Eels in the media

[Gazzamatta]

BA loves Peni. Reckon he will be there somewhere.

 

[Obscene Assassin]

I reckon Bev doesn't work at fullback in our current team because our halves play so late into the line. If he got earlier ball he could use his footwork and ball playing ability better. Because our halves play the way they do we need a stronger fullback, they don't necessarily need to be the best ball player as our halves already can play wide of the ruck.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

He was left out round 1

Having said that .... my mind wanders with conspiracy theories - left out round one, then gets a injury thats only a 1 week injury

Had the same thought. There was that talk in the off season. Although I think it probably had nothing to do with it. Not crucifying BA for it either.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I think the 3 thingsnyou identified were pretty clearly logical decisions ...

Jennings has always favoured the left and hayne right when he has played a side

French was always been touted a fullback

Our forwards were a total coin toss as to who would miss out

Exactly. As Arthur said, selections weren't the reason for our losses. But if we're making changes now it's an attempt to shake things (i.e. players) up, not fix a supposed selection error after only two games.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Exactly. As Arthur said, selections weren't the reason for our losses. But if we're making changes now it's an attempt to shake things (i.e. players) up, not fix a supposed selection error after only two games.

I don't believe one follows the other. Strider is right when he says those decisions were understandable, or 50/50, but it doesn't then follow that the changes are merely an attempt to shake things up. If they are then no doubt we'll revert to the same team in future. Probably several times. I don't see that happening.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hayne’s defence in the centres has been suspect so pairing him next to Moses was ridiculous, particularly considering how successful Jennings was there last year in both attack and defence.

French may be touted as a fullback for the future but he certainly isn’t a quality one yet. With Guth out, both of these issues could have been soughted from round 1, which BA has now realised is best for the team, but plenty here proposed in the off season.

The Edwards ommission was a f**k up,
plain and simple. He’d be one of the first forwards picked in or 17 by the vast majority on here. If we can see it based on our previous performances BA should have as well. Thankfully he has seen sense.

Except Arthur had as good a view last year as you had. And what's more he had a much better view during the off season. He knows the players better, and he knows Jarryd Hayne is a quality, expensive player (even with his pay cut). But Hayne doesn't have a best position in a balanced team. So Arthur is trying to find him a position. Centre almost certainly isn't it, but neither is fullback or the halves.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Do you reckon 50% of people on here had Edwards out of their round 1 side?

I would've picked him, but then he isn't the best defender either. He is an attacking player, so best running out wide, but in defence you probably want someone better inside Moses. It's tough. Takairangi is a better defender so it's understandable he is now our right side edge forward. But I would've found a spot for Edwards, probably in the middle. He lacks Matagi's power, but is better in every other area.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Except Arthur had as good a view last year as you had. And what's more he had a much better view during the off season. He knows the players better, and he knows Jarryd Hayne is a quality, expensive player (even with his pay cut). But Hayne doesn't have a best position in a balanced team. So Arthur is trying to find him a position. Centre almost certainly isn't it, but neither is fullback or the halves.

But he's moved Hayne to fullback. Why do that if it's not his best position? I think the talk about French having first shot at fullback was mostly to keep up morale. Didn't we already get an indication of that with Hayne spending time at fullback so soon? I haven't seen anything from Hayne to say he deserves the number one but I don't think BA makes changes lightly or to shake things up.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

And Kenny is the clear winner as an edge forward over them all. I’d also have him over Ma’u. Another option would have been having Moeroa play in the middle and dropping Matagi. It’s easy for me to say this in hindsight but we were also stating this in the lead up to round 1 after the side was announced.

So for mine, the decision was as ridiculous as you can get and the result tends to agree.

Well no, if the others were picked ahead of him then you have to assume he would have performed worse than them, not better. We would have lost by more.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I don't believe one follows the other. Strider is right when he says those decisions were understandable, or 50/50, but it doesn't then follow that the changes are merely an attempt to shake things up. If they are then no doubt we'll revert to the same team in future. Probably several times. I don't see that happening.

Except that's how Arthur sees the best makeup of the team after an entire pre-season (plus the previous four years). Why would two games (with shit attitudes) change that?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But he's moved Hayne to fullback. Why do that if it's not his best position? I think the talk about French having first shot at fullback was mostly to keep up morale. Didn't we already get an indication of that with Hayne spending time at fullback so soon? I haven't seen anything from Hayne to say he deserves the number one but I don't think BA makes changes lightly or to shake things up.

Well yeah, Hayne has already been playing fullback for us, swapping with French. This way he is no longer defending at centre, but will surely be swapping with French on the wing now instead.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Except that's how Arthur sees the best makeup of the team after an entire pre-season (plus the previous four years). Why would two games (with shit attitudes) change that?

Because he's made changes. How often do coaches make changes to "shake things up" compared to changes to improve the team? Not very often I bet.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Well yeah, Hayne has already been playing fullback for us, swapping with French. This way he is no longer defending at centre, but will surely be swapping with French on the wing now instead.

I will be interested to see if any swapping occurs. French was getting isolated in the middle of all places.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I remember him getting driven over the sideline. In the middle he was no more isolated than any of the other lightweight fullbacks (who are all targeted with high kicks). At least in the middle there are two directions to run, for both the fullback and the runners following after.

 

[Happy MEel]

Except Arthur had as good a view last year as you had. And what's more he had a much better view during the off season. He knows the players better, and he knows Jarryd Hayne is a quality, expensive player (even with his pay cut). But Hayne doesn't have a best position in a balanced team. So Arthur is trying to find him a position. Centre almost certainly isn't it, but neither is fullback or the halves.

And yet from all reports Hayne will be fullback this weekend instead of wing. Is it only the “wrong decision” if BA doesn’t agree with you?

 

[Happy MEel]

Well no, if the others were picked ahead of him then you have to assume he would have performed worse than them, not better. We would have lost by more.

To assume is to make an ass of u and me. My assumption is that BA has seen the errors of his ways and to his credit is addressing them.

By your logic above then you have to assume Hayne will perform better at fullback and French will perform better on the wing. Can we look forward to the ending of your constant Hayne to the wing agenda?

 

[Happy MEel]

Exactly. As Arthur said, selections weren't the reason for our losses. But if we're making changes now it's an attempt to shake things (i.e. players) up, not fix a supposed selection error after only two games.

Well I’m glad BA absolved himself from all responsibility for the losses. IMO he shares the blame with the players.

 

[Noise]

Apparently coaches don't make selection mistakes.

 

[Gronk]

 

[Kornstar]

Plus completely different infringements. The Penrith one was trying to save a try.