The match against our old rivals was truly a match worthy of being televised. Despite all our off field distractions Ch 9 continues to televise us because of the quality of football we play.
However, in saying that, the last few matches has proved to me that we need a slight change of mindset regarding our roster next year. Ignoring our missing personnel we have been basically ineffective in the second halves of recent matches, having long periods of making endless tackles and having little impact in making ground. Yet again yesterday we were stuck in our half for most of the second half unable to get out. It proves to me that we need bigger, hard headed forwards, to bend the line and dominate the opposition. The addition of Vave(?) is a step in the right direction but we need at least another similar forward.
With Foran gone we were all wondering who we could get to partner Norman (hopefully still with us next year). Yesterday proved that perhaps we already have him. Gutherson again proved what a quality player we have in him. From starting off shakily in the first few matches as a winger he has played fullback, centre and 5/8th slotting into those positions smoothly and playing a high quality game. Yesterday it looked like he had found his natural position, putting on a highly polished performance belying his very limited time ever playing in that position.
Yesterday also proved that Scott is NOT a centre anymore. Overall his performance yesterday was poor, his poorest match of the season for us, and he has been one of our best players. BA just has to be more proactive. I saw the problem with Scott before the last 2 trys were scored by Penrith and was yelling 'hook him off'. His running out of the line tackling no-one and leaving his winger stuck in no man's land defending a 2 on 1 was quite obvious. He had to shift Scott before we lost the match, if I could see it (and I am definitely NOT a coach), he also had to have seen it!
Regarding our current centre problem surely we have someone in the lower grades that could be promoted. Ma'u was exposed 2 weeks ago by his lack of speed and Scott yesterday by very poor play.
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I'm not exactly sure what side you've been watching this year. Our second halves have been much improved in comparison to previous years and have been the defining factor in a lot of our wins this season. You can't use last nights loss as a sudden push that our second halves are flawed.
We completed our sets in the first half, where as the first 4-5 times we touched the ball in the second half, we dropped in within our 40m. That is where the turning point was, irregardless of Scott defending in the centres, we gave Panthers the opportunity for those points due to our own errors. Nothing to do with our go-forward.
Look back at all our games since the 2nd Manly game and you will see the same thing. In the last 40 minutes we have been stuck in our own half, yes poor ball control has been our downfall, but to me that has come about because we have been tired. Our smaller forwards put so much effort into first 40 minutes and are tired in second half leading to dropped balls. Same thing happened last year as well. Bigger forwards dominating would mean less effort needed by our smaller forwards.
I thought Mannah and Alvaro took the ball up very well in the first half and was why we were up near their tryline for most of the first half. We dropped the ball in crucial positions in the second half when Mannah / Alvaro weren't on the field. Tim played with a lot of aggression and it was good to see - he almost looked angry on the field! The forwards were probably tiring also due to the extra workload and higher bench turnover with injuries.
Agree that we need to get some centres into the team. Playing forwards there is not the solution. It's a pity we don't have Morgan as he would slot right in nicely.
Glenn, the issue as I saw it was a very poor completion rate in the second half and for some reason Robo's kicking wasnt as good in the second half.
Flash missing 3 conversions didnt help anf neither di the problems we all know about.
But somehow unlike previous years we were still in with a chance.
Vave will be good and hopefully Rory can step up. He was a bit soft yesterday.
I put yesterdays loss down to just one of those days when things dont quite go your way.
TBUR. Outside of the players being out of position, the sad part really was the off day with the boot from Gordon, its the 2nd game this year that he's had such a game, three misses albeit from difficult positions, yet a teenager on the Panthers side kicked from similar positions & only missed one.
I also do not understand why we do not take gimme penalty shots when in front of the posts, eels attacked the panthers line & had penalties, which could have made a difference.
Scott's poor reads, were definitely a problem, & why put him there when Edwards may have been a better option in that spot or switch Gutho back there with Edwards at 6.
Panthers did what the eels did in the first half, blitzed the eels, which they would have known was going to come, the teams mentality though is that they can still win from behind which they nearly did, & I for one did not agree with the dissalowed try due to the decoy runner affecting the panthers defence, it was perhaps the quickest decision from the bunker I have seen this year.
The ref was on the spot but the touch judge picked it & reported to the ref, amazing that they could see that & not several other areas.
Still it was a top game, & while the scores were not in our favor, it was all but on par with the win against the chickens.
The biggest lesson from the game is that we have to ask is who is going to kick next year? & even for the rest of this year.
He has potential. The dropped ball was at a crucial time and had me throwing my hands in the air.
He doesnt appear to have much aggression. I hope BA can get some real aggression into his play.
There's pride in that Jersey. Not many sides have what the Eels do.
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