Team v Eels

Dane Nielsens Biggest Fan · May 12, 2015

JJ said:
He should be - I struggle to understand what McFadden's doing, and tbh when he speaks he only makes slightly more sense than Elliott now... by and large there is consistency, but most weeks a random/surprise selection or two

Yeah, you and me both. I see he's named Friend on the bench again, is he going to use him from the 60th to 75th minute again? That one leaves me scratching my head.

I'm glad Peyroux is there but thought Fusitua would have been in there some where too? Maybe he'll come in once Manu is ruled out? Surely they won't risk him this week.

jaseg · May 12, 2015

What does Fus need to do to get a run? He's scoring freely in NSW cup, scored again when called up to NRL, didn't really do much wrong... what the?

Big bonus that Manu is apparently ok

Big Marn · May 12, 2015

jaseg said:
What does Fus need to do to get a run? He's scoring freely in NSW cup, scored again when called up to NRL, didn't really do much wrong... what the?

Big bonus that Manu is apparently ok

I think theres a few doubts on the size of his ticker.
Last year some of the boys (ie Johnson and Hurrell) were giving him shit for laying down on the job in one game ,and his first game back this year he didn't see out the game.
Think he might be a bit soft for NRL when going gets tough.

jaseg · May 12, 2015

Ah ok, that's fair enough. I'd still like to see him in the team, given his form and our unavailable players list. But ok, I'm happy to accept it (at least for now) if that's the reasoning behind it. Hopefully he takes that on board, because he seems like a potentially immense centre/winger. Fantastic athleticism.

JJ · May 12, 2015

Big Marn said:
I think theres a few doubts on the size of his ticker.
Last year some of the boys (ie Johnson and Hurrell) were giving him shit for laying down on the job in one game ,and his first game back this year he didn't see out the game.
Think he might be a bit soft for NRL when going gets tough.

Oh the irony of them calling out a teammate

Iafeta · May 12, 2015

Fusitua suffered a groin niggle in NSW Cup over the weekend. I see he's named in NSW Cup again, but not sure he will play.

Sam Rapira is available, and is on the bench for NSW Cup. I'm not sure I like McFadden's bench merry go round. We've essentially seen Rapira, RFM, Peyroux, Ikahihifo, Matagi all at one point or another this year be given a one match stint and then promptly returned to reggies. Did the same last year with Agnatius Paasi. Must be quite confusing for the players.

Lousi I'm not convinced is a first grade footballer. His leg speed is in the worst 3-4 in the NRL. He's big, but he's extraordinarily slow.

Rich102 · May 13, 2015

JJ said:
Oh the irony of them calling out a teammate

I thought exactly that.

Izz · May 13, 2015

Iafeta said:
Lousi I'm not convinced is a first grade footballer.

Agreed. A tank in both size and movement.

The European Polynesian · May 13, 2015

Maybe he's giving all the fringe players a chance to really stand-out? And will continue to rotate unless one has a massive game?

The European Polynesian · May 13, 2015

Anyway, we should get up here. Gutted Sandow's not playing, otherwise we'd be just about a sure thing

Blair · May 13, 2015

The European Polynesian said:
Anyway, we should get up here. Gutted Sandow's not playing, otherwise we'd be just about a sure thing

He's the kind of player who often pops up and kills us.

Call me Einstein but this game seems to involve two struggling teams. The Eels were better than the 28-10 scoreline suggested last week. However, if our forwards do the job they've been doing for most of the year, and Johnson gets plenty of ball and space, then we should win comfortably.

Evil_Mush · May 13, 2015

Ah, the old 'should win this game' chestnut! These are the most nerve-wracking games!

If Manu is slightly in doubt, I'd probably prefer we just rest him than risk further exacerbating an injury. Give the likes of Fusitua (or whoever gets called in) a chance to prove their worth, and try to improve the 'win/loss ratio without Manu' statistic!

Iron Lion · May 13, 2015

Blair said:
He's the kind of player who often pops up and kills us.

Call me Einstein but this game seems to involve two struggling teams. The Eels were better than the 28-10 scoreline suggested last week. However, if our forwards do the job they've been doing for most of the year, and Johnson gets plenty of ball and space, then we should win comfortably.

Win comfortably ........ hmmm ............hmmmmmmmmm..... ok.......... is this the 2015 New Zealand Warriors we are talking about here?

Shaun Hewitt · May 13, 2015

Iron Lion said:
Win comfortably ........ hmmm ............hmmmmmmmmm..... ok.......... is this the 2015 New Zealand Warriors we are talking about here?

More of a sure thing than one of your 'scoops'

The European Polynesian · May 13, 2015

Evil_Mush said:
Ah, the old 'should win this game' chestnut! These are the most nerve-wracking games!

If Manu is slightly in doubt, I'd probably prefer we just rest him than risk further exacerbating an injury. Give the likes of Fusitua (or whoever gets called in) a chance to prove their worth, and try to improve the 'win/loss ratio without Manu' statistic!

To be fair, I think in any given NRL game you can't say one team "should" get up over another, given how close the competition is. Relatively speaking though, the Warriors "should" beat the Eels this weekend - but anyone can beat anyone on the day.

Blair · May 13, 2015

The point I'm making fellas is that Johnson was sensational in the last ten minutes last week. If he's allowed to run freely again this week, but at regular intervals and with solid forward support, then he should be the difference between the two sides.

The Eels players, coaches and supporters will know this.

Izz · May 13, 2015

The European Polynesian said:
Maybe he's giving all the fringe players a chance to really stand-out? And will continue to rotate unless one has a massive game?

That makes sense.

Iron Lion · May 13, 2015

Blair said:
The point I'm making fellas is that Johnson was sensational in the last ten minutes last week. If he's allowed to run freely again this week, but at regular intervals and with solid forward support, then he should be the difference between the two sides.

The Eels players, coaches and supporters will know this.

Well you would think with those two amazing clutch plays in the last 10mins against the sharks the word will be for Johnson to handle the ball more. That doesnt mean run a lot more but im sure he has bought his outside backs it bit more space with his last performance.

JJ · May 13, 2015

Izz said:
That makes sense.

Makes some sense as an interpretation of what's going on. Doesn't make sense as a coaching strategy

Rich102 · May 13, 2015

Blair said:
The point I'm making fellas is that Johnson was sensational in the last ten minutes last week. If he's allowed to run freely again this week, but at regular intervals and with solid forward support, then he should be the difference between the two sides.

The Eels players, coaches and supporters will know this.

I think you answer your own point. Last week Johnson was rubbish for 78 minutes and brilliant for 2 - and that was his best game of the season. And it came from a play where he wasn't directing anything; just following his instincts - against very tired opposition. And the game as a whole was absolute rubbish.
If the same scenario happens again then he may be the difference.
Personally I think Chad played far better - look at the stats. But Johnson scored the winning try so he is the hero. And people are calling for Chad to be replaced. Crazy times.

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