Rumours and Stuff

[Delboy]

is it speed? everyone keeps saying we lack speed but whilst it is part of the problem, i am more concerned about the enthusiasm and aggression that our backs run with. if you take both the dolphins and the raiders games - look at their backlines, they are essentially a bunch of unknowns, but the aggression and enthusiasm they play with, especially when they get a sniff of a retreating defence or staggered defensive line is something we dont have. who the f*** was the dolphins fullback on friday night? he was about 5ft tall and 60kgs and he was running it back like he was 6ft and 100kg.

the other thing I am finding concerning of late is the lack of support play at the line. Brown and Hopgood and to a lesser extent paulo and lane often have arms free but there is no one ever there running off them.

No disrespect, but we have been picked apart by speed, Opposition score so often from inside their own half on breaks as we dont have the pace to run them down. What did the Dolphins fullback have that stood him apart from our lot, speed off the mark. They simply back up the half breaks , but then have the legs to go on with it. Apart from Simmonson, who would you trust to score a long range try, Penisini perhaps but not certain, that’s it.

The players with speed will always back up half breaks, as that’s their bread and butter so to speak.

Rogers and ONeil may well be asleep at the wheel, or fallen under the spell of the accountants value doctrine .

 

[hindy111]

Well I rarely make actual predictions about footy and never pretend that I am the best judge of talent or anything rugby league, so what I am supposedly always right about ?

I'm not sure if this is a trick question but I'll go with

EVERYTHING

Lock it in Eddy

 

[hindy111]

We are really starting to see Gould's polish and the quality of Ciraldo shining out.
They should of beat the Storm and Souths also. Bitnof a Weak squad but great management and a very good coach and hungry players. Fighters. Top 8 chance.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

You were replying to me.

If it was just for you it would've been a PM.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Lane had one good year and we handed him a 4yr contract.
Guys like him 2yrs or let them walk. 3yrs for guys like RCG and JNR
4YRS ONLY FOR SPINE PLAYERS OR PROVEN FORWARD UNDER 27

I'd rather pay overs for a shorter contract and keep them hungry or the ability to piss them off in a year or so.

Yeah look at the Panthers. Fisher-Harris started declining last year and now they've let him walk. The Sharks won with veterans in 2016 but the game is much faster now. Fast toilers are what's required in the middle these days.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Making it in 2022 was amazing, but the club has regressed since then, rather than building from it.

This happens with nearly every club, because making grand finals requires manipulating contracts to compress maximum talent into a couple of seasons. This is followed by a period with many back ended deals pushing other talents out. We didn't let go of Mahoney, Papali'i and co because we didn't rate them or because we wanted to save money. We let them go because we couldn't match rival offers due to the salary cap.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Well I rarely make actual predictions about footy and never pretend that I am the best judge of talent or anything rugby league, so what I am supposedly always right about ?

It's not that you say you're always right, it's because they make stupid comments after every loss and don't like being shown that they're wrong.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

is it speed? everyone keeps saying we lack speed but whilst it is part of the problem, i am more concerned about the enthusiasm and aggression that our backs run with. if you take both the dolphins and the raiders games - look at their backlines, they are essentially a bunch of unknowns, but the aggression and enthusiasm they play with, especially when they get a sniff of a retreating defence or staggered defensive line is something we dont have. who the f*** was the dolphins fullback on friday night? he was about 5ft tall and 60kgs and he was running it back like he was 6ft and 100kg.

the other thing I am finding concerning of late is the lack of support play at the line. Brown and Hopgood and to a lesser extent paulo and lane often have arms free but there is no one ever there running off them.

Don't focus on the opposition's 'amazing' backs, the cause is our plodding middle defence. I'm sure our own outside backs would also carve up against our middles.

 

[Eelogical]

We are really starting to see Gould's polish and the quality of Ciraldo shining out.
They should of beat the Storm and Souths also. Bitnof a Weak squad but great management and a very good coach and hungry players. Fighters. Top 8 chance.

In no particular order- Storm, Panthers and Broncos are already certs for the top 4. The other teams that will fight out the remaining 5 spots are the Warriors, Sharks, Dolphins, Raiders, Cowboys, Roosters and Manly. I don't see the Bulldogs in the 8 but they'll be sniffing at the door and much closer than the Eels.

 

[Eelementary]

This happens with nearly every club, because making grand finals requires manipulating contracts to compress maximum talent into a couple of seasons. This is followed by a period with many back ended deals pushing other talents out. We didn't let go of Mahoney, Papali'i and co because we didn't rate them or because we wanted to save money. We let them go because we couldn't match rival offers due to the salary cap.

I'm aware of that.

However, we then proceeded to ignore junior pathways, and sign players like Jack Murchie.

