After watching games this season "it the game" has changed again (yes even from last year). Not just Parramatta but the way teams are playing,the skills involved and the depth of the competion. I have never seen the skills so high or the injuries so nigh.
I started off this year with a degree of optimism, thinking that last year we were a victim of circumstances and that we will surprise a lot of people with a new found resolution in the wake of our apathy after making the GF the previous year.
Yesterday I saw skills being shown by Manly, Broncos and even Titans that we could not match in attack. Reinforced by the improvement in sides like Canberra, Wests (to some degree), Dolphins (in terms of depth and I could go on.....the common denominator was not only speed, but skills as well ! I always knew we were lacking, but I thought we would hang in there for one more year and have our pathways showing through. I also could not help but notice the difference that a coach has made in one quarter of a season with St George's defence. The sides that were also runs, are much closer and have effectively passed us. The only thing we had in our favour was our resoluteness and after 7 games this year, we can actually say its GONE.
I will be checking our odds for the "spoon" later this week, because I have a feeling we are heading down the path of 2018 when I was equally embarrassed after a hiding from Manly in Round 2.
I am sick of saying our pathways continue to not show up skills, our defensive techniques seem to be such that we struggle to bring down players one on one. Yesterday I saw 60 plus points scored between Manly and Titans, the defence of both sides was better than ours, the scores were high but mostly from brilliant attacking players, Broncos fit into that field as well. No need to identify the players, everyone see's them every week. Now the main difference in these attacking plays is that they have players with pace supporting them........
this leads me to our game/s (Parra) and we are so outdated, from our forwards with no speed to a non existentice of cover defence (except DB).
Our recuitment and identification of the changing game has been lost in the whole process.....we have no spontaneous players, even Moses and DB have become regimented in the style of BA and Parra. BA would not have a Bevan French, but he has proven he is ahead of our time, just like the young midget fullback from Dolphins, Sloan from St George and of course the pace of the Bronco's backline and for that matter their forwards as well.
People can say they have been saying this for a long time and "wake up Poppa", well I am and always will be a Unicorn (sorry about that), I have defended O'Neill and BA and I have found excuses for them. No longer can I do that.....regardless of fault or blame we need a NEW BROOM, whether its Bennett or someone else that has modern thoughts on the game....it doesn't matter, change has to happen now!
Bennett has obviously learnt to change, basically because he is a proven strategic thinker, something that BA cannot seem to do for all his "blue and gold" blood!!
I have in recent times repeatedly talked about our board and the lack of football brains in their thinking, they played a role, now it is time for them to show their bravery and fall on a few swords, starting with the CEO and Chairman..... voiceless people in an environment of needing to be heard.
The time is nigh! if you don't understand why, then you are part of the problem!
Replies
Good Blog Poppa. French not fitting in is a great point. Probably a reason for his mental approach to our "style"before he left
Yes Tad, BA does not like that style of player, it would be interesting to see how he would react with a Reece Walsh style player and how he would use him.
On reflection, recruiting Morgan Harper was not a bad thing because he was a journeyman, but the order should have gone out, get me a journey man but one with pace.....Toupou from the Roosters must be in his 30's plus, a journeyman but a bloody good one,,,,,an ex Parra junior as well! We need to pay the dollars now!
Why not recruit that kid (fullback) from the Dolphins, he would be on "sixpence" we could guarantee him a contract for 350k for 4 seasons. The way he bounces around, how good a 14 utulity would he be?
Haha another light weight full back in the French mode.? He was good.. Nice skill to have in picking up talent See what others can't see.Can save you heaps
The style of play starts from having a half decent HOOKER and wingers that are fast and athletic. Two problem areas this team need to address ASAP
Well the roar had an article during the week explaining how our through the middle tactic is outdated and ageing our squad quicker. Bennett used to always bring in assistants of other rivals to his staff and pick their brains on how systems worked elsewhere and adapt to what they learn.
Brought in Bellamy to pick his brain about Sheens, Bellamy told Bennett how Sheen's defence works and Bennett worked out how to attack and won majority of game from there.
You are spot on with your comments Poppa.
The game has changed even since last year. Teams are playing more off the cuff and the game is faster over the full 80mins. The Eels look good when the offloads connect and the backing up is there but we need more strategies in our armoury as you indicated.
It's been well documented that BA hasn't changed his style of play or strategies for the last decade. Whilst the game has evolved, we're still chasing the collisison LOL
Great post.
I reckon if you ask any NRL coach they love playing against us. Our template style of play is easy to prepare for. We are boring, lack skill, spontaneity, creativity, speed and any type of magic x-factor. And we are mentally weak. Any coach and team know if they hang in long enough past our hype template style, they will eventually get on top of us. How BA can't see that and acts confused is beyond me.
Poppa, on there day Carty, Matto, Hopgood and Paulo are in the top ten with ball playing skills, ability to produce 2nd phase.
But most of our 2nd phase is to a big forwards just standing there. Our 6,7 and 9 should be running through the line expecting the ball 2 out of 5.
Penisini and Simo should be going in on the first and second looking for the offloads, and then using there speed.
For mine BA is not coaching this team to there skills and ability.
I agree our defence is soft, we never dominate, no big hits. Three in the tackle and they still get the ball away because we're happy to lean on them and rest while holding them up.And what really pisses me is 6 out of 10 tackles the Eel is last back to his feet.
We rarely get a fast play the ball, it's like we are not up to the fitness and speed of the game.
Morettia cop's a bit of flak, but BA plays him wrong, get him running between ya 6 and 4. He is a strong runner not a battering ram.
I honestly think the Eels have the neuclise of a good team, for mine we lack a fast winger and fullback.
I also think Brad's time is up, his not seeing what this team needs and how to coach the skill they have. An example is Will Penisini if he was in a Broncos, Chooks or any team that makes room for him on the paddock, even a gap he would be in the Origion chatter.
The Eels as a club need change, new voices and direction, but it needs to be wholesale not just BA
The obvious is Bennett and who he wants in the coaching ranks. If not Bennet the Josh Hannay and John Morris as his defensive coach. If we could land Josh H we are getting a big bit of how Bill Slater sees the game.
Josh and Billy are great mates and close maybe just maybe Billy could pop in now and then.
Right now I think Billy and Cam Smith are the good thinkers of our game. I think Cameron Smith will be a future top line coach.
Good post poppy. I felt sorry for Bevan he had his natural game coached out of him. His confidence was zapped. Players are nothing without confidence. Look what Bennett has done for Marshall king and Flanagan at the Dragons.
Graham exactly how we should play flood the middle. Who is Moreton? Moretti?
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