Eels Blogs

Sir Alex Ferguson, arguably the most successful manager and coach of all time with 49 trophies in total, said: "Most people with my kind of track record don’t look to change. But I always felt I couldn’t afford not to change. We had to be successful—there was no other option for me—and I would explore any means of improving."

And that raises some important question for 2021: Will we improve enough? Have we plateaued ? Or will we regress?

Deep down, regression is many Eels fans' fear. Or, for many, an expectation. There's a reason Parrasad-Syndrome exists out West. The Broncos, meanwhile, are at rock bottom. In theory the only way is up for them. Alas, Eels fans know worse can come.

1,2,3,4 and 11

Tomorrow night, the incumbent wooden spooners Broncos host the Eels for our season opener. The Eels will be shooting for four consecutive wins against the Broncos for only the second time. 

The Eels have won the last three in a row against Broncos. The only other time was in 2001-02. In the late 80s and early 90s the Broncos used to win 8 consecutive games on the trot against the Eels. How things have changed.

The Broncos hit rock bottom in 2020. They are on a 11 game losing streak - their worst in history - to record their first spoon. Eels fans know how that feels, as well practiced Spooners. The Broncos should be desperate to win. Is the only way up for the Red Hill glamour team? Or perhaps they are ripe for another season from hell? 

Meanwhile, the Eels are on a two game losing streak, after being bundled out in the final to premiers Storm and heavyweights Souths.

Teams: 

Friday 12 March, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane, 8.05pm (AEDT). Referee: Adam Gee

Broncos, understrength: 1 Jamayne Isaako, 2 Xavier Coates, 3 Herbie Farnworth, 4 Tesi Niu, 5 David Mead, 6 Anthony Milford, 7 Brodie Croft, 8 Tevita Pangai Jnr, 9 Jake Turpin, 10 Matthew Lodge, 11 Alex Glenn, 12. Jordan Riki, 13 Pat Carrigan Bench: 14. John Asiata, 15. Tom Flegler, 16. Ethan Bullemor, 17. Ben Te’o

Injuries: Jesse Arthars (ankle, round 1), Dale Copley (throat, round 1), Payne Haas (suspended, round 4), Kotoni Staggs (knee, mid-season)

Head Coach: Kevin Waters

Eels, Close to full strength: 1 Clint Gutherson, 2 Maika Sivo, 3 Tom Opacic, 4 Waqa Blake, 5 Blake Ferguson, 6 Dylan Brown, 7 Mitchell Moses, 8 Reagan Campbell-Gillard, 9 Reed Mahoney, 10 Junior Paulo, 11 Shaun Lane, 12 Ryan Matterson, 13 Nathan Brown  Bench: 14. Oregon Kaufusi, 15. Isiah Papali’i, 16. Keegan Hipgrave, 17. Will Smith

Injuries: Marata Niukore (suspended, round 2), Bryce Cartwright (broken jaw, early rounds), Michael Oldfield (knee, round 4), Michael Jennings (suspended, indefinite)

Head Coach: Brad Arthur

Suncorp: 3 from 7

The Broncos need all the help they can get, and perhaps Suncorp, the once the mighty Lang Park cauldron, might provide a little more inspiration on top of making up for the embarrassment of last year.

It didn't help the last time these two met at Suncorp in R3, 2020 with the Eels overcoming the Broncos 34-6 on a Thursday night. But, the Brisbane won the one before that in R24, 2019, 17-16 (golden point field goal) and the game before that. And under Arthur's tenure from 2014 the Eels have only won 3 from 7 at Suncorp. 

In comparison, the Broncos haven't beaten the Eels in Sydney for 5 years (last winning 17-4 in R1, 2016). Those were the days when Bennett was in charge, and the likes of Corey Parker and Matt Gillett still played, and even James Roberts and Milford fired occasionally. It feels like aoens ago. Let's stop there, and not say too much more about 2016 nor Steve Sharp. 

Can we match the top teams in 2021? 

Put simply, in 2020 we weren't able to keep up with the top teams in the big moments, in the big games, under pressure. 

We may have won 5 from 10 games against the top 8 teams, but one must bear in mind we lost the last four consecutive games against the heavyweights (Storm, Souths twice, and Penrith).

And things were heavily in our favour when we did beat the top teams. We beat Penrith early in the year when they hadn't found their groove. We just beat a Cronulla team that weren't heavyweight contenders with some good fortune (14-12, R13). We beat a heavily depleted Melbourne team (14-0, R15). And just managed to hold off Canberra (25-24, R7) via the King's golden point field goal, after fading badly to almost lose a 24-12 lead with just over 10 minutes left.

We all accept the Eels played well in the first half of the season, to be the number one defensive team and one of the top attacking teams: the best start since the 1980s. But, there were already warning signs then. The Raiders fade (R7). The Manly loss (R10), where we also faded. The Rooster loss 24-10 (R6), where we just couldn't stay with them.

Something needs to change this year.

What will cause the change?

We all know the issues: A "clunky" inept, disjointed, often flat-footed, sometime bumbling attack; the mental fades from various players; a spine that isn't quite there; and a defence that can't handle the top teams. It seemed inevitable we would eventually crack against the heavweights under heavy fire.

Our halves and Reed need to step up, this year. Especially, in attack, and their running games.

The Eels defensive issues weren't just to do with our right edge (Waqa and Fergo). In 22 matches a piece the Eels right edge conceded 30 tries, one more than the Roosters right edge that conceded 29 tries (both teams conceded 63 tries all year). The two finals losses showed the defensive frailities of years gone by resurfaced. A Storm team that compressed our defence and spread it wide to take advantage of exposed edges that couldn't be covered. Then Souths played so called eyes-up footy to take advantage of the Eels' weaker left edge (containing Taka/Davies and Junior, even at times). Both teams eventually over ran us, after some resistance.

At least on the surface, there doesn't seem to be all that much change for the Eels this year. At least not enough to foster hope of considerable improvement, especially in light of a very challenging schedule. A far more challenging road ahead than 2020. We play 10 games against the best teams, Storm, Panthers, Roosters, Souths, Raiders, each twice. 

There are some new faces to replace the outgoings, but no superstars or established game changers added to the ranks. No real new blood in terms of coaching staff on the Eels. Perhaps, the switch of Moses/Matterson to the left and Brown/Lane to the right edges might help. Perhaps the halves and Reed might naturally evolve? Perhaps more of Joey in the bubble? Perhaps the Warren Ryan effect?  

On the other hand, the Broncos, were forced to change dramatically. And yet, what impact the new Broncos coach and staff bring remains to be seen. They've lost quite a bit of firepower for this game with Fifita (off to the Titans), Haas (suspension), and Staggs (injury) out, and their halves and spine have even more question marks than ours.

Alas, the Eels trial losses to the Panthers and the Broncos trial loss to the Cowboys, seemed to suggest the issues of 2020 for both teams still linger. 

Let's hope Arthur and the coaching staff and sports psychologists have found the missing link in the off-season and in their training preparations. So far, Arthur hasn't after seven seasons. 

No coach has ever won a title after 7 season with one club: Arthur a pioneer?

Arthur is in his 8th season. He might be the game's only coach to do it in the game's history. 

Bottom line 

There are many questions surrounding both teams. Most of which won't be answered after this match.

The Broncos were the worst team in the competition last year, and so probably won't present the Eels with their greatest challenge this year. But, it's an important game. 

Both teams need a win for any ounce of confidence, trust in one another and cohesion they can muster. There's only genuine solace and found in the bottom line. In results and how much character the team shows. A greater test for the Eels will start next week.