It Takes More Than Just a Big Pack.

[The Worm]

Don't get me wrong, I'm pleased that Parra have bulked up, but I reckon a few of us might be losing sight of the perennial problem for the Eels - That is a decent halves combination.

Not since the days of Kenny and Sterling have the Eels had a threatening combination.

At this point the combination is still unproven. Thorman could be great, but none of us, not even coach Smith, know how he will perform in the NRL.

Dykes, a 5/8 who is always under threat of injury, looks to be taking the half spot, while Witt, a young half with lots of potential, looks to be playing in the Premmies for some time.

Until we get this part of the team firing, we simply cannot win a comp. Nobody can.

For those of you who are going to disagree with me, your welcome, but before you do, try to think of a premiership winning team who have snared the trophy with a second rate half.

 

[Eelectrica]

I agree. It's alarming that we're one week away from kick off and seemingly don't have a halves combination.
This season we have tremendous depth in the forwards and backs, but seemingly no depth in the halves. It appears we've got plenty of guys coming through but not quite ready yet.

I'd love to be a telepath and know Smiths honest expections for this season because it seems as though we are a couple of years away from having a genuinly good halves combination. Meaning that unless Dykes can have an MVP (or whatever the hell they call it now) type season we're not going to be going far in the finals.

 

[Parraren]

Yeah well said Worm. That is the bottom line, like it or not, no team will win the comp without a strong halves combination. Going forward is also a big key and it appears that we have addressed this issue whilst neglecting the most important key to any side..the halves.

To me it would have made a whole heap of sense to have settled on a Dykes/Witt halves combination and stuck with this through all the trials (or at least the majority of the trials) to start developing combinations and stucturing our attack behind the new big foward pack. Does this not seem like a bad idea? #-o Too late now of course....

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Just wanna add something,

We might have a giant forward, but it needs to lift, they need to have a lot of mongrel in attack and defence is the key in the forwards.

Guys like Vella, Cannings, Pearson and Peek need to step up in put a lot of work in. Other than Hindmarsh and Cayless the other pack of forwards are important.

Good point Worm about the halves combo, we needed to use the Dykes/Witt combination in the trials. Unfortunatley Witt will play PL in the first round. :x

 

[PB]

Dykes at his best his far better than "second rate", rembering he has won awards before.

In 2000, i don't think Langer was at the Broncos. They used Berrigan only in his 2nd year, and Walters, a 5/8th as a half back.

Noel Goldthorpe got the dragons to a GF in 96 and Barrett played at out of position at half in 99, when the Dragons were within 30 seconds of a premiership.

In 95, a raw Polla Mounter, who never amounted to that much was the Dogs half in their premiership And remeber useless old Finch was in a grand final team last year.

If Dykes was to find form that he has yet to display at the eels, but he had in 2001, and more confidence, then yes i feel he could fit in at half and guide our squad to the premiership.

 

[The Godfather]

It's another Smithism...never have the same halfback for more than 2 seasons.

Freeman, Lawler, Simon, Penna, Kusto, Taylor, McFadden, Drew, Green, Witt, Dykes.

 

[Twizzle]

Gotta love the Kusto.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Parra's 2004 Halves combo

6. Adam D(S)ykes
7. Stuy Galbraith.

 

[Hurriflatch]

He might be 40+ but he still the greatest halfback Parra's ever had

 

[PARRA_FAN]

Witt will be the halfback for at least 2 seasons.

 

[Hurriflatch]

I don't think anyone has ever said that a big forward pack is all that is needed HOWEVER it has been the one of the main things that Parramatts has not had in the last two seasons when bigger forward packs were better.

Now the Eels have that and combined with a backline that contains 2 internationals (Lyon & Vaealiki), a possible State player (Burt) by the end of this year and someone who scores at an average of a try a game (Petersen). Not forgetting Graham (future QLD rep), Grothe, Langi, Gruska, Williams and Kativerata.

With the success last year of Witt. Although he seems destined to play in reggies for the start of the year. The halfback issue looks to be in capable hands. Dykes has been looking good and injury free in the trials so with all these things there doesn't appear at this stage to be too many holes remaining in the Eels team.

Most of those things bar the forward pack and Dykes' lack of injuries were at the club in 2003 so that is why so many people are saying that the forward pack will take the Eels back to the top.

