Rnd 16: Eels v Sea Eagles (Arthur Family Cup) GAME DAY THREAD

[the phantom menace]

Did you watch ANY of our attack. Look at our sweep plays for f**ks sake. He committed defenders. Come on Pou you’re better than that.

He's not though, as his posting history proves.

 

[JokerEel]

If Dylbags is available from June 28 we are a genuine premiership shot.

Penrith we can handle at our best.
Souths we have beaten the bogey with our demolition at Allianz.
Storm we have aimed up and defeated in the past 3 years.
Broncos haven't proven themselves in finals yet.

We can win it and don't underestimate the last round bye will come in very handy imo

It will be interesting with all our players back even without Dylan we have a pretty strong squad.

Jnr
Hodgo
Reg
Lane
Carty
Hopgood

Hands
Matto
Greig

Then we have a few players to fill that 1 bench spot...

Ogden
Davey
Joe
Moretti
Doorey
Makatoa
Hunt

 

[Chipmunk]

Where did you get this idea? We have had to play backups because we've had players unavailable. None of them have been given responsibilities they can't handle.

Again, false. He was given three games to prove whether or not he could do it, then we brought Hands in. It was one of the earliest adjustments we made.

Where the f**k do you get these shit ideas from? Hopgood has played more 80 minute games (two of them) in the past month than he did in the first month (only played a full game against Melbourne). It depends how much defence he's had to do and whether or not we need him out there. He played 80 in the wins over Souths and the Cowboys. It's an option. It was an option in round one and it's an option still today. Nothing has changed.

The backups are as trustworthy as they have proven to be. That's a fact for every coach, not just Brad Arthur.

He has never played them for 60 minutes every week. Like with Hopgood, it depends on how much work they've had to do in defence (are they gassed) and whether we can afford to rest them (i.e. is the score close).

163 NRL games says he is.

He had no trouble finding another NRL backup gig.

He sticks to his guns, which is what you want from a coach. Knee jerk reactions won't get you into a grand final. They certainly won't get you 130 career wins.

He has already proven he knows what he's doing and when things need to change. He has persisted with players who dopey fans demanded to get rid of (e.g. Gutherson, Simonsson, Drown) and he has persisted with players who eventually overstayed their welcome (e.g. Norman, Edwards). Without the latter you don't get the former. Bellamy got to a grand final with Croft and then played him right up until round 22 the following year (they were leading the comp at the time) when he decided Papenhuyzen should start (shifting Hughes to the halves). The information required to make these decisions doesn't emerge straight away. Quite often the alternate options aren't demanding selection either.

But Arthur knows what he's doing, and he's known it long before we beat Souths three weeks ago (incidentally, besides Hopgood's 80 minutes that week, Paulo played 72 and Hodgson 54). Recent wins over a couple of dud sides doesn't really signal anything about what Brad Arthur's has learnt, that geniuses like yourself knew all along.

I didn't believe the majority of what I wrote, but I'm bored and knew you would waste your time and respond.

PS I only read your first paragraph. Back to You Tube now

 

[the phantom menace]

But Arthur is a better halfback, which is why he was ahead of Asi in the pecking order.

But sometimes mistakes are made too...

 

[JokerEel]

Where did you get this idea? We have had to play backups because we've had players unavailable. None of them have been given responsibilities they can't handle.

Again, false. He was given three games to prove whether or not he could do it, then we brought Hands in. It was one of the earliest adjustments we made.

Where the f**k do you get these shit ideas from? Hopgood has played more 80 minute games (two of them) in the past month than he did in the first month (only played a full game against Melbourne). It depends how much defence he's had to do and whether or not we need him out there. He played 80 in the wins over Souths and the Cowboys. It's an option. It was an option in round one and it's an option still today. Nothing has changed.

The backups are as trustworthy as they have proven to be. That's a fact for every coach, not just Brad Arthur.

He has never played them for 60 minutes every week. Like with Hopgood, it depends on how much work they've had to do in defence (are they gassed) and whether we can afford to rest them (i.e. is the score close).

163 NRL games says he is.

He had no trouble finding another NRL backup gig.

He sticks to his guns, which is what you want from a coach. Knee jerk reactions won't get you into a grand final. They certainly won't get you 130 career wins.

He has already proven he knows what he's doing and when things need to change. He has persisted with players who dopey fans demanded to get rid of (e.g. Gutherson, Simonsson, Drown) and he has persisted with players who eventually overstayed their welcome (e.g. Norman, Edwards). Without the latter you don't get the former. Bellamy got to a grand final with Croft and then played him right up until round 22 the following year (they were leading the comp at the time) when he decided Papenhuyzen should start (shifting Hughes to the halves). The information required to make these decisions doesn't emerge straight away. Quite often the alternate options aren't demanding selection either.

