Ugly. Gutsy. Jason Ryles called it “special.”
The Eels’ 26-22 victory over the Warriors in Round 26 at Go Media was anything but pretty. For me, it was sublime.
"The way the players fought and hung in. They had 11 of the last 15 sets, and it felt like they were coming...playing for a top four spot," Ryles told us post-game.
Resilience
Statistically, the heavily favorited Warriors owned the contest. Foxsport shows they had 55% possession, 70% territory, and a massive 27-4 advantage in red-zone tackles. They won penalties and restarts 12-5, made more line breaks (5-4), and missed fewer tackles (24 to the Eels’ 44). It meant the Warriors’ were building steamroller-like momentum.
Overcoming Achilles' Heels
Under relentless pressure, the Eels who made almost 400 tackles dug in and found a way a win. They scrambled, hustled, and refused to break. The Eels (14th) even beat the Warriors (4th) at their own game. Symbolically, the Eels made less errors (6-8) and had better completions (31/35 at 91% vs 36/44 at 81%), beating the Warriors (best completions, least errors per game in the NRL) at their own game (nrl.com). Errors and poor completions (fourth-worst for both, nrl.com) have been the Eels' Achilles' heel all year. Plus, they iced many of their chances often against the run of play. It kept them in the game.
Kaizen
The turnaround has been stunning. To start the season, the Eels won one of six conceding 34 points per game. They’ve now won four of their last six conceding only 17.7 per game. That's comparable to the NRL’s best defences (Dogs and Raiders concede 17.6-17.7). Until late July, the Eels were 0 / 8 against current top-8 teams. Since then we're 3 / 4. We're not meant to. Coming into last night we were 2/10 outside Commbank. No Gutherson, RCG, Dylan Brown, Sivo, Matto, Lane, Simonsson, Hands, Lussick. $4-5m worth of cap.
Individually, there were standout efforts everywhere last night. There wasn't a poor player on the field.
J’maine Hopgood was colossal. Playing the full 80 minutes for 61 tackles and just one miss (nrl.com). Jack Williams, Junior Paulo, and Kelma Tuilagi (above) produced big moments and magic (Getty Images).
Iongi scores a scorcher (Getty Images). The back three, Foxxy, Lomax, and Iongi, combined for a mammoth 612m (nrl.com).
It could not have been scripted better: Foxxy marked his 200th NRL game with a runaway length-of-the-field try (Getty Images).
Drama
The contest also delivered late drama. With minutes on the clock, Adam Pompey looked to have scored a match-winning try. But the Bunker ruled that Warriors prop Demitric Vaimauga had knocked on.
Foxsport's Greg Alexander blasted the call: "I don’t think his hand went anywhere near the ball."
Despite Cooper Cronk and James Graham agreeing with the bunker's call, Foxsport doubled down with an article soon after entitled ‘Disgraceful’: Bunker Controversy Shakes up Finals Race as Eels Strike Hammer Blow".
“I don’t know if there’s enough evidence to overturn it that he touched it,” Andrew Webster said.
The Warriors Owned the Field. They owned the Stats. They won the Territorial Battle. But the Eels Owned the Scoreboard and Won the War. Confidence and belief growing. Can we dare to dream? Next week is another test to end the season. To win when expected.
Highlights, Go Media, Auckland
Warriors' fans turned out in force as they have in recent seasons (Getty Images).
The nabbed Warriors' streaker felt the pain.
The Two Fullbacks Fighting Fire with Fire (Getty Images).
Replies
I find Ionghi distractingly photogenic. Love the way he moves.
4 weeks into the season i couldn't wait for it to end, now I don't want it to end, we play an exciting brand of footy which is a joy to watch.
League was dying to me but I'm suddenly loving it again, maybe next season the eels won't be seen as cannon fodder to the officials and we will start getting more of a rub of the green the strong clubs always seem to get.
I can't wait for the rebuild to continue next season, go eels.
Great write up mate. I'm so glad you mentioned Hopgood. What a difference it's made moving him to Prop and simplifying his game. No doubt Ryles reads our blogs, a few of us were calling for that much earlier this season. It's transformed him.
We do have some smart members on this site mutts.
Muttman, do you want to sell that sportsbet ticket. ? What's the asking price lol
Chiefy $50 and it's yours.
Well done HOE, last night win imo was more impressive than any finals win under BA :
1. Warriors with inexcess of 60 tackles in the redzone
2 . Penalty count and 6 agains not in our favour 4 - 12
3. No Dylan Brown
4. Defensively solid, sliding and pushing up all at the right time- the connection defensively is noticeable
4. A incompetent ref hell bent on costing us victory
5. Playing the Warriors away with everything to play for
6. The coming of age for young Eels, Riley Smith, Guymer, Papali, Samrani and Iongi
7. Experienced players stepping up and leading the way, Dylan Walker , William, Kelma and Moses and Jr in career best form .
8. In Jason we trust.
Well said HOE.
For Vaimauga to be so honest about the call and the game speaks volumes about his character. I wonder how Webster would be feeling about his openness this morning?
I have criticised with explanations regarding Hopgood at lock and I am glad that Ryles has seen the light with moving him to a more roaming middle. He has been exceptional the last month.
Walker starting is the key that unlocks our attacking potential in the first half hour, especially now Moses is back from injury.
Since round 19 we have played 6 top 8 teams and across this 8 game stretch at half time our points differential is plus 16 I believe, remaining in all games at such time.
Ryles knows what this squad can produce.
I loved Mitch Moses tackle to save that try and his response afterwards. I think Mitch has really grown this year into a proper leadership role for the team. Encouraging his team mates when required, blasting TDS when it was warranted. Loving what Mitch is bringing this year and if he stays fit, next year will be massive.
Another standout for me is Ryley Smith. His defence is absolutely solid, pressure on the opposition kicker relentless and his service is crisp. When the game was on the line, Ryles faith in him was proven and put him back on the field for the last few minutes.
The improvement in all the players has been massive and I think Joash as 6 is developing well. His defence has been top notch, and I like some of the lines he runs. Interested to see how this experiment goes. Just really happy being an Eels supporter again after some long years under BA.