Nrl.com what your team needs: Eels

2017 rank: 4thKey 2017 stats: Completions 3rd; metres per set 3rd; metres conceded per set 1st; offloads conceded 2nd; bench metres 1st; attack 8th; defence 8thWhat they've got: A very well-coached team that may not have the star power of some of the NRL's other big guns but makes up for it with aggression in the forwards and bursts of brilliance from the backs. They may not be standouts in attack or defence but they do all the little things right – their bench has been the best in the league, they don't concede many metres or offloads, they control the ball well and their go-forward is in the top three in the competition.What they need: To replace the France-bound Semi Radradra – one of the most valuable wingers in the game – and to carry on the momentum they achieved this season. Mitch Moses's mid-season arrival took the Eels' attacking game to another level and Clint Gutherson was a revelation in the first half of the season, so the signs are bright for Brad Arthur's men.What they're getting: Roosters prop Kane Evans adds size to a forward pack that had played above their weight this year. Radradra's departure isn't necessarily as big a loss as it appears with Gutherson and Bevan French likely to slot into the back three when they return from injury.

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  • Look at those stats. They show how good our energy, intensity & aggression are. We make metres, don't concede many. We just need to tidy it up in the redzone at both ends of the field. Just shows we aren't too far off. Our defene has to become top 3, 90% of GF winners in past 20 years have been there.
    • My god and apparently with a coach who can't guide anyone lol
  • Trouble is we have to wait till next year fwarkkkkkk
  • I'm baffled by those stats. How could we be so good in completions and metres gained and yet be so inconsistent across the year? This says to me that we can control the ball well but struggle to convert possession into points. I'm stunned we had the best bench. I still think that our forward pack needs significant improvement heading into next year.

    • Yes, stats sound suspect
    • Why do you say we were inconsistent? We won 16 games FFS. Our forwards don't need 'significant improvement', they just need some more tackle breaking ability, which we'll get from Kane Evans.

  • Semi's hitups deep inside our half will be missed.
  • So will his long range tries
    • Not necessarily. French can pull those of too.
  • An analysis after Moses arrived would be interesting. It's stating the obvious, but Parra built into the season.
    This is an encouraging analysis, but each team has their own KPIs containing individual and team goals. These are more relevant when the staff plan for the following year.
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