Rd20: 3pm Parra v Canberra GAME DAY THREAD @ GIO Stadium 19/7/25

[Gregory Drake]

…phew…for once I escaped being a reference point for mediocrity.

 

[Eelementary]

Although I agree that we make too many dumb mistakes in possession to "deserve" winning games that does not negate what is a clear bias by the referees against Parramatta. What causes that bias is debatable but what is not debatable is the evidence of that bias.

I've already cited the penalty last week by Peter Gough of JAC for incorrect play the ball and the non-penalty by the same Peter Gough for exactly the same infringement by Matthew Eisenhuth that led to a try.

The penalty against JAC was a huge momentum swing because not only were we 10-4 up we were in possession, which, as you would know penalties in possession are coach killers for being the dumbest of dumb. That was 8 points gifted to the 4 peat Panthers in a game they won by 8 points.

Just because we drop the ball or throw a misdirected pass out of panic doesn't let the ref get off scot-free for what are clearly biased decisions that have re-directed momentum from the Eels to the opposition.

What really grinds my gears about that incorrect play the ball penalty against JAC is not just because we were in possession 20 metres out on our 2nd, or that it's a nit picking technical penalty whereas glaring forward passes or head highs go undetected, or that the crack down on this technicality had already occurred for the first 3 rounds and then just as suddenly disappeared till now, it was the irony that we were being penalised for an infringement that the Panthers had mastered in their run to their 4th grand final victory in 2024.

The crackdown on incorrect play the ball came about due to that infamous Panthers come from behind victory 34-36 against us in round 23 last year.


If Alanis Morissette were to re-write her song with actual examples of irony the penalty by Gough would be a classic.

An Eel got penalised for incorrect play the ball
Against the team that mastered the art which caused a ref crackdown
It's a Josh Addo-Carr millimetre piece of boot leather on the sideline
While the painted on eyes touchie can't see metres forwards passes


And isn't it ironic?
Don't you think?


Remember that JAC possible boot on the sideline disallowed try against the Dragons? Knowing how deaf dumb and blind the touchies are to forward passes against us, like Starling's several yesterday, yet they could detect a millimetre of JAC boot onto a possible spillage by whoever painted the sideline, how can you even doubt they have a bias against us?

The evidence each week is overwhelming.

A Melbourne Scum mate of mine was praising Harry Grant to me the other day about what a genius player he is and I had to pull him up with this correction: There is zero chance that if Harry Grant played for the Eels he would get away with the bullshit stunts he pulls week in and week out in the ruck.

I seriously think that the only reason the NRL won't bring in forward pass technology is because the Scum would never win a game again and if we ran the technology over their seasons under Bellamy every premiership would be stripped. Because Bellamyball relies upon a short forward pass to a player in an off side position. Yet if Eels did that, not a chance they're getting away with it.

Which is why Bellamy will never be considered among the great coaches because he's never had to coach a non-Scum team with the NRL's thumb on the refereeing scale.

End of rant.

That call against Fox (his foot hitting the sideline) was the biggest load of shit I've ever seen.

 

[hineyrulz]

You can’t have an edge forward only running 4 times for 31m in 80 minutes.

He's a plodder, his future is in the middle. In NSW Cup.

 

[Gary Gutful]

I see Flanagan has had a whinge about the officials … high time Ryles had a crack we are getting absolutely murdered

Flanno is a whiny bitch. Whinges about everything. I doubt he's taken seriously.

 

[Timana]

good to see Charlie have a dig, he might have a future on the edge, needs to get fitter though, thought he fizzed out in the second half, but then again, he had a lot of mates

He really isnt fit enough for 1st grade. He makes a tackle and is slow to get into marker or back in the line, there are times he is making a second tackle in a row because he was resting and the play came that way.

He tried to go for kick pressure but was way too slow to even get near the kicker.

 

[Timana]

Our last set in the first half we were making meters for fun rolling up the middle of balls from TDS in the second half we moved away from it.
We need to speak to the NRL about not having a half time...

Yes. what i did like was he took a few steps with the ball and the forward was right next to him when the forward got and they were way pass the advantage line.

RIley throws it out long and the forwards get it a few metres back and have to make that extra yardage to get across the advantage line.

That's when we were rolling and it looked good.

But riley has better fitness, defense and kick pressure

 

[JokerEel]

until we can get our defense right we are always going to be a shit side...

