Eels Blogs

So i would appreciate an opinion on which everyone prefers in terms of this or the most impressive and disappointing lists. So please be honest and let me know.

1. Gutherson 9/10: Excellent game by the skipper, tremendous try savers, excellent running especially at the start of our match winning set that set the momentum up for us to get within 15 metres of the halfway line to start. It was a captain's knock by Gutho.

2. Blake 4/10: this was a 7/10 before the second half, practically took off a point for each high ball he dropped. Nearly cost us the game and ruined a decent performance overall.

3. Penisini 5.5/10: Not a great day for Will, defensively Olam had his number, learning curve and a small blight for what will be a long career for Will. Nothing too concerning.

4. Opacic 7/10: Nice performance, gave his all which is expected. Inevitabilities in life; death, taxes and Tom Opacic giving his all. Tom's try was excellent as well as his defence on the line keep Reimis Smith quiet. Could very well push his way past Penisini for the other centre spot once Russell is back on the wing.

5. Simonsson 6/10: An OK performance for what has been a very lucklustre start to Simonsson's blue and gold career. Bailey did not do anything overly wrong today, the right side edge defence is not always his fault at times making him looks worse than he deserves. Went off with concussion and i admit i did not notice him missing, which is not a great sign. I have faith he will come good, remember Gutho after his first 5 games? he was dubbed worse than Wise Kavitarata.

6. Brown 9/10: Best performance in three years from the prodigy, i always said he was special.....ok i lied i have been extremely critical of Brown, but wow he was incredible against Melbourne. Full of confidence, the prior fortnight has runs that looked like he was about to burst through and he did exactly for our first try of the night. Even taking roughly half of the ball on last tackle, they had a game plan to target their right side defence he manned up to the challenge.

7. Moses 7.5/10: Nice game for Moses, that bad read that led to a Munster break late in the first half was not good, but his kicking game was beautiful. It set the tone for us defensively sitting Melbourne deep in their own zone making them work hard for their metres in order to break out defence and lead. Stood up when needed.

8. Campbell-Gillard 8/10: Nearly 200 metres and again the best forward for us, Reg has been a revelation. Even making those troglidites at the Kennel who believe RCG is no better than he was at Penrith meaning we cannot develop talent. RCG is the most underrated forward in the NRL i would love for anyone to tell me otherwise.

9. Mahoney 6.5/10: Not a great game by Reed, in terms of defence i resembled some his efforts to that of turnstile. Not saying he did not try but he did knocked around and tumbled. The drop ball did not help us and deciding to go to the blind and go for the try instead of going to Moses to ice the game was dumb. Now if it led to try or Moses missed the FG which is all logical then fair enough it was a fine choice but when Moses calls for the ball at the time of the game you listen to your chief playmaker. He is still a top 5 hooker in this game and hope there is a divine intervention and something stuffs the Bulldogs around for him to stay, but his performance made me think how would Lussick of went tonight? 

10. Paulo 7.5/10: A tough game for our other leader, he toughed it out through what was a painful injury and racked up some nice minutes and stats. Definately Junz best performance of 2022 so far and look forward to see him carry that form forward for the rest of 2022. Him and RCG late in that game were needed to hold Melbourne and they delivered.

11. Lane 7/10: That charge down got us the 2 points, you cannot tell me different. Lane was steady, did have a bad miss tackle late in the game on Brandon Smith which brought the game level for Papenhuyzen try. But overall was fine, though bring up a point for the charge down.

12. Papali'i 7.5/10: Papali'i got through a mountain of work in a 80min performance. Papa worked that edge as well as he could, wrapping up Kenny Bromwich keeping him quiet.

13. Brown 7.5/10: It is nice to have Brown starting again, sures up the middle as a stable force. Seems to be more sure in his passing and in the past used to attack the line looking for an offload and get put on his back too much causing a slow play the ball, now fights for post contact metres more sure in his timing on when to pass and run. Of course got through mountain amount of work.

14. Makatoa 7/10: Nice off the bench, held his own, had a nice battle with Asofa-Solomona and held his own. The drop ball late in the first half was not ideal but overall good performance on a big stage.

15. Greig N/A: Did not get on.

16. Stone 9/10: 2 tries, playing centre, he has more tries than all of our centres combined. Season could be over due to ACL which is unfortunate but what a way to go.

17. Kaufusi 7/10: Capped off a good bench performance, a lot better than in round 2 where he looked robotic at lock, still did passing in this game but went back to his focus of running and making metres. Kaufusi was up for the contest and the collision, showed his maturity and experience off the bench.

Brad Arthur 8.5/10: Got the boys up, always seems to for Melbourne, their goal line defence was key an area BA prides himself on. BA used his bench well which has been a past criticism, using two subs while alternating Paulo, RCG and Brown between in each other while Maka and Kaufusi stay in their spots. Would have loved to have seen Greig but fair enough. Had an obvious game plan to target Melbourne's right side with Ieremia and R.Smith seeing some reward for it off the back of Brown.