The eels are 5/5 and they face their biggest test to show that they are the real deal and although the 5 wins are encouraging they still don't show they are not he same side that got humiliated against the storm in the finals last year.
While some improvement is definitely evident the a number of flaws from last year are also evident and only fans who don't see things through rose coloured glasses can see this. Parramatta for all of last year and so far this year have had more tackles inside the opposition 20 than any other and no team last year had lost more games dispite having more tackles inside the opposition 20 than parramatta.
Parra has a problem when it comes to creativity inside the opposition 20 which is why we have seen so many games where they have had set after set inside the opposition 20 and come up with nothing, he Panthers are nothing special yet they defended the eels with ease and not because they are a grest defensive side but because parra is so predictable in attack and don't throw much at teams and just play for the kick. Parramatta should of won the game by at least 30 point's considering the 68% of possession they had in the 2nd half and all the tackles inside penrith's 20.
Manly had no right to even get back in the game let alone come close to winning it the other week but yet more of parramatta's flaws from the past were revealed. While parra has improved their defence to some degree they still are a easy defence to break and manly didn't exactly need to play well to score, the other flaw that still lingers that came up again against manly is the fact that the team panics when under the pump and you only need look at he stupid mistakes made that gave manly the opportunities to get back in the game.
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Yep, great call Eggy.
Yep well said
Well said, some people you just can’t please. Since I can remember Fong has being that negative wizard here, never have I read a positive post giving credit to this coach of players from where we were, to where we are today.
Dont get excited they say, it’s only round one, it’s only round 10, all the state players were missing, they had their halfback out, they had the short turn around, every excuse for an opposition lost, yet when a team like the Roosters that were beaten by Manly, then flogged the Broncos, Bulldogs. If we win today I’m sure we will hear they had a short turn around played a part for the lost.
BA done a great job and I would rather have him then Paul Green, Mcguire, Bennett all past championship winner which have struggle without stars in their team. I’ll cheer from the start, because if we go all the way, I’ll be happy to say I supported them all the way.
Every time we play the Roosters it always feels like JWH owns us. I cant remember which game but he destroyed in both attack and defence. Men v Boys. They are a great side for a reason. They play like a team. Every person in that team does their job. If we are to win this, we are going to need a higher than recent completion rate. Our kicks must be corners on the ground and with numbers. Dont let TEDDY get 7 tackle sets or broken play. We need to attack them behind the ruck with RCG and BROWN coming back into the ruck and opening them up. This will allow Dylan and MOSES that little bit of room to get BLAKE and JENNINGS at the roosters men.
We have to be at our very best to win. Everything must be in our favour. Please REED take a scoot and create options. Feeding balls all day will only allow perfectly structured lines like Roosters time to pick off our men. Same for the kicking game . Reed is going to be huge if we are to win.
I'm used to being nervous when we have games like this, like when we played Melbourne last year and duely got hammered.
Dunno if it's false hope yet but I've got a calm confidence in this side. I look over the team and it's very, very strong in pretty much every aspect. Last week's win over Penrith was massive - we were out of sorts for the majority of the game but got it together and won going away in the last 20 - that's something the likes of the Rooters and Storm have done countless times over recent years.
Really can't say with confidence that we'll win - but I'm confident we will give a good account of ourselves regardless of the final score.
I'm still an absolute wreck before games, but I no longer worry that we're gonna ever get blown away like we have in the past. There is steel in this team now.
Nervous???
Ive had the runs all day - imagine the players..
Brett agree 100% ... we are showing much more patience and control than we have had for many of years. That will hold us in good stead becuase they will back themseoves to defend 20 tackles on their line. If it takes 21 so be it.
Fongy I can't argue with any of that.
Yes we are travelling very well this year, but psychologically you have to wonder if we really have gotten over some of our heavy losses from years gone by.
If we lose in a tight one, I feel this side could rise to great heights, but if we cop a flogging, it could be detrimental to the remainder of our year.
What needs to happen?
Our wingers need to get more involved - they've both been down on metre eating and have been suspect in defence. We need more hard yards from these big guys - Sivo needs a few tries to reignite his confidence.
Our forwards need to run harder than last week and tackle harder. Our libe speed needs to be up tempo like it has been, Nrown to lead it with Reed, and our completions need to be near perfect.
As I said in another blog, I think the roosters haven't got much more improvement in them whilst we have, just hope we see it tomorrow night.
Roosters by 14.
Agree Frank bout the wingers, they've been quiet last few games. They need to be on for this, need all the go forward we can get.