There was a time where we were pumping out quality juniors like they were candy - those days are long gone.

 

[Delboy]

Don't focus on the opposition's 'amazing' backs, the cause is our plodding middle defence. I'm sure our own outside backs would also carve up against our middles.

Seriously , do you watch the games, once they get outside our so called plodding middles, they destroy our backs who dont have the pace to match any breaks. What the heck did we do in the last 2 off seasons, fail to sign any players with speed to combat the change in the game, actually fail to sign any first graders

 

[Poupou Escobar]

However, we then proceeded to ignore junior pathways, and sign players like Jack Murchie.

I've shown how our spending fell off a cliff in 2020 and has only recently recovered. I doubt we stopped spending because merkins ignored the things we were previously spending on. Covid was the reason. What that lack of spending did was leave a huge hole in our pathways. We seemed to be back last year but this year are having less success. Does it mean we are less committed to junior development? 2023 was a record for us regarding football spending, so I doubt it. Most likely is that we are so keen to fast track youngsters that we have promoted them too soon. Sanders could be playing Flegg, while Talagi, Arthur and Tuivati could've played SG Ball again this year.

 

[emjaycee]

Seriously , do you watch the games, once they get outside our so called plodding middles, they destroy our backs who dont have the pace to match any breaks. What the heck did we do in the last 2 off seasons, fail to sign any players with speed to combat the change in the game, actually fail to sign any first graders

So, you think we have a problem with our players and not the coach?

 

[Johnny88]

Monday Buzz: Parramatta Eels chairman Sean McElduff Q&A on Brad Arthur coaching future, disastrous Dolphins performance
A chat with Eels chairman Sean McElduff put a spotlight on the fact Parramatta are a club in denial, refusing to concede there’s any problem with coach Brad Arthur. Phil Rothfield reveals the Q&A that exposes what’s wrong at the Eels.

Phil Rothfield

The Parramatta Eels are sadly in denial.
After a pathetic performance against the Dolphins on Friday night, Eels chairman Sean McElduff has refused to concede there is a problem with coach Brad Arthur.
They have now conceded 105 points in the last three games against the Raiders, Cowboys and Dolphins and face a tough three weeks against Manly, the Broncos and Storm.
I spoke to McElduff over the weekend about the current situation.
Read on and you’ll see what I mean about them being in denial.
Buzz: How’s the coach looking?
McElduff: It’s not panic stations yet.

Parramatta Eels chairman Sean McElduff. Picture: Brett Costello
Buzz: That was terrible on Friday night, they showed no heart in the second half.
McElduff: It wasn’t a good performance, I agree. You heard what the coach said afterwards.
Buzz: And you were flogged two weeks ago against the Raiders.
McElduff: In between that we had a good win against the Cowboys. Before the Canberra game we beat Manly.
Buzz: But surely the coach is under pressure.
McElduff: I wouldn’t say so at this stage.
Buzz: But you didn’t make the eight last year.
McElduff: We expect to be a finals team but we’re just seven games into the comp.
Buzz: So you’re not even looking at the coaching position?
McElduff: No, we’re not. It’s too early. Obviously we’re missing Mitchell (Moses). He’s a massive loss.
Buzz: Okay, if you don’t make the eight, is Brad safe?
McElduff: It’s too early to have that conversation.

McElduff refused to admit Brad Arthur is a man under pressure. Picture: NRL Photos
Buzz: It’s a fair question.
McElduff: It’s a reasonable question but it depends. If you get lapped every week, it’s one scenario. If you miss the eight but have injuries, it’s how the team’s performing for the coach.
There’s a whole host of things. It’s futile speculating now because we’re only seven games into a 25-game season. That’s the way I think about it. As I said, we beat the Cowboys last week.
Buzz: You’ve conceded 85 points against Canberra and the Dolphins.
McElduff: Canberra in Canberra is a tough game. The Dolphins performance was terrible. The coach said that. Let’s see how we respond. Brad’s been good for a long time. It’s not even something we’re even contemplating at this time.
Buzz: Your fans are very angry.
McElduff: I can understand that after the performance on Friday night.

A dejected Clinton Gutherson on Friday night against the Dolphins after his team shipped eight tries within 25 minutes. Picture: NRL Photos
So on that note we ended the conversation.
That second half performance in Darwin on Friday night was the worst I’ve seen from a Parramatta Eels side for 10 years.
Arthur said after the game: “We gave up.” And he was spot on.
Somehow the Dolphins scored eight tries between the 50th and 75th minutes. That’s almost a try every three minutes.
It’s easy for people in denial like McElduff to blame it on the absence of Moses.
Not to mention the Dolphins were without Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Flegler, Felise Kaufusi and Herbie Farnworth, close enough to their best four players.
Besides, I’m not sure Moses could have saved any of the eight tries in those 25 minutes. I’m also not sure he could have stopped Canberra scoring 41 points two weeks earlier. This team has conceded an average of 35 points a game in three weeks.
All clubs suffer injuries to key players.

