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 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.
I thought the win against the Roosters was our best of the year and had a few sips that night. But last night I agree HOE it was even better, consequently the whiskey bottle got a good nudge.
Excellent piece. Kudos to Hopgood who had played the full 80 in the last 2 games. He is blending well in his new role.
Same to Riley, with his energy and his kick pressures.
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.
Those 2 paragraphs for the win.
Just looking at the photo of "the nabbed Warriors' streaker" you put up...is that Galvin???
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