Rd6: 735pm Eels v Raiders GAME DAY THREAD in Darwin 12/4/25

[Poupou Escobar]

The starting Hopgood at hooker rubbish needs to stop.
Start ryley and give him a break at 25/30 with Walker playing hooker until halftime then start 2nd half with Ryley back at hooker with Walker in his roving role.
There is just so much wrong with this club at the moment...top down

Hopgood is one of our best middle defenders, and the score was 6-all when Smith came on. Not that Smith was the cause (Paulo is our worst middle defender when the opposition has all the ball) but we weren't struggling with Hopgood at hooker.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Absolutely.

I think we have over-estimated the quality of our roster for a number of years.

I didn't.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We are conceding an average of 34 points a game and have the worst attack in the comp. Minus 123 differential.

That is Langmack/Wests Magpies territory.

We conceded 50+ four times in 2013, under the same coach whose team belted us last night.

 

[Avenger]

We conceded 50+ four times in 2013, under the same coach whose team belted us last night.

He wasn’t a rookie coach though and he had the balls to identify the plodders.

 

[Chipmunk]

We conceded 50+ four times in 2013, under the same coach whose team belted us last night.

Perhaps because that coach gave up on the team after 3-4 games and gave the entire squad an out to not botheer turning up each week.

 

[Delboy]

Actually, from what we saw on tv, think the referee officiated scared last might and he was the worst seen on the field for a while, and it’s a big number.

Atkins in the bunker ruled a penalty try, a hip drop, a dubious dead ball decision and more all in favour of the Raiders, not surprising really.

 

[lingard]

So in other words, the forum is full of people with different opinions. Well, f**k me...

There isn't one person at fault at Parra. It requires failure at multiple levels to end up in the steaming pile of shit that we find ourselves.

Well that's your opinion.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Yeah, I know we should be able to cover injuries, but missing Moses, Lomax and Williams are big outs especially when trying to blood rookies.

That's a lot of leadership/experience. 2 origin players. And all provide a lot to our defence in different ways.

 

[JokerEel]

We are conceding an average of 34 points a game and have the worst attack in the comp. Minus 123 differential.

That is Langmack/Wests Magpies territory.

Last year we conceded 30 PPG

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I honestly dont know what to make of this team and what exactly do they do before the Darwin game. I could sense it was going to be ugly with those two tries before half time then some hope was restored with the Fox try, however once again some dumb mistakes cost them and the heads when down since that Brown penalty. They could barely get themselves out of the trouble, the missed tackles werent up to A Grade standard with the shirt grabbing. They looks completely out of sorts. People might say theyre not used to the conditions but thats a terrible excuse when you consider theyve played most of their games in 20-30 C days and up against Canberra, CANBERRA who play in the bloody cold.

There was just no leadership last night, no one was barking instructions and instead some of the senior players made fumbling errors.

We seriously need a clean out and its not just the players.

Until Moses is back, I have no absolutely little faith in this team.

 

[The Predictor]

Yeah, I know we should be able to cover injuries, but missing Moses, Lomax and Williams are big outs especially when trying to blood rookies.

That's a lot of leadership/experience. 2 origin players. And all provide a lot to our defence in different ways.

Brick wall!

 

[DaveMc]

I honestly dont know what to make of this team and what exactly do they do before the Darwin game. I could sense it was going to be ugly with those two tries before half time then some hope was restored with the Fox try, however once again some dumb mistakes cost them and the heads when down since that Brown penalty. They could barely get themselves out of the trouble, the missed tackles werent up to A Grade standard with the shirt grabbing. They looks completely out of sorts. People might say theyre not used to the conditions but thats a terrible excuse when you consider theyve played most of their games in 20-30 C days and up against Canberra, CANBERRA who play in the bloody cold.

There was just no leadership last night, no one was barking instructions and instead some of the senior players made fumbling errors.

We seriously need a clean out and its not just the players.

Until Moses is back, I have no absolutely little faith in this team.

My concern is that even with Moses back (and Lomax and Williams, assuming we ever f**king see them on the park together at the same time), whilst ever our pack is getting dominated like it is, there’s only so much they’re going to be able to do. The biggest thing the squad needs at the moment is a collective brain transplant - they do so much dumb shit in terms of discipline and basic errors that they’re never going to compete against even barely competent teams, let alone the top tier.

