You know the feelings Eels fans. You arrive at Parramatta Stadium expecting a big night. You’re the favourite against a team that last week went like a busted arse. The crowd is in full voice. Anticipation is high. And then Parramatta comes out playing like they’ve been drugged with Valium, and get rolled by the much more enthusiastic underdogs.
The most remarkable thing about this season to date, is the level of change that Stephen Kearney and Brad Arthurs have managed to effect in such a short space of time. All of the bad habits that we’ve associated with our team in years gone by, seem to have evaporated. yes, we’re basing that on just a couple of trials and one NRL competition, but it really was a very different team that ground their way to victory last week.
However, tonight will be a good test to see how deep that cultural change has been ingrained. This is a game where in the past Parramatta might have easily been ambushed. I don’t want to see that tonight. To be frank, the performances we were treated to last year at our games stank. No team should perform better away than they do at home. It’s a slap in the face to all of the fans who drape themselves in their team colours and loyally rock up to what should be your fortress.
That’s what Eels fans Parramatta Stadium to be. And tonight is a great opportunity for this current Parramatta roster to send its army of supporters a message - “We want to play for you”.
Parramatta go into this match as deserved favourites. The Panthers were terrible last week against the Knights and its hard to imagine them turning that around in one week. Yes, they will come out highly charged but the defensive issues they had last week will be difficult to plug that quickly.
I’m not expecting to see anything different from Parramatta this week, than what we saw last week. Work solidly out of their danger zone, play percentage football and then aim to take their chances when they come.
The one area that Parramatta will want to focus on this week, is Penrith’s attacking kicks. They scored a lot of points this way last year, and it would only take a couple of well-executed or even lucky kicks for them to score some early points and regain their confidence. The Eels needs to work hard on following the play off the ball, so that they’re ready for these plays.
That said, I think the rest of the competition has worked out Penrith’s gameplan somewhat and that they’re going to have a tough year ahead of them. Like Parramatta in 2009, they relied on a lot of individual brilliance last year which teams are now awake too, and they haven’t shown they have the structures to score enough points, or that their defence is stiff enough to win low-scoring games. I have far more confidence in Ryan Morgan and Etu Uaisele defending against the Panthers than I did against the Warriors, who are extremely adept at setting up Manu Vatuvai for tries on the flank.
Parramatta’s forwards will lay the foundation for a win. Penrith have a big pack - it’s not quite as dangerous this year without Frank Pritchard, but they really need to get a roll going on, if they’re to open up the game for Luke Walsh. Parramatta don’t necessarily need to dominate Penrith, if they hold that contest even, our defence should prove the difference between the two teams.
In attack, I’d be looking to target Walsh, with Justin Horo, Taniela Lasalo or Fuifui Moimoi running off a short pass or inside ball. Penrith will be conscious of that, and Jarryd Hayne wrapping around the back is likely to open up space and opportunities.
1Eyed Tip: Eels by 12
The most remarkable thing about this season to date, is the level of change that Stephen Kearney and Brad Arthurs have managed to effect in such a short space of time. All of the bad habits that we’ve associated with our team in years gone by, seem to have evaporated. yes, we’re basing that on just a couple of trials and one NRL competition, but it really was a very different team that ground their way to victory last week.
However, tonight will be a good test to see how deep that cultural change has been ingrained. This is a game where in the past Parramatta might have easily been ambushed. I don’t want to see that tonight. To be frank, the performances we were treated to last year at our games stank. No team should perform better away than they do at home. It’s a slap in the face to all of the fans who drape themselves in their team colours and loyally rock up to what should be your fortress.
That’s what Eels fans Parramatta Stadium to be. And tonight is a great opportunity for this current Parramatta roster to send its army of supporters a message - “We want to play for you”.
Parramatta go into this match as deserved favourites. The Panthers were terrible last week against the Knights and its hard to imagine them turning that around in one week. Yes, they will come out highly charged but the defensive issues they had last week will be difficult to plug that quickly.
I’m not expecting to see anything different from Parramatta this week, than what we saw last week. Work solidly out of their danger zone, play percentage football and then aim to take their chances when they come.
The one area that Parramatta will want to focus on this week, is Penrith’s attacking kicks. They scored a lot of points this way last year, and it would only take a couple of well-executed or even lucky kicks for them to score some early points and regain their confidence. The Eels needs to work hard on following the play off the ball, so that they’re ready for these plays.
That said, I think the rest of the competition has worked out Penrith’s gameplan somewhat and that they’re going to have a tough year ahead of them. Like Parramatta in 2009, they relied on a lot of individual brilliance last year which teams are now awake too, and they haven’t shown they have the structures to score enough points, or that their defence is stiff enough to win low-scoring games. I have far more confidence in Ryan Morgan and Etu Uaisele defending against the Panthers than I did against the Warriors, who are extremely adept at setting up Manu Vatuvai for tries on the flank.
Parramatta’s forwards will lay the foundation for a win. Penrith have a big pack - it’s not quite as dangerous this year without Frank Pritchard, but they really need to get a roll going on, if they’re to open up the game for Luke Walsh. Parramatta don’t necessarily need to dominate Penrith, if they hold that contest even, our defence should prove the difference between the two teams.
In attack, I’d be looking to target Walsh, with Justin Horo, Taniela Lasalo or Fuifui Moimoi running off a short pass or inside ball. Penrith will be conscious of that, and Jarryd Hayne wrapping around the back is likely to open up space and opportunities.
1Eyed Tip: Eels by 12
Replies
If you look at the last couple of times we have played them jarryd hayne has taken the game from them single handedly.. Im talking about the game last year coming from 20 behind and the one in the run to grand final in 09. I hope he now has a psychological edge over them were they think if he is in form they cant win.
It seems that league fans in general sense what we sense and the boys' performance in tonight's game will answer a lot of questions we might have had leading into the season.
Penrith played like shit last week. One of the worst performances I've seen from a first grade side. If, as their senior players and administrators (e.g. Brandy) maintain, there are no problems between players and coach and last week was just an aberation, Penrith are going to be very hard to beat tonight.
On the other hand...
I'll be very surprised if the Panthers aren't in the bottom 2 come the end of the season. And I don't make that call just because of last weeks performance against the Knights. Before the season began I had a feeling that teams will have worked them out this year. and now that Pritchard has gone elsewhere, they are reduced even moreso in their attacking options.
If the Eels lose this game tonight, I can see us all on here come Round 20 or 22 when we're battling it out to maybe get a top 8 spot, or a vital top 4 spot, saying "If only we had beaten the Panthers in Round 2, we would be so much better off"....
I think regardless of where Parra finish the season on the ladder, it should almost certainly be ahead of the Panthers and for that reason we should win tonight. Not because of any cultural change, just because we are better than them IMO. but then, hasn't that been Parra's problem historically? Having a better side hasn't always meant winning...
Eels will dominate tonight.......they are hungry not to repeat 2010.......
Eels by 20..........
cant wait either
just hope the cover defense is on down that right side.
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