Have been saying it for years.

how in gods name do Canberra score here?
View attachment 104338

oh thats how 2 seasoned NRL players not knowing their assignment....
View attachment 104339

 

[Soto]

Is Kelma also back next week?
At least he can break the line.
The fact we have ppl saying blokes like Guymer are in there for their defence and still concede 40 says everything...
No point all these so called specialist defensive players yet get annihilated..
Some of these young kids will probably evolve and develop into good players but when you have too many in together at the same time then it proves troublesome.
Now we get comparisons that Ryles is where Ciraldo was 3 years ago BUT the dogs went and signed quality 1st grade rugby league players to go with international and origin level players.
They have signed a truckload of players and also quickly booted some when they quickly realised they are not going to cut the mustard.
They continue signing players...they are buying a comp or trying but have realised you need the personnel to execute.
What origin/international have we recently signed?
Lomax...jury is out on him.
They have signed over time
Crichton, Burton, Kikau, Mahoney, Tupoinua, Salmon, Mann, Curran, Sexton, Montoya, Prior to that Ado Carr, Cotric, Ryan Sutton....
As you can see some have been tapped or let go but the constant pursuit of origin/international players otherwise experienced 1st grade quality players is evident.
Now Galvin, Leo Thompson for next year and you bet they will sign more.
Its one thing to release players like we have but you should be replacing them with better players...at the moment I think we have failed dismally. I would like to think we revisit this post in 12 months and see who we recruited and where we are sitting on the table.
Having the same crop of players and expecting to make the 8 is near on insanity

 

[JokerEel]

Junior needs to play less minutes as well he played 61 minutes again yesterday he isn't a 40 minute player anymore.

 

[JokerEel]

Is Kelma also back next week?
At least he can break the line.
The fact we have ppl saying blokes like Guymer are in there for their defence and still concede 40 says everything...
No point all these so called specialist defensive players yet get annihilated..
Some of these young kids will probably evolve and develop into good players but when you have too many in together at the same time then it proves troublesome.
Now we get comparisons that Ryles is where Ciraldo was 3 years ago BUT the dogs went and signed quality 1st grade rugby league players to go with international and origin level players.
They have signed a truckload of players and also quickly booted some when they quickly realised they are not going to cut the mustard.
They continue signing players...they are buying a comp or trying but have realised you need the personnel to execute.
What origin/international have we recently signed?
Lomax...jury is out on him.
They have signed over time
Crichton, Burton, Kikau, Mahoney, Tupoinua, Salmon, Mann, Curran, Sexton, Montoya, Prior to that Ado Carr, Cotric, Ryan Sutton....
As you can see some have been tapped or let go but the constant pursuit of origin/international players otherwise experienced 1st grade quality players is evident.
Now Galvin, Leo Thompson for next year and you bet they will sign more.
Its one thing to release players like we have but you should be replacing them with better players...at the moment I think we have failed dismally. I would like to think we revisit this post in 12 months and see who we recruited and where we are sitting on the table.
Having the same crop of players and expecting to make the 8 is near on insanity

Most of the players you listed also come from a winning culture. Which is why the Dogs are succeeding..
We are still signing players from clubs with poor culture that seems to seep into our culture.

November 1 is fast coming for off contract players in 2027 we need to be hitting that market hard as well as trying to buy up some of the best Flegg players coming through..

We currently need

2 centres
1 winger
2 second rowers
2 front rowers
1 5/8..

 

[Timana]

Ricky just said that it's the offload that makes a team hard to tackle and that's why parra came back in the first half. They try and incorporate it in their game and they also train it

 

[Soto]

Most of the players you listed also come from a winning culture. Which is why the Dogs are succeeding..
We are still signing players from clubs with poor culture that seems to seep into our culture.

November 1 is fast coming for off contract players in 2027 we need to be hitting that market hard as well as trying to buy up some of the best Flegg players coming through..

We currently need

2 centres
1 winger
2 second rowers
2 front rowers
1 5/8..

Let's play fill in the gaps.
Averillo could be 5/8 or centre
Tino (pipedream)
David Fifita
Between Kautoga, Williams, Tuialagi, Will Latu we can probably cover 2nd row. Not against signing a gun 2nd rower
From row we will have Jnr, Tuivaiti, Moretti. We need two front rowers
Centres if we dont get a speedster like Averillo then im not sure what the options are but sure as shit we need some pace in the 3/4 line.
I really hope there are signings on the way.
Raiders have a lot of good forwards. Go forward, no nonsense. Big and athletic.
We actually need a forward leader...we dont and haven't had one since Ray Price...

 

[Delboy]

Most of the players you listed also come from a winning culture. Which is why the Dogs are succeeding..
We are still signing players from clubs with poor culture that seems to seep into our culture.

November 1 is fast coming for off contract players in 2027 we need to be hitting that market hard as well as trying to buy up some of the best Flegg players coming through..

We currently need

2 centres
1 winger
2 second rowers
2 front rowers
1 5/8..