 

[Eelementary]

I didn't.

Yeah, to be fair, you didn't.

I sure did.

I was so excited when we signed Matterson.

 

[Eelementary]

I think by the time Moses is back, the question will be, "Do we even bother risking his fitness?"

He's so important to our on-field success.

Would we not be better served having him rehabilitate his foot in 2025, to come back stronger next year?

Or is that just wishful thinking?

I'd hate to see him come back to the team, and suffer another long-term injury, in a season where we have nothing to play for.

 

[Avenger]

Yeah, I know we should be able to cover injuries, but missing Moses, Lomax and Williams are big outs especially when trying to blood rookies.

That's a lot of leadership/experience. 2 origin players. And all provide a lot to our defence in different ways.

What happens when other teams lose their origin players or are decimated by injury? Did you see what the Roosters did, what Melbourne constantly do? Even the Dragons who we were lucky to beat with their dad’s army team can lift.

We aren’t even in the same sport as any of these sides. We are the WORST team in the comp and when we come last this season the front office needs to be sacked.
Every single last incompetent one of them. I wouldn’t feed them and this week the media will have a field day exploring our ineptitude.

It's a disgrace.

 

[Eelementary]

My concern is that even with Moses back (and Lomax and Williams, assuming we ever f**king see them on the park together at the same time), whilst ever our pack is getting dominated like it is, there’s only so much they’re going to be able to do. The biggest thing the squad needs at the moment is a collective brain transplant - they do so much dumb shit in terms of discipline and basic errors that they’re never going to compete against even barely competent teams, let alone the top tier.

I am of the opinion that we are really lacking a vocal leader out there.

Someone who would tear strips out of his troops when they make stupid errors.

It's a double-edged sword, of course - you don't want to metaphorically castrate your teammates -, but you need someone to instill the fear of making dumb errors into the team.

Ryles should do it, but being a rookie coach, he needs to earn that right.

Mitchell Moses would probably do that, but he's always bloody injured.

We need to invest in some tight forwards who can dominate a ruck in defence, and a vocal leader.

They are out most important flaws to fix, imo.

I wish we had never let RCG go.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

My concern is that even with Moses back (and Lomax and Williams, assuming we ever f**king see them on the park together at the same time), whilst ever our pack is getting dominated like it is, there’s only so much they’re going to be able to do. The biggest thing the squad needs at the moment is a collective brain transplant - they do so much dumb shit in terms of discipline and basic errors that they’re never going to compete against even barely competent teams, let alone the top tier.

Yeah true, some of the dumb mistakes are by the more experienced players. You can forgive the odd mistake from someone like Smith, Iongi and Tuivati but when the senior players do it, its a real concern. Fair point about the forward pack unless the likes of Paulo and Joffa pull their finger out next week.

 

[Eelementary]

What happens when other teams lose their origin players or are decimated by injury? Did you see what the Roosters did, what Melbourne constantly do? Even the Dragons who we were lucky to beat with their dad’s army team can lift.

We aren’t even in the same sport as any of these sides. We are the WORST team in the comp and when we come last this season the front office needs to be sacked.
Every single last incompetent one of them. I wouldn’t feed them and this week the media will have a field day exploring our ineptitude.

It's a disgrace.

I reckon we should sign one of those online petitions, staying that we, as members of the club, have had a gutful of incompetent front office management, and are demanding their sacking.

If we get decent enough numbers, they can't ignore it.

Even though they will.

 

[Eelementary]

Yeah true, some of the dumb mistakes are by the more experienced players. You can forgive the odd mistake from someone like Smith, Iongi and Tuivati but when the senior players do it, its a real concern. Fair point about the forward pack unless the likes of Paulo and Joffa pull their finger out next week.

I reckon Junior had an off day - we can expect him to be better next week.

Joffa will never, ever get better. He's a bum.

 

[PARRA_FAN]

I reckon Junior had an off day - we can expect him to be better next week.

The problem is he's had a few off days this year, hopefully he is a lot better against the Tigers.