Most of us would have seen last year the Warriors knocking off Melbourne down at Olympic Park, which had me jumping up and down with my mates in shock that they'd been beaten. A team with such dominance last year, the caliber of players they had in the line up, the 1-1 match ups against the Warriors with the Storm favoured in most, and the fact it was being played at Olympic Park on a windy Sunday afternoon. No one thought it was possible.
But for the mighty Eels to progress further on in the competition, the same has to be done on Sunday, something which has only been done once before. If we look at last year, not many people would have given the Warriors a chance. Look at the matchups:
1. Slater/Hohaia
2. Turner/Kirk
4. Folau/Ropati
6. Inglis/Witt
7. Cronk/Fien
9. Smith/Henderson
And a forward pack of White, Crocker, Hoffman and Johnson. The class was all there, but the Warriors somehow came out on top.
The Warriors played the better football on the day and the result eventually came their way. If I remember correctly, two of the Warriors tries came from contested kicks, something I think the Eels have to do a lot more of this Sunday. If we can't get through or around the Dragons like we have been able to do to so many other teams in the last 7 weeks, we have to give ourselves every other chance and make a contest. Giving Eric a fair jump at the ball, or lobbing it up infield towards some of the smaller St George defenders with 2/3 chasers coming through I think will be a good tactic, something Tim Smith used to do a lot when he was at half.
Playing from in front will be another crucial thing for the Eels. The Eels are a perfect example of a team who play better football with confidence. On Friday night when we got to far behind, we lost belief that we could crack the Dragons defense and started throwing the ball around aimlessly. If we match the Dragons forwards in toughness and put early points on the board and at the same time keep the Dragons scoreless for the first 20/30min, we will be the ones putting pressure on them and hopefully forcing them into playing the wild style of football we played last week.
In 2007 when we played Melboune at Etihad in round 1 of the finals, we scored early but then let the pressure off by letting in soft tries. If we get the luxuary of scoring first (we have to) against St George, we have to toughen up and play field position and put the pressure back on them. Some games our forwards go out there possessed, other games they go out like pussies and lose meters every hitup.
We need to start with Mateo, he creates so many opportunites that could potentially get us out to an early 2/3 try lead created by himself. Hayne/Burt/Inu and the other forwards need to stalk this guy around the field, he constantly creates opportunities and when someone makes a bust - because they will - we HAVE to turn them into points. No point breaking the defense then getting chased down and tackled 40m downfield. Support around Mateo and Hayne is crucial.
The Eels play a more open game of football when the forwards pass the ball before the line, whether it be to another forward trying to hit a hole or to Morts or Robbo behind the play trying to create space. Caylo, Hindy and Fui are all really good at this and the more done the better.
Offloading is another thing we have to produce consistantly on Sunday. 2nd phase play is one of our great strengths being blessed with such gamebreakers such as Hayne, Inu and Mateo, and if we can get the ball to these guys with the Dragons forwards backpeddling, it will go a long way for us making meters downfield and controlling the pace of the play and the ruck.
As you can see this week is already going at snails pace waiting for this game to come
The boys can do this, we just have to pretty much play a perfect structured game, hope that the refereeing decisions aren't to affected by the Kograh crowd and that the Dragons get a bit overwhelmed by the occasion and aren't on their game.
But for the mighty Eels to progress further on in the competition, the same has to be done on Sunday, something which has only been done once before. If we look at last year, not many people would have given the Warriors a chance. Look at the matchups:
1. Slater/Hohaia
2. Turner/Kirk
4. Folau/Ropati
6. Inglis/Witt
7. Cronk/Fien
9. Smith/Henderson
And a forward pack of White, Crocker, Hoffman and Johnson. The class was all there, but the Warriors somehow came out on top.
The Warriors played the better football on the day and the result eventually came their way. If I remember correctly, two of the Warriors tries came from contested kicks, something I think the Eels have to do a lot more of this Sunday. If we can't get through or around the Dragons like we have been able to do to so many other teams in the last 7 weeks, we have to give ourselves every other chance and make a contest. Giving Eric a fair jump at the ball, or lobbing it up infield towards some of the smaller St George defenders with 2/3 chasers coming through I think will be a good tactic, something Tim Smith used to do a lot when he was at half.
Playing from in front will be another crucial thing for the Eels. The Eels are a perfect example of a team who play better football with confidence. On Friday night when we got to far behind, we lost belief that we could crack the Dragons defense and started throwing the ball around aimlessly. If we match the Dragons forwards in toughness and put early points on the board and at the same time keep the Dragons scoreless for the first 20/30min, we will be the ones putting pressure on them and hopefully forcing them into playing the wild style of football we played last week.
In 2007 when we played Melboune at Etihad in round 1 of the finals, we scored early but then let the pressure off by letting in soft tries. If we get the luxuary of scoring first (we have to) against St George, we have to toughen up and play field position and put the pressure back on them. Some games our forwards go out there possessed, other games they go out like pussies and lose meters every hitup.
We need to start with Mateo, he creates so many opportunites that could potentially get us out to an early 2/3 try lead created by himself. Hayne/Burt/Inu and the other forwards need to stalk this guy around the field, he constantly creates opportunities and when someone makes a bust - because they will - we HAVE to turn them into points. No point breaking the defense then getting chased down and tackled 40m downfield. Support around Mateo and Hayne is crucial.
The Eels play a more open game of football when the forwards pass the ball before the line, whether it be to another forward trying to hit a hole or to Morts or Robbo behind the play trying to create space. Caylo, Hindy and Fui are all really good at this and the more done the better.
Offloading is another thing we have to produce consistantly on Sunday. 2nd phase play is one of our great strengths being blessed with such gamebreakers such as Hayne, Inu and Mateo, and if we can get the ball to these guys with the Dragons forwards backpeddling, it will go a long way for us making meters downfield and controlling the pace of the play and the ruck.
As you can see this week is already going at snails pace waiting for this game to come
The boys can do this, we just have to pretty much play a perfect structured game, hope that the refereeing decisions aren't to affected by the Kograh crowd and that the Dragons get a bit overwhelmed by the occasion and aren't on their game.
