Eels Blogs

Back to back wins for the first time since last years semi and prelim final, a better performance yet a lucklustre one at best also. It is good that we can perform poorly and still come away with a win.

We had 53% possession but only 70% completions, that is not good enough, though if you are going to do it against a team, better off against say a Canterbury. We had well over 500 more metres running on only 30 or so more runs. Offload were back with 12 to their 10, missed tackles were better with 24 to their 30. Though only 55% kick defusals, an area we usually excel at. We were looked after with penalties 9 to 3, though 13 errors to their 11 is not good enough, rather it now then later in the year but do that to Brisbane and they make you pay for it. 

Most Impressive:

RCG: After appearing on disappointing list last week, RCG is back. With a point to prove, he seemed to have been on target for Mahoney. It caused me to be concerned and yell out "Pick on someone your own size" equivalent to a year 12 kid beating up a year 7 kid. RCG also sealed the game with a try, allow us to continue further and finish them off with the Sivo try at the end. RCG should be in Origin, if Cleary allows him too since he is a selector it seems, and was spared a few minutes also which is nice. 9 tackle breaks also.

Clint Gutherson: He was everywhere today, but he deserves this mention for his high ball quality alone. The kicks Burton put up made me feel bad for Burton's dog if he had one, they were powerful and tricky yet Gutho had no issues. Gutho popped up everywhere and shows he is still very much in his prime, a beautiful kick for Sivo's second try capped off a captain's knock.

Wiremu Greig: 11 runs for 121 metres. In 19 mins. It was Greig's best performance in first grade. Could he finally be clicking? Let's hope so. I didn't like him being brought off with 5 to go in the first half just to bring Paulo on, felt Makatoa could have came on and it would have been fine. But Greig's role today is how he should be played, an impact bench player. Greig looked busy and ready to take run after run, it is promising as it makes our bench more rounded. Makatoa is a workhorse middle, Cartwright a worker edge with an offload and now Greig with impact runs in the middle, what we have needed for a while.

Ryan Matterson: He needs to stay on the edge, his combination with not only Moses but Penisini worked well. I also liked how BA used him when Cartwright came on he can shift back into the middle. Although i felt Cartwright could have played Lock anyway. 170 metres, 3 tackle breaks, 2 offloads and 2 line-break assists is what a player on 600k a year should be producing. Leave Hopgood starting and have Matterson on the edge, stronger automatically.

Brendan Hands: In game 4, to play full 80 and not look out of place is amazing. Hands came in for Hodgson and when i heard that on my way to the stadium, i didn't gasp or anything, didn't even feel dread. Felt confident we will be fine and we were. Hands is not a flashy hooker but is different around the ruck, sudden movements and is always around the play for an offload. Compared to Hodgson it was night and day. I like Hodgson, tried to defend him, but you cannot watch Hands yesterday and say he shouldn't stay as our 9? Even better if Hands is our 9 and Hodgson does something else, frees up cash for another area of need to get a good player, Hands would be on minimum coin. BA mentioned it is only game 4, so to expect him to start fulltime is too much at the moment and fair enough, but with Hodgson around to assist will only benefit him. Maybe moving forward in 2024 Hodgson might move into a coaching or advisor role at the club to assist our hookers coming through, Hands seems to be benefiting. 

Will Penisini: What a player, 190 metres, 2 tackle breaks, 20 tackles, 0 missed and a try. He is turning into a strike Centre and is only 20 still. I would even go as far as to say if Latrell or Turbo are out of Origin, not saying to pick him but he should be in the conversation for NSW.

Reed Mahoney: He was incredible today, he has assisted in wins for us before and has done it again. Countless errors, blowing a captain's challenge, getting pushed around by RCG, running it on the last trying to be the hero. People felt sorry for him, i found it hilarious, particularly how he talked back to fans, he is a flog and embarrassed himself. He will have his time where he beats us, but for now it was beautiful. Unlike Papali'i where yes he made that choice so he can deal with it but you do still feel sorry for him, Mahoney did worse going to a rival. It was hilarious.

Honorable mentions: Moses

Most Disappointing:

Dylan Brown: Well that kick up the arse from BA worked a treat, he looks distracted. No idea what is up with Brown but he looks clumsy, jumpy, panicky and frustrated. He does look like he is trying to get involved but maybe trying read 2-3 plays ahead he loses focus of what is going on. Brown should just play eyes up, let Moses and Hodgson/Hands do the ruck work and he calls when sees something. The thing is i can see he is trying, not like he is lazy or got attitude, but he looks flustered and just cannot seem to get going. Though look at last year, each game he took runs and nearly broke through then finally in Round 12 v Canberra he made 2-3 line-breaks and scored a double and went from there. Just needs that break, that assist, that play. He is more talented than Moses and Gutherson, though those two seem to have better instincts at the moment.

