Eels Blogs

Replies

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  Strange-eel March 31, 2026 at 8:30pm

  That's an ordinary looking team.
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    LB > Strange-eel April 1, 2026 at 12:51am

    

    When Penisini, Iongi, Doorey and Hopgood are out injured then year that will make it ordinary. Had those 4 be able to play it looks better of course.
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  Colin Good March 31, 2026 at 8:36pm

  Will Jason Ryels make the stupid statement the game plan will be to play through the middle, if parramatta do that a flogging is in store 
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    Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Colin Good March 31, 2026 at 9:09pm

    When did he say that?
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    Prof. Daz > Colin Good April 1, 2026 at 1:03pm

    Colin, I thought Ryles talked about our short passes in the middle not just "burn through middle"? The Eels lack hulking mobile props for that middle power game plan
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  EA March 31, 2026 at 10:28pm

  

  The press conference prior to the Panthers game on the eels website. https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2026/03/27/round-4-coachs-media--...

  They were speaking about NRL rule changes and how its changed the product of the game etc. JR said "all I want to know is what are the rules and let us know as soon as possible."

  I may be overthinking this but it sould like eels were not ready for how fast the game and ruck would be with the 6 agains. Cause in the trial and vegas games, the refs ruck interpretion for 6 agains was essentially the same as last year. Our defence in the trials actually looked strong espicially in the ruck. But in round 1 the speed and control around the ruck all changed with refs giving  so many 6 agains that we still have not been able to learn how to defend with these changes. Hence, making me think during the pre-season we werent training for this type of ruck.
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    The Captain > EA March 31, 2026 at 10:42pm

    

    Which is odd if true because VLandys is a pretty open book - he wants a faster game with more tries so he can sell more TV ad time and make the NRL worth even more in broadcast rights. 

    We should have been ready for the touch footy. Other teams were.
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      EA > The Captain March 31, 2026 at 10:44pm

      

      I dont think other teams were because many coaches and players have questioned these decisions and like eels so many teams have conceeded a lot of points. It is just eels have been the worst of the lot and a big reason to do with that is we probably have the worst starting middles in the NRL right now.
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    Coryn Hughes > EA April 1, 2026 at 8:55am

    

    Same for every team though EA so being unprepared is something that could be said about all the teams going soso early.

    Simply put in the first few months of the comp imo you simplify the game keep it really basic.Build into the season concentrate on a specific weakness you have in your team and start there with the improvement.

    I mentioned very early Sam Moa and first up contact with regards to our foward pack especially.Whats happened here has nothing to do with the rules it's an attitude thing and for me that's what's gone missing we are being dictated to physically this has to change.When I heard in the last presser JR didn't know where the mentioned had gone to me that was a worry and now with the onset of injuries this is going to be a real test the next month of footy.

    I see us as a 500 team which in a rebuild isn't all bad but it's glaring to see we just don't have the quality in depth or in elite talent that's the facts of it.Everyone understand the limitations and elephant in the room now it's upto the club to fix it.
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      EA > Coryn Hughes April 1, 2026 at 12:32pm

      

      Yea thats why I told captain that every team seems to have struggled with that. It is just we have been exposed the most because our starting middles would be the worst in the NRL. So the cattle is a major factor of the poor starts to game and as you say their first contact and ability to put defenders on their back is pathetic.