Parramatta Eels Daniel Mortimer takes aim
07 Apr 10 @ 09:28am by Steven Deare
PARRAMATTA five-eighth Daniel Mortimer has taken a swipe at critics who say the teams poor form has been due to lack of effort.
Speaking to the Advertiser mid-week, Mortimer argued he and his teammates were giving their all but hadnt executed properly.
He took offense to critics attacks that came in the wake of Cronullas 11-0 upset of the Eels at Toyota Park. It was the Eels third loss from four starts a horror start for one of the pre-season favourites.
One again the team failed to hold the ball and build any pressure in attack - the same problem that has plagued them from the start.
``None of us go out there and deliberately play half-hearted, Mortimer said.
``That is an absolute joke.
``There are so many little factors in the game confidence, form, the ability to play as a team and youve got to get them right.
It was the execution then, not effort, that was lacking, according to Mortimer.
``Weve definitely got the players to do it but were not playing as a team, he said.
``The attitude is there and the work is there, its just not coming off.
Mortimer could be a case in point.
He played against Cronulla despite not having completely recovered from the virus that saw him miss the Wests Tigers match.
``I still wasnt playing at my full weight, he said of Saturday.
``I wasnt 100 per cent, but I wasnt far off it.
The playmaker said he lost weight from a virus he contracted at a sponsors dinner.
``I woke up on Friday, the day of the (Wests Tigers) game, and was vomiting and had gastro and couldnt get out of bed.
``I lost a few kilograms but Im up to normal weight now. So Im feeling very good now and Im back at the same weight, so there will be no excuses on Monday.
Parramatta are at home to Canberra on Monday night.
