Yesterday's game was unfortunate. Not just for the putrid 32-10 scoreline to honour Junior's 200th after looking up for the game in the first half or the second half implosion. But because it told us that we are not going anywhere, despite our hope for this ongoing improvement and the highlight reels of attractive football.
Entertaining the football world with this fast fizzy game...that is a bit like BAZBALL (Cricket Parlance) brought to the Rugby League world.
The following is a post I made yesterday on the game day blog at half time.
"TDS made a bit of difference when he came on, his service and enthusiasm was encouraging.
Like everyone else I am pissed off with the referee and our unforced errors, what happened in that last 30 seconds, we lost control, got it back and still fcuked it up.
Being pretty is nice, but unless you put it to bed, no point in dressing up."
I probably can't add much to that half time comment, notwithstanding the score change and events of capitulation in the second half.
I think the coaching staff and Ryles have given this style a good go. But, we simply are not good enough to do it — at least, not yet. We found that out a bit yesterday.
Kitione Kautoga keeps improving despite coming off injured in the 39th minute (Getty Images)
Positives — Isaiah longi's game continues on its exponential path. Tallyn Da Silva looks promising, and Bailey Simonsson has gone to a new level as the centre we so sorely need. A stong runner, and strong tackler. His flick pass to set up Lomax's try in the 33' would've made Matt Gidley proud. Sam Tuivaiti was also very good and fit after his injury. Dylan Walker was Walkerish.
Negatives — Joash Papalii is not going to be our future 5/8, though he is a fine Reserve Grade backup at fullback. Yesterday's experiment with his move to 5/8 and Brown to hooker was a disaster. But it's a move, I can understand was worth trying. It just did not work.
Promising debutant Taylln Da Silva and new-nine Dylan Brown discussing raking strategies pre-game. Brown got head-taped to look the part, but only Da Silva was prepared to run the ball, yesterday (Getty Images)
Dylan Brown was only passing and tackling from dummy half, which showed he didn't want to or deserve to be there and that rightly pissed Ryles off to explain his benching after 29 minutes and non reappearance till six minutes from the end. Ryles did this to tell everybody he was not injured and just didn't contribute, and probably more to the point — didn't really want to put in enough, despite Ryles' claim of Brown's 'selflessness'. Actions speak louder than words. We only need to use Brown to suit our requirements now, not his. Unfortunately, this may mean him starting as a 5/8 until we can find, locate or select someone that could have a future there. It could be the case that a talent youngster from our NSW Cup team (say a Matthew Hunter or Te Hurinui Twidle) that beat a talented Panthers team yesterday, might get a go while Brown shakes hands with the Reserve Grade Coach.
Finally in summary, let's stop worrying about being pretty and focus on the fundamentals starting with better ball control, reducing errors (20 v 9 yesterday) despite the Panthers having the lion's share of possesion (54%). There is a balance in this process. There's nothing like adding smart to a pretty face.
Replies
Your opinions are always good and thought through NOS.
I actually think we are agreeing, most people on this blog seem to be aboard, it is just relatively.
What prompted me to write ths blog was the "looking pretty principle" I have been become sick and tired of the "promise" and then the non -delivery,
I do think we should play a couple of games where we have a specific goal of not making errors, that needs to happen and you don't have to "not attack" just pull the sword out a little less with the focus of that's too risky. At least think before pulling the trigger!
That goal needs to be reinforced whereas I am not sure its currently in their thinking.
Nos you make a good point of Simmo setting up Lomax, but there is a time and place to take risks, Old School explained how bad our follow through was when Lomax attemptd the field goal. I didn't see that as high risk but it did as a result open the door.....you would attempt what he did every time if the circumstances were the same and probably get a 50% result.
Simmo's pass was probably a 1 out 4 opportunity. Lots of contingencies but Lomax has trained for his part in that and for all we know Simmo has as well, hard to critique success, easy to critise failure.....I didn't want to do that hence what i put in the title.
Poppa, Jason knew he wasn't going to beat Penrith through the middle, we just don't have the cattle for that strategy, meaning Ryles had to go with the flamboyant attack. Its risky but there's no other option atm.
We just need forwards back and to recruitment heavily in the go forward department for us to set a more balanced game plan. Ryles didn't get it wrong, it's just the way it is. Nothing needs to be re adjusted as the so called experts are saying.