Other clubs are coping without their best players, so why can’t Parramatta cope without Moses? Picture: NRL Photos
Look how Penrith keep finding ways to win without Nathan Cleary.
The Broncos seem to manage when Adam Reynolds is not there.
Storm had Cameron Munster out for the first five weeks but kept winning.
Moses is not the reason Parramatta is in crisis.
More Coverage

Dolphins in the box seat for Vegas debut as QLD rivals scatter

‘Never seen anything like it’: Legend slams Eels as pressure mounts
This goes back to the last season’s premiership capitulation.
They have now won just six of their last 15 games.
The players are not responding to Arthur’s coaching. It’s as simple as that.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/monday-buzz-parramatta-eels-chairman-sean-mcelduff-qa-on-brad-arthur-coaching-future-disastrous-dolphi

 

[Legal Eel]

Seriously , do you watch the games, once they get outside our so called plodding middles, they destroy our backs who dont have the pace to match any breaks. What the heck did we do in the last 2 off seasons, fail to sign any players with speed to combat the change in the game, actually fail to sign any first graders

He doesn’t watch games - he is here to troll

Gronk isn’t so much a troll as he just knows nothing about rugby league

 

[emjaycee]

Most likely is that we are so keen to fast track youngsters that we have promoted them too soon. Sanders could be playing Flegg, while Talagi, Arthur and Tuivati could've played SG Ball again this year.

If we don't promote them and they play in a position we are strong in, then they leave just and sign elsewhere (Sanders).
If we sign someone as a stop gap (like Morgan Harper on a near minimum 1 year contract) to give the younger players time to develop, they complain their path to FG is blocked and look to leave.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Seriously , do you watch the games

I do actually, and I'm also smart enough to understand what I see.

, once they get outside our so called plodding middles, they destroy our backs who dont have the pace to match any breaks.

And as you should know, the one on one matchup favours the attacker. The reason our guys struggle to get any room out wide is because the opposition middles are coming across in cover, compressing the space.

What the heck did we do in the last 2 off seasons, fail to sign any players with speed to combat the change in the game, actually fail to sign any first graders

That's because we re-signed a bunch of first graders. Remember when we had a shit team and were able to sign the likes of Jennings and Ferguson? But after 2022 we chose to spend our 2024 cap space (because big money signings happen ~12 months out now) on retaining our successful pack. That left no space for signing stars.

@hindy111 pointed this out, you certainly didn't. Despite living 5-7 minutes drive from all the junior rep games.

 

[Suitman]

They've lost loads of Grand Finals, but they've also won heaps, too.

Making it in 2022 was amazing, but the club has regressed since then, rather than building from it.

Unless someone is an exceptional coach, man manager and motivator, they will eventually become stale.
BA is a reasonable coach, a good man manager but his motivational skills must surely be running dry by now after 11 seasons of head coach.
For some of our highly paid players to be putting a performance in like Friday night tells me that he has lost the motivational skills completely. It's all well and good for him to come out in the press conference and blame the players, but that is just a Ricky Stuart approach and reeks of desperation from a coach devoid of ideas and who is under pressure to keep his job.
We've had 11 years under his tenure and have nothing to show for it.
If anything, we have regressed.
Ball and Flegg coming last. Junior development is appalling.
NRL team becoming shameful.
It is time to cut our losses.
The Eels are so similar to the Wanderers. Absolutely hopelessly run. One good season and the management extend the coaches contract by 3 years. And, they've only got worse since.
What is it about CommBank tenants that ensures failure?

 

[Suitman]

You were replying to me.

I never said it was all the coaches fault. But I don't think that absolves the coach of responsibility either.

So you admit you were putting words in my mouth (and thus being a hypocrite)?

He doesn't admit it but that's what he does.

 

[Legal Eel]

I do actually, and I'm also smart enough to understand what I see.

And as you should know, the one on one matchup favours the attacker. The reason our guys struggle to get any room out wide is because the opposition middles are coming across in cover, compressing the space.

That's because we re-signed a bunch of first graders. Remember when we had a shit team and were able to sign the likes of Jennings and Ferguson? But after 2022 we chose to spend our 2024 cap space (because big money signings happen ~12 months out now) on retaining our successful pack. That left no space for signing stars.

@hindy111 pointed this out, you certainly didn't. Despite living 5-7 minutes drive from all the junior rep games.

Your life must be a wasteland to need this forum to self- validate your intelligence.

I don’t know if you have problems and its beyond me to surmise, but on all evidence you are at the very least either ignorant or stupid