Coach Jason Ryles and captain Mitchell Moses summed it up best in the post-game press conference after our 20-16 round 23 loss to Souths. We went in as hot favourites. Most confident of an Eels victory. Our Boogeyman struck again. History delivered the verdict once more. But we pulled the trigger, and it blew up in our faces.
“We probably came in with the wrong mindset,” Moses admitted. But his own game told the story. Souths’ match-winning tries came down his leaky right edge, and some of his loose plays set the tone.
“I feel like from the start, we’re giving them three seven tackle sets straight away, we’re rolling them and just let them off the hook too easy and put us under the pump straight away."
“That’s on me, I’ve got to finish the sets a bit better there. It’s a bit of a reality check."
Getty Images: Gray and Duncan starred.
Both he and Ryles conceded Souths simply wanted it more. They won the loose ball contests. They came up with the big plays. Gray’s try-savers, Duncan’s double on Moses’ edge was the difference on the scoreboard.
Getty Images: Gray and Duncan save a try.
“I just think that’s been one of the real strengths of our game all year, our fight and our effort,” Ryles said.
“There were a couple of moments in that game tonight where it was really disappointing.”
Getty Images: Up 12-4 there seemed complacency, an expectation they would win.
Asked what went wrong, Ryles snapped back humorously: “I don’t know, you want to come to the review and give me a hand?”
He pointed to the missed opportunities: “We had nine linebreaks to their six, so chances were there, but we just couldn’t ice them. Those two try-savers were certain tries, that summed up the night. That’s where they’re at, and where we’re at.”
The Storm beat us 56-18 in round one with 9 linebreaks.
Last night's stats don't lie. The Eels made 15 errors to Souths’ 7. That's 85 errors in six weeks. Even the competition leaders and high-flying Dogs lose when they make 11–14 mistakes (against Saints, Tigers and Roosters). Few teams can overcome that level of self-sabotage.
For once, Ryles couldn’t find any positives. “I’ll have to go back and have a look and try and find some.”
Getty Images: Lomax scored a doube, made some errors, but was lion-hearted.
Still, Jack Williams and Zac Lomax's efforts weren't to blame. Between them: 36 runs, almost 400m, 3 line breaks, 8 tackle busts, and 2 tries. And the fact we could have won that game, probably undeservedly, is another positive.
But other fundamentals such as poor support play and kick chases remain weaknesses I’ve been flagging on many occasions this year. They continue to haunt us.
The question of why and how to fix the small things letting us down big time are the most important questions. It all starts between the ears and in habit-patterns on-and-off-field.
It's still early days in the Ryles era. We're still figuring out the roster and cleaning the cap. Let's not go too Chicken Little impulsive just yet.
However, on top of Ryles and the coaching staff, Moses captaincy and ability to be all in, inspire and unite us — the hallmark of great captains that underpin great teams as well as our on-field leaders — will be a crucial moving forward. Above all, we need glue.
Next comes a litmus test. The white-hot Roosters. Ninety-six points scored in two weeks. Three straight wins over finals contenders demolishing the Dolphins, Dogs and Manly. They’re on their usual end-of-season rocket-surge.
Next week will be a character test.
Getty Images: Souths rose to the occasion as they have on many Indigenous Rounds honoring Indigenous icons such as 2014 grand-final winning Greg Inglis and Gold medalist Cathy Freeman (centre).
Replies
We been doing it for 30 plus years if we scored here or takled him there we would of won same story different chapter I'm afraid
It was all very sloppy and indeed we got what we deserved.
We are obviously not a great team yet, but I really believe these mentality things are the different. I think we need to improve tactically/talent wise only a little bit, the difference in that was shown in the recent Storm games and other games against top side. If we focus, commit and go with the plan we can match anyone. We just need that extra bit of class and some of our youngsters to continue progressing to get there.
But the achilles heel is these games were you don't have the mental strength to keep the focus against a shit side and take the 2 points seriously, and to not let it get to you if a shit team is matching you.
Look at the Storm game the other day. THey knew they are better than us, we matched them and probably should've won. But the Storm did not go "oh my god are we shit then if this Parra side is doing us", no they just went with the we win no matter what, and stick to what we can do best.
Another example is the Sharks, the opposite, perfectly structured roster on paper but their mentality lets them down. Hence, they'll play finals every year but not do much. We were like the Sharks under Arthur until 2022, but that sapped us of all our energy.
Anyway, this is the next step. A couple of signings, sure. But the mentality. That's Ryles' success, and Moses' too btw, if they pull it off.
Good post, Yehez.
A lot hinges on Moses. His boot, game management, and captaincy to inspire and unite us on-field when the chips are down.
The roster is still a work in progress. By 2027 the cap should be cleaned up.
If we can galvanize as one and address some fundamentals, we'll be in good position.
We've been getting our fair share of accolades in the media of late and most were expecting us to win. I wonder if we were getting a little ahead of ourselves.
I'm beginning to think that perhaps Ryles isn't the coach I thought he might be. Might be wrong. He has definitely made a difference but some decisions regarding selection are bit confusing. I was surprised he left Hawkins out against the Bunnies when Hawkins and Moses seem to work very well together. Putting an inexperienced 6 in Papali with Moses who haven't been together against an important game which the Eels really needed to win in my opinion was quite dumb. Too over confident
If we start dishing up what manly is right now, then I'll be concerned 😂 still plenty of life in our squad
What after one loss? Seriously.
Yes it was a bad loss, embarrassing but seriously we beat Brisbane and nearly get Melbourne but have a bad performance and he is not what we thought.
Its the same with some people see a player play a good "let's sign him" and death ride. Or a player plays one bad game "he's not that good anymore"
If play the same in next 3 weeks fair but til then Ryles is what you think he is.
I want to see Ryles actually coach a team that is using the full salary cap first 😂 with what we've got to work with he's done a solid job. Next year is the test
My guess is it won't be until 2027 that Ryles starts on a full cap. I wouldn't be surprised if we're behind $3m or so due to the rebuild-cleanup. Dogs, Panthers all had to as well in the not too distant past.
That part takes the most time, he's cleared out the players he wants to clear out but filling out the roster with players he wants is going to take a bit
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