R2 v Sharks: This Is The Way

 10994586056?profile=RESIZE_710xAlchemy. The ancient art of transformation of metals into something greater than the sum of their parts. It's also about the hero’s transformative journey through all the Herculean-like tests. It explains much of Star Wars, The Mandalorian, its light-sabers, Jedi-powers, and other-world armory. It also explains what faces us in our journey ahead, starting with this Friday night. Atonement.

It's been five years since the Eels have lost the first two consecutive games of a season - not since 2018. Meanwhile, Cronulla have not lost its first two games of the season since John Morris’ 2020 second last season in charge, when the Sharks came 8th (9th next season).

Last week's loss also ended a lot of four-year record streaks for the Eels. A resetting of the record books.

It ends our four-year record streak (2019-2022) of winning the first game of the regular season. We didn’t even achieve that during our 80s glory years

It ends our four-year reign in the top-eight. A proud record Arthur kept up his sleeve whenever the Eels' inconsistency came up last year.

10994586078?profile=RESIZE_710xThe loss also ends our four-year run as front-runners: winning every game in the regular season when ahead at half-time, since late 2018.

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The Eels have not lost two straight games in over a year; not since R23, 2021 (34 weeks). We’ve never lost two straight at Commbank since its reincarnation of early 2019. We’ve been bounce-backs kings in recent times during our golden run from 2019, hitherto. Is that about to change?

This Friday night also marks Mitchell Moses’ 200th NRL game. Will we honour the milestone with a win? 

Team Lists

Parramatta Eels vs Cronulla Sharks at CommBank Stadium, 6.00pm AEDT

Eels team: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Maika Sivo 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Waqa Blake 19. Bailey Simonsson 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Mitchell Moses 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Josh Hodgson 10. Junior Paulo 11. Bryce Cartwright 12. Matt Doorey 13. J’maine Hopgood 14. Jirah Momoisea 15. Jack Murchie 16. Wiremu Greig 17. Makahesi Makatoa 18. Jakob Arthur  20. Ofahiki Ogden 21. Ky Rodwell 22. Haze Dunster

Head Coach: Brad “Keep It Simple” Arthur. Do we really want to score?

Sharks team: 1. William Kennedy 2. Sione Katoa 3. Jesse Ramien 4. Siosifa Talakai 5. Ronaldo Mulitalo 6. Matt Moylan 7. Braydon Trindall 8. Toby Rudolf 9. Blayke Brailey 10. Braden Hamlin-Uele 11. Briton Nikora 12. Teig Wilton 13. Dale Finucane 14. Cameron McInnes 15. Royce Hunt 16. Oregon Kaufusi 17. Connor Tracey 18. Thomas Hazelton 19. Mawene Hiroti 20. Max Bradbury 21. Jayden Berrell 22. Niwhai Puru

Head Coach: Craig "We hurt ourselves" Fitzgibbon. Back to the drawing board. 

Not many changes to last week’s losing teams. Bailey Simonsson is in for Sean Russell (suspension over) who initially replaced Isaac Lumelume. Connor Tracey is in for Wade Graham (suspension). Royce Hunt returns (elbow injury). 

Oddly enough, this will be the sixth time in the last seven seasons we’ve played the Sharks early in the season between rounds 2-4.

Recent Record

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We lost last year's corresponding round-two clash against the Sharks, 18-16, at Pointsbet. A ground we haven't won in nine years (since 2014). A ground where cheerleaders exist. 

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Three of the last six games have been decided by 2 points: close, heart-breaking tussles.

Yet, two of the last four have also been decided by blowouts of 20 or more.

Neither result would surprise tomorrow night: choose your poison.

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CommBank should help. Here, in the early season round-three clash, in 2021, the Eels scored their biggest win over the Sharks (winning 28-4) in 12 years (since 2011). Overall, the Eels have won 32 of 44 games (73%), including 9 of 12 games last season.

Even though last week’s loss itself is not a concern and it's early days, why and how we lost raises some more intriguing questions.

In a nutshell, the Storm found ways to win the biggest moments. We found ways to self-sabotage ourselves when the game was on the line.