Refereeing: I am not going to say he had a set against us or tried to help Canterbury win, as i do not believe he was capable of doing that if he wanted to. This bloke had no idea for majority of the game. He leaned on his touchies a lot, which is fine but there were calls he made where he was literally right in front of the play and he relied on the bunker or touchies on the call. I do not believe his integrity was in question, he just had no idea what was happening at times to be fair. Reminded me a lot of Perenara to be fair.

No foot on the throat mentality til late: We came out in the second half and i thought it was Easter Monday again. We were conservative, just completing our sets and going through the motions. We basically were playing not to lose. Now that can be fine in certain situations, like had it been 10-6 at the break, then yeah get through sets and not do anything stupid to get them to level or lead. It was 16-0, if you show you are conservative, the opposition take some confidence and go forward thinking they are a chance. We need that foot on the throat mentality. We shy away from offloading or spreading it in our own half, yet are happy to go for a short drop out on our line???? Confusing. Though as soon as RCG scored we sort of got going from there, but should have done that earlier. We know we are good enough to do it though we sort of at the moment do not know how to control it, go too far one way or too far the other not until a try breaks us off it. 

Short kick oblivious: The final kick off after Sivo's second try, everyone moved the left of Burton, i was thinking "Ummm he is a left footed kicker so he will kick to the left why is everyone moving to the right and getting stacked there" What happened? What do you know he kicked to the left and we were unmarked and Canterbury got it back. Same with the short drop outs, Lane was close to one but didn't even contest it, Russell had a nightmare day under pressure. Brisbane will see this and Reynolds will target it.

Reed Mahoney professionalism: Right at the start of warm-ups, he made his way over to may area to do his stretches, and one fan was blasting him to next year. Reed laughed at it as we all did it was fun it is how NRL rivalries should be and Reed laughing at it i had no issues with as he knew what he was doing. However, commenting back to the person about their appearance, that is unprofessional. You might consider me a Karen but seriously he is an NRL player on 650k a year he is already better than the average fan, laugh at it and move on. But to comment like that then start taunting and gestering it not acceptable. I know some will say fans give it they can cop it, like if a goal kicker is being heckled they turn around and do something like put their hand to their ear or smile or something that is fine as it is in the moment bantering, Mahoney laughing with it is fine. But to comment back is arrogance and poor, you can tell then this was a big game for him, big proving point. For him to fall on his arse after it shows karma. Yeah the fan gives it he can cop it in some eyes, but these are professionals, they are selling a product. If it was park footy fair enough, fair game. But Mahoney, being a captain too, showed arrogance and immaturity. Even worse it would make it harder for him when mistakes happen. If i was Ciraldo i would have said, enjoy the day of bickering, laugh, smile, clap even if you want to as banter but do not give in to their calls as it is ammo for when you mess up. He messed up and fans got onto him worse. Fact that Hands who has played 104 games less and cost roughly 400-500k less outstaged him is telling. Made me lose respect even more for Reed who was my favourite player, bar none.

That's it, not too much negative. I felt every player was good today, Brown not so much but he wasn't awful. Next week is the in form team of the competition Brisbane. Fast track in Darwin will suit though it will be hot and not sure how that factors into someone like Greig who we need his impact off the bench. Brisbane are slow starters and are fast, big edges that are mobile with a sizeable middle. Simply limited Reynolds run game, do that by limiting Jordan Riki which will be the job for Brown and Lane. This is a game where we cannot be conservative if we get a good start, Brisbane come out in second half better always, we need to grind with them as other than round 1 v Penrith they havent had to grind to a win. Use the heat as an advantage to fatigue. Start fast in second half, match them on intensity, get to 60-65 minute mark with a good lead and hold back from there. Riki could be out and Oates is back.

In terms of team changes, Hodgson will start as BA said, other than that only other change i could think of is Simonsson back for either Russell or Dunster. It is a hard one as Simonsson has not been great himself, though Dunster was better yesterday with Russell having a few howlers, compared to last week where Russell was great and Dunster had howlers. Or BA could leave them as is, I actually would go with Simonsson as weird as it sounds coming from me, his best games for us were at Centre and against Staggs might be better for someone like Simonsson with more experience coming in. Russell could be comfortable enough to do it but Simonsson to Centre and Dunster or Russell on the wing could be the way to go. If Hodgson is out expect same bench with Doorey coming in.

Though i do want to talk about Hodgson. I have been a defender, though it is hard seeing the speed of his game in attack and defence, considering in Round 1 he was amazing and has gone down a slope since, is it better we try and move away from him? Hands looked steady and stable. Is it too early to go full on with Hands? Maybe it is better to carry a Rein or Asi on the bench as a 14 so Hands is not playing full 80 straight off the bat. Hodgson at 14 offers nothing other than a breather for Hands. With Haas, Flegler and Carrigan through the middle, Hodgson will be targeted hope he can manage in the Darwin humidity.

Enjoy your week and talk to you all on Friday. God bless Parramatta.