The reality is we were simply not good enough.
The Bulldogs smashed us in the forwards. They were relentless.
We did a remarkable job in line defence up to 20 minutes to go, but the writing was on the wall well before Galvin came on.
The Delusion
Many on here were crying in their soup because we missed getting Galvin. Sure enough, the Doomsdayers were in force.
Image (getty): The Galvin Show reached a climax yesterday when the young rockstar scored; the cherry on top
Some believe he would have made a difference for us. BUT if the negotiations went the other way, we still would not have won that game with the errors we made. The fact that our halves were playing behind a completely dominated forward pack.
The Wake Up Call
Today was a wake up call we needed, while the dogs showed they are the real deal. Low error rate, strong discipline and a commitment to a plan.
Now that is complimentary to the Dogs and fair enough, but Muttman made the relevant point — it was always about "errors".
We made 15 v 5 errors (Foxlab). No team can win a game with the amount we made. And many were yardage errors coming out of our end in our red zone.
Image (getty): The Dogs' won the middle and the grind
The High-Speed Grind — Again
The Dogs, as the Panthers last week executed the high-speed Grind last — good go-forward (1999m v 1176m run metres), ball control (90% v 66% completions) and aggressive kick chases to reduce pressure in their defence and fatigue.
It increasingly tightened their dominance on the game as it wore on, as it gradually slipped from our hands.
The Dogs dominated field position, territory (58% 1st half, 68% 2nd half) and possession (55% 1st half, 64% 2nd half).
The Dogs had 47-6 tackles in our red zone. Incredibly, we had 0 opportunities in their red zone in the second half. Those stats are almost unheard of. Did they break any records?
The stats match the eye test. As the game wore on, the grind continued to tighten the noose around our necks.
Our resilience would eventually fail through shear exhaustion and lack of oxygen. It's very Panthers 2020-2024.
The referees certainly helped the Dogs' cause with possession and territory — set restarts and penalties were 12 v 6. We have historically one if the poorest long-term records against Atkins and Sutton. Whoever selected them for this game, didn't miss their mark. Nothing to see here, obviously.
How we stayed in the game at half-time and in the game for 60 odd minutes despite the Everest-like mountain of possession, officiating assistance and territory defies belief.
Is it Us, Them or both?
The real issues are two-fold.
One, did the "dogs" make us do them or was it just poor play and discipline and the lack of any imagination in our game plan?
Two, who is responsible for that? Whether it is Moses or Ryles is not the point. I am not looking for scapegoats. We have plenty on this site that will do that for me every day of the week 24/7 as a full-time profession.
Images (Getty): The longer the game wore on, the more Mitchell Moses was on the back foot — in Dylan and Moses' 100th game together.
Moses is a very good half. World class and essential to us — but he is not the superstar some may believe. I would drop him from the Origin side as he offers nothing to compliment that team. If Cleary was injured, I would have no problem with him stepping back in. But he is on a hiding to nothing playing 5/8 to Cleary.
The Final Word
The ongoing "tease" has now been exposed and it is up to Ryles now. He needs to recognise this in his match day plan and his selections. What happened to Matterson?
Personally, I think the wakeup call showed we were over-confident that everything we were doing was ok — on the right track. Sure, the "effort" was there as was the goal line resilience and defence. But, once again, the execution and polish— as it has been on many occasions this year — was poor.
What's next?
"We'll continue to work on our roster", Ryles added in addition to the theme of consistency and gradual improvement. Perhaps, Ryles hinted at it right there. The cattle he has has put in and showed resilience and unity beyond their experience levels — and we're a work in progress. How long until we cash in on that?
Replies
Think I'll get an Eel Tattoo
Remind myself
how much
I fucking hate to lose
Think I'm gonna burn my merch
Maybe then
i forget
my blue'n'gold church
Wifey say walk away
Write a lame song
or maybe
play with my plants
I dream a sunrise at night
bringing the heat
but never
givin' any light
so we go thru our dark days
carry on with our park ways
never really seem to be up
for a fight
buy a new torch....tell us it's daylight
buy a new torch....tell us it's daylight
never really seem to be up
for a fight
buy a new torch....tell us it's daylight
right in the eyes
Hey hey! it's the sunrise
buy a new torch
and tell us
it's-the-day-light
Good one Randy, good to see your playing with your plants.
In the 2nd half, we had no pill and no field position. This is where Mitch needed to do a Cleary and kick a 40/20 to swing the momentum. I was hoping to see it, but there wasn't even an attempt.
I think we just don't have enough go forward in the middle, so players like Lomax are red lining and that's contributing to the errors. When do you ever see him drop the ball after a carry? It will take time for Ryles to get the roster he wants. He is in the fast track phase, we just have to accept this year is about learning for the rookies.
