We put on a show, that's for sure. Melbourne, on the other hand, are not the team of old but still a top 6 side.
It's early in the season and there was a lot of rust in our performance, and unfortunately, we had ample opportunity to win the game in regular time.
Some Key aspects that I took away from this:
1. Hopgood. What a machine. 84minutes - 57 tackles - 21 hitups - 5 offloads - 2.89 seconds average to play the ball.
2. Now I bring up the play the ball.
This had a huge bearing on momentum and the yardage game for both teams. The Eels averaged 3.86 seconds to play the ball after a tackle. The Storm 2.98 seconds. That is huge in setting defensive lines and or being on the front foot making ground. It gives or takes away time for the ball players to find space and gaps. For the record the Eels managed to have only two players under the 3 second mark, and both newcomers from a different system - Hopgood and Momoisea. The Storm managed 8 individual players well under the 3 second mark. I can't help but think our team is missing a few tricks here either the urgency for quick play the balls and how to roll out of tackles quickly to within the rules slowing the opposition down. There are plenty of valuable lessons right there for our team to learn.
3. Our bench. Once again our bench was shown up for what it is, when our big boppers went off our middle crumbled away. We became rudderless without any shape in the middle and little to no penetration. Its like our team treads water each side of half way as our bench hits the paddock. Once again with fatigue setting in, it was considered better to have tired forwards out there then to use a fresh Makatoa off the bench, whom once again had a clean jersey at the end of the game accumulating 0 minutes. We are in desperate need of another class middle to offset RCG and Junior.
4. We blew it on the big stage a number of times in the setting up to score points dept. Our game awareness was substandard and I'm not sure who actually took control at certain times when points were on offer. From memory we blew a number of chances for points that would have won the game.
i). Penisini scored a nice try unfortunately from some angles it looked like before planting the ball he was trying to find a a direct tv camera to look into to celebrate as he put the ball down. The thing missed was he could have improved the angle ever so slightly but didnt. Moses missed the ensuing kick at goal. That right there wins us the game in hindsight in regular time. Am i being too harsh, Maybe !
ii). Dylan Brown forward pass to Sivo - the line was wide open - old Nana could have strolled over, attention to detail was required ever so lightly. The game could of been won right there.
iii). Lumelume - had a very good game until he didnt - Ball security son dropping the ball in front of goal on the first is a sin- the next play the ball Storm score. The game changes right there hold the ball for an Eels win.
iv). Field goals win games at the death. Moses first kick with no protection in front and it is knocked down. Team work guys let them down. The second attempt 2 minutes on the clock Moses sets up on the right directly in front - Hodgson passes to the left oppurtunity missed. Sivo near the death on the first tackle, no game awareness what so ever puts kick into the deadball area - 7 tackle set for the Storm from the 22. That was some terrible decison making right there, from our play makers, and the team working together, not to mention throwing away a chance of a win.
5. Brains' Trust. Midway through the game we get a penalty direct in front- the brains' trust decide not to take the gifted 2 points kick at goal, instead we turn it over during the tackle set. Game right there could of been won.
There are many additional aspects to this game we could go on about the last play of regular time - We put the bomb up and the storm getting possession actually run behind their own player and pass it making ground. A certain shepherd in the old days a penalty 40m out for Moses to attempt a kick - or take it further Munster is tackled on the ground on his back and is allowed to sit up and throw a pass referee Klein allows play to continue. That's a penalty every day of the week - not given. Another chance missed.
We could single out some well-paid players that went AWOL some were on the paddock and some were not. 🤐
This was a hard, tough game that had plenty of rust attached to it. I hope the boys get into it at training because we had numerous opportunities last night to win that game. The difference in the end came down to a man that last night oozed class, game awareness and without any doubt stood up and put his team mates first. He showed what it means to be earning that $1m pay cheque, not just getting paid it, he deserves the tag x-factor, marquee player or whatever tag describes a winner. He was the real difference last night. I just wished we had someone like Cameron Munster playing for our team.
Replies
Good summary of the game, exactly how I seen it.
Even allowing for the blast refereeing it's a game we should have won. Our halves were very poor but other than that on a whole I thought we were pretty impressive.
We have a lot to work with no doubt - Our 5/8 was literally Awol in attack, perhaps something was amiss, he did cop a head knock early, and we didnt carry any backs on our bench. Cartwright i think ended up at left centre for a while after loosing Lume. but there were so many oppurtunities to ice that game, and our well paid brains trust failed to capitalise. Shame really it may be 2 points that we will rue at the end of the season. Certainly 2 points that got away from us.
It's a good blog BE. Your a devotee of BA, send this to him. He's the bloke being paid massive coin to address and correct these problems. Don't hold your breath.
