It’s seldom in success that a person’s weaknesses reveal themselves, rather it’s when faced with adversity that one’s battle against one’s self is greatest.
And so it was last night, when faced with wet, slippery conditions, an opposition intent on making up for the previous week’s embarassment and a poor start, that all of the rhetoric about mistake-free, structured football became just that - at least for the week - and the Parramatta faithful were sent home wet, sodden and wondering at what point the time-machine had slipped them back to 2010.
The Eels went down 20 to six but were never in the contest and that scoreline flattered them. The only Eels points came when Matt Keating was able to cross over for a four-pointer off a Jarryd Hayne offload. Until then, Parramatta had seldom looked likely. Penrith had defended stoutly and Parramatta continually turned the ball over when attempting any kind of attacking manoeuvre. With a possession rate of less than 50 per cent, it was a world away from the highly controlled, forward-oriented football that Parramatta executed to such, great success against the Warriors. The Parramatta forward pack were absolutely domimanted by the giant Penrith pack with Penrith racking up nearly 1500 metres across the match while Parramatta’s yardage was less than 1100 metres.
Coach Stephen Kearney started the match with two late changeds. Chris Hicks came in from Etu Uaisele and Matt Keating was moved to the starting side, with Casey McGuire dropping back to the bench. If that move was designed to help the Eel’s get off to a solid start, it failed, because Penrith showed in the early exchanges that there had come to this game with much, more intent in both attack and defence. They would regularly attack Parramatta’s right-side defence, which was regularly out-numbered and struggled to cope with the pace of Michael Jennings.
Penrith’s first try came when Jennings beat Hicks, who was forced off his wing, and then the Eels were unable to slide quickly enough to stop winger David Simmons from scoring outwide. Michael Gordon rubbed salt into the wounds with a sideline coversion.
The next try was simply soft defence, with Shane Shackleton failing to keep pace with Luke Walsh, forcing Daniel Mortimer to come one-in and in the process opening up a hole that Lachlan Coote ran through with Shackleton and Whatuira on the outside side failing to cover. Gordon missed the easier conversion but Penrith still had a convincing 10 to nil lead, they took into the half-time break.
If you wanted to characterise the Eel’s night, you could look to the Panther’s third try. The Eels set up for a left-side attack with its two hardest-running players Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Lasalo positioned on Jarryd Hayne’s shoulder. However, Penrith moved out of the line faster than expected and with Moimoi and Lasalo running at barely half-pace next to him, Hayne threw the ball to neither and it was collected by Michael Gordon who raced 60 metres to score.
Or perhaps you could point to the ill-discipline that saw the Eels give up a further four points, through penalities right in front of their sticks.
The late try made it 20 to six, but it was an ugly night at the Stadium. Far from being Fortress Parramatta, the Eels offered far more to Penrith than they did for their long-suffering fans, who will be now be finding it hard to remember the last time they walked over from their home ground as winners. Once again, they saw their team out-enthused on home turf, and the same-old habits of panic and ill-discipline setting in when backs are against the wall.
*sigh*
And so it was last night, when faced with wet, slippery conditions, an opposition intent on making up for the previous week’s embarassment and a poor start, that all of the rhetoric about mistake-free, structured football became just that - at least for the week - and the Parramatta faithful were sent home wet, sodden and wondering at what point the time-machine had slipped them back to 2010.
The Eels went down 20 to six but were never in the contest and that scoreline flattered them. The only Eels points came when Matt Keating was able to cross over for a four-pointer off a Jarryd Hayne offload. Until then, Parramatta had seldom looked likely. Penrith had defended stoutly and Parramatta continually turned the ball over when attempting any kind of attacking manoeuvre. With a possession rate of less than 50 per cent, it was a world away from the highly controlled, forward-oriented football that Parramatta executed to such, great success against the Warriors. The Parramatta forward pack were absolutely domimanted by the giant Penrith pack with Penrith racking up nearly 1500 metres across the match while Parramatta’s yardage was less than 1100 metres.
Coach Stephen Kearney started the match with two late changeds. Chris Hicks came in from Etu Uaisele and Matt Keating was moved to the starting side, with Casey McGuire dropping back to the bench. If that move was designed to help the Eel’s get off to a solid start, it failed, because Penrith showed in the early exchanges that there had come to this game with much, more intent in both attack and defence. They would regularly attack Parramatta’s right-side defence, which was regularly out-numbered and struggled to cope with the pace of Michael Jennings.
Penrith’s first try came when Jennings beat Hicks, who was forced off his wing, and then the Eels were unable to slide quickly enough to stop winger David Simmons from scoring outwide. Michael Gordon rubbed salt into the wounds with a sideline coversion.
The next try was simply soft defence, with Shane Shackleton failing to keep pace with Luke Walsh, forcing Daniel Mortimer to come one-in and in the process opening up a hole that Lachlan Coote ran through with Shackleton and Whatuira on the outside side failing to cover. Gordon missed the easier conversion but Penrith still had a convincing 10 to nil lead, they took into the half-time break.
If you wanted to characterise the Eel’s night, you could look to the Panther’s third try. The Eels set up for a left-side attack with its two hardest-running players Fuifui Moimoi and Taniela Lasalo positioned on Jarryd Hayne’s shoulder. However, Penrith moved out of the line faster than expected and with Moimoi and Lasalo running at barely half-pace next to him, Hayne threw the ball to neither and it was collected by Michael Gordon who raced 60 metres to score.
Or perhaps you could point to the ill-discipline that saw the Eels give up a further four points, through penalities right in front of their sticks.
The late try made it 20 to six, but it was an ugly night at the Stadium. Far from being Fortress Parramatta, the Eels offered far more to Penrith than they did for their long-suffering fans, who will be now be finding it hard to remember the last time they walked over from their home ground as winners. Once again, they saw their team out-enthused on home turf, and the same-old habits of panic and ill-discipline setting in when backs are against the wall.
*sigh*
Replies
Accurate summation of a very poor effort.
I know Ben Smith has a massive following on this site, with people even wanting and demanding him as 2012 captain but for mine he is off the pace for first grade.
He is simply too slow and as a result he makes mistakes as he cant keep up. Note the number of high shot penalties he gives up as a result of him clutching at players who are about to run past him. Note the kick ahead when he should have put his head down and run. Sorry Ben not in my side.
Bring cronk here now lol
The two most disappointing aspects of the game were firstly how the Penrith Forward Pack totally dominated & how our Pack failed to respond.
The Panthers Pack played with much more intensity & commitment whilst our Pack seemed to cower, even our young guns seemed over awed by the Penrith's intensity. Nathan H was totally ineffective. Unfortunately he does not appear to be a leader & lacks the necessary on field Mojo for a Captain.
Secondly, SK will need to address our defensive problems our wide ASAP or we r going to get targeted on the flanks by all opposition teams for the rest of the season.
I agree with the comments regarding Ryan Morgan. Looks like we might have a good one there.
I actually think this is a massive issue. From the GF loss on Hayne has had to carry the team in attack. As a result he over plays his hand. Hence these passes you have picked up on are a direct fact that we lack any other attacking option.
Watch the last 10 minutes of our GF loss and you will see JH over play his hand and he has been doing this ever since. This is not a criticism of Hayne but of the players inside him
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