Eels Blogs

Ok, so i was thinking of doing this for a while, for every game i will do a list of most impressive and most disappointing for the game that has just been played. Please let me know if you feel it is tedious or if you do not mind it. I got this idea of a site called 'The Pewter Report' which discusses Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the NFL, they do it after every game. So basically wanted to see how it goes and hope it can form some discussions. Also, this is just my opinion does not mean it is gospel either.

For trials it is

Most Impressive:

Makahesi Makatoa: 17 runs and 170 metres in only roughly 25 mins of football is crazy, imagine if he actually had an extra 15 mins the numbers he would have produced would have been mind boggling. Makatoa simply has collected a 17 spot in this team. He looked confident, fit and strong, Makatoa is nothing out of the ordinary in terms of say athletic ability or size but his work ethic and production is what makes him a special late bloomer to this team. He needs to miss NSW cup trial next week, save him for top grade.

Ky Rodwell: Got big minutes and in the last 20mins he seemed to take this team and lead by example. He seemed to be the only forward able to take control and make metres at will, defensively he added stability in the middle. 86 metres off 9 runs, but 34 tackles and not a single missed is the main stat that is incredible again in the amount of game time he received. I think Parramatta have a gem on their hands and at only 22 he has a good decade of football to go yet. He looks like a natural leader, a player that if you ask to kick a field goal he would go out there and kick a field goal, those players are looked down upon at times as being average as everyone wants a Payne Haas but my word they are needed.

Ray Stone: Honestly did not expect less of Stone, and it will hurt when he leaves to Dolphins in 2023. (yes i knock Mahoney on leaving so why am i ok with Stone? well two-year deal and opportunity to start i do not blame him for taking stability after living off one-year deals) Stone looks better and better as he goes, more confident in his ability. When he first debuted he was like a puppy biting at your leg, he used to run in like a madman and at times it worked but other times he bounced off the tackle. Now he looks calm in his tackling and it has helped establish him as a Lock.

Reed Mahoney: Yes i do not like him anymore, but taking off my Eels fan glasses and using my NRL fan eyes, he was great especially in attack. In defence he looked a bit awkward and hesitant and that is perhaps just regaining confidence and strength in the shoulder, but in attack the ball flowed with Mahoney's distribution, it slowed down massively after he went off. It makes him leaving even worse. But another positive is he gave his all and that is all you can ask for a player who is set to leave. Though of course in a game like this with who St. George fielded in the first quarter, a player of Mahoney's ability and experience he should have performed and dominated as he did.

Shaun Lane: The skipper performed, he looked good. He looked fit, confident and honestly a bit arrogant in his playing which i like. The way they used him as a backrower distributing with block plays looked seamless and brilliant, it added to his game. Lane seemed to take the captaincy seriously.

Honorable mentions: Brendan Hands, Luca Moretti, Tom Opacic, Hayze Perham, Oregon Kaufusi.

Most Disappointing:

Ofahiki Ogden: TCT, i respect them and what they do, were raving about this bloke pretty much saying it will be difficult to keep him out of the 17. Hell i was even thinking from the sounds of it they're acting like Paulo or RCG would be in trouble to start here. Saw him and basically saw what he was like at Canterbury, average. He seemed gassed after certain time and his runs were fine i guess but nothing to express a spot in the 17. Out of Makatoa, Greig, Rodwell and Kaufusi, Ogden is all behind them. He has 45 games of NRL experience so he will come good, but i expect him to play a depth part in our squad nothing more, and there is nothing wrong with that. Yes it is a trial but the hype really made me wanting more from what i saw. He will more likely start from the bench in NSW Cup trial next week, so could get some good minutes late in that game.

Ryan Matterson: Well he looked like Ryan of mid 2021. Moving into Lock for his stint, Matterson looked eager to overplease and came off on the other side, he looked clumsy and at times cautious especially in his run game, not sure if the concussions have effected him to point of confidence but with the emergence of Rodwell and great games by Stone and Makatoa i cannot see him jumping them for a spot as a middle forward on the bench. I will not be surprised to see him line up in NSW cup next week against Penrith, doubt it but will not be surprised.

Solomone Naiduki: 0 NRL games and honestly i think it will stay that way. Sounds harsh? maybe yeah but Russell will get the nod in round 1 and as he should, but Naiduki offered nothing extreme other than ability to finish. His hands were awful when wingers are considered to have the best hands in the squad. When he was named in the 30 man squad and not a development deal i scratched my head wondering why as he was not even top 3 choice for winger in NSW cup, why would he be considered for NRL. Now, he's 22, room to improve of course, Sivo was 25 when debuted, but i just feel Naiduki may not make it, he is still very, very raw and it could be a situation of being thrown into the deep end if more injuries strike but compared to Russell and even Loizou who debuted last year i do not see Naiduki as being over them. He will start NSW cup next week so let's see if he can dominate. Only 66 metres from 8 runs (8 metres per run) and 3 errors, for trial standards and the opposition it was poor.

Bailey Simonsson: Looked lost, granted he did not get much ball neither did Penisini who i felt like putting here too, but for someone who is a lock for round 1 on the wing you would expect a little more. Now new team, new surroundings fair enough for some it takes time to gel, but hope next week against Penrith where he will get roughly 65-70mins he can start to show why we signed him from Canberra.

So again just my opinion let me know what you think as i am happy to this every week til the end of the season, next week i believe it is Jersey Flegg, NSW cup and First grade all lining up. Dunster injury hurts, gives a great opportunity to a young winger to show their ability in NSW cup trial (more likely Komolafe). I think N Brown might be the only first grader out as he is recovering from ankle surgery other than that Dunster is the only one that will miss Penrith.