I am not too worried by this loss today as we have a few decent players to come into our side who will make a difference to our finals chances but it high lights what the Eels major issues are in being real contenders.
1. The Eels do not have anywhere near a good enough forward pack to mach it with the other possible top 8 teams let alone any real premiership contender teams. As soon as another team's forward pack shows the slightest bit of mongrel and gets ontop of ours, the Eels forwards turn to water.It's easy to play like a champion when your team is winning but real champions play like such even when they aren't winning which the Eels forwards don't.
We have one ok Prop and a few run of the mill Props. One ok prop will never win a Premiership and until this is fixed we will stay exactly where we are.The Eels need to be going for big line breaking, off loading type forwards, we have enough work horses and don't need any more.
We also have nothing more than ok second rowers, not one decent one. Mau is decent in attack on his day but defensively he isn't great and Lane and Niukore are ok but not great. Both still need to develop their games mainly in consistency. Until they become more consistent the Eels will again stay exactly where we are.
The forwards is where the Eels desperately need some firepower and is where they should be getting ready to spend their available cap space. That along with upgrading D. Brown's contract should be the Eels main priority.
2. The Eels need both Moses and D. Brown to be able to lead our troops to a victory from of a loosing position. Both but moreso Moses are confidence players and play well when the team is playing well but don't play all that well when the team isn't. As said previously in this blog, it's easy to play like a champion when you're winning but only champions play like champions even when they are losing and can regularly inspire their team to a victory from adversity. Gutho also can be throw into this as he is our Captain and can go missing when the chips are down.
3. Game management seriously needs to be addressed and I will start with the forwards. This one out bullshit that they contiune to do when it is obvious they don't have the muscle to outmatch the oppositions forwards needs to stop. Time and time again it is obvious the Eels don't have the firepower to match it but they persist with one out from the ruck, get monstered, pushed back and completely tirer themselves out doing it. If you can't beat someone with brawn, then it's time to play smart and use your brain. Maybe I am asking a little too much of a forward pack when I say this?
When the chips are down and the Eels can't win the battle of the forwards with muscle, then hit, spin and offload needs to be considered or running in numbers and offloading close to the line. I know this is risky and can easily go wrong, but when you are down by 20 and can't get over your own 40m line, something has to give. You're losing anyway so why not throw caution to the wind and just play some footy?
Now is also when Moses, Mahoney and D. Brown need to kick our team out of trouble. Moses did a sweet 40/20 when we where going no where and that needs to be looked at way more often. If our forwards are getting smashed and now also obviously tiring, kick early in the count and aim for the side line or just deep into a corner where the fullback has no one but himself to try to deal with it. Having our forwards completely gassed because they are getting pumlled and runing never ending suicides can only lead to what has been happening all to often. The Eels are losing the ruck because the forwards are completely buggerd. Kick early, put it over the sideline slows the game right down and give our forwards a rest, even if it's on the oppositions 30 or 40m mark. A scrum has to be set and a defensive line can be set. Kick early and simply put it near the oppositions try line. That will make the oppositions forwards have to run just to get back onside and leave only their backs to do all the work. In defence, you have to individually get back onside, in attack your own players can run you onside. Play smart and make the oppositions forwards run and give ours a chance to catch their breath.
The Eels still really lack someone who can take control of a game and lead our team.
4. Very little backing up players with the ball and I have said this in many blog previously. Get the team to watch the 09 highlights and see the team all moving up together and playing eyes up football/hot potato football. The Eels are much better at playing what is in front of them than structured football and have been that way for a long time. With so many Polynesians in our team who are eyes up players, we need to play to our strengths. That is not a go at them and the way they play either, I love that kind of football and it reminds me of the way the Windies played cricket back in the day (Calypso cricket).
It's not all doom and gloom though as when Peni, Mennings, Fergo and Waqa are in our side we will have a lot more strike on the field, particuparly out wide. The forwards will remain a problem but that cant but assisted with some smart kicking by halves and hooker.
