Eels booed by fans, grilled by coach after insipid 52-10 loss to Titans
Eels coach Jason Ryles says Parramatta’s fans had every right to boo the team after they slumped to an ugly 52-10 loss at home before dragging his players across the coals.
Eels coach Jason Ryles says Parramatta’s fans had every right to boo the team after they slumped to an ugly 52-10 loss at home on Sunday afternoon as their horror injury list grew worse with a couple of head knocks.
Parramatta has conceded 226 points through the opening six rounds – the most in the NRL this season – with the blue and golds picked apart with ease by Gold Coast’s speedy backs.
The result leaves them in 16th spot, with their fans voicing their displeasure when the full-time siren sounded at CommBank Stadium.
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“We just got 50 put on us at our home ground, so the fans are well within their right to be doing that. They’re a huge part of what we’re doing and it’s disappointing that we performed like that in front of them,” Ryles said.
“It’s really disappointing. I didn’t see it coming. (There were) some not really good signs there.”
To make matters worse, Sam Tuivaiti and Kelma Tuilagi both suffered head knocks that will rule them out of their next game against the Bulldogs.
The Eels have already lost J’maine Hopgood, Matt Doorey and Bailey Simonsson to season-ending injuries, while key spine members Jonah Pezet and Isaiah Iongi will also be sidelined for a few more weeks.
“It’s certainly a challenge,” Ryles said.
A dejected Mitchell Moses during the game. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images
“Whenever you get a third of the way through your list, it’s always going to put pressure on performances. But at the same time, it creates opportunity.
“Today for me was disappointing from the point of view that the spirit wasn’t there. Last week (against the Tigers) I saw some fight that I’d never seen before, and then this week I didn’t see it.
“Some individuals made some decisions that hopefully they wouldn’t make again, so that’s something that we need to get to the bottom of really quickly.
“Whoever does come in for those guys that are injured, it’s really important they understand that NRL is a tough business, and if you’re not ready to go right from the start, today happens.
“I’m not going to blame the injuries (for what happened). They’re there, and teams go through those periods in seasons, but when you get your opportunity, you need to take it.
“Right across the board, we just need to get to the bottom of why we lacked that desire today, which I’ve not seen at all from this group in the 18 months that I’ve been here. Not for one second. So that was probably the most disappointing part.”
NRL: The Gold Coast Titans have flogged the Parramatta Eels in their round 6 clash.
KINI THE KILLER
It’s crazy to think there was ever such a lengthy debate over who should be the Titans fullback after Keano Kini produced arguably his finest 80 minutes in the NRL to help Gold Coast heap more misery on the wounded Eels who were booed at full-time.
Kini had a hand in his side’s first four tries as the Titans secured a very rare win in Sydney with a 52-10 victory at CommBank Stadium to record their second-highest NRL score.
Josh Hannay made it clear from the moment he took over as coach that Kini was his number one option at fullback, and the pint-sized speedster repaid the faith with video game numbers after a tough few weeks where his hands let him down.
Keano Kini cut the Eels to pieces. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images
“I said this to the kid during the week, ‘I hate to tell this to you bud, but you’re going to have more bad days in front of you’,” Hannay said.
“It’s all in front of him. So what he’s going through at the moment, he’s had a couple of games where he wasn’t at his absolute best, but I don’t know if you’re watching footy at the moment because there are a lot of fullbacks under a lot of pressure with the high ball.”
Kini set up all three of their first-half tries including a stunning spin move for AJ Brimson to score, while it was his long-range break off a kick that ended up with rookie winger Sialetili Faeamani to make it 18-0 after 15 minutes.
The fullback then burst through the middle to set up Jayden Campbell early in the second half, with Kini finishing the afternoon with 226 metres, four assists, four line-breaks and nine tackle busts.
He wasn’t the only one who produced some magic in attack with Jojo Fifita scooping up a loose ball and then linking up with Phil Sami who finished off a cracking 85-metre try, while Campbell plucked an intercept to put the cherry on top.
DEFENSIVE WOES
The Eels have slumped to second last after six rounds and boast the worst defence in the NRL this season after they leaked nine tries and missed 43 tackles against a team that hasn’t looked great in attack.
The blue and golds have conceded 226 points already this season with both edges and their middle exposed by Gold Coast.
It’s a major concern for coach Jason Ryles who would have been filthy with the ease in which Cooper Bai barged his way to the line from close range in the second half.
Their attack wasn’t much better, with their first try coming off what looked to be a forward pass as their fans let out a chorus of boos as the visitors reached 50.
INJURY CRISIS
Parramatta’s injury crisis has worsened with powerhouse forwards Sam Tuivaiti and Kelma Tuilagi set to miss their next game after they both had head knocks on Sunday afternoon.
The Eels are already without J’maine Hopgood, Matt Doorey and Bailey Simonsson for the season, while Isaiah Iongi and Jonah Pezet headline the list of other stars currently on the sidelines.
Tuivaiti had only been on for about 10 minutes when his head cannoned into Arama Hau’s hip as he tried to make a tackle, with the bench prop immediately ruled out.
“Whenever you get a third of the way through your list, it’s always going to put pressure on performances, but at the same time, it creates opportunity,” Ryles said.
“I’m not going to blame the injuries (for how we played). They’re there, and teams go through those periods in seasons, but when you get your opportunity, you need to take it.
“Right across the board, we just need to get to the bottom of why we lacked that desire today, which I’ve not seen at all from this group in the 18 months that I’ve been here. Not for one second. So that was probably the most disappointing part.”