Watmough slams Eels' lazy defence

Parramatta forward Anthony Watmough has called his teammates out after their shaky defence has given up almost 200 points through the first eight rounds.Source: AAP6 MAY 2015 - 4:54 AM UPDATED 5 HOURS AGO0Parramatta star Anthony Watmough has slammed his team's defensive attitude after giving up almost 200 points through the first eight rounds of the NRL season.Ahead of Sunday's clash against 3rd-placed Melbourne, the Eels languish in 15th spot and have conceded a competition-high 199 points.While Watmough was confident in the side's ability to post points, he admonished the side for being lazy in defence."We're just not working hard enough for each other," he said."We can put a hit on. We know we can say, `We can do this, we can do that'. But until we start doing it as a unit, then those little chinks in our armour are going to appear in defence."We've got to get our attitude right. That's probably the big thing: attitude in defence. You've got to want to do it for your mate, you've got to want to be there."But we're probably just that little bit off, and that's the only difference between teams winning and teams losing."The high-profile recruit has been openly critical of his individual form since shifting from Manly over the summer, and admits he still isn't where he wants to be at this stage of the season.But on Tuesday Watmough let fly on his teammates, who have given up almost 20 points more than any other team thus far."We'll be sitting up a lot higher if we defended a bit better and you will be going, `You're a genius. You move to a club and you are coming second or third'," he said."But we've let ourselves down in defence across the park. I'm not singling out anyone but saying just in general, we're the best attacking team but the worst defensive team."We've got to have a hard look at that."Watmough was omitted from the Kangaroos side that was defeated by New Zealand last weekend, and was rested for the City Country fixture in Wagga Wagga.Blues coach Laurie Daley picks his team for Game I on Sunday week, however Watmough says he remains focused on helping Parramatta push up the ladder."I'll wait for when and if that phone call comes. I'm not going to look too far ahead and I'm not going to read into it too much. We've got a few weeks to go before things start to get really serious there," he said.Watmough played the first two games of last year's breakthrough series win, but faces a tough task getting a recall with Daley saying age will be a factor at the selection table for the upcoming series."Look, it's totally up to them. We might be getting old, but we've done some amazing things together over the years," he said."If they look in a new direction, they look in a new direction."Who am I to question what they want to do? That's their plan. If they've got a plan to go with youth, then good on them."

"I love Twidle, you can just tell he is not a robotic NRL player, he plays with instincts. Not saying he is Munster, but Munster plays the same. Apa gets the ball, looks to see what is infront of him and says "Let's try this". That can be dangerous…"

"Iongi
Samrani
Simonsson
Penisini
Russell
Pezet
Moses
Williams
Smith
Moretti
Kautoga
Guymer
Doorey
Walker
Paulo
Tuivaiti
Latu if Ryles thinks he is ready
Izack Tago if we get him
Twidle

I thought I posted this earlier including explanations but…"

"I think the team should just try and focused on completing their sets and be aware of the NRLbias against them. It will be hard, I know, but hipefully they can make 'clean' tackles and find a way of controlling the ruck. Our forwards should be…"

Replies

Carl May 6, 2015 at 10:52am

Watmough can't talk he's been useless this year!!

Off topic saw that Robert Lui is on the outer at the cowboys, three Sydney clubs are after him, do we sign him yes or no?
- 1ee > Carl May 6, 2015 at 11:02am
  
  Haha fair enough.
- Steve > Carl May 6, 2015 at 11:38am
  
  Yes off topic but no way. This scumbag have been convicted twice of assaulting his wife and in the last instant kicked her in the stomach whilst she was pregnant. He is a dead set disgrace and should not be anywhere near the NRL let alone the Eels.
Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 May 6, 2015 at 11:01am

Choc 4 Captain!!
FME May 6, 2015 at 11:12am

How about leading by example choc. The last piece of defence choc was asked to perform was on Milford at the back end of the Broncos game and we all saw his desperation in defence there. Talk about lazy in defence.
- Carloeel > FME May 6, 2015 at 11:38am
  
  Totally. It's origin time , of course he is going to make tough statements so he is kept in the picture...
- michael picklum > FME May 6, 2015 at 1:26pm
  
  Very true FME, that was really an inept display, poor effort & lack of commitment. Choc needs to pull the finger out himself before blaming others even though he is obviously correct re our defence. He needs to lead by example.
macybrown May 6, 2015 at 12:08pm

...well after more recent games, it would have to be the 'do as I say' rather than 'say as I do' style captain surely.
jamie May 6, 2015 at 12:17pm

Pot and kettle spring to mind
steve mkd May 6, 2015 at 1:29pm

He was the laziest against the broncos

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