10994732290?profile=RESIZE_710xThe Storm’s Big Names Stood Tall

In Daz’s preview last week, he noted we needed to stand tall. Instead, it was Storm’s highest-paid and big-game players, namely Grant and Munster, that stood tall when it mattered most.

10994579669?profile=RESIZE_710xThe injured Munster stood tall. Getty Images

In contrast, our highest-paid players, in Moses and Brown in particular, were well below their best and unable to stamp their authority on the game. Brown made a few critical error had untimely dropped balls; more 2021 than 2022. 

To be fair, the Eels weren’t awful. 

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Sivo's disallowed try in the 16' probably should have been awarded. Getty Images

Actually, the Eels could have quite easily been ahead 16-0 at half-time if things had gone their way; and perhaps then gone on to win. Firstly, Sivo’s disallowed try was arguably off a flat Dylan Brown pass off the hands.  Also, Moses missed a conversion (that was nowhere near as difficult as Meaney’s sideline conversion to level the scores 12-12). Then there was the case when Moses didn’t take the two-points on offer for a penalty. 
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The 16th-minute flat money-ball from Dylan that Sivo scored off was disallowed; ruled forward. Sure, the long cut out pass floated forward. But, it's next to impossible to do otherwise due to the laws of physics. 

Let’s be optimistic: Swings and roundabouts. After all, Annesley publicly conceded the match officials had made at least one glaring mistake against the Eels. Now, the Footy Gods and the ref-whisperers owe us.

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Alchemy takes time, patience and focused all-in discipline. 

Cronk's Warning

On the Matty Johns podcast a week ago, Cooper Cronk made some pointed observations about the Eels and was somewhat bearish about the Eels chances.

 

I worry about the Eels, because if you want to get back (into the grand final), you’ve got to be selfless. It’s about a team-first mentality. You need to be more galvanized than ever before. And there are a few egos at the Eels that could creep in. They need to leave the ego on the hook every time they walk into HQ. They have the ability to do it (to atone). Their game can hold up. But it’s between the ears for the Eels. The other part to it, is they made the grand final, but their defence was average. They need to improve in that aspect.

Cooper Cronk on the Eels, early March 2023

 

A small vignette into Cronk's concerns could be identified in last week's loss.

We conceded 1949m and made 1701m (nrl.com), despite having far more possession (53%) and time with the ball. Additionally, we conceded more line-breaks (5-3).

All that follows our worrying defensive trends from last year of being the worst defensive team in the top-eight when it came to: overall points conceded (9th), metres conceded (9th), line breaks conceded (11th, using Foxstats). It made us vulnerable to up-tempo and intense teams or expansive eyes-up-footy teams.
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In the 46’ Storm hit back right after the break to level the score 6-6. Our compressed defence was evident again. 

We also allowed the Storm to hit back right after the break, something that was a common theme last year.

There is also the Moses saga and the latest article on the Eels powerbrokers' growing frustration over Moses and his $5m "puppet master".

Despite allegedly being offered a four-year deal on circa $1.25m per year that would make him one of the highest-paid players in the game not just our highest-paid player, he is non-committal. And it's obvious this week, Moses is annoyed by it. He brushes off questions with "the media has no idea", "I'm leaving it to my manager", "these things take time", "I don't know (why there's a delay and it's dragging on" or "how is that unfair to the club?". Does he really want to stay? Is it really to do with wanting five years? What's really going on there? What's the example he's setting by dragging it on during the playing seasons? Oh and by the way, before we forget, Matterson also sends his regrets about not being able to attend the 200th: he’s playing in spirit, and everyone understands.

They’re both putting their own principles and welfare first. We get it. You've got families to look after. Don't we all.

Nevertheless, it seems at odds with Cronk's best-case, best-for-the-club, "selfless", fully-galvanized-into-atonement scenario; and closer to his predictions of a downslide.

It's not as if Moses has been offered a dud deal or hasn't been looked after by the club (nor Matterson). Moses admits the club and Arthur have been good to him. It's why many fans and some portions of the media are not feeling all that sympathetic and are starting to consider the club's position, and even a plan B (gulp). Any sane person in the club's shoes would be thinking that even if they're not saying it out loud. You would, wouldn't you?