With Cartwright, Matterson, Ofehengaue and Lane still in the cap for 25 that's close to 1.8 million dollars missing. Then we have stagnant players like Werimu Greig who won't be re signed and never should have been here for 4 years. Its ridiculous
Add to that Luca Moretti and Tuilagi missing then we lost Kautoga in the second half, it's no wonder we can't win the middle.
Nobody needs to panic, we're down on troops and our cap space has been eaten away. Ryles will get the players he wants to win in his system's.
On another note De Silva was very good, very deceptive with his plays and has a bullet passing game, and great debut and another diligent signing by JR
Don't panic . Have an asprin and a lie down.
Look, let's face it - we threw that game away with silly penalties and dumb decisions. With the same team, we could have easily won that game if we did things right. We are on the right path, but still a very long way to go. I feel that Ryles is asking players to ad-lib to get the creative juices flowing, but the next task should be to improve on the errors, probably being more selective of when to offload and when to run etc. That sort of decision-making comes with experience - which is exactly what the players are getting right now. Penrith taught us a lession, Parra just need to start learning from the lessons that are dished up each week. Are they smart enough to learn?
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Well put Finny.
Might I remind you that a key issue with the end of Brad Arthur's tenure was the side being built to attack up the middle with little change in tactics or strategy. There were definitely chances yesterday that we didn't seize and errors that didn't need to happen. Ryles has been very open that he doesn't have the side he wants just yet, while the inexperience of his side is counting towards those mental lapses.
But what I see so far in this Eels side is a willingness to constantly challenge their opponents' defence while a gradual improvement in their own defensive patterns.
You can't just tuck the ball under your arm and hope not to make errors. We tried that for years. It doesn't stress the opposition defensive line and in the 6 again era, if you're not breaching the advantage line then you're not getting repeat sets. Our willingness to go to the edges challenges the opposition one-on-one defence, allows for quick metres and can result in a faster game, which suits our pack more.
I'm also not writing Joash off after a game at 5/8 without Moses up against the 4 time defending premiers.
The key to the Blog was balance Super, you are basically agreeing with it like most of us are. No need to remind us of BA's tactics, no longer relative, none of those forwards outside Junior are influenced by Arthur.
Joash is another thing and is more subjective opinion, my opinion is as stated but I also said he will get his chance, I hope the other ones that are in the race get an oportunity as well and I will maintain that the best results will/would be Sandon Smith (probably won't happen given the rhetoric) and Doehie (spell)..... i wouldn't mind Doehie to play 5/8 as he will read the game well. Who knows if Moses will play, so we can't rely on him on the basis that he is there to help the rookie 5/8.
Agree, supporter expectations are not realistic, name me one coach that can turn a bottom 4 team into a top 8 outfit within 12 month's?? System, playing style , change in recruitment and HQ alignment all play a part.
Brad Arthur did it with Parramatta.
Twice 😂
I think its pretty clear that Ryles wants to get as much out of this year as possible. He's not going to get a proper read on Joash, unless he asks the team to play the same expansive football that he's going to expect of the team next year.
The fact we're playing without Moses has a lot to do with our lack of control. That's what your number seven does, he controls the tempo and direction and with a spine that for most of the game had a combined FG experience of probably less than 50 games, you can't expect that to come. If we're fighting for a finals spot, I think Ryles plays more conservatively; but we're not, we're trying to get as much growth as possible out of the rest of the year.
I don't think we have any other option than to try and make Joash works. The big offers are going to be coming in for Talataina nex year. Boom teenage halves have been attracting at least $500k a year contracts; Talataina is the best of his cohort and its not even close. If we want to win a Premiership it's going to be 2027-2028; with a spine of Ionghi, Moses, Talataina and TDS. That's all our recruitment should be working towards is surrounding those four players with the best possible side. To use the example that seems popular, Sandon Smith probably costs you $500k+ for three years; and then you're not signing Talataina if you do that.
Personally, I've seen enough from Joash to feel comfortable with him as our first option for next year. His catch and pass is good so Ryles will know he'll be able to execute his structures; and with a big off season they'll they get more strength into his hips and he'll start turning the half-breaks his running game is creating now, into line breaks.
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