The Eels should make the 8 but won't play more than one game of finals football unless they have a good look at what works and what doesn't. No individual has ever won the premiership but a few teams have. Play like a team and you might just win.
Replies
All Good and valid points.
We are never as good as people say we are when we win and today we aren’t as bad as people are saying. We lost the ruck today but there were still good signs. The way we hung in and didn’t let them run away with it shows we are a way better team than last year. D Brown was good and Parry looks a gooden. Manly had a roll on and we couldn’t stop them for 20 minutes but for the rest of the game considering the possession count we did ok. We will be back! Take a deep breath
Lane has been our most consistent player this year he isn’t an X factor but he is solid
Don’t think Gutho has the necessary qualities to ba a captain of our team . He is a good player not elite. We need a captain that can manage a game through the ebbs and flows and constant momentum swings .
Ourt team fails to control teams that play up tempo , direct and set plays that attack either side of the posts . Once we have bodies not plugging the Ruck all hell breaks loose. There was some rumour circulating that we are trying to snare Prior from the sharks . Like Gower he has late footwork near the line . Love to have him
We are going better than we expected this year but against the better sides, better coached sides we get found out pretty easily. I think the priorities for the club should be
1 sack kidwell 4th worst defence in the comp.
2 sign a top tier prop
3 extend d browns contract.
4 get a halves coach for dylan brown , Moses and salmon.
Well said
Missing Fergo today showed how important he is to the side. When he runs on kick returns or 2nd tackle he give us momentum and help the fowards, so as pointed out when he returns and we add Waqa we will definitely be a lot stronger.
Another thing you didn't address which continues to be major eels weakness is the stupid errors and soft penalties. Most of their tries came after an error or penalty. Even the best foward pack would struggle under the pressure they are constantly put under. I disagree that we need a block busting front rower. We need a good defensive foward as our backs are big enough to help in the attacking side and making metres but our ruck defence is what allows opposition to get on the front foot which means we fatigue quickly as a team. Address our defence and better attack will follow.
Even if we address these issues I think the biggest thing we are missing is an attacking player who can create something from nothing like Tedesco, Latrell Mitchell, Munster, Hodgson, Trbojevic or Cook. It is no coincidence that the top teams have players who can single handedly win them the game. The marquee players are often what turn momentum with a moment of brilliance and as much as I love Gutho he is an effort player who seizes opportunities, he doesn't create opportunities like the other players. Moses although improving also doesnt create something from nothing as he needs good momentum and everything going right to shine. For that reason we will remain behind those sides unless we have a bit of luck go our way in the game.
Agree FM. There were some simple areas where we really failed in today, to me the ball handling was mediocre yet our first two tries showed players who chased and scored very much opportunist tries, with clever reads and action in getting their mits onto the ball. The worst thing is the lack of any sense play by Hoffman, closely followed by the bombed try by DBrown who had two support players with him as he busted the defence, he could have passed the ball to one of the support players who would have scored under the post.
One thing I find annoying with NBrown is the way he begins his runs, its more a shimmy or something as it reminds me of someone with too short legs, his running steps are close together whereas those who run with long strides can cover more ground also adjust their running directions easier. He needs to have more power in his run ups rather than just when he hits the defence.
Agree tad Brown did look good when he ran today and his combo with Lane could be a strong weapon in coming years if they stay healthy. Shame brown didn't pass after his break but the support looked like they were covered by defence anyway.
As for Evans he returned to last year's form after a few good weeks but all our fowards except Gower only seem to offload late when standing in a tackle. We need someone who can offer quick offloads when they are bursting through the line onto a moving player in support, not a flat footed Mahoney or Guth who are waiting for the play the ball.
ATTITUDE!!!
As simple as that. Roster is good enough (could be better as most could be) attitude isn't..
Talent is secondary to attitude. Melbourne dominated for a decade with a big 3.its not basketball in a 13 a side game you need attitude of winner by all players and across the board. But they have attitude. Similar to the sharks, Roosters etc
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