Cohesion and communication

Part of Cronk’s galvanization problems has to do with the obvious. We’re still in the gelling phase with all the new faces in the team: Josh Hodgson, coupled with new backrowers which make it more difficult for the halves to shine. Moses-sans-Ice. Dylan-sans-Lane. Luai can tell you about life after Kikau.

We also saw signs of Moses’ frustration against the Storm.

10994614297?profile=RESIZE_710xA lost opportunity in the 78th minute. 

That was evident in the 78th minute when a hands-up-in-the-air Moses seemed to be expecting the ball 25m out, mid-field, for a field goal attempt with the scores locked at 12-12. Instead, Hodgson went left on the short side only for Cartwright to drop the pill on the first tackle. An irate Moses could be seen shaking his head that it all broke down.

Cronk also pointed out this issue. The Eels will need to adjust to Hodgson’s tendency to control the play, coupled with his flatter style in lieu of the long ball that Reed offered. And something will need to give: either Moses will accept that Hodgson will sometimes overcall him, or Hodgson surrender any incentive to play to his strengths and become sterilized of his potency. Hodgson had some classy touches. A subtle grubber to force drop-out and almost got a Waqa try (14’), a strip, and the silky skills he showed in setting up a try for Paulo (58th minute). Preceding this, Hodgson cleverly switched the attack to the middle and right after peppering the left edge on the short side a few times. Sometimes Hodgson’s silky skills will pay off and sometimes it will backfire and even irate some of our other egos as Cronk puts it. 

Moses though was philosophical and praised the ruck veteran. 

 

I thought he was probably our best player. Obviously, our combinations are going to grow and they’re going to get better. It’s going to take time, but I thought he was fantastic for us and we can probably help him (Hodgson) out a bit more if anything by finishing off our sets.

Moses on Hodgson's round-1 debut for the Eels

 

Monsters and Mongrel 

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Nelson Asofa-Solomona: The Monster.

The Storm played a more intense, up-tempo and aggressive game. Naturally, they conceded penalties for dodgy tackles with more than a few on Moses, not co-incidentally. 

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That's also reflected in the one-percenters.

The Storm's line speed and ruck was often noticeably faster. They hunted us down and offered us less space that we'd have liked.

We were often flat-footed with and without the ball. Even Arthur told Foxtel commentators early in the second half whilst in his box that the Eels were “flat” and not running onto the ball. Maybe, this could be in part do Hodgson’s flatter style, a new team, being rusty along with Storm's game.

Storm’s kick chases were far superior, too. Nothing underlined this more than Harry Grant’s 61st-minute sprint to pin-down Gutherson a few metres out from the Eels' line off a Hughes kick 40m or so out. This gave Storm the field position to set-up Meaney’s 12-12 equalizing try with Grant again being instrumental there.

Then we saw Storm’s will to win in the 76th minute with just over 3 minutes to go, Welch and Asofa-Solomona sprint almost 20m or so to block Moses’ field goal attempt right in front.

Perhaps, there is an argument to suggest the Storm “wanted it a bit more” in the big moments.

Craig Bellamy praised the Storm's resurgent toughness: they seemed grittier and more committed than last year.

 

Just being so gutsy through the whole 80 minutes, I don’t think we have been like that as a team for the past 12 months. I thought we made some steps forward in that area and hopefully, we can keep it up. If we keep showing the fight they did tonight, I am sure we’ll be okay.

Craig Bellamy praises his troops in the post-game pressor 

 

Micheal Meehal Wood pointed out that Cameron Munster consulted Tariq Sims seeking atonement for some very un-Storm-like performances last year. Perhaps, we're seeing off-season introspection and alchemy in the Storm. Time will tell.

  

We spoke to Tariq Sims when he came to the club and asked him what he thought we lacked. Tariq is an honest man, that’s why we love him. He was brutally honest and we needed that reality check. He said we’d lost a bit of aggression and mongrel in us, and that opened our eyes. We wanted to get back to that style of footy...

Cameron Munster on the couch with Tariq Sims

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The Sharks pack led by Finucane have their fair share of mongrel. Getty Images.

 It’s something we’ll need to face again this week: the Sharks don’t lack hard-heads, mongrel and hard-running backs. The likes of Mulitalo, Talakai, Ramien, Katoa.

