With five minutes to go it was 28-6. Blink and three minutes later it's 28-18.
The warning shots were fired a few minutes earlier when Tofu Harris slipped through a yawning gap in the middle when the experienced, wily Tevaga drew the under-seige 19 year-old Jakob Arthur to open up enough space for the veteran to stroll through. With ease.
It's become a distinct pattern for the Eels this year to concede between one to three tries - either at the death, either side of half-time, early on, or in combination - in the majority of games.
The only game we have not done at least half to all of those things was the round seven clash with the Knights; the only game the Eels have not conceded a try.
We concede the first try in 12 of 17 games (70.6%).
We concede one to three tries 10 minutes either side of half-time in 14/17 games (82.4%).
We concede one to three tries (or the losing field goal) in the dying 10 minutes in 10 of 17 games (58.9%).
This is an indictment of our defensive vulnerabilities and lapses, our Jeckly-Hyde nature, which seems to switch off at critical moments; one that concedes almost 22ppg and is ranked 10th.
Another predictable pattern is that the Eels have won 5/6 (83.3%) at Commbank, but only 6/ 11 (54.5%) outside of Commbank.
So, if we don't manage to secure top-four with having 5 from 8 of our next games at Commbank, it would be a hard task to win four-straight finals games - away - on death row under pressure.
We have yet to win four straight at any point yet. Every premier in NRL history has won at least 4-15 straight games by round 19. We have yet to do that.
The Eels need to start finding what is amiss so far in their season - and find solutions.
Whatever they have been doing, it's not going to be enough.
Time is running out to change underlying habits.
Replies
Some interesting stats re when triess are conceded HOE, does this have something to do with the use of the interchange? I've watched JA misread his not only one to make a poor decision but I'm sure selecting to the kid in a foreign position comes with risk and it's the start of series misread from more experienced players - on the game the tomorrow game Reno was targeted unsuccessfully, the forward battle will great to watch don't what to make of the result toss of the coin
I would have like to be a fly on the wall, at the video session this week showing the screen shot you posted, HOE
Or was that play fast forwarded (or) "we don't need to look at the tape this week boys, I have watched it at home" (or) finger pointing at someone else for the error (or) turning a blind eye (or) not holding certain players accountable.
Cartwright and Rein made some simple errors in their limited game time, and were immediately punted back to NSW Cup.
Don't bother Brissy, who the f&$k spend so much time whinging when nobody but the coach has a say on the team. And lets face it they have it in for the coach, but because the coach has us in the 8, fighting for a top 4 they go his son too. Show all the mistakes Johnson made that game, show what Brooks makes weekly, those guys are being paid 3-4 times more than JA, the kids learning, the others are season first graders, and still they are chosen day in day out. No they don't play for Parra, but every single day a JA post... far out.
JA will make lots of mistakes and those will be overlooked because he's the coachs son..
Absolute bs nepotism..
Cartwright has been less than inspiring at Cup level since. Rein though is being played in Cup so if he's called up to replace Reed due to injury he has the minutes in his legs to do it.
'' I mean it cant be nepotism, if it was JA would be at fault all the time''
Coral Hughes 2022
They just need to defend as a whole team the way they did in the second half against the roosters and the raiders.
We can go on about JA and BA over and over but the reality is our best football which was probably the roosters game as our attack in the first half as Brandy Alexander said was probably the best half of footy played all year by any team and then the second half when our defence was so solid when the roosters threw everything at us and the panthers game, shows that our best football can be good enough to beat anybody.
Will it stay consistent? Who knows.
The one think I do know is BA picking JA is only distabling to fans not internally with the players.
Just like the made up story of Nathan Brown having a crack at BA for picking JA and that is why he was dropped.
Again dealing with reality NB was dropped well before JA was back on the bench.
Nathan Brown has had his cards marked as his money needs to be directed to keep Ice or sign another player.
A pure business decision, just like when he was signed with Manly last year but they then pulled out.
How many of those times was Jake playing?
So 28 - 6 at the 72 minute mark with Eels leading and on comes Jakey baby and then in blink of an eye it's 28 -18 and yet again Super Dope Coach wants to continually put his son in the side
11 of them are his fault
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