Ladies and Gentlemen,
If the Eels can't get up and on the board after being bashed, hunted down and owned by the Panthers in the grand final and Finals Week 1, then maybe we need to hit rock bottom first.
It's a grand final rematch that feels somewhat of an anti-climax given we're coming second last with the worst defence in the competition, hitherto. We're also credited with the worst starts to a season of any grand-final runner-ups in NRL history; but only our third-worst on NRL (behind wooden spoon years in 2012, 2018).
The Panthers will most likely be primed for a big one to make a statement, and will most likely revert to their two-time premiership-winning ways: up-tempo bashing, strangling us out of the game. It's worked before, so why change it?
Bash us (like Manly did at times last week) with their monsters and bench. Make huge metres off their back three (we've conceded plenty of metres again this year like last year). Fire plenty of Cleary rockets to pin us down in our red zone and force a few errors. They have a habit of playing for 80 minutes, something we've yet to do in 2023 and struggled with all of last year.
Can the Eels finally get on the board? For me, much of it will revolve around our mindset: our respect for the ball and our attitude off the ball. We need to play with courage and mongrel. Defend our line like our lives depended on it. Build confidence in our defence for once this year. Reduce self-sabotaging and embarrassing errors and missed tackles at critical moments. Complete our sets at around 80%. Do the 1% that Blue Eel pointed out in his outstanding Confucious-like preview. As Bluey noted, it's not all that complicated.
If so, we're in with a chance to pull off an upset.
If not, we could see a grand final replay or worse.
Let's hope Moses' monster deal helps with his kicking boots. He's got enough to buy some new ones and shout Matto a few meals (assuming the contract has been signed). That being said, let's hope Matterson actually laces up his boots to play and makes up for his "confused state". And let's also hope Hands has a debut to remember, and helps relieve JH.
What are your predictions? Who's the MOM?
PS: Due to the mysterious disappearance of Grunta, we have filed a missing person's report.
Replies
I predict I'm going to drink too many tins and regret it in the morning.
Hoping a win will help me at work with my hangover but I'm not confident.
Well it's your destiny and gamble . But whatever your choice I wish you a very good evening with Parra luck.
Hahaha, cheers Driza 🍻
I'll be right, just sick of the Thursday night games already.
I t may be interesting to compile some stats around luck .Poor ref errors etc, and anything thing which could genuinely be considered as luck. For both sides and see whether it is a factor in winning and losing. Just a thought