Also, if we can get jag a win against the Dragons this Saturday then another 2 points with the bye up next, we'll have a host of players coming back from injury and suspension including
Moses, Sam Tuivaiti, Moretti, Bailey Simonsson, Ritchie penasini, Ryley Smith most of them due back after the bye.
A run for the 8 is not out of the question
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I enjoy watching the eels again, as we can defend errors a lot better, and play an exciting style in attack so we need to celebrate the wins when they come, but I think many are getting carried away with the dreaded word potential. Yes there is young talent like Iongi and Smith along with others. There is also evidence of new attacking and defensive structures offering hope for the future but I think we are still a few years away from being a threat on consistent basis.
There has been plenty of years where we thought the future was bright only to be dealt the reality that we are Parra fans and footy doesn't have a happy ending as an eels fan.
The competition is very week this year but is starting to sort it self out and many teams in the 8 have more improvement in them as do the eels, but we are starting from a long way back. We are still a long way off being a top 8 side and salary cap space or not, it means nothing if we can't attract talent.
Just like many of our young players, Ryles is a coach with potential. We need quality players but what makes Ryles different to previous coaches and why will he succeed in attracting quality players who don't have injury worries or want well above market value.
Good post fm
The style of play I'll touch on that and it's one of the reasons we are losing games because players are failing to execute.See while it's exciting will it be still exciting if we are still doing the same and it's the reason for losing games next season.
See I never cared for style of play as long as our team had an identity and won footy games.Look good and lose I mean look bad and win does it really matter as long as your winning footy games.I swear that's what highlight watchers will say and miss the game within a game.
Over the years there are definite aspects within games that I disliked and setup plays and locking halves in playing left and right we're definitely one of them.While that style struggled against ball movement it also beat the benchmark in the comp consistently home and away.While it was laterally comprimised if we got field position and our fair share of procession it was the physicality in the middle of the park that beat teams down.
Defensively in 20-21 we were amongst the top 4 defensive sides in the comp to which gets completely missed.Back to style of play after seeing us in the preseason we looked great but as soon as it came under fire we let in 90 points in our first 2 games I mean that can't get any worse to start a campaign and we've been treading water since.We've hit a sweet spot now thank god but there were plenty of doubters early.
The back three for mine could have got the 1,2,3 votes IMO.
Bringing back the ball early in our set with pace creates opportunity which was part of the reason we won last night.
I used to scream at my TV watching Gutho, Sivo and Russell on kick returns but now my doctor says I can go to half a tablet a day on my blood pressure reduction meds.
Ryles made some tough calls and it is paying off.
Lol. Good news coming from your doc HH
Great blog chief, agree Ryles managing the cap well but more importantly for me is the syle of play his exciting, great ball movement and the Ryles is hell bent on hurting on breaking down the opposition with our attack, hopefully Eels HQ land a big signings - imo we definitely need a quality middle and a gun centre that can cover a few different position like Selwyn Cobbo.
- off topic has anyone watched the Matty aka Trent & Gronk podcast?? Both clowns has excluded Brett Kenny from their all greatest SOO teams, now if these jokers understood SOO history they would know Bert played a huge role in winning the NSW blues first series and is fact Bert dominated wally Lewis even pushing him into another position on Kangaroo tours in 82 or 86. Fark me NRL journalist, podcast have idea...I understand a Rugby league legend is consultanty dismissed and disrespected.
Ryles and his coaches are doing a great job with the players that have. Our attacking shapes are some of the best in the NRL and the defensive panic is gone, replaced by a fast line that pushes from the inside.
Ryles has shown HOW he wants this side to play. The challenge now is to find those players who are capable of playing how Ryles needs them to play. He's stated as much in his pressers. Some players can do it, some can't and he needs to sort that out. If you watch us each week the same players make the crucial errors, miss the crucial tackles, give away the dumb penalties. Those guys need to sort it or they'll be shown the door sooner than later.
If the club can get Ryles the players he needs, we could really be in for a great ride. That's the piece I'm struggling to be optimistic about.
Great Post Muttman. Your post could be a blog on its own. It will take time to gain those players Ryles wants without doubt. But slowly he'll get there.
The next 12-18 months will tell a story.
We definitely need a influx of talent in our spine and fowards.
We also need a new S & C coach because he's off back to NZ and we need that more so to protect us from injury.That's been a telling sign for us the last 3 seasons including this one.
Jim MoN Beech and co the balls in your court if we aren't structually set up enough to compete in the next year or 2 we'll be coach hunting again if we aren't careful and since your jobs are safe I suggest you engage foward gears and get us moving in the right direction.
There's part of the story being told now with the style of play and the improvements in our defensive structures.
Ryles is making the calls around recruitment . The Iongi move many thought letting Gutherson go wasn't a good decision, but wow the critics are eating their words right now.
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