Knock-on Effect NSW Cup - Eels Team

[Parra47]

Easily one of our best performances of the year and plenty out there shined.. Henry, Alvaro, Nelson, Moses , Gorman and both our centres..

Thanks Stagger, good to hear. If Sandow goes I wonder if that will help our cap issues so we can bring up some NSW Cup players to see how they go over the next weeks.

Was interesting to see Stevens given a run over the top of Madden.

 

[Forty20]

Whole hearted performance across the park today although a few errors let the Bears back into the game. Beau Henry was probably man of the match with a hat trick to his name and tidy game management throughout although the Bears defended well against his long kicking game. Ryan Matterson was solid on the left edge and continues to play with greater synergy with Henry when compared to Kelly. Slowing working the hesitation out of his game and played with greater fluency today giving Lavaka a few nice opportunities down the left flank.

I was impressed with both our starting props in Daniel Alvaro and Tui Kamikamica who got through plenty of work and churned out good meterage. I heard after the game that we were playing with 15 men in the second half so I presume that Tui was one of the injured players because I didn't see him come back on after his strong first stint.

Nelson and Ualesi were typically busy and both did a fair bit of work acting as the pivot for backline moves down their respective edges. Moses Manu was good off the bench and continues to prove to be a solid pick up for Wenty.

In the backs Vai Toutai, Fabian Goodall and Halauafu Lavaka all had flashes of brilliance at various points and were solid contributors to the win. Bureta Faraimo had a clutch intercept in the later exchanges of the game but I thought he was pretty ordinary beyond that by and large. Jake Butler-Fleming is doing a pretty capable job in the #1 barring one dropped grubber kick that lead to an immediate try for the Bears.

 

[Parra47]

Good to hear Henry had such a good game. I've said it before, he's a Hodkinson type player. Not flashy but solid, has a calming influence on the game, a solid defender and great kicking game. If Sandow goes and it frees up cap space, I hope we give Henry a shot to see what he can do.

 

[Forty20]

Thanks 40/20.

Did Henry show enough for a FG start?

Probably the best option for next week but I don't think he is contracted to Parramatta and given that the June 30 deadline has passed I think that makes him ineligible as an option for the remainder of the season.

 

[not graham olling]

Thanks Stagger, good to hear. If Sandow goes I wonder if that will help our cap issues so we can bring up some NSW Cup players to see how they go over the next weeks.

Was interesting to see Stevens given a run over the top of Madden.

Yes if Chrissy goes will we be allowed to play beau?

 

[oldmancraigy]

We signed him to two contracts. We'll just pull the 2nd out of the bottom drawer.

But the 2nd one is for 850k per season. Damn you Seward!!!

 

[Twizzle]

cheers Forty, much appreciated

 

[84 Baby]

Yes if Chrissy goes will we be allowed to play beau?

If he does go, given that Kelly is already playing in halves, I think the NRL would be hard pressed to say we can't pick another Wenty player at least until Norman & Robinson return.

Wasn't there a statement somewhere saying we were playing this season with only 21 players in our top 25 at the club. If Sandow left with long term injuries as well, we'd be close to only having 17 available players across the field at best

 

[Gronk]

Good to see a Dad backing his boy.

Phil Smith ‏@Philsmith7 9h9 hours ago
Any chance of seeing @crooksie13 in @TheParraEels shirt before he leaves for castleford? Be good to see him get a run @leecrooks1963

Lee Crooks ‏@leecrooks1963 9h9 hours ago
@Philsmith7 @crooksie13 @TheParraEels that's down to the coach but he is deffiately good enough

Phil Smith ‏@Philsmith7 6h6 hours ago
@leecrooks1963 @crooksie13 @TheParraEels just wondered if he was injured. Not seen him play recently. Be good for him to get an NRL game in.

Lee Crooks ‏@leecrooks1963 5h5 hours ago
@Philsmith7 @crooksie13 @TheParraEels he will be back in two weeks had a hernia op
10:06 AM - 21 Jul 2015 · Details

https://twitter.com/search?q=parramatta eels&src=typd&vertical=default&f=tweets

 

[Forty20]

1. Jake Butler-Fleming
2. Bureta Faraimo
3. Fabian Goodall
4. Vai Toutai
5. Halauafu Lavaka
6. Ryan Matterson
7. Beau Henry
8. Fred Pakutoa
9. Sam Gorman
12. Moses Manu
11. Nick Kassis
19. Cody Nelson
24. Jack Madden

Interchange:
14. Michael Stevens
15. Taunaola Kei
17. Mitch Stanfield
23. Chris Rakete

The big things to note is that Cody Nelson is IN while Tui Kamikamica and Joseph Ualesi are OUT. Both Tui and Joseph picked up injuries last week so I imagine they were late scratchings.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Madden in. Matterson to the forwards?

 

[Forty20]

Madden in. Matterson to the forwards?

Good question, merkin. Will let you know shortly.

 

[Forty20]

Matterson taking position at left half for kickoff as Wenty are set to receive the ball.

And Matto is immediately called into action as Kassis loses the ball backwards in goals and Matterson cleans it up. Not a great start for Wenty and they are forced to complete their set on their 30m line as Henry boots the ball downfield.