Yeah I think BA has let the ball drop here. Early days of course and a lot of boys playing that might not play when all hands are on deck.
They are also learning a new attacking scheme with a new hooker, let's get to round 10 or so before judging.
I think we have players to win the game BE, they just did not seem prepared for it.
You get the impression that Storm came with a plan, no.11 Ketoa? was on a mission to stop Moses and most certainly unsettled him, Moses needs to expect this.
The play the ball speed is obvious in some ways but not in others, i.e. you could argue that slowing the play the ball to some extent may have given you a rest in the conditions i.e. India/Aust Test cricket, the Indian's play to the conditions i..e. 2's instead of three's conservatism in not rushing....you may have noticed in this current Test Australia slowed down considerably rather than trying to blow them of the park....just saying there may have been a method in the madness as Melb slowed the ruck and most definitely did not get frantic like we did (dud).
Finally the Elephant is in the room and I would like to see more discussion and opinion, Hodgson was Parra's playmaker last night, was it deliberate i.e. BA plan, he seemed to overcall Moses on occasions who looked bewildered when he did get it as I sensed he was not prepared i.e. set play's were done at Hodgson's whim and yes he needs to make decisions outside of his half's expectations. I thought it was bad positioning and understanding between them. Brown is not a play maker but last night I am not sure what he was. I would have preffered him to be closer to the ruck and linking with Moses.....
Question for BEM who is a renowed critic of Hodgson and did say he overcalled his halves at Canberra ......you maybe right BEM but Hodgson's general game was very good, his service slick (i don't know how long before thay catch up with his forward passes? His pass to Junior was Cameron Smith quality and I thought his defence was excellent, have not seen his stats, but in the middle with 3 defenders he might be classed as missing a few, but no damage done.
Other thing was Cartwright stepped up and had a good game but essentially is just a bench player and not a match winner like we would like him to be. Missed a tackle badly near the end which cost us.
Throw Matto and Lane backin and using Doorey and Murchie as benches looks strong, I though Greig made an input but could not judge his defence.....where do people feel we lost the middle when Paulo and RCG were off, anyone notice the specifics?
Perhaps Pops in regards to the ball play speed giving you a rest, but i cant help thinking we missed something here. Storm last night were very well drilled in causing interferance in the play the ball that the ref lets slide, it allowed them to set their defensive line time and time again, we dont employ those tactics. Another aspect did anyone notice that when we put our downtown kicks in the storm on masse get in the way of our chasers. I saw numerous times Storm changed direction walked backwards to 1. slow the chasers and 2. like a block play they got in the way of the ball running back impeding our defenders. They gained ground and momentum and a quick play the ball off it as well. Take it another step further to the next 2 plays and the storm stay in our defensive line causing all types of havoc with our line and line speed. They are well coached in this aspect of the game and it showed in ball play speed at the end of the night. If you add it up 1 extra second every tackle . We made 337 tackles we allowed them nearly 6 minutes extra of quicker time to break our line and minimise our defensive structures during the whole game.
Go the other way we are a second slower playing the ball for our "404 play the balls" times meaning we have given them nearly an extra 7 minutes to set their line in a game.
Probably some is and some is not in the rules, but to compete like that and change the game i feel we are missing an oppurtunity to do likewise. I know you dont like the stats and thats cool, but it is really important we slow the opposition down legal like and we find a way to be quicker our selves it does make a huge difference in finding holes and non aligned defensive structures.
Its important to note that our two best In this regard Hopgood and Momisea are from other systems. I get the feeling our coaching staff are missing something in play the ball speed here that other systems are mastering, and the advantage is huge over the whole game.
You can not slow the opposition down legal you either cheat or don't cheat. It is the ref job to deal with the cheating.
See Speech I think you can im not talking about the out and out cheating tactics, but the subtle way of rolling over a bit slower, crowding the play the ball just that right amount. Getting your arms into positions that get caught up on the way up taking time to untangle, rolling players crooked or onto their back during the tackle. There are real hard working ways to do it legal, but you have to have a mindset to do it and not be penalised. Cheating - mmmm Maybe, Gamesmanship - Certainly, Advantageous - without doubt.
There's gamesmanship then there's blatant cheating. The number of times that a storm player looked at the ref to see when he calls release did my head in. I find Parra are to nice a team and play to the rules. Unfortunately whenever we're pushing the boundaries we get pinged and go back in our shell. How many times have we been penalised in the 1st 2 sets of a game over the years. The commentary teams bring it up all the time that we're not disciplined and bang the ref obliges.
If our average play the ball was nearly 4 seconds, that means with hopgood under 3, some tackles were taking 4 1/2-5 seconds to clear. That's just taking the piss.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 9 Next