To start of, like everyone else I am shattered that the Eels didn't win and went out the way they did, but if I look back at the season and how inconsistent they were over 2022, the result was to be expected. I am still super proud of them for making the Grand Final and if I am being honest, I don't think there is a team in the League that can come close to beating the Panthers when they are on (They were on last night). The saddest part is I think the Panthers are going to go on a Storm like run over the next decade, and it burns me to say that.
So lets start with the Grand Final and what I observed (I was at the game).
From the very first hit up, the Eels body language didn't look right and I had a bad feeling straight after seing that. I am not going to say that the boys didn't try, they absolutely did, but they just weren't mentally tough enough and this is something that has been an ongoing issue. One week they are world beaters and the next, deers caught in headlights. This is what it looked like last night and that is somewhat fair enough. Very few people will ever make a Grand Final, let alone win one, and even less at the elite level where it is truely the best of the best. Plenty of members will say "They are elite players and need to be able to handle that" but many of the Greatest players through out Rugby League history/sporting history have admitted to being overwhelmed in their first ever Grand Final and many of them lost their first one before going on to win one. All the boys tried their hearts out but a truely great side won (Again, that really burns me to say that).
The Eels were very predictable with all their plays (other than the last few minutes of the game) and the Panthers read them like a book, bearly breaking a sweat in combatting that and because of that, the result was very predictable and that is why most were saying it was going to be an easy win for the Panthers. Like just about every other Eels supporter, I thought they were going to have egg of their face but in the end I was the one who was wrong and have egg on mine. I showed just how much of a true 1EYEDEEL supporter I am and I am not ashamed of that. I am actually proud of that and luckily I like egg.
The season that was (2022).
Pretty easy to sum it up; Inconsistent. Moments of greatness followed up with moments of really ordinary and that will never win a Grand Final. The end.
So here are some things I think the Eels coaching staff and the board need to consider;
#1. Not one player in the Eels side is worth $1M a season. Not one and I say that not to be mean, but to be honest. The $1M price tag is reserved for those that command it and can break a game wide open. Paying that kind of money to players that aren't that capable of doing that (simply to retain them) will likely prevent the Eels from getting a player of that caliber (Short of the Eels developing that kind of talent from within). The Eels need to be ready to let players go if they want that kind of money but can't regulalry play like that kind of money. One step back to take two steps forward, not the other way around. I wouldn't pay Moses, Gutho or D. Brown more that $800-$900K until they can prove they are worth more than that. I really like all three of those players and want them to stay but from a clubs perspective, it just doesn't make good business sense to have that much of our cap ($3M) tied up in 3 players that can't change a game on a regular basis. Integral part of our side, yes. Likely to take a game by it's throat and single handedly win us a premiership, no.
#2. The Eels need to buy, find or develop a game changer/X-factor player because until they do, it is unlikely things will dramaticaly change. The Eels have some really good players, but not one great player. D. Brown could still become that kind of player but it generally comes with age and he is too young to put that on his shoulders and the Eels still need to have a good team around him as one player can't do it all on their own.
#3. Buying a game changer/X-factor player is normally very expensive or near impossible outside of major upheavle at another club, so the most likely outcome is the Eels will need to develop one. For that to happen the Eels desperately need to get their junior develpment pathways fixed. The internal report showed that this is a current problem and their are far too many Eels juniors playing for other clubs. How is it that this is a problem for the Eels but not the Panthers? The Eels have one of the biggest nurseys yet we don't havve the conveyer belt of talented juniors ready to take over from any top grade under performers. This has to be fixed immediately!!!
#4. BA can coach and deserves his place as the Head Coach but his time is running out. The mental edge that the team lacks and has lacked for some time is on him. Not on him as he is to blame for thier lack of it but on him as he is the Coach and getting that fixed is on him. Whether that is getting a sports phsycologist or moving players on I am not sure but that is the head coaches job. That and the fact that the team that he built over 9 years has no game changer/X-factor type player is also on him. Getting a player like that needs to be one of his top priorities as he has two seasons left on his conract and if the team is still fading in and out of season by mid 2024, the Eels need to be ready to go in another direction. I think BA would still have plenty to offer to a struggling club but 11 seasons, no title and being in charge of an inconsistent team isn't good enough at a top club. I want him to achive it with the Eels but the club cannot execpt another ten years of almost but not quite. Getting a club into the finals regularly would normally be considered great work but when the club has the longest GF drought in history, it just isn't good enough. Sad but true.
#5. I think the Eels Wingers might be better suited at other clubs. I think both would kill it over in the Super League but the Eels just cant afford the money they are on for not enough of a return. Waqa is on centre money and Miaka is on good winger money. The Eels don't get anywhere near enough value for money from either of them.
