Hurriflatch
Referee
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Parramatta sit in 7th on the compeition ladder with 10 points coming from 5 wins and 4 losses as they head into a round 10 bye. Overall the number of wins is about as expected however, Parramatta have lost games they should've won which has meant games they didn't bargin on winning at the start of the year became must win matches.
The Eels have shown at times that they can match it with any side in the comp a 12 pt win in Melbourne on Saturday Night and putting 50 pts on the Cowboys are proof of this. They have had games where they should've won or at very least kept the score respectable for example the losses to Souths, Sharks and Brisbane.
The new recruits have started to gel Glenn Morrison has been the most impressive all the new signings while Paul Stringer has been the biggest surprise packet of the new boys.
Player-by-Player
Afamasaga, Jack - Second Row: Has only played 1 top grade game which happened to be the day the Broncos destroyed Parramatta. Seems to be suffering from "2nd year sydrome" with this being a contract year for Jack he'd want to shake off any monkey's and get back to his top form if he wants to remain an Eel in 2006.
Grading: Incomplete
Burt, Luke - Winger/Fullback: Burt's defensive problems have be shown up again but his raw speed and broken field running does help him keep a spot in the side. As the teams 1st choice goalkicker he's been kicking at 69% mean only Brisbane (Lockyer) and Melbourne (Smith and Orford) have a lower success rate with the boot. Burt will need to work on this or give another person the duties if Parramatta want to win the big end of season games.
Burt's general play kicking that saw him net 3 40/20's in two weeks has been an unexpected shining light in his game. His kick returns from fullback have also been impressive.
Grading: C+
Cannings, Aaron - Prop: Injuries have again ruined the big man's season to date. A shoulder injury just when he was starting to find form against Melbourne will put Cannings back a long way.
Potentially, one of the most damanging ball running front rowers in the NRL. Cannings needs to fufil that potential and hope for a better run with injuries.
Grading: Incomplete
Cayless, Nathan - Prop: The captain is back. After a slow start to the year he was shifted back into the front row for the round 4 clash against the Panthers and hasn't looked back.
Like Cannings had a horror run with injury in recent seasons. Snubbed from the New Zealand test side for the ANZAC weekend test match. Cayless has put in a number of powerhouse performances none better then his last hitup against a Cowboys pack containing the likes of Paul Rauhihi, Luke O'Donnell, Steve Southern and Carl Webb. Toping the day with 172 metres from 21 hitups and throwing in 30 tackles which was 2nd only behind team mate and the NRL's top tackler, Nathan Hindmarsh.
Grading: B+
Graham, Ashley - Utility Back: Is finally starting to get back from the horror ankle injury suffered at Suncorp Stadium back in 2003. Before being injured as one of the Eels better performers from fullback.
Has never been back to the same level despite 10 operations on the leg. Seemed to be back when he had a strong game against the Panthers however the next week against Brisbane was targeted in the 54-14 rout and hasn't seen 1st grade since.
Grading: Incomplete
Grothe, Eric - Winger: Like Cayless, has been back to his damaging best now that he has been able to get a string of games played back to back. Still leads the team in tries with 7 despite missing the Eels thumping of the Cowboys.
Was very unlucky not to get named in the NSW 30 man Origin sqaud and may look to take his frustrations out on opponents in the coming weeks. If he can stay injury free gives the Eels a genuine strike player outside.
Has improved on his defense but is still prone to some brain explosions in this area.
Grade: A+
Henderson, Ian - Hooker: Played all of 5 seconds in 1st grade. WAs very impressive in the lower grade earning a call up with Mark Riddell out suspended but was forced off the field in the first play of the game.
Grading: Incomplete
Hindmarsh, Nathan - Second Row: Still topping the NRL in tackles espite noted defenders Glenn Morrison and Chad Robinson joining the Eels. As yet hasn't reached his best on a consistant level. Was the Eels only representative in the Origin Sqaud and will be missing for some games this year when on Origin duty. Parramatta are better equipped this year to deal with the loss of Hindmarsh and if he can find his best each week could cause a lot of headaches of opposing coaches and players.
Grading: B
Marsh, PJ - Hooker/Half: Has come back well after being out of the game for almost 2 years. Starting to find his feet in 1st grade and will only getting better as the season progresses. Solid defensivly, Marsh is one of the best dummy half runners in the comp and in a tag team with Mark Riddell forces the opposition defense to be on their toes all game.
Grading: B
McKinnon, Wade - Fullback: A hamstring injury kept him out for 7 weeks but his return in round 8 against the Bulldogs was solid considering his layoff and he was back to his best the following week against the Cowboys.
Very under-rated fullback one of the best defensive fullbacks in the comp and also is a great support player something Parramatta missed during his absence.
