Rd14 2024: Eels v Bulldogs GAME DAY THREAD @ Accor Stadium June 10th

[Gazzamatta]

To be fair, our million dollar halfback is also still got plates in his foot and is on modified training and a long way from 100% despite his knock it out of the park game last week.

You could see how disappointed he was in the result and his performance in his interview with 360 last night. They asked him about origin and he just ignored them and spoke about how he should have been better.

I reckon the lack of volume in his kicks last night told a story. His foot is far from 100%. I really hope hes not selected for Origin. No good for Parra and no good for himself. Just have a quiet word with Madge, Mitchy.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Has the BA termination been planned for some time given our reluctance to recruit? Quality players arent going to sign for only one year. Were we waiting for the new coach to make those decisions?

 

[hindy111]

Let’s be honest, if the R&R team haven’t been working their nuts off to add to the roster for next year then basically they should be moved on asap.

Signing one player then doing not a lot, seems typical behaviour given the last 3 years or so under their control, just not good enough, really completely unacceptable. The big fan base, and other financial considerations seem unable to be used by the current team to attract close to elite players. Don’t come up with the salary cap limitations, it’s their job to keep that under control and ensure they can keep the club competitive, as accountants they strangely lean on cap control as an issue not something they should control better than most.

Players we could of targeted

T.Talau, J.Paulo, D.Laurie,C.Tracey, Alamoti..... We went for Harper.

 

[Pazza]

He rarely plays a full controlled 80mins.
But there where times when we pinned them inside there 10 and 4 tackles later they where at the 40 kicking early and backing us up. While our slow forwards would take 3 tackles to get back.
I watched Penrith the day before and when they pinned Manly inside their 10 they'd get the ball back on their 30mtr line. 2 tackles later over halfway. It is our defense that is terrible. We don't bash or punish sides with it. They get quick play the balls and gas our forwards. The backs are weak and our first 3 carries are junk.
The best side in comp don't look that great to me. They just wear you out with relentless defense and kick pressure. And the back 5 just pounding away.

we didnt give our halves a chance in the last 20. too many turn overs.

 

[JokerEel]

Players we could of targeted

T.Talau, J.Paulo, D.Laurie,C.Tracey, Alamoti..... We went for Harper.

Panthers just signed Asu Kepaoa those fooles have nfi

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Players we could of targeted

T.Talau, J.Paulo, D.Laurie,C.Tracey, Alamoti..... We went for Harper.

Aaron Shcoupp and Braidon Burns have also moved clubs in recent weeks. Both would have been better than Asi in the centres. Makes me long for the days of having Hayze Perham available.

 

[Pazza]

Has the BA termination been planned for some time given our reluctance to recruit? Quality players arent going to sign for only one year. Were we waiting for the new coach to make those decisions?

our recruitment over the past 2 to 3 years has been funked up by the whole brown and moses situation

 

[JokerEel]

we didnt give our halves a chance in the last 20. too many turn overs.

We don't have a different plan when we are in the opposition 20 if the crash play doesn't work we have the cross field bomb

 

[hindy111]

Yes I would say 3 with Boods and Guymer being extended or moved up to the top 30 list.
But again we have to have 30 players in our squad by the end of the month.


The Problem now comes in that we don't have a coach for next year and as such we can't offer anything but a 3 month deal.




So again mate, your saying BA wanted to sign a bunch of players, and got over rulled by the R&R team.

So who were those players?

I personally reckon BA had a huge say in who we signed. I thank him for Lomax. I recall when we signed Lane or was it K.Evans he talked about wanting forwards with different body shapes.
I'd say it works like this -

They have a meeting and talk about what need and contracts. Guys like Gutherson had BA by the nuts and BA pledges do anything to keep him. I'd say on Mahoney and Papali'i he also gets a say but probably has words like at x price keep him but otherwise let them walk.
They would also ask what positions he wants to target and prior to signing ask what he thinks. I highly doubt he had much to do with players like Moimesea or Grieg. He wouldn't of seen them play and it would of come from a reccomendation elsewhere.

Coaches like and see different things in players. They also have their favourites.

 

[Pazza]

We lack backs but we need to move Sivo on also.

i think we got a gun backline by the looks of things for 2025. its that depth that needs work. Does AMS and Rpen make a difference? i hope we resign Bailey but that NSW cup backline needs a lot more talent than its got atm

 

[hindy111]

Panthers just signed Asu Kepaoa those fooles have nfi

Never heard of him

 

[eels_fan]

Players we could of targeted

T.Talau, J.Paulo, D.Laurie,C.Tracey, Alamoti..... We went for Harper.

I've had multiple people tell me BA 100% was all in for Tracey and he was 100% all in to come, but Mark O'Neill refused to pay him more than minimum wage as he doesn't like paying more than bottom of the barrel for players outside the first 17-18

 

[hindy111]

I've had multiple people tell me BA 100% was all in for Tracey and he was 100% all in to come, but Mark O'Neill refused to pay him more than minimum wage as he doesn't like paying more than bottom of the barrel for players outside the first 17-18

In that case MON gotta go

 

[Chipmunk]

I personally reckon BA had a huge say in who we signed. I thank him for Lomax. I recall when we signed Lane or was it K.Evans he talked about wanting forwards with different body shapes.
I'd say it works like this -

They have a meeting and talk about what need and contracts. Guys like Gutherson had BA by the nuts and BA pledges do anything to keep him. I'd say on Mahoney and Papali'i he also gets a say but probably has words like at x price keep him but otherwise let them walk.
They would also ask what positions he wants to target and prior to signing ask what he thinks. I highly doubt he had much to do with players like Moimesea or Grieg. He wouldn't of seen them play and it would of come from a reccomendation elsewhere.

Coaches like and see different things in players. They also have their favourites.

You would have to think that one of two things has happened with some of the recruits the last couple of years given the way we have treated some of them.

Either the coach didn't want them, because he hardly gave any of them a go unless he was desperate, or he has been easily turned off them and refused to play them once he gave them a chance.

I speak of the likes of Kelma, Moimoisea, Murchie, Doorey, Cini, Ogdin, the other bloke we had in Ron Massey Cup that has gone back to Souths. Im sure there are others.

 

[Eelementary]

To be fair, our million dollar halfback is also still got plates in his foot and is on modified training and a long way from 100% despite his knock it out of the park game last week.

You could see how disappointed he was in the result and his performance in his interview with 360 last night. They asked him about origin and he just ignored them and spoke about how he should have been better.

But the same million-dollar halfback was sublime in the first 40, and went MIA in the second

And to be honest, he's been doing these things for 10 years now...

Supremely talented, but not a winner.

 

[Eelementary]

Agree. Sexton outplayed him

I laughed when I saw the team sheets, and saw Sexton at 7 for the Dogs.

But he got more involved than Mitch, at a quarter of the price.

 

[Eelementary]

"Didn't have trouble finding the line?"

What?

They were down to 12 men, and we couldn't score...

FFS do people even watch the games????

 

[Eelementary]

*Mann

Sexton didn't do shit his kicks were crap. Mann was the player who setup the tries.

Played to his price tag - I wish Moses would do the same...

 

[Incorrect]

"Didn't have trouble finding the line?"

What?

They were down to 12 men, and we couldn't score...

FFS do people even watch the games????

Maybe he was talking about the sideline.... Or the 30 or 40 metre lines....

 

[Eelementary]

Players we could of targeted

T.Talau, J.Paulo, D.Laurie,C.Tracey, Alamoti..... We went for Harper.

Who already knocked us back once, until we came to him, on hands and knees, begging him to join us...