Image produced by the Eels' club
Tonight is the 45th clash between these two, and it''s been seven years since the Eels have been in Auckland to meet the Warriors.
The 12th placed Warriors are incredibly only three points outside the eight and returned to the winners circle last week after an inconsistent year. Their spine is strengthened by the return of their half tailsman Shaun Johnson and fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad.
In stark constrast, the 16th placed Eels, second-last, with six straight losses are battling it out for the spoon with Tigertown - drowning in quicksand.
Teams
Time/Venue: 6pm AEST at Go Media Stadium
Sportsbet: Eels at $4.00 to Warriors at $1.25
Weather: Chance of rain
Eels: 1. Clinton Gutherson 2. Jake Tago 3. Viliami Penisini 4. Blaize Talagi 5. Sean Russell 6. Dylan Brown 7. Daejarn Asi 8. Reagan Campbell-Gillard 9. Brendan Hands 10. Wiremu Greig 11. Shaun Lane 12. Bryce Cartwright 13. Ryan Matterson 14. Joey Lussick 15. Joe Ofahengaue 16. Luca Moretti 17. Dan Keir 18. Ethan Sanders 22. Makahesi Makatoa
Cut: 19. Matthew Arthur 20. Matt Doorey 21. Morgan Harper
Interim Head Coach: Trent Baz Barrett
Warriors: 1. Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak 3. Ali Leiataua 4. Moala Graham-Taufa 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita 7. Shaun Johnson 8. Addin Fonua-Blake 9. Wayde Egan 10. Mitchell Barnett 11. Marata Niukore 12. Kurt Capewell 13. Dylan Walker 14. Freddy Lussick 15. Tom Ale 16. Jazz Tevaga 17. Leka Halasima 18. Demitric Sifakula 20. Taine Tuaupiki
Cut: 21. Te Maire Martin 22. Edward Kosi 23. Bunty Afoa
Barrett has essentially stuck with the same team from last week with Dan Keir to play his second NRL match off the bench after debuting last week. The outgoing rookie, Talagi, has still be named in the side. Shaun Johnson is back (Achilles) as well as fullback Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad (calf) which bumps Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to the wing. The impressive Jackson Ford is out injured and out which brings Tom Ale into the starting team.
Head Coach: Andrew Webster
Stats
- The Eels have won only 1 from the last 9 games without Moses.
- The Eels have lost 12 of their last 13 games outside Commbank.
- The Warriors have won three of their past four games at Go Media Stadium.
- The Eels have won four of their past five games against the Warriors.
- The Eels play their first game in New Zealand since 2017.
- Warriors fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck has scored eight tries in 11 games against the Eels.
Last week; a tale of contrasts
Last week, in round 21, the Eels continued their losing habits with a hard-fought 32-14 loss to the Storm at Commbank in front of 11,082.
That's the worst Friday night crowd on record since the stadium's opening in 2019 (outside the Covid affected 2020 season which had crowd restrictions).
Four of the Eels' last six losses have been ten points or less. But, the Eels have only managed to win the back-end of one game all year (Titans, R19).
In constrast, the Warriors returned to the winner's circle with a hard-fought win over the Tigers last week 28-16 in front of a sell-out of almost 24,000 at Go Media.
Despite the sell-out record home crowds, the they have had a very inconsistent year winning 5 from the last 9 which included a 66-6 loss to the Titans in R16 at CBUS.
Effort Without Execution; Self-sabotage
Bryce Cartwright and Dylan Brown reiterated similar themes on last week's Storm game.
Image produced by the Eels' club
"We're still trying our hardest. I hope we showed that on the weekend." Brown said, lamenting the Eels' inability to ice opportunities.
"There's a lot to play for. Fans are still turning up to our stadiums. We love to see them. They still stick around after the games and see us after the game."
"We always know we can play good footy. We're just not icing games at the moment, owning skill and stuff."
"It'll turn eventually. Hopefully, this week."
Dylan pointed out that with Asi there, he's able to focus on his role.
"I'm still focused on what I do and that's running the ball. Hopefully, good things will come from that."