Grading: B+
Moimoi, Fuifui - Prop: Has only played 1 game but what a game it was. Provided tremendous impact off the bench in a role that Cannings has been unable to fill with injury. Fui's name gets his a lot of publicity and some he'd prefer not to have but the men who matter most in coach Brian Smith and his team mates know what Moimoi brings to the side. Has improved his fitness during the offseason and played 35 minutes in his only match of the year in the top grade
Grading: Incomplete
Morris, John - Utility: Has been used this year at 5/8 with great success there were a lot of eyebrows raised when John Morrris' name appeared next in the halves at the start of the year but his game in the opening 9 weeks has proven his doubters wrong.
Has formed a very good halves combination with rookie Tim Smith, and leads the NRL 5/8th's with 7 try assists. Has also taken some pressure off Smith with his kicking game.
Grading: A
Morrison, Glenn - 2nd Rower/Lock: Has been the best of the new signings and from day 1 looked like he had been wearing a Parramatta jersey his entire life. Like Grothe was unlucky not to make the NSW 30 man sqaud.
A good running 2nd rower forms one of the best 2nd rows in the NRL with Nathan Hindmarsh and is in the top 10 NRL tacklers with 283. Is 2nd behind Grothe with 4 tries to his name in 2005.
Grading: A+
O'Dwyer, Luke - Utlity: Can play centre, 5/8 or lock where he has been used for most of his top grade career. Has only played 2 games this year but his performance against the Cowboys should see that figure rise.
Grading: Incomplete
Peek, Adam - Prop: Has been a solid player this year, not as big a name as some of the other members of the Eels forwards, but is just as important as a Morrison, Hindmarsh or Cayless to the overall structure of the side. Gets through a lot of work even off the bench and will be hard to leave out of even a full strength Eels 17.
Grading: B+
Perenara, Henry - Lock: Has had his season interupted by injury but has impressed during his time in the top grade, like Paul Stringer has been a plesant surprise of the new signings. Scored a try against his former club, Melbourne. Will need to fight to get his spot back but deserves to be in the top grade again this year.
Grading: B+
Petersen, Matt - Wing: Has faced a battle for his wing spot with Grothe and Burt showing that 3 doesn't fit into 2. Has still played well when given the chance which was helped by McKinnon's injury. Hasn't done much wrong in the games he has played and has improved his defense remarkably in the last 12 months.
Grading: B
Riddell, Mark - Hooker: Was signed to provide a solid option from dummy half and has been able to do that. Like Morrison, Riddell looked like he had been palying for Parramatta for years even from round 1. Gives Parramatt a strong 2nd string kicking option, hasn't run from dummy half as much as previous years but once he does should get back to the top of his game.
Grading: B
Robinson, Chad - Second Row: Can also fill in in the front row. Defensively has been strong in the games that he has played but has lacked a little with the ball. Was brought down in the early season with a knee problem. Will face a strong fight from the likes of Peek and Perenara to keep his spot in the 17
Grading: C+
Smith, Ben - Centre: Has only played 1 game in 2005 but from that seems to have learnt how to use his size, something that held him back in hsi 3 top grade games of 2004. Joins a host of players looking for a spot in the Eels 3/4 line.
Grading: Incomplete
Smith, Tim - Halfback: Little can be said about Tim Smith that hasn't already been said 1,000 times. So it's easier just to say that he is the front runner for the rookie of the year and reel of some stats
1st in NRL with 14 try assists
1st in NRL with 3 intercepts
NRL Record for 2005 with 5 try assists in one match
also in near the top of the NRL in Line break assists and kicks in play, and has scored 2 tries.
Grading: A++
Stringer, Paul - Prop: Has been very surprising this year while the talent was always there had been troubled by back complaints before arriving at Parramatta. Has been making metres each week including over 200 against the Sharks. If he can stay injury free could prove a very handy buy for the club.
Grading: B+
Tahu, Timana - Centre/Winger: Came to the club wanting to play centre and has been given that role, as yet hasn't had the offensive impact expected but needs some better quality ball to show his best with the side really starting to form strong combinations accross the park that ball should now come.
Has been very solid in defense an area that up to joining the Eels has been a major problem for the former Knight.
Grading: B-
Vella, Michael - Prop: Has come back from cancer treatment to play well in the limited game time he has had. Looks to be back to his best but still needs some work on match fitness. If he can get back to the form he showed in 2001 then a new contract should be waiting for him.
Grading: B
Wagon, Daniel - Utility: Has been used in most matches in the centres, can also play at lock. Defensivly is one of the best players in the club and even the NRL. Has shown glimpes of the passing game that seemed devoid when he played at 5/8.
