Against, the Sharks we played without Jarryd Hayne. We've never won a match in the last two seasons without Jarryd. We rely on him for so much, when you take him out, we're left with a gaping hole we've not yet learnt how to fill. The same as you wouldn't write off a Tigers team playing without Benji Marshall or a Broncos side without Lockyer, you just can't read anything into an Eels performance without Jarryd Hayne.
This Friday night, we had two key men Hayne and Tahu on short backups. We lost our most influential forward Nathan Hindmarsh in the warm up. And regardless of the circumstances that led to Eric Grothe not playing, it also meant another team member called into the side at late notice. Young Jono Wright had an unhappy night but thats the kind of thing that happens when you call a young player into the side at late notice.
So two games with terrible lead ups and circumstances. Prior to that, with more reasonable circumstances, we won four straight including victories over Souths and Manly.
Folks, these are not circumstances to cut your wrists over. We're not halfway through the season, we remain in the eight and we've hardly got out of second gear.
So before you go rushing to sack any player or even the coach, realise we've had to chop and change a lot over the past fortnight. Realise, we've had important players missing. Take a look at opposition teams like the Tigers who have also gone like busted arses one week and then put fifty on a side the next. This is the vagaries of the NRL, especially during Origin season.
And then cast your mind back a few weeks and keep in mind this:
Daniel Mortimer and Kris Keating were building a promising combination. With players like Jarryd Hayne and Feleti Mateo in the side, these two don't have to be world beaters - we showed last year with the Robson/Mortimer combination we can beat most teams without having dominant halves. But Daniel Mortimer has been getting better at seven every week. He is a long-term project for the Eels and we have to let him grow into the role of a true half back.
Three weeks ago, Kris Keating was man of the match against the Bulldogs and then was impressive at rep level before copping an injury. He is playing outside of a halfback still learning his trade and over the past two weeks has played in a side lacking energy and bodies in motion. Kris is also learning to play consistently in the NRL but he has proven in games like the Bulldogs match and in the City game that he is a fine five-eighth (and in the NRL that is primarily a supporting role).
The quality of our second-phase play has dropped off noticeably in the past two weeks. The right players haven't been throwing the right passes in the right circumstances. That's got a lot more to do with the reason we haven't been scoring points than the inability of our halves. We just haven't been getting a decent roll forward and no team scores points without that happening.
Daniel Anderson last year proved his ability to get this side working and I retain great faith in our coach and the fact that ultimately this team will pull together and give our great leader Nathan Cayless the best possible opportunity to go out as a Premiership winning captain.
You don't build a premiership winning team by panicking over losses that come in less-than-ideal circumstances in May - you stick with the players who have the talent to grow into the role needed of them come September and concentrate on gradual improvement that culminates at finals time. If you take a look at Melbourne last year and the rough patch they had as they blooded new players to fill gaps in their roster, you'll see how its done.
The sky isn't falling. Sure, there has been a few storm clouds overhead but they invariably pass and blue sky prevails again. As long as its a bright, sunny afternoon come Grand Final day, none of this crap will matter.
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If I'm way off track, then good, I'd be happy to know it.
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