"It is tough. Looking around the club, and there's a lot of boys in rehab. There's a lot of boys, like you said, aren't coming back until at the end of the year, or if not at all."
"We understand it is just us."
"You can't be negative about anything. You've got to be positive."
"We have to play for our fans. And play for our own pride really."
Cartwright reiterated the effort theme, and suggested a hint of self sabotage.
"Obviously the effort was there. But execution again [let us down]..."
"There were two tries there against the run of play that hurt us."
"I didn't think they had to play a lot of shape to score their tries."
We sort of gifted it to them. It's disappointing because that's sort of been the story for the year for us.
Bryce Cartwright on the R20 Storm loss
The Last Warrior's game, last year
Cartwright also played in the last games the Eels met the Warriors - last year in another challenging year where the Eels finished 10th - where they suffered a heavy 46-10 loss; eight tries to two.
The last Eels v Warriors game was in R19, 2023, Commbank. The Warriors demolished the Eels 46-10.
Mark O'Neill looks on pensively at the heavy Warriors loss at Commbank last year.
The Eels were better in 2023 but so too were the Warriors. In that game the Eels were missing Gutherson, Moses and Brown. With Russell playing fullback and Matterson and Asi in the halves.
This time, the Eels take the trip across the ditch to Auckland.
The Go Media Stadium in Auckland has seen record sell-out crowds in support of the Wahs, despite an inconsistent year
Go Media Stadium
The Eels away record has been horrifying - winning only 1 of their last 13 games outside Commbank - with just one won outside Commbank since mid-2023.
The Warriors have won 4 of their last 5 Friday night games at Go Media stadium (2023-34) in front of sell-out crowds at an average just over 23,270.
Interestingly, all of these recent games were close affairs decided by 12 or less points.
R6, 2017. The last time the Eels played here and it saw them defeat the Warriors 22-10 | Getty images
The Eels have not met the Warriors at this stadium for seven years - since 2017.
Dark Tunnels
"It's good for us to get out of Sydney to be honest," Trent Barrett admitted.
"There has been a lot of stories in and around the club. And not real positive ones of late."
"I think it's good for the players to get out of Sydney, and get away together."
The Eels' Club has been savaged by Hooper and the mob. Sometimes, by its own fans planning a French Revolution-like storming of the club's bastille in protest. Hooper, however, close friends with Mark Mark O'Neill, stouchly supports our general manager of footy. And if we are to believe Hooper, has little to no role in the Eels' demise as he walks on water.
With the amount of heat on the club, it's incredible that they haven't already suffered the same fate the Dogs over five years did between late 2018- early 2024: change chairmen four times and remove CEOs at the drop of a hat. Even the CEO who brought in Gus who helped keep the Laundry Group onside and helped reset the club, was also bumped off in February this year after last year's second-last placing. Patience is a rarity.
If the Eels remain in the dark tunnel, however, the removal of key figurehead leaders in the club seem inevitable.
The Eels' situation hasn't been helped by key juniors in the 2023 SG Ball winning squad leaving - which the Eels' pinned much hope on. Talagi joins fellow team mates Matt Arthur and Ethan Sanders out of the club. Deserting the club despite the decades invested in them. In Matt Arthur's case, I suspect, him leaving is seen as a blessing in disguise by the club. To give the incoming coach a blank slate from the Arthur era moving forward.
The Eels' inability to deal with a mounting injury toll that now includes the like of Origin stars in Moses and Hopgood, Talagi, Simonnson, Sivo, former Origin prop Junior Paolo, has been a factor too. Some clubs can deal with inuries better. The Eels, not so much.
"It is tough. Looking around the club, and there's a lot of boys in rehab. There's a lot of boys, like you said, aren't coming back until at the end of the year, or if not at all," Dylan admitted.
We understand it is just us.
Dylan Brown, Monday, 29 July 2024
"You can't be negative about anything. You've got to be positive."