Grading: B
Widders, Dean - Second Row: Close to the best bench player in the game today. Provides the Eels with a strong running and ball playing back rower. Has a very good step and surprising turn of pace for a man of his size.
Grading: B+
The Eels have shown at times that they can match it with any side in the comp a 12 pt win in Melbourne on Saturday Night and putting 50 pts on the Cowboys are proof of this. They have had games where they should've won or at very least kept the score respectable for example the losses to Souths, Sharks and Brisbane.
The new recruits have started to gel Glenn Morrison has been the most impressive all the new signings while Paul Stringer has been the biggest surprise packet of the new boys.
Player-by-Player
Afamasaga, Jack - Second Row: Has only played 1 top grade game which happened to be the day the Broncos destroyed Parramatta. Seems to be suffering from "2nd year sydrome" with this being a contract year for Jack he'd want to shake off any monkey's and get back to his top form if he wants to remain an Eel in 2006.
Grading: Incomplete
Burt, Luke - Winger/Fullback: Burt's defensive problems have be shown up again but his raw speed and broken field running does help him keep a spot in the side. As the teams 1st choice goalkicker he's been kicking at 69% mean only Brisbane (Lockyer) and Melbourne (Smith and Orford) have a lower success rate with the boot. Burt will need to work on this or give another person the duties if Parramatta want to win the big end of season games.
Burt's general play kicking that saw him net 3 40/20's in two weeks has been an unexpected shining light in his game. His kick returns from fullback have also been impressive.
Grading: C+
Cannings, Aaron - Prop: Injuries have again ruined the big man's season to date. A shoulder injury just when he was starting to find form against Melbourne will put Cannings back a long way.
Potentially, one of the most damanging ball running front rowers in the NRL. Cannings needs to fufil that potential and hope for a better run with injuries.
Grading: Incomplete
Cayless, Nathan - Prop: The captain is back. After a slow start to the year he was shifted back into the front row for the round 4 clash against the Panthers and hasn't looked back.
Like Cannings had a horror run with injury in recent seasons. Snubbed from the New Zealand test side for the ANZAC weekend test match. Cayless has put in a number of powerhouse performances none better then his last hitup against a Cowboys pack containing the likes of Paul Rauhihi, Luke O'Donnell, Steve Southern and Carl Webb. Toping the day with 172 metres from 21 hitups and throwing in 30 tackles which was 2nd only behind team mate and the NRL's top tackler, Nathan Hindmarsh.
Grading: B+
Graham, Ashley - Utility Back: Is finally starting to get back from the horror ankle injury suffered at Suncorp Stadium back in 2003. Before being injured as one of the Eels better performers from fullback.
Has never been back to the same level despite 10 operations on the leg. Seemed to be back when he had a strong game against the Panthers however the next week against Brisbane was targeted in the 54-14 rout and hasn't seen 1st grade since.
Grading: Incomplete
Grothe, Eric - Winger: Like Cayless, has been back to his damaging best now that he has been able to get a string of games played back to back. Still leads the team in tries with 7 despite missing the Eels thumping of the Cowboys.
Was very unlucky not to get named in the NSW 30 man Origin sqaud and may look to take his frustrations out on opponents in the coming weeks. If he can stay injury free gives the Eels a genuine strike player outside.
Has improved on his defense but is still prone to some brain explosions in this area.
Grade: A+
Henderson, Ian - Hooker: Played all of 5 seconds in 1st grade. WAs very impressive in the lower grade earning a call up with Mark Riddell out suspended but was forced off the field in the first play of the game.
Grading: Incomplete
Hindmarsh, Nathan - Second Row: Still topping the NRL in tackles espite noted defenders Glenn Morrison and Chad Robinson joining the Eels. As yet hasn't reached his best on a consistant level. Was the Eels only representative in the Origin Sqaud and will be missing for some games this year when on Origin duty. Parramatta are better equipped this year to deal with the loss of Hindmarsh and if he can find his best each week could cause a lot of headaches of opposing coaches and players.
Grading: B
Marsh, PJ - Hooker/Half: Has come back well after being out of the game for almost 2 years. Starting to find his feet in 1st grade and will only getting better as the season progresses. Solid defensivly, Marsh is one of the best dummy half runners in the comp and in a tag team with Mark Riddell forces the opposition defense to be on their toes all game.
Grading: B
McKinnon, Wade - Fullback: A hamstring injury kept him out for 7 weeks but his return in round 8 against the Bulldogs was solid considering his layoff and he was back to his best the following week against the Cowboys.
Very under-rated fullback one of the best defensive fullbacks in the comp and also is a great support player something Parramatta missed during his absence.
