good thread on newcastle forum

[parra pete]

I thought this was a good article on the Newcastle Forum...by Bicey.

"Well guys I got some decent feedback from my 1st article , in which i really appreciate and will continue to see if i can keep producing quality info....

2nd Edition Features:

How To Beat Parramatta At Newcastle

This is kind of a tricky situation... Parramatta are coming off a great year.. disappointing finish but nevertheless a pretty good year taking out the Minor Premiership.

Newcastle are coming off the worst year to date... 13 Successive losses, huge injury tolls and the dreaded spoon. They did give us fans reasons to look forward an exciting season ahead with the way they finished the season... 6 from 7 is a pretty good stat to round off a bad year.

Ok lets have a squiz at our previous meetings at Newcastle:

1998: Newcastle 36-12
1999: Parramatta 18-8
2000: Newcastle 26-23
2001: Newcastle 32-14
2002: Newcastle 24-18
2003: Newcastle 30-16
2004: Parramatta 18-16
2005: Parramatta 50-0

As stated we have lost our last 2 matches at home against the Eels but were under certain circumstances.....

2004: No Johns - Still lead 10-0 at half time.... let them back into it in the 2nd half to trail 12-10.... Kidley scores under the posts to give us a 16-12 with 5 to go... Kidley then turns villan with a shocking pass leading to a Ash Graham intercept... which in that set we never regrouped and Witt put a grubber with Burt scooping up and scores... We lose 18-16

2005: Reserve grade squad... no chance!

What will give Newcastle fans confidence heading into the opening game of the season is the fact we did defeat them last year at Parra Stadium, no coincidence why we won... add Buderus and Johns and we are a chance.

Here is a plan that should they follow may help the boys topple the minor premiers first up...

* Tim Smith - 2nd year syndrome?

I seriously doubt the kid will suffer from that this season... the guy is class and will be looking to gain confidence throughout the season.. This is where we HAVE to shut him down and play on his mind.. make him think quick..

Smith has a great kicking game and defenders tend to give him too much time with the ball... Apply a lot of pressure on him.. make him play one more move...he gets confused..esp in front of a packed house at Newcastle.. it will easily lead to simple mistakes.. eg out on the full, panicking and dropping ball...

Play the psychological card and use the experience to make him feel uncomfortable... every mistake he makes he will feel it and the head will drop, add sledging to that.. and at his tender age it will no doubt affect his play.. typical example.. Johns to Smith last year " so your the new Sterlo huh?" after kicking out on the full... that would have to have played on the kids mind...keep it up Joey unsettle the kid... leading to errors

His passing game is pretty good too...Smith likes to throw the long flat pass and if detected can be a huge bulls eye for an intercept... Most teams dont take the risk as you got guys like Tahu, Grothe outside and could cause problems should you rush in... execution is the key... highly not recommended but if your feeling lucky and think you got it for breakfast... feast away!

* Butterfingers

We all know there is a certain centre playing for Parra now that can have that bad of game that no matter wat he does.. he just cant pull anything off... Im speaking of Timana Tahu. The guy can have a severe case of butterfingers.. now the guy is an incredible athlete.. no doubt but i believe he can be targeted just to suit the Knights attack heres how:

* Joey Johns could have a field day with him.... thats if Tahu is off a little
bit.. Target him with lil precise grubbers direct at his feet... now tahu is a fairly tall guy and automatic reaction will be to quickly pick up and run.. rush him and that can lead to mistakes..

* Show off - Tahu is a great entertainer....can get a lil cocky .. he will take on the winger if he believes he has the room to get on the outside.. problem with this is ... he has lil room to work in leaving him easy prey.. but with his size and strength he can avoid touch.... This is where Milton comes in... say he gest round Quinn.. Quinn gives him lil room to work with.. so he is on the touchline ... in comes milton, just as Tahu comes back inside and BANG! tackles him into touch...

* Big Forwards Tire/ Offloads

Parra have huge forwards in Cayless and Stringer but you would say that they are both in great shape and could easily tire.... 20 minutes mark.. the interchanges occur and therefore the forwards can regroup and here come 2 more big boppers in Peek and Vella... Key here is 2 kick chase regularly in the 1st 15... forwards running back and forth and i dare say at the 17 min mark.. they are getting to the stage where they struggle out there... This is where we need to take advantage and use buderus to run a lot from dummy half catching them out... also Dummy half runs from Carney (famous for doing this), he would no doubt split them open leaving him one on one with McKinnon.. no contest imo... Repeat every 20 mins...

