Mid Season Review - 2022

[King-Gutho94]

I thought i would post another thread away from the match day threads so we can all discuss how we feel at the halfway point of the season.

We are currently 8-4 in 5th position as we head into a grueling 6 week origin period where at this stage we have 3 forwards selected for NSW.

Compared to last year at the same time we were 9-3 coming off 2 losses to Manly & Souths and in 3rd position. We then ended up going 6-6 in final 12 rounds and sliding further to 6th position as the wheels come off.

I would give us a 7/10 mark if i was rating our 1st half of the season. We have lost 2 games on the bell and won 2 games basically on the bell or Golden Point. So those close finishes have evened themselves out across the 12 rounds.

If there was one game i would like to get back is the Tigers loss. The Cowboys game in isolation was our one shocker so far and everyone bar Penrith has had one so i can live with that one.

But the Tigers loss at home was unacceptable and hopefully doesn't cost us a top 4 or possible top 2 spot as every other team is basically banking 2 points against the Tigers. And despite the Tigers being up for that game we still should have iced that game in the final minutes.

I don't feel defensively we are playing like a team that wins premierships still leaking too many points per game though i reckon the 2nd half on Sunday was probably one of our better halves defending our try-line all season.

Our points scored is 11 points less then what it was this time last year. So basically around the same mark as last year. This year we have Dylan Brown who has stepped up to the elite level but on observation i reckon Gutho & Mahoney have regressed slightly on there input on previous seasons.

Our injury toll in the outside backs has been hit probably harder then what we have had to deal with in the previous 3 seasons. Hopefully the luck turns around in the 2nd half season.

Run Home below the aim should be to win 8 games again in this 12 week block to finish with 16 wins which should be enough for Top 4.
- We have 7 games at Home with 5 of those opponents in the Top 8.
- 7 of the 12 games are against those in top 8 currently.
- Only one more road trip to Brisbane in Rd 24 left.

Round 14 - Bulldogs @ Homebush
Round 15 - Roosters @ Home
Round 16 - Souths @ Homebush
Round 17 - Tigers @ Leichhardt
Round 18 - Warriors @ Home
Round 19 - Broncos @ Home
Round 20 - Panthers @ Home
Round 21 - Sea Eagles @ Brookvale
Round 22 - Souths @ Home
Round 23 - Bulldogs @ Home
Round 24 - Broncos @ Suncorp
Round 25 - Storm @ Home

 

[Gronk]

Good post ^^^^^

In 2021 we played Broncos (twice), Sharks, Tigers, STG, Canberra, Dogs, Warriors or 8 teams that were bottom 8.

In 2021 we played 7 from 12 games away and lost the road trip to Canberra.



In 2022 we played Titans (twice), STG, Tigers, Knights, Manly or 6 teams from the bottom 8.

In 2022 we played 8 from 12 games away and won the road trip to Canberra.

 

[hineyrulz]

We are still just making up the numbers as far as I’m concerned, defence wins titles and ours is nowhere near good enough. It’s refreshing to see Brown develop into the player we all hoped he’d be.

I wonder which club he’ll under up at in 2024??

 

[TheParraboy]

I think having Waqa back will be huge second half of the season, and also Russell if needed

These guys have speed and are elusive. Which will help big time early in our sets as well as tackle busts. Still not convionced on Sivo other than power close to the line

Marata back is a massive plus as well, as he has missed most of the season

The draw is pretty good, and we should bag another 8 from 12, maybe 9 from 12

Thats 34-36 comp points , and most likely sews up 3rd spot id say?

Which in turn most likely means a week 1 finals game in Melbourne - Road trip and some long over due finals payback

 

[TheParraboy]

Good post ^^^^^

In 2021 we played Broncos (twice), Sharks, Tigers, STG, Canberra, Dogs, Warriors or 8 teams that were bottom 8.

In 2021 we played 7 from 12 games away and lost the road trip to Canberra.

Nah brah we win 35-10 in Canberra April last year

Eels show class against Raiders as Rabbitohs sneak home in frantic golden-point win

Parramatta scores a comprehensive 35-10 win over Canberra, while South Sydney beats Wests Tigers via a Tom Burgess try in extra time, and Manly keeps Gold Coast scoreless.

www.abc.net.au

 

[King-Gutho94]

I think having Waqa back will be huge second half of the season, and also Russell if needed

These guys have speed and are elusive. Which will help big time early in our sets as well as tackle busts. Still not convionced on Sivo other than power close to the line

Marata back is a massive plus as well, as he has missed most of the season

The draw is pretty good, and we should bag another 8 from 12, maybe 9 from 12

Thats 34-36 comp points , and most likely sews up 3rd spot id say?