#6. The Eels need to be preparing for RCG, Paulo and Gutho's slow down. They are all still very good players and I am not saying the Eels need to get rid of them, far from it, but they are all in the back end of their careers. It takes years for good Props to develop and both RCG and Paulo will likely start to slow down in their production in the next few years as being a forward is the toughest job going. Both are in the prime of their careers but it doesn't take long for forwards to go from their prime to their decline. Gutho is a freak in terms of fitness and effort but he may have to be moved into the Centre's at some stage due to slowing down. He already isn't all that fast but he is still the best option the Eels have by a long shot and still one of the best Fullbacks in the game, just not one fo the greats.
#7. Lane is good but not that good that he will carry the team. Love the guy and I am glad that he has re-signed but losing Papali'i, Marata, Kafusi and possibly N. Brown leave us pretty short in the Forwards/Backrow. Hopefully Hopgood and some of our local juniors can come in and fill those gaps.
#8. Reed is going to be a loss. Is he the best Rake out there, no but he is a pretty good one and they don't come along regularly. If Hodgson can stay fit then I think the Eels will be fine but if he can't, who is replacing him?
Plenty of other things that need addressing but they are the major ones I see and my thoughts on the season and the GF.
Lets here your thoughts?
Replies
Just forced myself to rewatch the GF again this morning.
Things that stood out for me was the Panthers line speed and slowing the play the ball down. I don't think we got the rub of the green there and we should've employed the same tactics.
Outside of this, in the 2nf half when down 22-0 we started to play our fast up tempo game and started to create some space and opportunities.
1st the SIVO drop over the line after we were on the front foot and then the Bailey Simmonson break killed us off. With a little luck we score off those plays and with momentum who knows. Simmonson should've changed hands with the ball and fended - all good wingers know this and do this.
We might not have won but I think we couldve pushed them and made them nervous.
Also the 2nd To'o try should not have been allowed. Regardless of Moses milking it. Again if it stayed at 18 nil who knows how the game progresses.
In fairness to our boys we had zero rub of the green, zero bounces that went out way and zero help from the officials. Chuck in some poor 1st half tactics and we were always pushing shit up hill. Yes we lost 28-12 but with the help of a second viewing you can see where we lost it and where we could've come back if the gods smiled down on us a bit more...
Anyway there's always 'next year'!!!
We had the opportunity, only 2 teams can make a GF per year and we didn't grab it with two hands, we blew our chance. Worst thing is need to start from the beginning next year and do it all again. It's tough making a GF but it's fcuking tougher winning one.
Eels just need proper coaching to win the ruck. Need to be better in slowing teams down. Our forwards need to be retrained in how they run with the ball. It's no longer a game of post contact metres. It's about not wrestling in tackles, not getting put on your back, it's about quick play the balls to give your halves time to attack a retreating defensive line. The off season must include increasing fitness to allow the team to play up tempo and bring in line speed in defence.
Frank The Tank spot on Frank - Wingers mate - Sivo lost control and Simmonson needed to change hands and he had time to do so; even if he ran a different line rather than going for this play. I was yelling at him to change f en hands and stay infield.....
Our ruck was too slow and as you said we needed to slow them down like they did. The referee allowed this and made Cleary look better with time to kick etc, it was v disappointing that first half and we stuffed it.
Sivo would have scored if he had gone for the corner where his tries are scored the most,also Simmonson should have come infield not running to the sideline,was always going to be taken over sideline.
Or just buy Craig Bellamy.
Dylan Brown can become that X factor player he mad great improvement this year. If we sack BA who is there to replace him?
Cleary admitted that was the best half they played just unlucky it was against us in the GF. Any team was losing. Our team isn't that far off them on pape nthey are just so much fitter that's what it really comes down to
Agree with Brown being a potential X factor but would put him to FB & Guth to 5/8, Brown in broken field with his pace & step could create plenty of spark & make the opposition worry, plus he is a strong defender who can make try saving tackles
Good analysis mate.
I agree with everything you've written apart from no player being worth 1m.
I believe that Moses has carried his halves partner for some years until this year. He does all the kicking and took the line on successfully all year. His defence has been incredible for the past couple of years and he could probably get 1.2m at a struggling club.
I agree that the rest aren't elite players.
After watching Hopgood yesterday, I'm glad we've got him coming, but we do need a strike player.
I believe that Moses is one of, if not, the Eels best players but he can't take control of a game when the team is down and turn it into a victory. He needs to be less predictable when the chips are down and move away from the same end over end bomb at the end of every set and to go to the next level. He needs to spend this off season MASTERING the floater bomb and kicking early when the teams on the back foot.
If the Eels try to buy a strike player then having Moses, Dyl and Gutho on that kind of money makes it impossible without a swap and that is likely what would have to happen for it to occur. Outside of that, the Eels need to develop from within and the club has some issues there.
I am excited by Hopgood as well and hopefully he will take over from Papali'i.
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