The players options for the likes of Dylan Brown, Mitchell Moses and Penisni (Isaac managed) coupled with the Guymer rumours haven't helped the Eels' cause either. It's given the mob ammunition. If you're winning like the Storm are, players options for a superstar like Harry Grant don't seem to get so much as a boo.
Dylan Brown was questioned by the media on Monday about his player options and future at the club.
"I'm here to play my best footy. I'm in the Parramatta colours. That's what I represent every week."
I'm here to stay. I like Parra.
Dylan Brown, Monday, 29 July 2024
"They do good things for me, and I've always been here for the right reasons, and I'm going to continue to do that."
Pride
"We have to play for our fans. And play for our own pride really," Dylan told the media.
The spectre of the wooden spoon also looms as a dark shadow to put the icing on the cake.
"I've got a spoon before and it sucks." Bryce Cartwright noted adding he wasn't really thinking about the spoon.
"But, there are more important things to worry about: making sure these young guys we get them experienced and teach them good habits."
"We have not spoken about that [wooden spoon]", Barrett claimed.
"We owe it to our fans, and our members to play well."
'More importantly, I suppose, the boys owe it to themselves and their team mates to make sure they're turning up each week. That's the main thing," Barrett concluding praising the "attitude" the Eels had last week.
"We have a lot to play for, and that's pride," Barrett repeated the common theme.
The Future
Dylan Brown, like many fans hold hope.
Brown admitted and agreed "one hundred percent" that Ryles' highly-touted reputation gives him confidence in the future.
"I spoke to a few of the Storm players after the game and they're actually shattered that they lost Jason."
"Obviously that speaks levels about what he's like as a person."
"It's good for the boys headspace to know there's going to be a coach there."
Dylan smirked off suggestions that Gutherson should be removed as Captain.
"I don't know what the go is with Gutho."
"But the footy he plays every week, you can't remove him from anything."
"He's our captain for a reason and I highly doubt it's going to change anytime soon."
"It's just contagious. Anything that someone does on the field. If someone's lazy on the field, it's contagious. But, if someone's charging at every opportunity, you want to get behind them."
"When you're winning footy, you know how to win. When you're losing, you keep losing," he said with a smile, suggesting a somewhat philosophical mindset.
"Gutho is a winner. He keeps chasing the wins, no matter what. So, as long as he plays, I'm going to keep doing the same."
Bryce Cartwright was more circumspect about the future.
"I haven't had any [contact with Ryles]," Cartwright admitted.
"We're just focused on this year."
"We don't really want to think about next year too much."
"We're trying to finish the year off strong. for ourselves, our family, friends, and fans most importantly."
"Six games left. We want to keep improving and get back on the winning side of things."
"Us senior boys we need to play our best games each week. We know that. We've got to be a nine out of ten each week. Make sure the young boys see that. Keeping things positive because obviously it is hard [current circumstances] and we're going thorugh a slump."
"It's all about enjoying the last six games together," Cartwright said.
"This group is not going to be together again. A lot of us. So, it's just about finishing the year off strongly and having some fun too."
Sportsbet has the Eels at $4.00 to Warriors at $1.25, and the Eels second favorite for the spoon at $2.60 (after the Tigers at $1.40).
Replies
Oh what Id give for a spirited game with a little win at the end. I dont know where your finding your energy HOE to keep digging deep and presenting these blogs week in week out. Hats off to you brother.
Im thinking I might have a sneaky $50 on the Eels at $4. I have a feeling that just before you think your at your lowest, the world starts to turn in your favour. Im going with that tonight, im going to pull out one of my signed jerseys, get the fireplace raging, make a couple of rum and cokes and enjoy a game of footy. Well thats the plan anyway.
Thanks, brother. Good luck with the bet, Bluey. Hopefully, the Eels pull off an upset against all odds.
Rugby league is a strange game at times; so you never know your luck.
Also, I'm wondering why Ryles has stayed quiet working in the background and not made contact with some players. Carty is a senior player, too.
I would have thought hearing the Voice of the New Era is paramount. At the least, it presents an image of clear unity.It appears much of the public heat Jim has been flying largely solo. Optically, the theme of unity could be enhanced.
