Despite many criticisms being thrown at Josh Hodgson, I’ve been fairly supportive of his recruitment and selection in the starting side.
He’s a different type of hooker to the one the Eels have generally used in recent years, particularly when compared with Reed Mahoney.
Mahoney is a quick service with the odd run. Hodgson likes to scheme, attract defenders and position his teammates.
I like that in a hooker. Considering Brad Arthur likes to play a collision based game, having a hooker who can isolate Junior Paulo onto a smaller opponent pays dividends.
But I also think the Eels are still working out how to play with a scheming dummy half.
Case in point against the Titans, Hodgson recognised the Gold Coast were short on their right edge close to the line and took off down the short side. Shaun Lane and Parramatta’s left edge weren’t prepared because the ball had been called to the right.
With Lane caught flat footed he had to submit in the tackle, whereas if he was alive to the play he’s either crashing through a hole in the defensive line or causing panic in the Titans’ defensive right edge and the Eels are likely scoring out wide.
His defence is also a concern. We all know he isn’t an 80 minute hooker and Hands playing regular minutes is testament to that.
He also tends to hit but not stick. He’s not the speed bump Mahoney was but he needs to be better when leading the defensive line.
A simple solution is to start Brendan Hands who is clearly the future first grade hooker.
He’s a simpler style of hooker and his first service is more akin to that of Mahoney, which better suits Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown.
Arthur could then utilise Hodgson off the bench against tiring middles where his scheming and ability to isolate defenders becomes even more deadly while he himself is fresh and more capable of defending.
This brings me to change number two.
Despite his strong start to the year, I like the idea of Bryce Cartwright getting meaningful minutes off the bench.
One of Parramatta’s clear issues in recent seasons has been a lack of game breaking ability coming off the bench.
Cartwright changed the complexion of the match against the Titans and seems to have the maturity in his game now to pick and choose his moments.
Having Cartwright and Matterson coming off the bench gives the Eels a massive boost in being able to use the football against tiring defenders.
I’m surprised Doorey hasn’t been returned to starting on the right edge. He’s a run hard, tackle harder back rower. Almost the archetypal Brad Arthur selection.
Doorey was impressive at the start of the season until he picked up an unfortunate injury but given he rode the pine against the Knights, it’s surely time he is installed in the number 12 jersey.
In many ways, Arthur sets his starting side up like an 18th century battle ship. He’s ready to trade broadsides with the opposition with the belief he both outmans and outguns the opposition, but his side doesn’t have the armour or the speed to prevent a devastating stern strike that sinks them fast.
The greatest mistake Arthur could make would be wholesale team changes, but he’s not that type of coach.
What he could be doing better though is tinkering with his side in search of a more defensively capable side.
At the end of the day, the Eels have been struggling to contain points. They have scored more than enough points to beat the Titans, Manly, Roosters and Cronulla.
If you’re scoring 20 points, your defence should be good enough to get the win.
The Eels have the fourth best attacking stats in the competition. Which is a notable improvement on last year, where they ranked eighth.
But they are only the 11th best defensive side, compared to eighth last season.
Premiership contenders are in the top four for both stats.
This could all be a waste of time as a discussion point.
Souths had a similarly poor defensive start last season, at one stage conceding 50 points, before pulling themselves together during the Origin period and sailing into the finals.
We can only hope Parramatta manage something similar.
Replies
Agreed Hodgson needs to be benched. If he can only be effective for 40 minutes, make it the final 40 minutes.
Davey over Carty (following a career game in eels colours) was a massive coaching blunder. No idea why he trusts Davey so highly when he wasn't trusted at the bulldogs to start or even on the bench, and both Doorey and Carty have played better than Davey has this year.
At what point can you blame a coach for the loss? Dunster over Russell and Davey over competition are head scratching choices for any coach. We very will win that game with a few small adjustments.
Even BA taking Matterson off in the second half when we had momentum only to put Greig back on then go back to Matto 10 minutes later halted our momentum and lost us the game.
BA is ultimately responsible for the loss and the 4-6 start to the season. He picks the team. He's in charge of the bench and the defence. He needs to be accountable.
Josh Hodgson used to be a fine player and a Datsun 120Y was a decent car but things change. Now they're both just old and slow. This isn't a new spine, if such an experienced player can't fit in and gel by round ten then it's never going to happen
A Datsun 120y was never a good car.
Haha - yes the 180B was far better!
Look at our hookers since BA started in 2014.
Nathan Peats
Isaac De Gois
Kaysa Pritchard
Cameron King
Reed Mahoney
Josh Hodgson
Brendan Hands
Hodgson is by far the most different out of them, practically another half. Peats had more running in his game but was not a BA signing though i think BA was pleased to have him. The rest all had great work rates but no real playmaking in their game. Only Hodgson and Mahoney showed any skill of playmaking and BA prefers that as he likes Hookers to get the ball to the halves and feed the forwards to set up our halves.
Does it work? Sort of but the NRL and the Hooker position is evolving every year, Hodgson was a step in the right direction in the attempt. Brendan Hands seems to be in mold of a traditional BA Hooker. Matt Arthur do not know what he is like but could be a bit of both.
Matt has a bit more ball playing but still obviously very raw.
Hands has spent time in the halves so obviously has ball playing and kicking skills but seems to be keeping it very simple for now. I anticipate we'll see Hodgson's game time decrease as the season goes on.
Josh is done
The hooker can't tackle
If Josh is done so are some of our fans because some haven't got a clue what there talking about.
You are right but some fans have dug themselves in so deep with their Hodgson loveathon that they refuse to admit that they were wrong.
He was a bad signing and the proof is there for all to see.
I thought he would too I was very wrong. I thought he would be the point of difference. He wasn't. So it's same ol' same ol' for the rest of the season.
-
1
-
2
of 2 Next