Eels team NAMED for round 1

[SDM]

LUKE BURT???? F*ck me.

That explains it, he obviously keeps saying no.

 

[boxhead]

The only reason Burt is picked is because he's been around for so long, & he can kick. Hands down the laziest player in the game. I just can'r understand how some Parra fans have so much love for him.

Firstly, you quite obviously didn't watch the first half of 2010 before he was injured, and neither did you watch any of 2009.
His form in that season and a half was brilliant, and was one of our best players in that period. Whilst he isn't a strong dummy-half runner, he was involved in so many attacking plays and tries in that period of time, and defensively, did well more often than not.

Secondly, if you are referring to his 'lazy period' in the second half of 2010, that can be attributed to two things;
1. His injury.
2. The fact that his halves never game him the ball.

Before you get all high and mighty, you should actually watch some Eels games.

 

[boxhead]

100% correct.

But you'll get shouted down around here for saying that.


I'm just hoping that defensively Burt contests 1 bomb in the air this season - which would be 1 more than last year.

Of course he'll get shouted down, as you should too for agreeing with him.
Did you ever notice that Krisnan Inu never contested any bombs either, and neither did our two centres?

Don't you think it is strange that a bunch of players who are good/decent in the air never contested any balls as a group? Did you stop to think it might have come down to what they were told?
Because I find it really strange that none of them, especially Inu and Reddy, did not contest the high balls either.

 

[Eels Dude]

Here are my thoughts on the team.

With the exception of Hayne the backline is extremely weak. I'm a fan of Luke Burt, but a Walker/Burt centre wing combination is a recipe for disaster defensively. The big Warriors outside backs will steamroll right over them. Then on the other side you've got a debutant in Morgan and Etu who's played just ahandful of first grade games but is yet to impress. Can see us conceding a lot of points if the Warriors spread the ball out side.

Not much we can do about the halves. Kearney was always going to with Morts and Robbo so we'll just have to wait and see how they perform.

With Fui and Poore unavailable we going to have to throw a rookie in and looks like that is Allgood. He played well in the Panthers trial but he'll still find it tough starting his debut against big and experienced Warriors pack over there. Expect Shacks to come off the bench just to play front row. Interested to see how Webb will go. With Poore and Fui out he's going to have to step it up so interested to see how many minutes he can play and what he can do.

Still not sure if Maguire can crack the intensity of NRL level football. He played well in the trials, but an actual NRL game is going to be so much more intense. Good thing to have Keating on the bench then, as if McGuire struggled then at least Keating can come on and play long minutes if required to do so.

Backrow looks solid. Enough said with Hindy. Horo had a great dubut year and looked great in the trials also. Lasalo looks to have improved a lot and it's about time he gets a regular start in first grade. Interesting to se Kearney put him in the starting side instead of Smith though. But it depends how he uses the forwards. I'd expect he uses a backrow rotation of Smith, Lasalo and Horo all playing close to the same amount of minutes.

 

[Gronk]

The only reason Burt is picked is because he's been around for so long, & he can kick. Hands down the laziest player in the game. I just can'r understand how some Parra fans have so much love for him.

He's scored 107 tries and is ahead of Bowen, Minichiello, Campbell, Merritt with only Wesser ahead of him in the NRL. His 500 odd goals puts him 5 notches off 1500 career points.

So as much as I will never rate him as a "great" of the game clearly he is a very solid player and a great team member. We've had a barrow full of coaches of late who all claim not to be loyal to incumbents, yet they all pick him week after week.

 

[parra-matters]

not even round 1 over yet and the Burt baggers are out. If he scores 3 tries and kicks 8 from 8 you will stay bag him!

 

[SDM]

When me smash the Warriors they will all grovel at Burt's feet.

 

[EELMAN JACK]

victory is ours sayeth the EELMAN . i am oozing confidence, but then i am a bit strange at times.

 

[God-King Dean]

New Fantasy question!

I guess Walker will shift to wing when Reddy comes back, & will replace Etu on the wing?

 

[SDM]

New Fantasy question!

I guess Walker will shift to wing when Reddy comes back, & will replace Etu on the wing?

We have a new coach, and a young roster sprinkled with injury prone geriatrics, there could be 10 wingers used by June. Anyone giving you advice is talking out of their arse.

 

[PB]

I hope Hayne has improved his kick returns out of site because i don't see where we are going to make any metres out of our own end with that 3/4 line. And the frightening thing is Reddy is the only player of any substance to come back into that backline!

So add to that the assumption that the Eels have not improved their kicking game and i forsee a lot of Parra defending their own line.

Forwards look solid given the injuries and i am happy to give a few new players a go. If the newbies work out Ben Smith will want to start working on his speed and sideways movement and he might get a start in the centres at some point..

 

[Bazal]

New Fantasy question!

I guess Walker will shift to wing when Reddy comes back, & will replace Etu on the wing?

The only advice I could give you, Deano, is that Walker, Hicks, Whatuira Atkins, and Morgan will all get a run in the three quarters some time this year...and possible O'Brien, Loko, Filiga, Lasalo as well depending. :lol:

 

[Glenn]

not even round 1 over yet and the Burt baggers are out. If he scores 3 tries and kicks 8 from 8 you will stay bag him!

He should have score 5 tries and taken two other easy shots at goal.

Seriously, injury free Burt is more than useful in attack and has a more than decent kicking boot on him in general play.
Yes he has his defensive lapses put he is not alone, but I guessi as the forum whipping boy can't expect a fair appraisal of him.

 

[Gronk]

Not sure if this has been mentioned, but Toyota Cup is on Foxsports 2 @ 3.15pm (Sydney time)

Toyota Cup v Warriors, Saturday March 12, 5.15pm

1. Chris Ulugia
2. Josh Tuitupou
3. Jacob Loko
4. Trent Jennings
5. Jon Pepa
6. Jason Wehbe
7. Cameron Breust
8. Ava Seumanufagai
9. Daniel Mahoney
10. Peni Terepo
11. Pat O’Hanlon
12. Matthew Eisenhuth
13. Rory Brien (C)
14. Dean Blackman
15. Kyle Fraser
16. Toby Key
17. PJ Asiata
18. Joseph Ualesi

 

[Glenn]

LUKE BURT???? F*ck me.

Don't think Luke swings that way..sorry to disappoint you

 

[God-King Dean]

No one is giving me advice. That's why I'm asking.

 

[forward pass]

I find it funny that a lot of posters on here have just realised what a crap backline we have !

Where have you all been ?

 

[SDM]

I find it funny that a lot of posters on here have just realised what a crap backline we have !

Where have you all been ?

x2 - I think they were expecting Quade Cooper, Beau Champion and Cooper Cronk to be named.

 

[Eels Dude]

I find it funny that a lot of posters on here have just realised what a crap backline we have !

Where have you all been ?

I would have thought Reddy, Whatuira and Hicks would have got a go instead of Morgan, Walker on Etu though. A backline of

1. Hayne
2. Burt
3. Reddy
4. Whatuira
5. Hicks

looks a hell of a lot better than the side named this week.

 

[Glenn]

Reddy is better off coming back through Wentworthville for a couple of weeks just to get the match fitness, rather than thrown back into First Grade and struggle as he regains mtach fitness.