Parra forwards have the ability to offload the ball alot..... 3 man effective tackles would counter this.. wrap the ball up and leave them no room to offload..

* Enter Dean Widders

The most impacting benchie in the game to date.... very very good player and causes probs for defence... Usually appears in the 30th min mark when forwards are tired and as he is a quick guy for his size,also strong.. he can split them up and score plenty of points... esp 40 out from your line... he splits you open and sprints for the line.. counter this with a replacement at the same time as Widders enters... the more fresh players out there when he is there the better.. aim up and shut him down.. limit the chances he has with the ball

* Crowd Factor

Our biggest weapon is without a doubt our fans. They lift the side that much they make them play out of their skins... Every little thing Newcastle do right.. the crowd has to cheer .. this gives them more confidence... at the same time... Cheering a Parra error will affect theirs....

Defence is a HUGE problem but the fans can defend with the boys and it will no doubt help.. a simple strategy that works....

The opposition has you on your own line.... there should be a HUGE chant filling the stadium... DE-FENCE....DE-FENCE...DE-FENCE!!!!

This gives the boys more confidence and the energy levels will rise immensely... the results will be rewarding...gives the boys more innotiative not to let their fans down.... Acting as a 14th man....

Side Note To Knights Crusade: This is to every Knights fan in general but more so The Crusadeas they are our biggest fan club that attend game... you guys could play a huge part.... I know you guys looove to give it certain players... heres one player that you could screw with and also play on the kids mind.... TIMMY SMITH!!

I stated it earlier.... Every mistake the kid makes...the crowd has to use that and cheer .. unsportsmanship maybe? But in the game of Rugby League.. its nothing personal.. at the end of the day its about getting the 2 points... You dont think Parra fans would do the same at Parra Stadium if Joey screwd up????

At the end of the Night its about ENTHUSIASM...... If the Knights turn up ready to play and ambush the Eels from the start they will get them.... But im expecting a grinding performance... patient but taking chances when presented.. Joey and Bedsy will star.. Simpson and Newton will dominate up front.. causing havoc with their hard hitting and constant line breaks.. but the hero in this one will be none other than..... You Fans!

Your the ones that will drive the boys to a win.... Constant chants and jeers to Parra will work wonders and give the boys a much needed lift when they feel they cant go anymore.....

Hope to see you guys at the game..... Not long now "
__________________

 

[Twizzle]

not bad for some one who doesn't follow the Eels

 

[Hurriflatch]

AS TWiz said for a Knights fan it's a very good article but I'm surprised PJ Marsh wasn't mentioned along with Widders.

If the Knights concentrate too much on Widders, Marsh'll kill them

 

[Hellsy]

That is a really great post.

 

[eelz47]

bring it on

 

[Parra Guru]

It's friendly posts like that which make you look forward to the game, without the spite involved :lol:

 

[Utey]

Wow pretty insightful.

 

[Eelementary]

Generally a great post...


But:

* Cayless? HUGE? Erm...no...

* Morrison and Hindmarsh may prove to be a bit of a handful for them but got no specific mentions

* Carney and McKinnon one-on-one a no-brainer...Maybe, yes. But Wade McKinnon is one of the best defensive fullbacks going around. So it's 50-50.

* I'm really surprised nothing was mentioned about Riddell and Marsh. Combined with Burt, Grothe and Tahu, we have an excellent dummy-half running base.

 

[BD5733]

I also don't think it would be wise for Anthony Quinn to give Timana Tahu 'a little room'. Tahu will take that room running backwards with his pants down, THATS entertainment!

A great post none the less, it would be great if us eels fans can disect the Knights team when it comes closer to game time.

 

[eloquentEEL]

I believe Hindy has a trademark on that particular move.

 

[Pazza]

Bit of a no brain post if you ask me.

Put pressure on the Halfback, i think everyone trys this tactic. You cant let a halfback do what ever he feels like. If they want to contain Smith they need to contain our pack. I think that is going to be a mamoth task for them.