Yes the players need to fire on game day they know that as much as the fans do and if they want to plays 1st grade they will with the added depth the Eels have this year bar Lyon, Hindy and Caylo NO ONE is safe.

Just on a side note I know it won't happen but I'd love to see Moi Moi (120kg), Kaufusi (115kg), Tsoulos (120kg) and Cannings (115kg) play v Dogs and smash the tripe out of Mason.

 

[PJ Marshal]

Witty didnt look at all happy @ the warriors trial having to sit on the bench, he needs to be in the 17 somewhere even if it is off the bench

 

[thewizard1o1]

That is what smithy should do...give Witty the PL game and also name him in 17. that way he gets match fitness and a run in NRL.

Should be starting thou.....

 

[Eelementary]

Call me a cynic, but I believe EVERY team would struggle with a decent HALVES COMBINATION if their coach persisted on using such a formula:

WEEK 1: Injury prone 5/8 @ half + tough as nuts lock at 5/8

WEEK 2: hooker @ 5/8 + tough as nuts lock at half

WEEK 3: Young halfback @ 5/8 + Injury prone 5/8 at half

WEEK 4: Centre @ 5/8 + Prop at half

and so on. In 2003, part of the problem was we played Green and Dykes when they weren't fit and confident.

So we changed. Halves combos from 2003 were:

5/8 Halfback
Morris Witt
Dykes Green
Wagon Witt
Wagon Morris
WAgon Dykes
Hopkins Morris
Wagon Webster

 

[The Worm]

I think you're right eelementary, you cannot switch half and 5/8 around as often as Smith did last year. (Admittedly, injury played a part.)

If you've read my posts before, you'll know what I think of playing Wagon at 5/8.

Hopefully a bit of luck will go our way this year and the halves will click.

Why do you have a Tigers picture?

 

[The Worm]

Now the Eels have that and combined with a backline that contains 2 internationals (Lyon & Vaealiki), a possible State player (Burt) by the end of this year and someone who scores at an average of a try a game (Petersen). Not forgetting Graham (future QLD rep), Grothe, Langi, Gruska, Williams and Kativerata.


In your list of backs, the names following Grothe are unknown quantities.

Dave Vaealiki should have six games to prove his worth, or else it's time to start grooming someone else.

I personally think that Burt should pair with Lyon in the centres.

 

[PJ Marshal]

Speaking of backs i think its going to get tough when Ash comes back, because we were grooming him to be our long term fullback so we would see Burty drop to the wing that means Guru, Muzza, Kativerata and Co will all be fighting for the one wing spot should be interesting to see who gets it!

 

[Hurriflatch]

That is the point I was making.

At full strength the Eels depth is very good this year in almost all positions the halves might be a little light right now but IF Thorman can get up to NRL level and Muspratt and/or Pai come on aswell then even the halves have good depth.

5/8: Dykes, Witt, Thorman, Pai, Muspratt and Wagon
1/2: Witt, Dykes, Thorman

Worm: Just on the players that you listed as unknowns while that comment is fair for Gruska, Williams and even Kativerata Junior Langi has about 40-50 games expierence and made his debut in 2001. He hasn't really got much publicity being down in Melbourne but he is a solid 1st grader problalby the same level a Prince who I had forgotten in the previous post.

 

[Maroubra Eel]

Halfs are over-rated anyway. We don't need any to win!!!

 

[Eelementary]

Yes, indeed, I agree that injuries played a part.

But in 2003 with Dykes, Green, Wags and others injured for some stages we could have put Morris at 5/8, Hopkins at hooker and Webster at halfback and stuck with it.

Far from our first choice, I know, but at least we'd get continuity and consistency.

And about the Tiger - I made a bet with a mate that we'd score at least 2 tries against them and we didn't, so ...

And no disrespect to Penrith, but I hardly think that Gower and Campbell are the best halves in the competition.

Gower is a little prone to brain explosions and isn't exceptionally talented and Campbell - well, he isn't an organising half. He can tear you apart running, but with the ball or boot is nothing special.

And in 2002 the Roosters had Fittler only. Thier halfback was ordinary. And as good as Freddie is, he is nowhere near as effective he was a few years back.

In 2001 Joey tore us apart, but his 5/8 was not a big name player.

So I think we need at least ONE good half, but we have two in Dykes and Witt, plus a great option in Morris and other ball-playing options at lock in O'Dwyer and Muspratt.