Mounties have a solid first set in return, nothing fancy but just working it through the ruck and they get in position for an attacking kick. Butler-Fleming takes it well but has just misplaced his starting point for the jump and doesn't get a 20m restart but rather is tackled in goals, barely.

Big drop out from Wenty as the ball flies 55-60m on the full. Mounties look to attack our right edge repeatedly but good tackles from Faraimo and Toutai in consecutive plays hold them out before they are eventually tackled on the last!

 

[Forty20]

Much better set for Wenty this time around as they work it towards halfway before Henry very nearly finds touch 20m out. A good kick chase pins the visitors on the same mark though.

Nic Kassis is coming off with what seems to be a concussion. Meanwhile Mounties attacked our left edge and nearly made a break but put a foot into touch.

From the scrum win Wenty get a very serviceable carry from Fabian Goodall but Cody Nelson makes an uncharacteristic mistake on the next tackle for a turnover. Wenty are then penalised for a highshot two tackles later.

Again the home team are up to the mark on their goal line, repelling Mounties for a full set before Butler-Fleming cleans up the grubber kick.

 

[Forty20]

Fabian Goodall and Moses Manu work the ruck as they come off our goal line. Henry takes play down the right where Mounties meet the Magpies equally before Matterson has a run down the opposite edge on the next play to bring up the last.

Henry finds the grass again with his kick, has been excellent in that area so far today.

 

[Forty20]

Oh geeze...

Henry has chipped ahead on the last and Mounties regained the ball from a very friendly bounce. He is then penalised for a very soft high shot and *something* has happened as the players got up to instigate an actual punch from Henry. Surprisingly their isn't a huge fracas following it but Henry goes get 10m in the bin.

Jack Madden now pushes into the halves.

And as I surmise all that, Fabian Goodall comes up with a big play to force a turnover. Forced the ball loose down the left edge.

Bit of a swing in proceedings following that now as Lavaka earns the Magpies their first penalty of the day.

 

[Forty20]

Manu and Nelson take the early carries this set working from left to centre before Matterson plays down the left to Goodall.

Matterson then comes down the right turning Nelson back to the sticks before looking for a repeat set on the next tackle with a grubber kick but John Kennedy for Mounties takes is on point for the clean up and gets into the field of play comfortably.

Oddly unadventurous stuff from Mounties now, even with the man advantage as they work it out and then look for the sideline. Wenty are happy to accommodate them as every stoppage inches Henry back from the bin.

Wenty go forwards with Manu who has another solid charge, think he might have lost it there to be honest but the ref, Casey Badger, misses it. Incidentally, Badger is dressed awfully for this game as she blends in perfectly with the uniform of Mounties.

Back to the game and there is a much better run from Matterson now as he nearly bursts through down the left.

Jack Madden bombs towards Faraimo on the last and the Magpies get a line drop out after a double knock on in their favour.

Wenty fail to crack the visitors from the drop out but keep their composure and I believe it is Madden again who finds the line drop out.

Good footy from Wenty.

 

[Forty20]

Moses Manu up first, Mitch Stanfield follows before Gorman jumps out of dummy half and then plays to Matterson who in turn throws a very good short ball to Kassis, back from the concussion check, and only a superb cover tackle saves the line break.

Wenty then play to their right edge with Matterson playing the link man, he looks for the cut out ball to Faraimo but the stocky winger loses it! But hang on, there has been a late hit! Play comes back for the penalty to the right of the sticks and Wenty want the two points.

Nelson slots it and Wenty have a very unexpected, if slender, lead.

Beau Henry is back from the bin and Wenty are back to 13 men.

 

[Forty20]

Manu, Kassis and Lavaka all get carries this set, Lavaka proving to be the most effective before Wenty make a solid gain with a full right edge movement that sees Faraimo cross halfway. Matterson completes the set with a good kick that is dabbed in behind the right edge of Mounties.

Wenty are rewarded for playing the territorial game as Mounties make a mistake working the ball out!

Matterson uses Manu down the left from the scrum win before he gets a second touch on the second play by using the new pet play Wenty have devised by getting a second rower into first receiver down the short side and then finding Matterson on the sweep. Mounties mark up well against it and force Matto to use Lavaka who is tackled. Mounties concede a penalty for a second effort in the tackle though and a second penalty follows for a similar reason.

The Magpies play down the right early in this set giving Vai Toutai a crack at the line. He thinks about the flick offload to Faraimo but holds off on it and takes the tackle. Faraimo scoots out of dummy half is barely held up before the line before Henry has a run on the last and goes agonisingly close to scoring but is tackled just short.

 

[Forty20]

Massive set of defence by Wenty now! Great linespeed and they are hammering Mounties. The visitors are force to kick deep in their half and it is a poor kick as Vai Toutai fields it from right centre after pushing back slightly. He beats the first chaser and then shows good vision to link up with Faraimo on his inside and Faraimo is away! One to beat and he tries to fend his way off him but can't and he looks for an offload back in field to Butler-Fleming but the offload bounces and is then knocked on by the Wenty custodian!

What a crazy sequence of play.