Rd5: 3pm Parra v Dragons GAME DAY THREAD @ Commbank 5/4/25

[Poupou Escobar]

Not really

2022 was more popular on here then 2024.

My data backs it up that your wrong.

When were winning this place is more busy.

Sample Size is 18 wins in 2022 & 17 Losses in 2024 so similar rate.

Why is it a bad thing not many are whining about Ryles.

You have spent 3 years whining about people bagging BA.

So now no one is bagging the actual coach and your still whining go figure.

Apples and oranges. Compare 2022 wins vs 2022 losses, or 2024 wins vs losses

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Hopefully the plan is to play him 80 eventually, but one step at a time

Though I like how it was on Saturday, how he came on after 15-20m, and played out the game

Far better than Lussick playing, then wacking Smith on 5-10min after halftime

He is very Mahoney like, but nippier. Will get better and hopefully here long term. Crucial position as we have seen in 2023-24.

Starting with one dummy half and finishing the game with another (regardless of who gets longer minutes) means there is only one interchange. Smith has come off the bench in all five games, while Lussick (and Hands) started the two games they played. All three players only played a single stint every single time.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Does anyone know if any site has player stats for passing/receipt of the ball?

NSWRL site does it for NSW cup but can't find any for NRL games.

Interested to see if Walker had an influence on Paulo's game (eg, confirm if Paulo did less "ball playing" this game compared to previous games and more "running")

NRL.com and the club sites have it among game day player stats. Paulo only threw one pass:

Round 5: Eels v Dragons | Eels

Round 5: Eels v Dragons

www.parraeels.com.au

 

[Poupou Escobar]

With JoeO playing only one stint (22min)

Just before he left the field , he addressed the group in a huddle. Was quite vocal and animated . Thought it a bit weird considering he wasn’t setting an example out there but was trying to motivate the others to get stuck in..

Might be that it was pre-planned just to play the opening role only and was voicing a parting speech ?

Junior was immense for 72min. Climbing the ladder to becoming one of the best props in the comp again

Minutes played in the middle vs Dragons. Paulo, Walker and Hopgood all got two stints in the middle. Guymer got a second stint replacing Kautoga:

Merkin	Minutes played (middle only)
Paulo	72
Walker	52
Hopgood	36 + 18 (hooker)
Guymer	32 + 6 (edge)
Ofahengaue	22
Tuivati	21
Moretti	16

 

[emjaycee]

Walker was always going to take minutes off a middle and given Joe has previously spelled Hopgood in '13', it makes sense his minutes would be down. Moreover seeing as Hopgood started at hooker and Charlie took some of the 13's minutes.

 

[Angry_eel]

Junior was immense for 72min. Climbing the ladder to becoming one of the best props in the comp again

He's being a Prop again after trying to be a half back, a damn good one which he always was. Looks fit and raging to go.

 

[the phantom menace]

Apples and oranges. Compare 2022 wins vs 2022 losses, or 2024 wins vs losses

That would be a very siloed analysis. Needs comparison of 2022 wins v 2024 wins, and 2022 losses v 2024 losses for fulsome discussions.

 

[the phantom menace]

Minutes played in the middle vs Dragons. Paulo, Walker and Hopgood all got two stints in the middle. Guymer got a second stint replacing Kautoga:

Merkin	Minutes played (middle only)
Paulo	72
Walker	52
Hopgood	36 + 18 (hooker)
Guymer	32 + 6 (edge)
Ofahengaue	22
Tuivati	21
Moretti	16

Do you have a break down of minutes each played at left middle, right middle, and lock middle...?

 

[Gary Gutful]

How good is Ryley Smith’s PTRR?

 

[hindy111]

It’s because a loss in 2024 generated eleventy trillion posts against BA and wins not much. The same people are not going after JR (for the time being), but they are still slipping in the odd mention of BA.

But you knew that.

