Eels Blogs

Hello darkness my old friend, definately the sounds of silence for sure on the club of Parramatta. Sorry this is so late, had a big week with work where i only had access to my phone for long periods of the day, i could comment on my phone but doing a long blog like this? Would have been a nightmare. Anyway, nothing too much to say lets get to it.

Quick thoughts, we handled them for a good 20 mins, our intent was there, Hopgood led the way and we seemed to be getting on top slightly. That first try for Reynolds is what killed us, changed momentum and we were gone right then and there. Did we give up? I think majority did, that is never a good thing.

Stats: 57% possession will sufficate any team, Brisbane sufficated us with that possession stat alone, but their speed was evident as a part of the possession. Though completions were close to even, 77% to our 74%. Brisbane ran close to 600 more metres on 52 more runs, so averaged 10 metres per run on the difference. 12 line-breaks to 3, missing only 24 tackles to our 46 and having 16 offloads to our 11. Just a dominant display by a real powerhouse. Though errors were tied at 11, we conceded more penalties with 8 to their 6, we also gave away 2 ruck infringements to their 1. We were super undisciplined which is mirrored through frustration. Added they only used 6 interchanges, dagger further into us that they did that with using less interchanges showing their fitness.

Most Impressive:

J'Maine Hopgood: Our future captain, he is what Paulo should be, leading by example. I really think BA should consider changing up the leadership group in 2024 to include Hopgood as captain in waiting, even having him as vice captain and then co-captain come 2025. It will help us re-sign him in future plus add some youth to our leadership. This team would thrive on Hopgood leading the way in the forwards as a follow me into battle. Ever since Paulo got the co-captain job his play dropped. Go back to Gutho as captain and Hopgood as vice captain. Anyway overall he gave his all, a real bright point of a dismal season.

Sean Russell: Did not do a lot wrong, never really does. Only thing with Russell is at this point in our squad, Russell is good but not great for us. We need a bit more from our wingers, while Russell is good to hold the fort i do not think he is the future. He is very handy to have in our squad for the future and will always support him, but with the likes of Billy Smith being rumoured to be our Centre in 2024, shifting Simonsson to a wing is a given, plus the emergence of Richard Penisini, who is a real talent, might also push Russell down more. His best hope if playing Fullback in NSW cup, developing in that position more and being our true back-up no.1, though it is weird to think that after such a steady year he might be pushed down the pecking order next year, seems unfair yet it is good also for our squad. Overall, well done to Rusty.

Luca Moretti: The guy is a meat axe, gave his all, didn't miss a single tackle. Give the man a pizza and garlic bread for his efforts. Super Mario would be proud of his fellow Italian.

Honorable mentions: .........

Most Disappointing:

Bailey Simonsson: Had a great middle part of 2024, seemed to have answered our left Centre conumdrum. But the shine has seemed to have worn off for Simonsson, though he has shown to be a decent Centre, there are massive flaws. Though he shifted back to the Wing and again continues his streak of average performances on the wing for the club. Only one good game on the Wing came against Canberra in 2022, scoring a double. Next year, seems all but certain he will be back on his least preferred spot on the right wing as we hunt for a Centre. If his brainsnap on the stroke of half-time is any indication to his 2024, either Russell, Penisini or a new signing will take his spot quick smart if not careful. It would not surprise me if Richard Penisini is lining up on right side alongside Will by the conclusion of 2024 where Simonsson's deal ends and he will be elsewhere in 2025. Fall from grace, not massively but he had the chance to cement the Centre spot for the future and now it is dwindling as now he might not even be our starting winger in 2024.

Ryan Matterson: Was thinking, maybe we should tape a $20 bill on the ball then kick it down field, that will make Matterson chase it for dear life. Or even better, offer him a $100 incentive for each try his scores since he is on 0 this year. He was not good, not good at all. Missed assignments in defence, ineffective in attack and at times looked disinterested. We let Matto go for Papali'i, at first i was fine with it and Matto hasn't had to bad of a 2023 season, but that game where we need his experience in the middle was dreadful. Poor attitude.

Wiremu Greig: Now he is coming back from a bad injury, but if he is not fit enough to play and his injury is effecting his play he shouldn't be playing. He got manhandled against a far superior Brisbane pack. This is not all doom and gloom for Greig, i think he will be just fine, a fresh contract til 2026 helps his confidence, plus an off-season with 19 games under his belt compared to 3 also helps. But calling it for what it is worth he was not good.

Brendan Hands: I know it harsh since he played Halfback for the first time in his short NRL career, never defended in that spot. Missing assignments and reading the plays wrong is fine as he was not used to it, though regardless of where you defend you make one on one tackles, he missed them and poorly. He would defend against the same forwards at Hooker so yeah not good from Hands. Matt Arthur looks good, really good, Hands career could be a back-up at best which is a shame considering the start he had to 2023.

Junior Paulo: It is beating a dead horse, but paying $950k a season for an Origin forward for him to produce 72 metres off 12 runs? That is 6 metres per run. That is pathetic. Only 15 PCM too. Either he is injured or regressing, though some hard truths need to be brought up with Betham-Misa, Greig and Tuivaiti the future.

Ok that'll do, it was a bad game that ended our season time to move on. In terms of BA, he is here for 2024 so let's see how he goes. If we are worse in 2024 then we can complain, for now let's see him do his job.

Team changes were as i would have said but jumbled. I knew Sivo in for Moses (Asi to 6, Simonsson to 4 and Sivo to 2) and RCG for Davey but i thought Matto would start on the edge, but instead Hopgood. Well let's see if he could work out on an edge as i feel Charlie Guymer could be a good Lock in the future so Hopgood could move to the edge in the future.

Now onto the Roosters, let's try and finish on a high.

Enjoy the game tonight and your week, god save Parramatta.