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The Sharks backrowers provide punch like Wilton (above) provide punch. Getty Images.

 Wade Graham is paying the price of it. Perhaps, a blessing in disguise to polish their post-Graham transformation with Wilton on the left edge as an 80-minute workhorse running great lines with a habit of scoring tries, much like Nikora on the right edge. That’s something else we’ll need to contain this week. Those two double barrels. 

 

Bottom Line

Despite some of the concerns, there were plenty of upsides in last week’s loss. Hopgood is a Trojan workhorse with some skill. Junior showed some classy touches and is the biggest second-five-eighth in the galaxy. And there was some signs of shifting points of attack sideline to sideline, even if it broke down in the second half. Doorey and Cartwright were solid and good enough despite not being on par with their predecessors. Hodgson showed some silky skills with the ball in hand, that even Reed doesn’t possess. Those three were our best.

Eventually, having another point of attack, assuming Hodgson stays healthy and the spine gels, could improve the side on 2022 despite teething issues.

The other silver lining is the Eels have plenty of room for improvement.

Despite being below their best with plenty of new faces in critical roles, they were still in the fight for the entire 84 minutes. They were never out of the game, leading it until its death.

The Sharks are a tough unit. A mean, lean, fighting machine that can play with risk and adventure. Despite losing last week, and making a mountain of errors with Moylan being below par, they also never gave up.

They are also more settled and cohesive than us, despite the loss of Hynes.

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All in all, it's about alchemy. And there’s enough there to suggest if we can pull it all together - galvanize and transform into one - we can take the Sharks and might even make a fist of 2023 even if the pundits have largely tossed us aside as a solid mid-ranger on the slide. The question is whether the mercurial and unpredictable Eels will. It's also on the proviso Cronk's warning is averted: egos are put aside, sans-blame-games and finger-pointing (even in pressors). This is the Way.

If the Eels don’t, they will fall short, again perhaps even worse than last year. And risk losing confidence and falling into a blame-game rut facing Many (R3), Panthers (R4) and then Roosters (R5); having to catch-up on a high-pressured tightrope. We're still a work in progress, but this is not the way.

 

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The Mandalorian's transformative journey, and heroic atonement, within its Sister-Brotherhood code: This is the Way.

 

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Replies

  • Gold!! How long did that take to collate?

    • Thanks adnan , tell me about it. I always tell myself, "this week it's going to be short and sweet." Something different, haha.  

  • Eels will be in the top 4 at seasons end.

  • excellent summary HOE. This game/round will provide us with some good information regarding where we should be in the betting markets. I think there will be heaps of pressure on Moses and Brown this week--a real test of their overall composure and character.

    • Thanks a lot Tad . If recent history is anything to go by, we'll bounce back. Fingers crossed, mate! 

  • Nice write-up HOE.

    Unfortunately there are 4 more rounds of pain for Parra.

    Gummies by 18+

    • Mate, thanks a lot, BEM . I hope you're wrong mate.

      I'm not sure yet what we're about this year, a new team, injuries, Moses and Matto sagas and the like.

      Are we hungry and want to atone for last year, or is it something else? How long will it take for us to gel?

      I suppose the only silver lining is Brad is being careful to not use a certain someone as a default on the bench.

  • Brillant stuff as always HOE.  Your a very talented man.   I think we can win but Sharks are tough and we will need to be on to get them. Greater use of bench and our halves need to have on weeks.  Moylan always a chance to score against  and losing Graham massive IMO. 

    Parra by 6 and GUTHO MOM

    • Way too kind, Paul .As usual, always a gentleman. Completely agree.

      Was happy to see Moylan there, and would prefer if Graham was playing, too. So, Moylan will probably have a blinder! 

  • We need to go after there halves in attack and back to controlling the ruck that's the key your foundation for a defensive platform.You could see when our ruck got compromised how it affected the rest of the defense and Grant exploited it.

    If I were a team that's where I'm attacking the Eels and once you get that ruckspeed go after our edges.

    For me this game we need to be on point defensively I think if we shore that up our attack will come off it.

    Another great write up you definitely throw some ?s around winning this one.I think we'll squeak home I'm going with the Commbank no 2 loss in a row will get us home.

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