Boooooooooods

 

[84 Baby]

How good is Ryley Smith’s PTRR?

I think he would appreciate you not putting his PTRR out into public

 

[Twizzle]

3 Eels named

 

[Gary Gutful]

I think he would appreciate you not putting his PTRR out into public

It’s already on nrl.com FFS!

 

[Joshuatheeel]

NRL.com and the club sites have it among game day player stats. Paulo only threw one pass:

View attachment 100730

Round 5: Eels v Dragons | Eels

Round 5: Eels v Dragons

www.parraeels.com.au

Hard to say but Paulo has gone from less receipts (Manly 17, Dogs 15) but more passes (Manly 4, Dogs 4) to more receipts/less passes in the Dragons game (20 receipts / 1 pass). Did it help his game?

Anyhow in the press conference Ryles mentioned Hopgood and Walker working together in the middle (where Paulo told him, he was giving away our game plan). Its interesting to compare the top 2 forwards (middle ball players) for passing/receipts in last 2 games with the Dragons game.

Dogs - Hopgood/Paulo, 33 receipts/13 passes

Manly - Hopgood/Kautoga, 27 receipts/15 passes. Paulo had 15 receipts/4 passes

Dragons - Hopgood’s played hooker and middle, so cannot breakdown his stats (44 receipts/34 passes). Appears Guymer played his role to start the game (16 receipts/8 Passes)

While Walker had 30 receipts / 20 passes – he alone pretty much had more than our top 2 forwards from the last 2 games.

Guymer/Walker combined is 46 receipts/28 Passes. Double the passes compared to last 2 games, even without Hopgood stats. That’s a massive change to our attack

Looks like Ryles is making changes to our attack after it being so poor (plus helps to have Walker who can play middle half role so well). While I think Guymer may be locked into the side, if we continue the Hopgood/Smith hooker combo.

 

[Gherkin]

Hard to say but Paulo has gone from less receipts (Manly 17, Dogs 15) but more passes (Manly 4, Dogs 4) to more receipts/less passes in the Dragons game (20 receipts / 1 pass). Did it help his game?

Anyhow in the press conference Ryles mentioned Hopgood and Walker working together in the middle (where Paulo told him, he was giving away our game plan). Its interesting to compare the top 2 forwards (middle ball players) for passing/receipts in last 2 games with the Dragons game.

Dogs - Hopgood/Paulo, 33 receipts/13 passes

Manly - Hopgood/Kautoga, 27 receipts/15 passes. Paulo had 15 receipts/4 passes

Dragons - Hopgood’s played hooker and middle, so cannot breakdown his stats (44 receipts/34 passes). Appears Guymer played his role to start the game (16 receipts/8 Passes)

While Walker had 30 receipts / 20 passes – he alone pretty much had more than our top 2 forwards from the last 2 games.

Guymer/Walker combined is 46 receipts/28 Passes. Double the passes compared to last 2 games, even without Hopgood stats. That’s a massive change to our attack

Looks like Ryles is making changes to our attack after it being so poor (plus helps to have Walker who can play middle half role so well). While I think Guymer may be locked into the side, if we continue the Hopgood/Smith hooker combo.

Surely Matto is in the mix now if it was only injury keeping him out of the team

 

[84 Baby]

Surely Matto is in the mix now if it was only injury keeping him out of the team

Don’t change a winning team

 

[Gherkin]

Don’t change a winning team

If Moses was available would we pick him? You pick your best 17 each week

 

[84 Baby]

If Moses was available would we pick him? You pick your best 17 each week

Do you honestly reckon Matterson is a walk up start?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm sure he's still a better forward than at least a couple of merkins in our 17 this week. It looks like he is being pushed out of the club rather than kept in reserve grade by better players. Which is fine if he's on overs.

 

[Eelementary]

Do you honestly reckon Matterson is a walk up start?

Absolutely.

While he's on the nose with fans (rightfully so), he's a better player than at least half our other forwards.