Eels Blogs

The right choice.

Posted by Buzz Man on September 3, 2010 at 11:18am

I have said it often and still believe that our attitude and mungril down the middle has been poor.

With the way Parra has been recuiting over the past 2 years inc (Poore, Shacks, Afu, Webb, Maitua,and the rest..) i think they see the same problem i do, and are trying to get it right.

With no disrespect to Caylo (true leader), and Mateo (the magician). The timing cant be better for both to be leaving Parra by the end of the 2010 season.

It's about time the club wakes up, and see that the real problem is that we dont dominate oppositions down the middle, and dont have enough go forward when needed. If we can manage to keep a little flair in our forwards, but increase the grunt. Then I think we are looking good for 2011, as long as Webb and Maitua make a committed return.

I think our missing link between the forwards and the backs now is the no.9 position. Get a good dummyhalf and im sure we can look much more fluent in 2011.

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Replies

Bourbon Man September 3, 2010 at 11:46am

Nope, 9 isn't the problem. Apart from the Souths game, our forwards have been dominating opposing packs and we've had great go-forward this year - more so than in any previous year I can remember.

What we're missing is a genuine playmaker who has a high quality kicking game!
playthedoors September 3, 2010 at 12:50pm

Here here. Genuine playmakers are hard to come by. It's why you have to take a punt sometimes and sign someone up to a 2 or 3 year deal when you may prefer to only sign them up for a year. Our problem is that we've generally taken the wrong punt for the last 20 years. Look at us in 2001 when we had a halfback who could steer us around the park. I'm not a massive Jason Taylor fan, but he did a great job that year and he enabled Brad Drew to play his role to perfection. Coupled with a genuine football brain in Jason Smith and it was dynamite to watch. We really are a quality playmaker away from having a very good side in 2011, but without one we will again rely on Hayne's individual brilliance.
Brett Khan September 3, 2010 at 12:52pm

Sorry Bourbon Man, I'm new to this site and don't want to start arguments, BUT isn't No. 9 supposed to be a playmaker with a good kicking game as it is in most other teams.
I think Anthony Mitchell is in for a big year next year (though I don't know if he has a kicking game) but unfortunately Matt Keating just hasn't performed this year and no. 9 MUST be in form for a side to be successful (no disrespect intended).
1Eyed Eel September 3, 2010 at 2:10pm

The one thing I keep coming back to - it's balance.

You have a strong playmaking number nine - you can get away with a weaker half, who predominantly kicks and distributes. If you have a tackling nine, you need a very strong playmaker at seven. We have had a tackling nine and a seven who isn't a playmaker, so its not really any wonder why it didn't work.

I love the Tiger's balance they have now. Farrah playmaking at nine, Lui providing good support at seven and Benji doing his stuff at six. If they hadn't of lost Moltzen who could have brought them a bit of variety playing from the back, to me they would have the best spine in the competition.
Adam Clarke September 3, 2010 at 2:19pm

How does this spine look;

1. Hayne
6. Morts
7. Quade
9. Mitchell

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm................................

I like the Roosters spine and probably the Titans as well. Tigers is also good because Lui is getting it done but we will see how he goes in the big games.

If we get the above spine and it clicks which it should WOW then we are talking premiership threat.

I think we all got tricked with;

1. Hayne
6. K Keating
7. Morts
9. MK

Not being disrespectful but that spine can not compete with the rest of the comp.
Brett Khan September 3, 2010 at 2:36pm

Hayne, Morts, Quade, Mitchell = classy spine

But does anyone know where we stand with Quade at the moment?
I hope we get him as he has a junior League background and organisational skills better than most halves in the NRL (doesn't take much to learn to tackle again if he has the background.)
- Ricky > Brett Khan September 3, 2010 at 6:20pm
  
  Not sure if you were here when I said it BK, but the latest and strongest Quade rumour, and the one that seems to be most believable by all accounts, is that he has all but signed with the Eels for 2011, and that he is set to announce it upon the completion of the Tri-Nations.
  
  As I have also said before, whilst I was told this, I still intend to treat it with a grain of salt, as we've seen too many times what rumoured signings turn out to be, and that is a dud.
  - LegendTHECROWEELS > Ricky September 3, 2010 at 6:27pm
    
    With you on that Ricky. Wait till its in the news then we can believe.
    - Ricky > LegendTHECROWEELS September 3, 2010 at 6:44pm
      
      Too right.
      I mean, I know someone might attempt to call me a hypocrite or something of the sort in an indirect nature, seeing as I was the one that initially posted the latest rumour, but I even told the guy that told me, that until I see it on the news, or confirmed by the club with my own eyes, that I'll tread lightly on the subject matter and will be reluctant to actually believe it until it's out there.
  - postcard > Ricky September 3, 2010 at 6:32pm
    
    i'd love him to come here Ricky but there was an article in the sunday mail up here a week or so ago that said he was staying up here to be with his girl Steph Rice.