Eels Blogs

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  KENDOZA February 22, 2026 at 12:32am

  Thought papalili looked sharp. Pezet atm is behind him
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  fake midget pseudoachondroplasia February 22, 2026 at 1:27am

  Our depth is what impressed me most and competition for positions will keep all players focused.  We have players capable of filling in when needed and no longer have to fear an Asi or Morgan type player stepping up to ruin any chance of a win.

  We also scored plenty of points and line breaks with great footy instead of relying on a lucky kick as roosters did for their 2 early tries. The attack was great when we had our best players on and continued when the reserves got their opportunity, showing we have a great system that all players now understand which will help players when called into first grade through the year.

  The big disappointment came with 2 tries just before halftime which is an issue we are all familiar with.  I think both included Doorey but on different sides of the ruck.  The Sam walker try it appears Doorey tried to rush up and force Walker to do something where if he just kept sliding instead of charging out of the line we could have held the line.  The 2nd one was a great Walker pass to Crichton but it looked like Doorey was lost in defence leaving the line late then rushed at Walker who was to good once again.  Was Ryles game plan to rush Walker and specifically Doorey put the pressure on or was Doorey targeted in defence by Walker?  Possibly a bit of both but in the 2nd try Doorey being slow off the line and Moses at marker made Doorey rushing up an easy play for Walker and Crichton to execute.  Doorey misjudged both plays and the delay off the line forcing him to rush up filling the gap in the Crichton try is a concern.   I like Doorey in attack but still question his defense.

   

   
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  EA February 22, 2026 at 1:32am

  Kelly needs to work on his passes/offloads. He was lucky that the ref didn't call a couple of his forward.
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  Coryn Hughes February 22, 2026 at 4:12am

  The only players I could see not out there for the Roosters was Radley whose suspended and Robert Koia there SoO centre outside of that they were pretty much full strength.
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    LB > Coryn Hughes February 22, 2026 at 6:35am

    Tupou as well.
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  LB February 22, 2026 at 6:54am

  Loved the impact of the first man in, though second man was purposeful in stopping offload or getting them to the ground. But also, Kautoga did this a lot, rush up slightly on ball carrying arm side limiting the space causing the runner to straighten up, it's finally looking like a Ryles defence and finally looking different to what BA had for years. Of course not perfect, Doorey had a poor read with  fatigue rushing up on bal player for the Talau try and Walker's try though the latter was also great running. But that will happen, they are human.
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    LB > LB February 22, 2026 at 7:07am

    

    Also their short passing through the middle, as to why they bought de Belin to facilitate that, collapsing the ruck with quick movement causing the defence to fatigue and move with the momentum it's nice to see Brown and Wisemental's structure with some Ryles influence. Saw the space that opened for Russell to go one on one with Pauga for Fox try, quick passing along the line it was nice shifting and created that space for our attackers as Roosters were hesitant to jump causing a massive gap or overlap. That play also was assisted by Smith, pivoting back in pretending to run with a step, Wong hesitated and created that space to shift it.

    There is not only confidence in their structure but belief. They all are buying into Ryles.