Big tire forwards?
We have one of the fittest Forward packs in the competition. That was one of the major reasons for our success last season. You could Leave Hindmarsh, Morrison and Robinson out there for 80. Cayless, Vella, Peek and Stringer are no slouches and the only one which is HUGE is Stringer and he handles himself very well.

Limit Dean widders with a bench player?
Who do they have coming off the bench? No one with the quality to stop Deanno

Dummy Half running?
Anything you can do we can do 10 times better. Riddell, Grothe, B Smith, Mckinnon, Tahu, Marsh. I think its Newcastle who are going to have an issue with marker defence.

If newie wants to bet us then they have to rely on John's kicking game pinning us in our own half. Also repeat possetion through smart kicking, hard defence and Disipline. Basic stuff, but they are going to have a real tough time containing Metre eaters like Cayless, Riddell, Stringer, Hindmarsh, Morison, Grothe, B Smith and Tahu. With Smith kicking and directing with that much room and time created by the metre eaters it looks like parra by 18+ to me

 

[Hellsy]

At least there was alot of thought put into it from a person that does not know our team like we all do, he has tried
and there was no spite (as PG said)

 

[punK-eeL]

really good read...but I dont see the knights beating us if we are pumped ...they just dont have enough class.
johns and buderous are 2 men....weve got about 18 class players...whos got the advantage?

 

[MAFIA]

Hi fellas well after reading the post from the newcastle bloke, which wasn't bad he could have saved himself a lot of time with the tim smith bio and how to shut him down by saying just watch the semi final game against the cows, who just made the kid look like a jersey flegg player that day by just rushing him all game,every club would have watched that video and no doubt have a plan for tim smith this year,
it will be the same story with my side the wests tigers, every club would have looked at every player at our club and will be trying to come up with a plan to shut down prince and benji, stop the halfs and you are 1/2 way to victory.......

mafia

 

[eelandia]

Funny though - I rarely saw McKinnon miss a tackle last year. Can't see Carney suddenly exposing him..??

 

[Eelementary]

Hi fellas well after reading the post from the newcastle bloke, which wasn't bad he could have saved himself a lot of time with the tim smith bio and how to shut him down by saying just watch the semi final game against the cows, who just made the kid look like a jersey flegg player that day by just rushing him all game,every club would have watched that video and no doubt have a plan for tim smith this year,
it will be the same story with my side the wests tigers, every club would have looked at every player at our club and will be trying to come up with a plan to shut down prince and benji, stop the halfs and you are 1/2 way to victory.......

mafia

Contrary to popualr belief, I don't think Smith played that badly.

A lot of his passes where dropped, and so he (by association) was made to look bad.

He wasn't brilliant, but he wasn't woeful.

But yes - shut him down and you go a long way towards beating us.

 

[PB]

Hi fellas well after reading the post from the newcastle bloke, which wasn't bad he could have saved himself a lot of time with the tim smith bio and how to shut him down by saying just watch the semi final game against the cows, who just made the kid look like a jersey flegg player that day by just rushing him all game,every club would have watched that video and no doubt have a plan for tim smith this year,
it will be the same story with my side the wests tigers, every club would have looked at every player at our club and will be trying to come up with a plan to shut down prince and benji, stop the halfs and you are 1/2 way to victory.......

mafia

Plenty of teams tried to muscle and beat up on Tim Smith and failed during the year. The reason (or one of) it worked for the Cows in the Prelim Final was because their forwards also smashed our forwards leaving him little room and more prone to the pressure he was put under.

It will be a tough to win at Newcastle first up. If they are at full strength they are always competitive at home.

 

[parra pete]

Contrary to popualr belief, I don't think Smith played that badly.

A lot of his passes where dropped, and so he (by association) was made to look bad.

He wasn't brilliant, but he wasn't woeful.

But yes - shut him down and you go a long way towards beating us.

BOTH Tim and Ben Smith had SHOCKERS. I couldn't believe how bad they went. That was then, this is now. Ob la di - ob la da.

 

[Utey]

Tim Smith wasnt the reason we lost. Him being knocked senseless didnt help. But we lost the game way before Timmy was dominated. Morris didnt stant up etc etc.

 

[Eelementary]

I've seen the replay a afew times, and I don't think Tim was THAT bad.

In fact, Grothe dropped a catchable kick from him that would have given us the lead and settled the nerves.