Which in turn most likely means a week 1 finals game in Melbourne - Road trip and some long over due finals payback

Last round against Melbourne will be interesting depending on where Melbourne and us sit on the ladder.

Melbourne might have top 2 locked in and Bellamy sends up a Sunshine Coast Team as he has done in past 2 seasons. And we might have to win to make top 4. Or it could be depending on result difference between us finishing 3rd or 4th and who we have to play week 1.

Or in a dream scenario we hopefully we go on a roll and Melbourne lose around 4 games which perhaps leaves us playing for a top 2 spot in front of a soldout Commbank.

 

[TheParraboy]

Last round against Melbourne will be interesting depending on where Melbourne and us sit on the ladder.

Melbourne might have top 2 locked in and Bellamy sends up a Sunshine Coast Team as he has done in past 2 seasons. And we might have to win to make top 4. Or it could be depending on result difference between us finishing 3rd or 4th and who we have to play week 1.

Or in a dream scenario we hopefully we go on a roll and Melbourne lose around 4 games which perhaps leaves us playing for a top 2 spot in front of a soldout Commbank.

Another option
If we have banked enough wins and secured a top 4 spot, we could possibly look to rest some guys with niggles in second last round , road trip v Brisbane

It’s very exciting

 

[eel01s]

Why it it just assumed that Panthers and Storm Will be 1 and 2? They could have a slump due to lose of form, injuries etc. Unlikely but it could happen.

 

[Twizzle]

or they could play us every week

 

[emjaycee]

In 2021 we played 7 from 12 games away and lost the road trip to Canberra.

Yeah, Nar... broke a 15 year hoodoo in 2021.

 

[hindy111]

I feel we are balls deep in this competition.

 

[yy_cheng]

I feel we are balls deep in this competition.

Does that mean we have a small D?

Our D is not as hard as the beginning of last year

 

[84 Baby]

We are still just making up the numbers as far as I’m concerned, defence wins titles and ours is nowhere near good enough. It’s refreshing to see Brown develop into the player we all hoped he’d be.

I wonder which club he’ll under up at in 2024??

Good to see you’ve finally changed your tune

 

[Angry_eel]

We are still just making up the numbers as far as I’m concerned, defence wins titles and ours is nowhere near good enough. It’s refreshing to see Brown develop into the player we all hoped he’d be.

I wonder which club he’ll under up at in 2024??

Wasn't our defense great last year? Where did that get us?

 

[eels_fan]

in previous years our defense has been strong, but our attack has suffered.

I dont believe we've all of a sudden forgotten how to defend, as we've toughed it out in numerous games where we could have lost if not for a great resolve - Panthers, Storm, Canberra.

I have no doubt some of our defensive issues have come about from injuries and replacements on the edges not having combinations and second guessing each other and making poor decisions.

We go into the second half of the comp with none of our top 17 injured, so i am confident our defense will start to sort itself out, and it will also add greatly to our attacking prowess, especially with Waqa back, Brown on fire and Moses kicking game.

I think we're placed exactly where we should be for a title run. No point being first or second now, we've done that the last few seasons and dropped off after origin. We need to get through the next 6 weeks and be smart about how we use Paulo and RCG to ensure they dont get burn out at the end of the year, i'd certainly look to rest one of them vs dogs, and both of them vs warriors. They are games we should handle without them.

 

[hineyrulz]

Wasn't our defense great last year? Where did that get us?

Week 2

 

[Gary Gutful]

Week 2

I made you a T-Shirt

 

[Twizzle]

I think with our depleted backline it's hard to know where we are at this midpoint, I think we need to get deeper into the season to know if we are contenders or otherwise

 

[hindy111]

I think with our depleted backline it's hard to know where we are at this midpoint, I think we need to get deeper into the season to know if we are contenders or otherwise

Balls deep

 

[hindy111]

I think its simple. Penrith and Storm are the best sides. If a few Injuries and off game we can beat them both. Perhaps could beat them at full strength but wouldn't back us.

Roosters perhaps are the only other challenger. Don't see anyone else being able to knock those two off. The top 2 wpuld probably fear us the most of any side in comp.
However there are sides below us that are capable of beating us. Penrith and Storm would be happy for that to happen.
I doubt they'd be worried about any other side bar us and Roosters.