Eels in the media

[golfer]

We sure do need a centres with half a clue. We have Fox and he was starved of the ball vs Manly. How dumb.

Lomax might have been throwing speculators, but FMD at least he is trying. I'd rather that than him catching a cold like JAC.

Was at the game. penisini and then Lane refused to pass him the ball in quick succession when he was unmarked. Penisini did the same thing against the Bulldogs. I wonder if there is an issue there.

 

[golfer]

Simonson was one of best last year playing centre

Simonson was very average on Sunday. I would move Brown to centre and play Iongi or Papalii at 5/8 with the other one at fullback. They have shown in a short while that the have elusive skills and speed.

 

[golfer]

Maybe he is preserving his ACL

That thought passed my mind watching the way he is playing. Perhaps he is concerned that if he gets injured the deal with Newcastle might fall through because there may be a clause in the contract.

 

[King-Gutho94]

Was at the game. penisini and then Lane refused to pass him the ball in quick succession when he was unmarked. Penisini did the same thing against the Bulldogs. I wonder if there is an issue there.

Penisini isn't a good passer & thats the problem.

Its simple basic stuff that weren't taught when players are coming through the development stage of there career.

Now its too late as too much of this has been ingrained into there game.

Plus he has a rugby background which doesn't help.

 

[Chipmunk]

Penisini isn't a good passer & thats the problem.

Its simple basic stuff that weren't taught when players are coming through the development stage of there career.

Now its too late as too much of this has been ingrained into there game.

Plus he has a rugby background which doesn't help.

Only Jake was allowed pass the ball in that team...

 

[golfer]

Penisini isn't a good passer & thats the problem.

Its simple basic stuff that weren't taught when players are coming through the development stage of there career.

Now its too late as too much of this has been ingrained into there game.

Plus he has a rugby background which doesn't help.

He may not be a good passer but surely he has the ability to learn, he is not a child. If he is unable to adapt then NSW Cup might be the place to learn. What is Lanes excuse.

 

[Twizzle]

He may not be a good passer but surely he has the ability to learn, he is not a child. If he is unable to adapt then NSW Cup might be the place to learn. What is Lanes excuse.

exactly, he was a good passer 2 years ago

there is so much wrong with this team at the moment its hard to fathom why some players have forgotten how to play or why they are playing so bad

 

[King-Gutho94]

 

[hindy111]

Of course a coach would meet with potential players to share his vision for the future and the player.

That doesn't mean he signs them.

Coaches don't do the paperwork but they'd give input on players they want 100%. They'd be involved in player negotiations. If they where not then the club doesn't trust them.

 

[the phantom menace]

Was at the game. penisini and then Lane refused to pass him the ball in quick succession when he was unmarked. Penisini did the same thing against the Bulldogs. I wonder if there is an issue there.

Penisini is playing like he is dirty that he was made to change sides for Lomax, and seems he is taking it out on everyone else.

Or maybe he's dirty that JAC's signing has blocked a potential pathway this year for his younger brother Richard - both being BA boys from Rouse Hill Rhinos too.

 

[Timana]

Penisini is playing like he is dirty that he was made to change sides for Lomax, and seems he is taking it out on everyone else.

Or maybe he's dirty that JAC's signing has blocked a potential pathway this year for his younger brother Richard - both being BA boys from Rouse Hill Rhinos too.

he's just making bad calls in defense. On the right, he would use the side line to defend. Maybe on the left, the sideline for him is 40m aways. He hasn't adjusted how to use the left side line.

They always said the right edge is harder in defense, so why is he worse?

Maybe make him Right 2nd row. He runs hard and could run good lines... Turn him into a Liam Martin type player.

Then Richie can play on the left !

 

[emjaycee]

Penisini is playing like he is dirty that he was made to change sides for Lomax, and seems he is taking it out on everyone else.

Or maybe he's dirty that JAC's signing has blocked a potential pathway this year for his younger brother Richard - both being BA boys from Rouse Hill Rhinos too.

You obviously don't know too many professional sportspeople if you think issues like these would make them 'dirty' to the point that they would take it out on their team mates by not trying their hardest.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We sure do need a centres with half a clue. We have Fox and he was starved of the ball vs Manly. How dumb.

Lomax might have been throwing speculators, but FMD at least he is trying. I'd rather that than him catching a cold like JAC.

The discussion about who should play centre relates to our defence, not our attack.

As for attack, one of the causes of Lomax's errant passes is that we are trying to get him the ball (at centre) when the centre should be running a decoy line. If Lomax was on the wing, he could receive those cut out passes from the right side playmaker without the opposing winger landing on him, which is what's happening to him at centre.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

exactly, he was a good passer 2 years ago

there is so much wrong with this team at the moment its hard to fathom why some players have forgotten how to play or why they are playing so bad

Confidence. Throwing passes near the sideline and in traffic are high risk moves that could lead to a turnover. When confidence is down the risk calculation suffers and a merkin might opt to protect possession instead.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Coaches don't do the paperwork but they'd give input on players they want 100%. They'd be involved in player negotiations. If they where not then the club doesn't trust them.

And what if the player won't come unless he gets overs? Who makes the call then? If you turn your nose up at every merkin who won't sign for a fair price you could find yourself without a squad. Who makes that call?

 

[the phantom menace]

You obviously don't know too many professional sportspeople if you think issues like these would make them 'dirty' to the point that they would take it out on their team mates by not trying their hardest.

Well you try a better explanation for Penisni's poor form in 2025 then, regardless of how many "professional sportspeople" you might or might not know...

 

[the phantom menace]

Actually, if Penisini was one of the PO gang (Brown, Lane, Matterson...) then I think the reason for poor form and engagement is self-evident.

Absolutely not need to play to or near your potential regularly, if you had the control to flick a PO switch and extend your contract on its current terms.

 

[emjaycee]

Penisini's poor form is only in his defense, not his attack which hasnt dropped. That could easily be put down to the new defensive structure and style that Ryles has introduced. Add to the fact he has shifted sides which means a change to angles, shoulder to use, line speed on that edge and he has new partners to build trust in and work on timings with. His running metres, LBs and TAs are all on par with previous years.

So, lots of reasons that don't rely on him being dirty because he got shifted to a new position and his brother isn't playing with him.

 

[the phantom menace]

I actually like my subsequent PO lack of incentive to play at his best regularly theory better than my original one about being dirty.

 

[emjaycee]

Except you are missing the point that professionals (in sport and elsewhere) get paid to perform at their best sure, but they also have a level of self-pride in what they do.

Do you honestly think that because they have a contract in place, their incentive to play to their best is removed or reduced? Wow, to me (ie. in my opinion) that is a big stretch.