be a realsitic chance if we do make semi's.
Jackso August 14, 2009 at 4:02pm

Dont change your game plan boys. Defend like you've been defending and we'll get the bikkies. Keep that Brick Wall up and the points will come.

If they go into this game thinking to score big points... this is where we can be vulnerable
- Dan > Jackso August 14, 2009 at 4:20pm
  
  I like that.
- Dan_Ref > Jackso August 14, 2009 at 6:19pm
  
  very optimistic
  - Dan > Dan_Ref August 14, 2009 at 8:31pm
    
    It's never gonna happen, but I can still like it...

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