Rd7: Eels v Broncos GAME DAY THREAD @ Tio Stadium 23/4/21

[Pazza]

Oregon's offloads, didn't know he had that

He's a first grader now, it's great to watch.

 

[Tooooks]

The bloke bleeds blue and gold. Literally throws his body into every thing he does. Plays with a heart the size of pharlap and because hes doing what some people around here think is heresy ie negotiating a new contract. He's become disposable and even unwanted.

Nrown deserves much more respect from the fan base than he is receiving ATM.

You’re right. That was overly harsh from me. I do have great respect for the way he plays and coming up to his last contract, I can’t blame him for trying to get the best deal.

Look, he’s been a great signing for us but purely from a business point of view, we now have options if he is going to leave.

 

[emjaycee]

You go to all games mjc?

I try to if work and family commitments let me.

 

[TheRam]

and Roache too, the forgotten benchie. Reckon there is good chance he may get some games after round 11 and surprise.

Not as versatile as Smith but is a better middle/dummy half. More powerful.

gee we have plenty of options

Shut up, you'll put the mocker on us.

 

[TheRam]

I’m looking forward to seeing how Brad Arthur manages Reed Mahoneys workload this season. I thought he was forced to do way too much last season.

From here on in I would be looking to rest him from the back end of games for about 20 minutes, especially against the weaker teams. I would start with next week against the Dogs. Last nights game was like playing in a sauna, it sapped the energy of all the players.

How long have we got to go on that Darwin deal anyway? I would be looking at ending it once it is over. We were lucking we played a inept Broncos outfit last night, but if we had come up against a strong and determined bunch, then we could have seen a different result considering the size of our team and who knows? Under extreme fatigue injuries happen more often.

If we don't need the cash as badly anymore and considering that we have such a large membership now and the best Stadium, no matter who we play, if the weather is decent we get excellent crowds. Why go to Darwin? Let some other more desperate club go there and reward our members with an extra game.

 

[Twizzle]

My post game rant.

Loved the strip, best one I've seen for ages.

Kaufusi's best game in the NRL, we made the right choice keeping him and letting Stephano got, assuming we had a choice.

So happy that BA spoke to Cartwright, he showed what he is really capable of and looks like he really wants to play for us.

Great game from Sivo but still find his very slow play the balls annoying unless there was a sniper in the crowd.

Gutho and Mahoney really are the backbone of this team, always in the best players week after week.

BA with some decisions re Matto, I notice Papa played up the middle when Cartwright comes on, then does he leave Niokore in the centres and piss Blake off ? We need a bigger bench with Papa, Matto, Lane, Cartwright and Niokore, only solution I see is some of these guys rotating through the middle, assuming Blake comes back.

And to BA, great use of the bench, played the conditions perfectly.

Edit: oh and forgo to mention Mitch's 2 try saving tackles in the same line break by the Broncos in the first half, its more what you expect from Brown but that was some excellent defense from MM.

 

[Twizzle]

And one more thing, credit to Payne Haas, he kid is a beast and built for Rugby League, would love him at the Eels

 

[Gronk]

We badly need Waqa back. Poor Dylan was poking his nose through the line and had to shift it to Lane or Marata.

 

[TheRam]

My post game rant.

Loved the strip, best one I've seen for ages.

Kaufusi's best game in the NRL, we made the right choice keeping him and letting Stephano got, assuming we had a choice.

So happy that BA spoke to Cartwright, he showed what he is really capable of and looks like he really wants to play for us.

Great game from Sivo but still find his very slow play the balls annoying unless there was a sniper in the crowd.

Gutho and Mahoney really are the backbone of this team, always in the best players week after week.

BA with some decisions re Matto, I notice Papa played up the middle when Cartwright comes on, then does he leave Niokore in the centres and piss Blake off ? We need a bigger bench with Papa, Matto, Lane, Cartwright and Niokore, only solution I see is some of these guys rotating through the middle, assuming Blake comes back.

And to BA, great use of the bench, played the conditions perfectly.

Edit: oh and forgo to mention Mitch's 2 try saving tackles in the same line break by the Broncos in the first half, its more what you expect from Brown but that was some excellent defense from MM.

On Cartwright, He has been excellent thus far, especially considering he is coming back from a broken jaw and we have seen many players lose some confidence and take a while to hit form again.

But he has shown no obvious hesitation or fear, which is pleasantly, slightly surprising considering his previous stints at other clubs. Maybe he has permanently turned the corner as a NRL player?

Time will tell on that one as will what exactly does he bring to our team. So far he has been fantastic with the small sample size of game time and quality of opposition that he has faced.

