For all the changes in Rugby League, I adhere to one simple mantra - halves win football games.
Based on where these two teams finished last year, pre-season form and probably even their respective overall squads, Parramatta don’t look a great chance of starting their 2012 season with a win. Brisbane have been the most heavily backed side in the round and most seem to have written the Eels off already.
However, I keep looking at our number seven and then look across to the opposition number seven and I feel hope. And I can’t even tell you the last time measuring up the respective halves brought a smile to my face.
For me, Brisbane have a lot to prove this year. I class Peter Wallace as one of those halves who look good next to a quality six, but when burdened with the extra responsibility of being the main playmaker can struggle to come up with the right plays. Young six Corey Norman is stepping up in class considerably as he seeks to fill the boots of the legendary Darren Lockyer. I’m yet to be convinced they are a well-matched pair of halves.
Parramatta new halves pairing have more runs on the board. Chris Sandow was the form halfback of the competition in the latter rounds of 2011. Ben Roberts is an international who has started brightly for the Eels in the pre-season. Both threaten opposition defences with their running and kicking games.
Halves, of course, particularly come into their own when matches get tight. When both teams are fatiguing and looking for the big play, you want to look to your main playmaker to bring the game home.
I’ll have no qualms then if the Eels go into this match with a game-plan to grind out a win. In front of a vocal home crowd and with a class edge in the halves, if this is a match that goes down to the wire, I want to be on the Eels. I think the Eels match up pretty well in the forwards, too. They want this game to be played up front and with both teams spending plenty of time rucking it out of their own half.
However, the worry for Parramatta is that they are clearly out-gunned in the outside backs. Whereas Brisbane are stacked with internationals and brilliant, proven youngsters, there are innumerable question marks over Parramatta on the edges. The Eels have been exposed on both their left and right edges in the pre-season and Esi Tonga and Ryan Morgan both have to get their defence right if Parramatta are going to be a show. There would seem little doubt that Brisbane will look to move the ball wide and early at every opportunity - not only will they want the ball in the hands of players like Hodges, Reed and Yoh Yeh as much as possible but you’ve also got the prospect of players like Matt Gillett and Ben Te’o running at Sandow on the fringes.
Parramatta need to limit the opportunities for those situations to play out. It’s looking almost certain that this match is going to be played in wet, or at least slippery, conditions. That could work in Parramatta’s favour if they can control the ball and then rely on Sandow and Roberts to kick the ball deep. However, mistakes coming out of their own half will almost certainly be punished.
There appears at least some chance that Jarryd Hayne will play, but to be honest I don’t think that’s going to have a great bearing on the result. Ball control, territory and Parramatta’s ability to mark up out wide is where this game will be won and lost.
This will obviously be no easy start to Parramatta’s 2012 campaign, but I think we’re a bigger hope than the pundits would have us believe. Some Eels fans have been critical of the no-frills style of play that Stephen Kearney has brought to the club, but I think that’s exactly what we need to bring the bikkies home Friday night.
Replies
i agree,
but dont be too suprised if esi dosn't play and we see a familiar face in the centers
get rid of esi from the team to wenty!!
Fingers crossed Phil. Just glad to have the footy back again!
I hope Esi plays, he needs the chance to gain some confidence there is no doubt he has the size and the skills. I remember a player similar to Esi his name was Eric Grothe Jnr, At the start of the season or coming back from an injury he was always down on confidence and often had poor performances. After stringing to 6 to 10 games in a row he would grow in stature and become unstoppable, he helped lead us to some memorable finals charges. Esi is 10 NRL games from being a force if you don't play him he wont develop.
Just gotta hope the wet conditions will stop the Broncos from spreading the ball wide quickly. I slow game will suit us with our big kicking game, however the Eels have a bad record in wet games over the last couple of years.
2 trial games and people already omitting him altogether aye LOL
Oh daniel Has come Out with a few Bold Predictions...Just Hope They are Spot On.....
Time Will Tell.
If / When not Will He Stand Up or Run....?
What about the 30 shit games he played before he got to Parra???
I'm still waiting for someone to tell me a good game he has played. I have seen everyone and I can't find it.
While i don't rate Esi overly highly.. he's just another Centre that does the job. He was signed to get his brother in.... Willie said he wanted to play with his brother again... So the Eels got him. I'm ok with this.
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