Rd5 GAME DAY THREAD: 405pm Parra v Tigers @ Commbank 6/4/26

[Poupou Escobar]

A regular listener might not agree with that opinion.

On a sidenote ( and not aimed at you) I have never understood why people have a go at TCT. Those two plus their other writer contributors on their website give their time for no or little reward. They have a deep knowledge of all grades and work very hard to bring new content twice weekly for literally 52 weeks a year. Yet some one here lampoon them and those who listen. I don't get it and the Eels fandom would be far worse off without them.

Merkins are just jealous of the access and profile they have.

 

[hineyrulz]

We recruited well last year and finished the season strongly. We are going worse now because we lost Lomax and now have all these injuries. Not because the squad is shit as you keep trying to claim.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I kept thinking to myself that Moses was his equal....

After that, I changed my mind.

Moses is phenomenal, but he will not dominate a game that way on a routine basis.

Cleary has ice in his veins.

He's a freak.

Cleary carves up NRL teams where there are weak defenders sprinkled among the opposition but he is yet to do much at rep level. It's evidence that he benefits from playing in a club side that is much better than its opponents, including in finals matches. His team goes forward, completes its sets, and gives him plenty of time and space to execute his plays.

Yes he's better than Moses but it's because he is bigger and stronger. Moses often needs to make the big play because if he just dummies and takes on the defence 20+ times a game he will get a bunch of slow play-the-balls. Cleary generally plays the ball quickly so he can afford to run a lot, like Dylan Brown at his best.

 

[Eelementary]

Or did the Broncos shit the bed? They completed at 71% in that game. That's nothing to do with Cleary. The Panthers completed at 97%. They just wore the Broncos down with weight of possession, and Cleary's the one who always gets the ball against a staggered defensive line.

I mean, he kicked a 40/20 when the team was down, set up a try...

No doubt, the Broncos played their part.

But Cleary's performance willed them to win.

 

[Eelementary]

Cleary carves up NRL teams where there are weak defenders sprinkled among the opposition but he is yet to do much at rep level. It's evidence that he benefits from playing in a club side that is much better than its opponents, including in finals matches. His team goes forward, completes its sets, and gives him plenty of time and space to execute his plays.

Yes he's better than Moses but it's because he is bigger and stronger. Moses often needs to make the big play because if he just dummies and takes on the defence 20+ times a game he will get a bunch of slow play-the-balls. Cleary generally plays the ball quickly so he can afford to run a lot, like Dylan Brown at his best.

I would argue that on terms of skills alone, Moses is his equal - possibly even better. Maybe.

But what separates Cleary from Moses is his mentality - never flustered, always composed, and demanding the ball when his team needs a spark.

Cleary is a genuine leader, and a genuine "give the ball, and I'll make something happen" player.

Yes, he plays in a team stacked with talent.

But he's stood up when this same stacked team has been down for the count so many times.

He's easily worth what he's being paid, and more.

 

[JokerEel]

f**k he did too. I thought he didn't appear until the next year. He's also still eligible for Flegg, like Rich Penisini.

He also played flegg this year

 

[hindy111]

Or did the Broncos shit the bed? They completed at 71% in that game. That's nothing to do with Cleary. The Panthers completed at 97%. They just wore the Broncos down with weight of possession, and Cleary's the one who always gets the ball against a staggered defensive line.

Or did Penrith shitbthe bed when up 8-0?

 

[hindy111]

Cleary carves up NRL teams where there are weak defenders sprinkled among the opposition but he is yet to do much at rep level. It's evidence that he benefits from playing in a club side that is much better than its opponents, including in finals matches. His team goes forward, completes its sets, and gives him plenty of time and space to execute his plays.

Yes he's better than Moses but it's because he is bigger and stronger. Moses often needs to make the big play because if he just dummies and takes on the defence 20+ times a game he will get a bunch of slow play-the-balls. Cleary generally plays the ball quickly so he can afford to run a lot, like Dylan Brown at his best.

Keep digging the hole.

Its getting deeper.

 

[hindy111]

I would argue that on terms of skills alone, Moses is his equal - possibly even better. Maybe.

But what separates Cleary from Moses is his mentality - never flustered, always composed, and demanding the ball when his team needs a spark.

Cleary is a genuine leader, and a genuine "give the ball, and I'll make something happen" player.

Yes, he plays in a team stacked with talent.

But he's stood up when this same stacked team has been down for the count so many times.

He's easily worth what he's being paid, and more.

Moses isnt in my top 3 anymore.

Id rather Hughes and Katoa.

To much inconsistency from Mitch. At his best he can get back to no 2. But he might be on the slide.

 

[hindy111]

I mean, he kicked a 40/20 when the team was down, set up a try...

No doubt, the Broncos played their part.

But Cleary's performance willed them to win.

That was just pure luck. Walsh should of been 50mtrs back on the 3rd tackle And the Brisbane defenders should of tackled him and not fallen for the step.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

He also played flegg this year

That's how I knew he was still eligible. The Parramatta Eels wouldn't break the rules.

 

[hineyrulz]

Keep digging the hole.

It’s getting deeper.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Keep digging the hole.

Its getting deeper.

You still haven't explained why he doesn't do it at Origin level.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

That was just pure luck. Walsh should of been 50mtrs back on the 3rd tackle And the Brisbane defenders should of tackled him and not fallen for the step.

Defenders make mistakes under fatigue.

 

[Pazza]

In defence of Mitch, he doesn't get much help from his team mates and the organisation as a whole.

 

[eels_fan]

Id rather Hughes and Katoa.

Hughes has done jack all this season with an undeniably stronger squad around him.
Katoa aside from a breathtaking pass in round 2 has been big average to start 26.

Moses is the 2nd best 7 in the comp

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hughes has done jack all this season with an undeniably stronger squad around him.
Katoa aside from a breathtaking pass in round 2 has been big average to start 26.

Moses is the 2nd best 7 in the comp

Hughes leads the comp in TAs and LBAs.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Interesting that Hughes, Katoa & Moses are 3 of the 4 halfbacks this year who have been on the receiving end of 50 point floggings.

 

[eels_fan]

Hughes leads the comp in TAs and LBAs.

Pezet is equal 3rd in the comp on TAs and probably in the bottom 3-4 5/8s in the comp - stats dont always tell the whole story

 

[hindy111]

You still haven't explained why he doesn't do it at Origin level.

To small sample size