Grading: B+
Moimoi, Fuifui - Prop: Has only played 1 game but what a game it was. Provided tremendous impact off the bench in a role that Cannings has been unable to fill with injury. Fui's name gets his a lot of publicity and some he'd prefer not to have but the men who matter most in coach Brian Smith and his team mates know what Moimoi brings to the side. Has improved his fitness during the offseason and played 35 minutes in his only match of the year in the top grade
Grading: Incomplete
Morris, John - Utility: Has been used this year at 5/8 with great success there were a lot of eyebrows raised when John Morrris' name appeared next in the halves at the start of the year but his game in the opening 9 weeks has proven his doubters wrong.
Has formed a very good halves combination with rookie Tim Smith, and leads the NRL 5/8th's with 7 try assists. Has also taken some pressure off Smith with his kicking game.
Grading: A
Morrison, Glenn - 2nd Rower/Lock: Has been the best of the new signings and from day 1 looked like he had been wearing a Parramatta jersey his entire life. Like Grothe was unlucky not to make the NSW 30 man sqaud.
A good running 2nd rower forms one of the best 2nd rows in the NRL with Nathan Hindmarsh and is in the top 10 NRL tacklers with 283. Is 2nd behind Grothe with 4 tries to his name in 2005.
Grading: A+
O'Dwyer, Luke - Utlity: Can play centre, 5/8 or lock where he has been used for most of his top grade career. Has only played 2 games this year but his performance against the Cowboys should see that figure rise.
Grading: Incomplete
Peek, Adam - Prop: Has been a solid player this year, not as big a name as some of the other members of the Eels forwards, but is just as important as a Morrison, Hindmarsh or Cayless to the overall structure of the side. Gets through a lot of work even off the bench and will be hard to leave out of even a full strength Eels 17.
Grading: B+
Perenara, Henry - Lock: Has had his season interupted by injury but has impressed during his time in the top grade, like Paul Stringer has been a plesant surprise of the new signings. Scored a try against his former club, Melbourne. Will need to fight to get his spot back but deserves to be in the top grade again this year.
Grading: B+
Petersen, Matt - Wing: Has faced a battle for his wing spot with Grothe and Burt showing that 3 doesn't fit into 2. Has still played well when given the chance which was helped by McKinnon's injury. Hasn't done much wrong in the games he has played and has improved his defense remarkably in the last 12 months.
Grading: B
Riddell, Mark - Hooker: Was signed to provide a solid option from dummy half and has been able to do that. Like Morrison, Riddell looked like he had been palying for Parramatta for years even from round 1. Gives Parramatt a strong 2nd string kicking option, hasn't run from dummy half as much as previous years but once he does should get back to the top of his game.
Grading: B
Robinson, Chad - Second Row: Can also fill in in the front row. Defensively has been strong in the games that he has played but has lacked a little with the ball. Was brought down in the early season with a knee problem. Will face a strong fight from the likes of Peek and Perenara to keep his spot in the 17
Grading: C+
Smith, Ben - Centre: Has only played 1 game in 2005 but from that seems to have learnt how to use his size, something that held him back in hsi 3 top grade games of 2004. Joins a host of players looking for a spot in the Eels 3/4 line.
Grading: Incomplete
Smith, Tim - Halfback: Little can be said about Tim Smith that hasn't already been said 1,000 times. So it's easier just to say that he is the front runner for the rookie of the year and reel of some stats
1st in NRL with 14 try assists
1st in NRL with 3 intercepts
NRL Record for 2005 with 5 try assists in one match
also in near the top of the NRL in Line break assists and kicks in play, and has scored 2 tries.
Grading: A++
Stringer, Paul - Prop: Has been very surprising this year while the talent was always there had been troubled by back complaints before arriving at Parramatta. Has been making metres each week including over 200 against the Sharks. If he can stay injury free could prove a very handy buy for the club.
Grading: B+
Tahu, Timana - Centre/Winger: Came to the club wanting to play centre and has been given that role, as yet hasn't had the offensive impact expected but needs some better quality ball to show his best with the side really starting to form strong combinations accross the park that ball should now come.
Has been very solid in defense an area that up to joining the Eels has been a major problem for the former Knight.
Grading: B-
Vella, Michael - Prop: Has come back from cancer treatment to play well in the limited game time he has had. Looks to be back to his best but still needs some work on match fitness. If he can get back to the form he showed in 2001 then a new contract should be waiting for him.
Grading: B
Wagon, Daniel - Utility: Has been used in most matches in the centres, can also play at lock. Defensivly is one of the best players in the club and even the NRL. Has shown glimpes of the passing game that seemed devoid when he played at 5/8.
Grading: B
Widders, Dean - Second Row: Close to the best bench player in the game today. Provides the Eels with a strong running and ball playing back rower. Has a very good step and surprising turn of pace for a man of his size.
Grading: B+
