Eels focus on forward dominance
Tuesday, September 18, 2007 - 4:10 PM
Parramatta's flashy backs may capture much of the spotlight but Melbourne know it's the Eels forwards they must dominate to win Sunday's NRL preliminary final.
While the bulk of attention goes towards stars like try-scorers Jarryd Hayne, Krisnan Inu and Timana Tahu, Storm coach Craig Bellamy said the Eels forwards were equally impressive.
They outplayed the star-studded Bulldogs to set up their 25-6 victory last Saturday.
"They've got a strong side right across the paddock. They've got really good backs but they've got a rally good pack of forwards as well," Bellamy said ahead of the Sunday afternoon clash at Melbourne's Telstra Dome.
"The backrow there with Ian Hindmarsh, I don't think I've ever seen him play better footy to be quite honest.
"Chad Robinson's a very under-rated player. You've got Nathan Hindmarsh and obviously Nathan Cayless is an international player and a wonderful captain.
"(Fuifui) Moimoi gives them a lot of go-forward with young (Josh) Cordoba off the bench and their two dummy halves (Mark Riddell and PJ Marsh), they're wonderful players."
Storm backrower Ryan Hoffman said his side had to be on their toes against the Eels forwards, who were capable of much more than just bash and barge.
"They're big and skilful and you've really got to expect anything you can off them," he said.
"Their frontrowers have got good skills and they've got backrowers like Nathan Hindmarsh and Feleti Mateo who can play as good as a half."
Hoffman described their round-23 meeting, won 14-10 by Melbourne after they held off a Parramatta fightback, as one of their toughest matches of the year.
"It was because Parra have got a very strong defence and a very big team all across their park," he said.
"We're expecting a physical game, that was what they gave us that night but we're also expecting them to move the ball around the park a little bit.
"It's going to be a frantic pace and we're looking forward to the challenge."
The Storm pack is even more unheralded than the Eels but Hoffman said that was how they liked it.
"I think as a forward that's what they prefer. If backs are scoring tries that means the forwards are doing their job," he said.
This season Hoffman has played Origin for NSW and been 18th man for the Kangaroos. But he said last year's journey through to the grand final had given him the most valuable experience of playing big stage football.
"It was a bit of a trip into the unknown last year, not knowing how people would respond in the finals," he said.
"We now know what to expect this year and I think we're going to be a better team for it."
Source: AAP
