'14 // R1 // Sun // Eels 36-16 Warriors // Pirtek

[Y2Eel]

Will Hopoate has been very ordinary today. First game back though, hope he finds his form soon. He looked very slow on his grubber return run.

No Luke Brooks was very ordinary, Hopa was solid especially after copping a knock early..

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm off the Eels. NZ got dis.

Thank you.

 

[wibble]

No Luke Brooks was very ordinary, Hopa was solid especially after copping a knock early..

Hopa was solid, and he really has already shown enough at top level as an outside back that it isn't so surprising.

There is a real danger in expecting too much from young halves in the NRL. Players with a few years experience, like Tim Smith and Chris Sandow, can still be shown up and put on the scrap heap. Plenty of halves show potential, but being a 5/8 or half back that can last 2 or 3 seasons and not be found out is tough. More so than any other positions, if player rotation and expectation vs actual careers of halves is anything to go by.

Guys as good as DCE and Thurston are very rare, and even being an "average" long time first grader, like Robson or Wallace, is rare enough.

Brooks looks fine, had a tough day, I hope he finds his feet. I hope Townsend improves also, as the game is better for having competent halves in every team.

It will be particularly tough for Brooks with a poor pack, and whoever ends up in the Warriors halves will also have to contend with a supposedly good pack, but one that can turn in poor performances away from home.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

A high tackle isn't a foul?

It was about a foot off the ground. How is that high?

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

It was about a foot off the ground. How is that high?

:lol:

Thought an 8 point try was a bit harsh because you rarely see them compared to the amount of players who cop a stray shot, but a foot off the ground, no he was much higher than that.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Why do we lose to shit shit teams but beat the good ones?

Which good teams do you beat?

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Which good teams do you beat?

He's referring to last year when we beat the Roosters, Manly, Knights, Storm, Cowboys. Nice troll attempt though.

 

[Masoe_eats_babies]

Which good teams do you beat?

Eagles, Roosters, Storm? Beat a few of the top 8 last year in fairness.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Enjoy Norman, Eels fans, he's all yours now lol

I thought he was good. A steady influence is just what we needed. Ma'u had a blinder running outside him.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Lol brushed the grass. What happened to down with pressure? Is that out the window this season too?

When did they change the rule from 'arm holding the ball'?

 

[POPEYE]

Johnson is not the player most people think, extraordinary yes reliable no

 

[Noa]

The vast majority of people know what he is at this stage of his career pops.

 

[hineyrulz]

I'm off the Eels. NZ got dis.

Cheers BM.

 

[Rebel]

Which good teams do you beat?

Both of last years grand finalists?

 

[chrisD]

Not sure what people expected from Tomkins. He's a guy who links with the halves and outside backs to create scoring opportunities.

Warriors had very few opportunities, and when they did he came up with two try assists, almost put Fish away for a third and if Manu wasn't so flat in attack he would've put him away down the wing for a break. If two try assists per game is the worst he does all year I won't be complaining too much.

Eels didn't hammer the Warriors forwards but they did very well of wrapping up the tackler to prevent offloads/quick roll ons where guys like Tomkins can come into their own.

So he's Moylan, on five times the money.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Both wingers get a hattrick.

I wish I could point to something brilliantly out of the ordinary in attack, but really, the Warriors have failed to aim up on the edges for as long as I can remember.

Normally tries out wide are a sign of a team dominating up the middle but neither team was able to generate much ruck speed. It was just poor defending from the Warriors' edges.

 

[KeepingTheFaith]

Normally tries out wide are a sign of a team dominating up the middle but neither team was able to generate much ruck speed. It was just poor defending from the Warriors' edges.

At this point I would settle for "poor" edge defense. :lol:

Clueless would be an understatement. It's why I feel sorry for the forwards. Even if they gain parity with the opposition forwards they're more likely to lose because of what's outside them.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Eels shock the world. Good on them.

Tomkins is not the superstar people think he is. He in his prime years reminds me of a 30 year old Billy Slater.

The only people who think he is a marquee level talent are people who do not understand the difference in quality between the SL and the NRL. He looked amazing over there because all the players around him were all relatively slower and less skilled. Here he is just like most NRL first graders and does not and will not stand out.

It's one game, and a poor game in which to judge him. Spine players, especially the smaller ones, need their forwards to go forward to create the space they need to excel. The Warriors' forwards didn't create any space today, which is why both Tomkins and Johnson looked ordinary.

If you don't believe me look at Adam Reynolds behind Souths' pack most weeks compared to how he goes when Souths' pack is slowed down up the middle.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Your right mate, I should not believe in my team who on f**ken paper are a top4 side but deliver this f**king pathetic shit up.

Warriors are a mid table side, same as Parra.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Both of last years grand finalists?

In 24 games you're bound to catch someone on a bad day. We beat the defending premiers most years.