Rd8: Parramatta v Dragons LIVE GAME DAY thread May 5th 2019

[Happy MEel]

Nrown goes ok too

Yep. Knew I missed someone. Still would like one more middle instead of Peni/Tep/Evans/Stone. Maybe Stefano if we go internal?

Something like this would do me just fine:

1. Gutho
2. Sivo
3. Jennings
4. Taka or Salmon
5. Fergo
6. Drown
7. Moses
8. Alvaro
9. Reed
10. Junior
11. Lane
12. Marata
13. Nrown

14. Mannah
15. Kaufusi
16. Mau
17. New middle or Stefano

 

[Soren Lorenson]

Just my thoughts.

1. Merkins here have to stop writing us off after 20 minutes. Some of the comments were just plain stupid. "Same old Parra" for example. Well, we aren't the same old Parra. Even at 0 - 14 down, I still thought we'd get back into it. "Can't win with Ashley Klein". How did that go?

2. Salmon is doing a fine job at 5/8th. He is a good foil for Moses, as opposed to Norman last year when both our halves didn't really know who was to take control. Also, his defense is excellent, and on the odd occasion he will create a surprise in attack. Otherwise, he is one of those back up players that is depth. He's good depth.

3. Moeroa won't ever be a superstar. He's a hard working toiler. Didn't have his best game today but did a lot of work. Every team needs a player like him. We have some other flashy forwards who can do the fancy work.

4. Great to have Mau back. He's a beast.

5. If we can get our best team on the field consistently, we'll give this comp a shake. Never thought I'd say this but we missed Timmy today. Such a shame that Dylan Brown's season may be over.

6. 2nd great win in a row at our new home. This is how we create a fortress. Just like the Wanderers, Homebush has been an absolute f**king curse for the past 2 seasons for the Eels. We now have the opportunity to make other teams scared to come and play at Bankwest, even when it is their home game. Imagine the mindset of the Tigers when they play us there next. It's their home game and we put 50 on them last time. We only get this chance once to make opposing teams scared to come here, like the Storm, Cowboys, Knights and Raiders have done. We have to make the most of it.

7. Now is the time to get BA and Guth re-signed. It would do wonders for confidence and stability. Get it done.

Take it to the glass 1/2 full thread merkin

 

[Bazal]

Spot on. Kaufusi is a keeper!! Junior, Alvaro, Mannah, Kaufusi and Mau make an excellent middle rotation. We’re just missing one more quality middle I reckon.

Now, can we all now agree that Gutho has earnt his contract or are people seriously going to continue pushing the line that we can bring in another quality fullback from nowhere???

Everybody aboard the Gutho bandwagon

I thought Keppie was a keeper? Gazza has me on ignore or I'd tag him like the smart arse I am

Kaufusi>>>>Daylight>>>>Aaron Cannings>>>Keppie

 

[Suitman]

Can we add Moses to point 7?

Yes, we can. I actually expect that will happen anyway. Well, I hope.....

 

[Bazal]

Just my thoughts.

1. Merkins here have to stop writing us off after 20 minutes. Some of the comments were just plain stupid. "Same old Parra" for example. Well, we aren't the same old Parra. Even at 0 - 14 down, I still thought we'd get back into it. "Can't win with Ashley Klein". How did that go?

2. Salmon is doing a fine job at 5/8th. He is a good foil for Moses, as opposed to Norman last year when both our halves didn't really know who was to take control. Also, his defense is excellent, and on the odd occasion he will create a surprise in attack. Otherwise, he is one of those back up players that is depth. He's good depth.

3. Moeroa won't ever be a superstar. He's a hard working toiler. Didn't have his best game today but did a lot of work. Every team needs a player like him. We have some other flashy forwards who can do the fancy work.

4. Great to have Mau back. He's a beast.

5. If we can get our best team on the field consistently, we'll give this comp a shake. Never thought I'd say this but we missed Timmy today. Such a shame that Dylan Brown's season may be over.

6. 2nd great win in a row at our new home. This is how we create a fortress. Just like the Wanderers, Homebush has been an absolute f**king curse for the past 2 seasons for the Eels. We now have the opportunity to make other teams scared to come and play at Bankwest, even when it is their home game. Imagine the mindset of the Tigers when they play us there next. It's their home game and we put 50 on them last time. We only get this chance once to make opposing teams scared to come here, like the Storm, Cowboys, Knights and Raiders have done. We have to make the most of it.

7. Now is the time to get BA and Guth re-signed. It would do wonders for confidence and stability. Get it done.

** EDIT**

8. If we all thought we'd start this season with 5 wins from 8 starts, we'd all have been ecstatic and taken it. It's been an amazing turn around from our wooden spoon season last year. Keep the faith peeps!!