But Arthur knows what he's doing, and he's known it long before we beat Souths three weeks ago (incidentally, besides Hopgood's 80 minutes that week, Paulo played 72 and Hodgson 54). Recent wins over a couple of dud sides doesn't really signal anything about what Brad Arthur's has learnt, that geniuses like yourself knew all along.

Bloody hell Pou did the Ram take over your account???

 

[King-Gutho94]

@Poupou Escobar do you reckon we are shot at winning the comp with our forward pack If we get Dylan back.

 

[Avenger]

Throughly enjoyed the game at the ground. Barrett has transformed our attack. The improvement of Simonsson at centre is amazing. He has surprised me and is somewhat resurrected as player in my eyes. Still needs to keep doing it.

I wouldn't sign one forward for next year but consolidate in what we already have. Moretti was very impressive when he came on and Asi will be a good 6 for the rest of the year. I thought we missed Moses long range kicking game. If he played we win by 50 plus. Gutherson played very well, again. Russell is coming on nicely and Dunster should probably be shown the door for his own development. I'd be looking at signing some more outside backs but wouldn't be paying overs for anyone.

Schuster is garbage by the way. Arthur's kicking game was terrible and was like a pop gun that the ball boys could have diffused.

 

[the phantom menace]

They had Asi higher in the pecking order and saw fit to release Jake to find opportunity elsewhere.

Yep, Jake was (eventually) seen as more expendable in the pecking order than anyone else who hadn't had the opportunities at Parra that he'd been given.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Our attack improves with Hands but BA persists with Hodgson?? I don't get it

Arthur's wants Hodgson's experience on early (at least against strong opposition) so Hands can come on against tired defences.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

You’re dreaming if you think Staines is better than Russell. Reminds me of the argument that we should get Daine Laurie and play him at fullback instead of Gutho.

id give Russell more time. I think he’s on track to develop as a very handy winger. We don’t need an all flash but no substance Ferrari.

Don't forget Russell only turned 21 a few weeks ago. He probably has plenty of improvement in him.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

A few good games isn't great. I'd prefer a centre with future rep qualities eg Averillio, Best

We already have a centre with future rep quality. How many do you think we can afford while fielding this pack?

 

[the phantom menace]

He still picked Davey and the only reason Hodgson isn't our main hooker is due to injury. Our attack improves with Hands but BA persists with Hodgson?? I don't get it

Surely BA has seen this light with this too, and Hodgson's reported injuries that kept him out of both Dogs matches and this match are just cover-ups to allow the old fella some dignity?

 

[the phantom menace]

Where the f**k do you get these shit ideas from?

Probably from the shit you've attempted to convince us in your posts following other games earlier in the season ?

 

[King-Gutho94]

Throughly enjoyed the game at the ground. Barrett has transformed our attack. The improvement of Simonsson at centre is amazing. He has surprised me and is somewhat resurrected as player in my eyes. Still needs to keep doing it.

I wouldn't sign one forward for next year but consolidate in what we already have. Moretti was very impressive when he came on and Asi will be a good 6 for the rest of the year. I thought we missed Moses long range kicking game. If he played we win by 50 plus. Gutherson played very well, again. Russell is coming on nicely and Dunster should probably be shown the door for his own development. I'd be looking at signing some more outside backs but wouldn't be paying overs for anyone.

Schuster is garbage by the way. Arthur's kicking game was terrible and was like a pop gun that the ball boys could have diffused.

BA is coaching better then ever since Jake left.

Got his rotations right and managing the interchange correctly. If it wasn't for the bunker we put 50 on those pricks tonight.

 

[King-Gutho94]

My head, gut and heart tells me Dylan won’t be playing anymore football in 2023.

From what I have been told today.

He should be back for the warriors game and abdo should be booed every time he rocks up to a parra game for being a weak kneed prick.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I'm bored and knew you would waste your time and respond

Sharing my opinion is never a waste of time. My time anyway. What you do with your time is your business.

 

[Avenger]

A few good games isn't great. I'd prefer a centre with future rep qualities eg Averillio, Best

I’d take Best before Averillo. Both however have shit defence. Still think we are beating most sides with our pack. I’d be consolidating that before breaking the bank on a high priced centre/winger especially when you see the progress of Simonsson and Russell. We need more depth in the backs but I’d be going mid tier and nothing more pricey than Penisini. Someone like Connor Tracey would be ideal. People put shit on him but I’d take Staines too.

 

[the phantom menace]

Sharing my opinion is never a waste of time. My time anyway.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

But sometimes mistakes are made too...

Yeah why did we re-sign Moses and Drown when Asi and Matterson proved tonight that they're better?

 

[Poupou Escobar]

@Poupou Escobar do you reckon we are shot at winning the comp with our forward pack If we get Dylan back.

Yeah of course, but we were a shot last year and the year before as well.