The real acid test will be when we play a game when the result is on the line and we need a clever Cartwright who delivers a judicious offload, similar to what Junior can. Not the willy-nilly, hail Mary, dumbarse previous Bryce Cartwright type of nonsense he is known for. I fear he may still have that in him, and if he does, I hope he starts to show it sooner rather then later so as BA can wipe it out of his game now before it really hurts us in the big end of season games. What a great one two punch it would be having both him and Junior in our pack at the same time.

I have to give it to our recruitment team, all the signs so far are positive. Bryce has been a brilliant signing and may just be the type that makes us a real contender and capable of matching it with the likes of of South's, Panthers and Storm for the more fancier stuff. We still need more speed and evasion in our backline though. Maybe that new Haze signing can help in that department.

 

[Pazza]

Look, he’s been a great signing for us but purely from a business point of view, we now have options if he is going to leave.

very true, if he does look for opportunity somewhere else we seem to have a crop of new players that can play at a high level.

 

[Pazza]

i need to see more of carty before thinking he's a fulltime first grader at the Eels.

There is no doubt his ceiling is sky high but his floor is ben roberts like. I really hope he plays like he did last night for the rest of the season but i have my doubts.

 

[TheRam]

i need to see more of carty before thinking he's a fulltime first grader at the Eels.

There is no doubt his ceiling is sky high but his floor is ben roberts like. I really hope he plays like he did last night for the rest of the season but i have my doubts.

Yes maintaining good form is definitely his greatest challenge. We will see.

 

[Gazzamatta]

I like what BA did with Cartwright. He played him big mins in game 1 and it's fair to say Bryce blew it. Week 2 he gets minimal mins and obviously had BAs scorn ringing in his ears. Last night he bagged up the stupid stuff and showed what he is capable of even allowing the opposition standard. I like that he played tough. Early days but he seems to have got the message. That's good coaching BA.
Smith was better last night except for that one God awful pass he threw when we looked very likely. I note he didn't kick last night and neither should he. That said there is no place for him at full strength.
We potentially have an embarrassment of riches. I can see our bench being Oregon, Cartwright, Ice and Marata but where do we squeeze in Mr Emu? He's a must. Great problems to have.

 

[hindy111]

I don't think Emu is a must. He come on when the game was over. Brisbanes pack was gassed.
What we have is a project player who can be turned into a genuine NRL player.
The weakest link so far in the pack when everyone is fit is LANE. But his defense is exceptionally good. But potency wise Matterson/Cartwright will offer more. But does it matter who starts and who comes on when? Lanes doing his job.
Opacic is solid but a few times last night had Blake had the same chances he scores and isnt stopped half a meter short. I am curious how this kid from NZ goes but I see him more as a back up. Opacic/Blake will start.

So our biggest issue if all fit is the bench.

W.Smith/Cartwright
Niakuore
Kafusi
Papalì

Emu
Stone
Hippy
Roache( Real smokie)

May get a chance to start rotating forwards when all fit. Guys like Emu, Stone and Hippy can all take a spot on bench.

 

[emjaycee]

Have heard from a few people in the know that Roache is a big chance once eligible (Round 11) of a bench spot.

 

[yy_cheng]

I would like to say that drown's defense
Was magnificent and he is always there in cover.

Although moses did 2 great tackles in a row, drown was there in cover which allowed moses to do something

I like when drown is next to moses in attack as well. Like when moses passed to him on the 5th

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Put Matterson back on the right and keep papalii on the left. Matterson’s ball skills might make up for Dylan Brown’s lack of. Lane to the bench

Won't somebody think of the defence??!!? Against the good sides we'll need Matterson next to Moses.

 

[strider]

And to BA, great use of the bench, played the conditions perfectly.

100%

maybe us playing there regularly has taught a few lessons ..... it's f**kin humid!!!

 

[strider]

So happy that BA spoke to Cartwright, he showed what he is really capable of and looks like he really wants to play for us.

My Carty highlight of the night wasn't him scoring ..... it was seeing him in the background when Opacic scored after Carty pretty much set it up with the first offload to gutho .... Carty looked more excited that he setup that try and Mitch was over to him celebrating immediately .... shows what they have been working towards - and the confidence it will build when it comes off (even against the lowly ponys it helps build) - carty gets a bigger thrill out of setting up others than getting the final glory himself

 

[strider]

Won't somebody think of the defence??!!? Against the good sides we'll need Matterson next to Moses.

yeah - I am surprised people are all keen to make big moves .... I think we still go with Matto and Lane starting edges .... but its f**kin awesome to have options

Papa and Marata straight back to the bench middles when we get to full strength .... their bench impact will be immense - which has been a massive problem for us the last few years