Salmon had his best game IMO.

Chose when to kick and did so nicely. He's solid. Still think he looks like a running edge player (likely a centre) but he's not letting us down

 

[Djay]

Another great day out at the stadium, brilliant to watch the boys play there.

I was fearing the worst once it became 14-0. Our on line defence was pretty good but they scored off a kick and that second try was ridiculously good.

Moeroa's stupid tackle on Norman swung the momentum the Dragons way for a good 20 min period and it made it very hard for us to get out of our half again, that was a dumb play by him.

We did look shot but Mahoney's try before half time was massive. That was also some soft defending from the Dragons.

Second half for once we flew out of the blocks and to be honest I think that's where we won the game, Gutherson split them up the middle beautifully followed by Sivo's amazing solo effort, had us rolling big time. Props to Gutherson for throwing that ball to Sivo in our own end, was perfect.

That 5th tackle penalty they got when we were on our line was a massive momentum swing back to them we defended that next set brilliantly until Lane touched it before going dead, which lead to them scoring.

But from there we took control of the game and closed it out pretty well, Moses' kick for Fergo was brilliant and the second Sivo try was icing on the cake.

Massive win, especially from 14 points down we showed some serious character and that made it so much sweeter to show we can swing momentum back our way and punish teams.

Just games like these next 2 away from home worry me, we cannot let Melbourne have massive momentum and think they won't punish us. We need to be competing from the get go and our middle defence has to be tight. We need to start performing on the road like we do at home before this team fills me massive confidence but don't get me wrong we are travelling nicely and are a very good football team on our day.

 

[Dibs]

I thought Tepai was good, except for his errors.

*shrugs*

To each their own...

I agree mate although the tackle stats Bazal mentioned weren’t crash hot. I was happy when he went off in the first half but thought he had a few good runs in the second. Stats may prove that wrong though

 

[Dibs]

Not sure of his stats and I can’t be bothered to check but I thought Manu off the bench was really good.

Nuikore is just a quality backrower in attack and D as well.. once we learn how to use him more he is going to be a gun. Will be a NZ player within the next 12 months.

There was a few sets in the 2nd half where the dragons were up in our faces in our own half and then manu released the pressure running into some gaps

 

[Bazal]

Manu was 12 runs for 104m for the record. A linebreak assist too

And some of those runs were hugely important

 

[Eelementary]

I agree mate although the tackle stats Bazal mentioned weren’t crash hot. I was happy when he went off in the first half but thought he had a few good runs in the second. Stats may prove that wrong though

I don't think he was spectacular, but I thought he ran the ball stronger than I've seen him do so in some time.

He is a hit down on form, as is perhaps Alvaro - but they are both quality players, imo, and will be back to their best in no time.

 

[Dibs]

I don't think he was spectacular, but I thought he ran the ball stronger than I've seen him do so in some time.

He is a hit down on form, as is perhaps Alvaro - but they are both quality players, imo, and will be back to their best in no time.

I thought the same about his runs

 

[JohnStoppafarty]

True.

He also defended well (though he had some ineffective tackles), and ran well.

I won't say I didn't see him do anything good but I can think of at least 4 times where i thought who TF was that imbecile and it turned out to be Tep. That penalty after we'd kept them to 35m in a set did my head in. FFS.

 

[84 Baby]

So @Gronk whom are you sitting next to now?

 

[Eelementary]

I won't say I didn't see him do anything good but I can think of at least 4 times where i thought who TF was that imbecile and it turned out to be Tep. That penalty after we'd kept them to 35m in a set did my head in. FFS.

He definitely had some bain farts, that's for sure.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

It was nice to get some ball in the second half. Sure there’s things you can do to increase your share of possession but a big part of it is luck and refereeing fiat.

 

[84 Baby]

It was nice to get some ball in the second half. Sure there’s things you can do to increase your share of possession but a big part of it is luck and refereeing fiat.

Perenara and Atkins = the refereeing Lada

 

[Noise]

I thought Keppie was a keeper? Gazza has me on ignore or I'd tag him like the smart arse I am

Kaufusi>>>>Daylight>>>>Aaron Cannings>>>Keppie

Can I ask who is this Keppie bloke? Was he meant to be a gun?

 

[Bazal]

Can I ask who is this Keppie bloke? Was he meant to be a gun?

He's a lower grades prop Manly pinched off us last year.

Caused much hand wringing amongst some of the usual suspects. But he's nothing special

 

[yy_cheng]

As pou mentioned last week. Alvaro makes a difference in the ruck. He's almost like how hindy was

 

[Soren Lorenson]

He's a lower grades prop Manly pinched off us last year.

Caused much hand wringing amongst some of the usual suspects. But he's nothing special

He's off contract. Will be interested to see if manly retain him.