After watching the replay, here's my full report,
Attack
Firstly, I'm going to talk about our good ball attack. I'm not really sure if that's the right phrase to use but by that I mean genuine attacking plays, attacking shifts, attack at their end of the field etc. It looked very good for the most part, potent and dangerous. It's an area that Parra have really struggled against us historically and it looked to be the case again. They probably covered it better than in recent years, but I still think we had them on the edges, especially in the first half. It looked pretty crisp, and we were picking the right times to do it. It's a shame a few didn't come off as we lacked the final pass, or the bounce didn't go our way. However, the three tries we did score were absolutely brilliant! Especially the one right before half time. Footy at its best.
If anything, the fact that our genuine attack did look so good makes me even more frustrated and disappointed with the result. This is because we just couldn't get field position and momentum all night to do more of these plays. that's a massive credit to Parra to be fair, but I think it was also hugely an attitude thing for us. The boys just didn't seem to be putting in as much. The forwards especially I am really disappointed in. Their runs didn't have the same 'ompf' and energy to them. They didn't look hungry. Poor attitude and it looked like we were just going through the motions. The Eels were the complete opposite and we got killed through the middle. Absolutely killed. This is a lot to do with our defence which I'll get to shortly, but it's also because we couldn't make ground, couldn't get energy going. Our forwards have a lot to answer for for that in my opinion.
I was frustrated too because once again, we fell into our old negative ways. Constantly going one-out when it clearly wasn't working, making errors and giving away silly penalties.
Defence
Worst defensive performance of the year by a country mile. We've conceded six tries in the last four games combined, yet last night, we concede six in one game?!! So much for being one of the best defensive sides this year, we certainly didn't show it last night.
It's all attitude for mine. We took them lightly and you could see it with the defensive mindset. For our team this year, I think everything flows off defence. If we're on in that area, we're likely to be on in other areas of our game because it all starts with your defence. You could see right from the start of the game last night that we just weren't where we needed to be defensively and it was all attitude in my opinion. We took them lightly and went soft. Didn't look like the boys wanted to get stuck into them. Real lack of line speed for most of the game, a lot of our tackles didn't have any venom in them and we were losing the collision, failed to wrap up the ball and there was a mountain of offloads, and then some of the lapses that occured out wide are just not good enough. As I said, it was all an attitude thing, the boys weren't up for it mentally and it showed.
As a top club that is chasing a Premiership, that defensive performance is simply not acceptable. it's not up to standard.
Player by Player
L.Mitchell: A few superstar plays but I don't think he was that great overall. I'll start with what he did well firstly. Obviously, that strip on Paulo to help set up our first try. That was simply incredible. The show of strength and desire to rip it out of not just any players' grasp, but one of the strongest guys in the game. He then got a nice pass away to Cody and Cody did the rest. Then, just before half time, Trell was at it again with an amazing play. Instinctive connection between Cody and Trell at its best. Trell saw the opportunity through the middle, pushed up into the gap, combined with Cody and took the pass, then got the ball back to him beautifully for Cody to do the rest for AJ once again. It was one of our tries of the year, brilliant play from both of them. Aside from those two try involvements, Latrell had a few other good touches, setting up a couple of line breaks and half breaks with his ball playing. But that's about where the good stuff stopped for him, I was really, really disappointed with him aside from those handful of plays. He failed to get involved enough for the first time in weeks. I think he only had three runs in the first half and then did nothing really of note in the second half. Went missing when we needed him most. he was back to passing to his wingers for kick returns too instead of taking it himself. But probably the biggest thing I'm filthy with him about was his last line of defence. On the Eels first try, he puts in a weak as piss effort on Russell. It was arm-grabbing stuff, refused to get his body in front. A switched-on Latrell stops him easily. Then, in the second half when brown scored, what the hell was he doing???? He gave up on it, no desire to get to the ball, could have easily but didn't even bother. It was a lazy effort. He got what he deserved there. So not a good night for Trell in my opinion overall. Really disappointing in this Round too. Trell is a proud Indigenous man, and you expect him to be switched on and light the Round up in this one, but no, he was way off.
Johnston: AJ was okay I thought. At least, with the ball anyway. Did his best on kick returns and had a few good carries but when your forwards are doing bugger all, it's hard to have an impact with his stature. Did really well to almost score off that kick from Cody early, but then got his reward minutes later with a nice finish for a try. Bagged a double in the first half as he supported the play and got himself in a good position to be an option for Cody. defensively, he wasn't super flash though. Not really bad, probably mixed I'd say. He saved a try at one stage in the first half, but also let one in. I think for Parra's first try, there probably wasn't much he could do about that, it was more of a team breakdown, and we got caught short for numbers. Their last try was a poor effort from AJ though. Tass comes in on Moses because he has to, and AJ fails to react and doesn't follow him in quick enough. he could have got Penisini but failed to react.
Tass: Tassy has copped a bit on other forums, but I actually thought he was okay with the ball. It was his defence which had a mixed night. I loved his effort, he tried really hard and took plenty of carries out of our end which is to be commended. His 14 runs for 133 meters isn't bad at all. A good effort actually when you're getting bashed. He constantly put his hand up. Probably didn't do enough with the ball in attack though if I'm being critical. He did have two errors as well which isn't great. Defensively, as I said, he was really mixed. Did some good stuff, I found myself yelling "great stuff Tassy!" a number of times as he shut quite a few plays down with a great read or a nice recovery when he looked beaten. But he did have some defensive errors which cost us. In the Eels first try, he probably could have gone harder at Moses, instead, he kind of props and is passive, if that makes sense. He sits there and waits. That gave Moses time to execute the play, and it forced AJ to come in. had a poor read for their third try too. He comes up past the line on no one which leaves Cody isolated against a bigger man so that was disappointing from Tassy. I don't think the last try was his fault, there wasn't really much he could do there. it was more Cody and AJ that caused that.
Graham: Stretch was good in a side that was generally poor. He really stood out so hats off to him. 10 carries for 116 meters and a lot of them were the hard ones, the tough hit ups coming out of our own end. So, far out he was good in this area! Just as he always is. Made a line break off Cody in the first half and looked dangerous there, he should have found a pass inside to Trell though. His try to start the second half was brilliant! I've watched it many times since last night and I am in awe of the line he runs. He's running just on Simonsson's outside shoulder to start off with and then as the ball his coming to him in midair, he adjusts his line and steps to the outside in literally a split second. That's not easy to do. Great pass from Cody to put it on his chest but it's the adjustment from Stretch midair which allows him to get through. Brilliant!! His defence was pretty damn good all night, he shut down so, so much for us with great reads or quick reactions. Would have been exposed a lot more down that right edge if it wasn't for him. However, that doesn't mean we should ignore the defensive errors he did make. On the Eels second try, Campbell probably overreads the play and rushes up on Gutherson which leaves no one on Matterson. The poor attempt at tackle from Tatola and Ilias on Brown allows him to get the ball away and Matterson to streak away because Stretch had been left behind due to him rushing up. Later on, he also fails to clean up the kick which leads to Parra's third try. I'd also like to point out he did make three errors too which isn't great. So he is only human. But he was one of the only guys out there who was truly switched on and having a dig.
Milne: Not too much to write home about for Taane, he was pretty quiet. His stats look alright, 125 meters isn't bad. Made one error though and he showed poor sideline awareness at one stage when he was bundled into touch. Not too bad defensively, watching the replay, I didn't really notice much he did wrong personally.
right, stay strong champion, god bless ur little girl 