Wow Moses kicked for 549m and we only had the ball in hand for a total 23minutes of the game. We were never in a position to kick a 40/20 with the dogs wingers up. Your being a little delusional if you think Moses wasn't trying and or not thinking 40/20.
Perhaps a 20/40 kick could of been a hail mary play at times. But he chose distance over that.
'There is no way Moses is the problem. If anything he deserves better players around him. We are wasting a world class halfback with the crap errors some so called first graders are producing with regularity.
Moses, Lomax, Addo Carr, Iongi, Walker, outside of that, who would we really want to keep long term to chase premiership success. Sure Hopgood/Williams and Junior could make a case, but they are inconsistant. Rylie Smith is tackling everything available and maybe we should persist with him.
'I'd like to know what we are doing with all those Cap $$ we are saving, our warchest is huge for next year, and little to nothing to show for it at this stage. Our recruitment mangement is being left at the alter, never a more Cuckhold position. Watching as other teams take recruits from under their nose, and completely unable to stop it.
The second half was diabolical. This is where true shit coaching and conditioning rears it's ugly head.
In defence, lack of line speed and sting in tackles to create errors and wrestle back the ball was nowhere to be seen.
In attack, slow play-the-balls, one up runs with no decoys or bodies in motion become easy targets, no matter how good the forwards are.
Kicks from Moses are too deep and easy end-over-end style isnt working. Lack of kick variety is my concern with Mosses. I cringe whenever the so called 'experts' talk up his long kicking game. Sometimes deep long kicks are not always the way to go. Shorter, contestable kicks will create opportunities. This is where his other halves partner hasn't been able to step up or compliment the team's short comings. I am glad DB is leaving, now we hope his replacement will have some footy smarts and a kicking game we so desperately need.
Lastly we are in serious need of decent centres, either with speed or strength who can break tackles and create opportunities out wide for the wingers. Based on 'experts' opinion of DB's running game, perhaps this is where Ryles need to utilise him for the remainder of his time at Parra, at least until we go to market to find replacements for Penisini and Russell.
Sick and tired of excuses. How we drop so much ball, or lack ability to jump for a drop out after 10 metres is perplexing.
We have ferraris on our wings that are all but garaged. Our strengths are under-utilised , and after 14 rounds our school boy errors are numerous and can literally be counted on to occur. Where is our preparation and training being directed.
Galvin at the Eels is not about what he would of done yesterday and all about what he is capable of next year, throw in the ability to perhaps attract better recruits on top of just his ability, and he became a high value recruit, surely!
An intersting stat. Dylan Brown 80minutes with 4 runs. Galvin 20 minutes 5 runs / 1 try.
Hi Blue Eel, a impeccable account of the match mate.
But a little unfair to Brown. He was opposed to Critta and co whereas Galvin came on late, fresh and played with his forwards on the rampage, courtesy of so many offloads I lost count.
Perhaps Ritchie, but anyone is allowed to decide what to make of those stats themselves, I'm just stating a fact. I've purposely not tried to say too much about Brown on the field, I thought his defense saved a number of tries To me he has checked out in the attacking dept. To me he is not enjoying his footy at all. I do think he has a lot more on his mind then how the Eels are travelling. To me Brown is the coach's and Recruitments problem, not the fans problem anymore. This year is a write off, we must if everyone is fair dinkium start looking at our long term 5/8 and if he is in house, he needs some exposure, if he is external such as Sandon Smith then they need to get cracking, as the cowboys are after him as well. My mail is Sandon is staying at the Rorters. Perhaps we should go after Kalyn Ponga to play 5/8, he has a get out clause apparently.
'If i'm honest I was wondering why Dylan didn't link with Moses onthe opposite side at times, could of been lethal, or why he dosnt take on some of the fatigued forwards. Both choices gets him away from Critter if that was a problem. Brown is supposed to a world class 5/8, I'd hope with that reputation he would take the challenge of critter front on, or work out a way to avoid him. To be fair he was playing behind a loosing pack and our field position due to errors was never really in our favour.
'The stat still remains interesting though, in the context of what Galvin may bring to the Dogs in the future and or what he may have brought to us when Dylan leaves.
By no stretch was that loss due to Dylan, however we now have a huge question, especially considering he is to be suspended for 1 or 2 games, and this year is basically gone, do we now start auditions and give experience to players for next year. This questions is about to get louder over the next few weeks.
All good Blue Eel you could be right. I recognise Dylan lacks a bit in attack for us but never in defence. I don't always back him out of hand, like I used to especially since Mitchell injured his foot. But I had to mention the stats you presented, Dylan v Galvin was a little unfair. Cheers mate.
Simply our drop balls are from either fatigue, lack of focus or desperation. Or a mixture of all three. Ryles is improving this squad but they need to improve on the completions as that is what kills us.
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