Problem is, we haven’t signed anyone of note really since the 7 left basically in 2021, getting to the GF while pleasing has really harmed the club with poor extensions, retentions, options and continual signing of reserve graders hoping to get lightning in a bottle.

Have to hope that the front office suddenly get on a roll, unlikely but it’s what we need to see .

 

[Soto]

Ricky just said that it's the offload that makes a team hard to tackle and that's why parra came back in the first half. They try and incorporate it in their game and they also train it

But you have to also complete and that's where we eff it up..59% completions is not even acceptable for a pub team

 

[Eelementary]

Is Kelma also back next week?
At least he can break the line.
The fact we have ppl saying blokes like Guymer are in there for their defence and still concede 40 says everything...
No point all these so called specialist defensive players yet get annihilated..
Some of these young kids will probably evolve and develop into good players but when you have too many in together at the same time then it proves troublesome.
Now we get comparisons that Ryles is where Ciraldo was 3 years ago BUT the dogs went and signed quality 1st grade rugby league players to go with international and origin level players.
They have signed a truckload of players and also quickly booted some when they quickly realised they are not going to cut the mustard.
They continue signing players...they are buying a comp or trying but have realised you need the personnel to execute.
What origin/international have we recently signed?
Lomax...jury is out on him.
They have signed over time
Crichton, Burton, Kikau, Mahoney, Tupoinua, Salmon, Mann, Curran, Sexton, Montoya, Prior to that Ado Carr, Cotric, Ryan Sutton....
As you can see some have been tapped or let go but the constant pursuit of origin/international players otherwise experienced 1st grade quality players is evident.
Now Galvin, Leo Thompson for next year and you bet they will sign more.
Its one thing to release players like we have but you should be replacing them with better players...at the moment I think we have failed dismally. I would like to think we revisit this post in 12 months and see who we recruited and where we are sitting on the table.
Having the same crop of players and expecting to make the 8 is near on insanity

I truly think Ryles has shown he is a good coach, and he can take us places.

But I fear he will be dismally let down by our recruitment team.

Ryles can only do so much - we need quality players.

 

[Eelementary]

Let's play fill in the gaps.
Averillo could be 5/8 or centre
Tino (pipedream)
David Fifita
Between Kautoga, Williams, Tuialagi, Will Latu we can probably cover 2nd row. Not against signing a gun 2nd rower
From row we will have Jnr, Tuivaiti, Moretti. We need two front rowers
Centres if we dont get a speedster like Averillo then im not sure what the options are but sure as shit we need some pace in the 3/4 line.
I really hope there are signings on the way.
Raiders have a lot of good forwards. Go forward, no nonsense. Big and athletic.
We actually need a forward leader...we dont and haven't had one since Ray Price...

Agree with most of what you said, but I'd argue that we had a forwards leader in both Nathan Brown, and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

 

[Soto]

Agree with most of what you said, but I'd argue that we had a forwards leader in both Nathan Brown, and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.

Yes Brownie was a no nonsense off the back fence let's get em type of player and then upset the coach and was banished...
Loved RCG but not sure he was a leader to say boys follow me

 

[Noise]

I truly think Ryles has shown he is a good coach, and he can take us places.

But I fear he will be dismally let down by our recruitment team.

Ryles can only do so much - we need quality players.

Ryles is a part of that recruitment team. And all Ryles has shown us is that he is capable of competing for a spoon.

 

[Pazza]

You can’t have an edge forward only running 4 times for 31m in 80 minutes.

He's got the stat like of a player who isn't a primary runner of the foot ball in a team that had a tons of errors and penalties blown against it.

He made 49 tackles and scored and set up a try.

I think he did well given the characier of the game.

 

[The Predictor]

We probably just miss the spoon but I wouldn’t mind if we got it to demonstrate to these morons in the front office on their decision making over the years. It’s f**king outrageous that we have got to this point and it reeks of the early 90’s when we were just as mediocre.

Lomax has been disappointing and is basically a dumb footballer all be it gifted in a physical sense. He is also ridiculously slow and his mental toughness after the game where I saw him cry is a worry. Think Brett Plowman.

Russell is our new Robert Muchmore but actually gives less. Ryley Smith is terrible but tries hard, so did Shane Muspratt. Charlie Guymer with his massive metres is similar to Chris Muckert. Even Iongi is starting to regress and is probably getting tired and needs some decent coaching to get him to the next level. Reminds me a little of Wade McKinnon. Paulo is trying hard but is channeling Dallas Weston. Hopgood is looking like Lee Hopkins.

There is a pattern emerging here isn’t there? you see I’ve seen this shit before.

Unfair on Lee Hopkins, he was more than capable