Is it for pragmatic, about timing, a grand entrance, and/or strategic reasons? Maybe it's to remove any undue heat on Ryles and getting him settled in focused on building his support structure and coaching team? It's unclear to me at the moment.
Yes, Ive been trying to put the pieces together myself his lack of presence is deafening in the extreme. I've experienced this type of New Boss a few times. Under all those circumstances it was the prelude to extreme change within the Unit or Business. Ive used the same playbook myself.
They had a job to do that was going to tread on a lot of toes and make people uneasy. A cultural shift , a shift from top to bottom, a massive personel turnover and a change to systems and processes. The idea of implementing a change on a massive scale usually meant the new boss didnt want to cloud his judgement or decision making processes by developing relationships or friendships with those that he was judging and or attempting to move on. By staying at arms length for now he dosnt have to have a brave face on or stab people in the back so to speak. This way they are all on notice - fullstop.
Im thinking Ryles is understanding who and what needs to change right now, whilst he remains unencombered. Change is in the air. No doubt about it. There will be the perfect time for relationships as the new pre season begins.
I think you and Bluey may have over thought his role at this point Hoey.
i.e. we dont know what instructions he has received about public statements?
I also think that he is respecting Trent Barrett and his territory. What ever Ryles says' publicly can reflect on what Barrett is doing with the team.......IMO he just hasn't started work yet because there is already a teacher in the class room. Barrett is currently in a bastard of a position and god knows whats going through his mind.
There seems to be this perception on here (site) that he needs to be active and in some sort of control or direction whereas I think he is very comfortable being an observer and getting a handle on things/lay of the land.
Thats not to say he hasn't been talking to his incoming coaches or potential recruitment of players or the current ones that he bumps into. I also note that these two have had a strong prior relationship and whilst I agree there is no room for Barrett to stay, that respect is still there.
Just my normal different thoughts to everyone else!
Pops, well said. Absolutely. We don't know what "instructions" he has been given or has not been given nor the "whys" he has been publicly as quiet as a church mouse the last month since he said he was "excited to coach us".
You're right. Irrespective of what we think or believe, it's not up to us.
Whatever reason he has made zero contact with some players, and senior players like Carty, I don't know. Maybe it's just out of respect for Barrett. Is it? Or he's just been busy the last month assembling his coaching team and the move? Or told to keep mum publicly, for now? Dunno.
However, it's just my personal opinion maybe breaking bread with the players at the very least isn't such a bad idea, maybe?
As the shopfront and symbolic voice of the "New Era" his voice is important IMO.
The one thing we lack is strong, dominant leadership imo. We don't lack good people with the right intentions or intelligence.
Just my two cents. I could be dead wrong.
We are sort of saying the same thing Pops, but really I have no clue whats happening with him. Its all guess work. I must admit Id really like him to come out publicly and say something to the fans. I feel he represents us now and we havnt heard from him. Just my opinion.
Another great write up mate.
Im filthy Talagi is named to play.
Makes the club appear weak and player driven.
Picking a player who hasn't bought in and decided to leave, he's not a 100 game first grader who gave their best over a number of seasons .
Its incredulous this bloke has shat on the club and we're rewarding him by playing first grade, be damned with our injuries.
It stinks
Bup , my sentiments exactly,if we get the spoon so be it I would of loved to see him excluded from the seventeen , being rewarded with being picked to play after stabbing the club in the back is not the old way ,I agree it does STINK, time for selectors to grow a spine and show the players and fans right from wrong.
Couldn't agree with you more. This club has no backbone. Blaize should of been told to pack up his locker and he can spend the remainder of his contract on the couch getting fat. Penreff did it with Katoa a few years back and I remember WB dropping Justin Hodges many moons ago. We have absolutely nothing to gain by playing Blaize for the rest of this year, absolutely nothing. We are a weak gutted club
The difference between those players and Talagi is that they repaid theor respective clubs by hanging around for a few seasons and gave back what was invested in them. All Talagi and his family has done us taken from Parramatta and pissed off at the earliest opportunity.
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