Rumours and Stuff

[Matty Bhoy]

One wooden spoon doesnt really matter and no one remembers. Three in a row and people start to chatter.

That’s a fair call. That said, last, last and second last doesn’t set the world alight.

 

[hindy111]

They have signed players who work hard. This is why coaching isn't the silver bullet. These merkins need to be determined and disciplined at their core, or the work they are forced to do at training will be wasted somewhat. Work ethic is part of who we are, just like natural size, strength, speed and skill. It can be improved but only to a point. This is why big/fast/fit/skillful merkins who get arrested or banned keep getting second chances. The Dogs sacked a bunch of merkins and brought new ones in because turds can only be polished so much.

What you have to remember is the NRL pull strings. They want Dogs strong.
Start of year most tipped Manly,Storm,Panthers,Brisbane,Sharks,South,Roosters to be in the 8.
Dogs only had Roosters and Sharks twice of that 7.
It turns out Brisbane (if fit still a top 4 side) and Souths where weak and the Dolphins are in the 8 who they played also once. So of the current top 8 sides they've had to face Sharks and Roosters twice.

We got Penrith,Brisbane,Souths,Manly, Sharks,Roosters, Storm all twice. Along with the Dogs I guess.
As the ladder stands today we played the top 6 sides twice. And only Dolphins and Cowboys once. I'd much rather them then Brisbane x 2.

The NRL draw lacks integrity. It's why I feel 3 of the top 4 sides deserve it and 1 of them generaly had an easy draw . The 5th ranked side usually always deserves its place in the finals but Sides 6th -14th I don't think differ a whole lot in quality. Just easier draws, luck during games, injuries, Suspensions.
That's why sides can bounce back to top 8 so quickly or drop out.
It's the bottom 3 that generally take a while unless in our case you had a wicked draw, shit house coach , origin effected and bad injuries.

 

[Gazzamatta]

We had the wron plan. Getting Parra fit.
We needed to get Ciraldo fit

I heard Ciraldo sold his rope years ago.

 

[Cumberland Eel]

I actually want to win the spoon....it will add to the drama next season when we go from spooners to premiers

Did they bring in relegation this year??

 

[Joshuatheeel]

I often wondered what you'd post about after BA left the club. I needn't have worried.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

This Isaiah kid played 50 NSW Cup matches before he got a chance at FG at age 21.

Based on this, I observe:

1. The Eels seem apprehensive to play kids from Ball and Flegg in open age footy. You only have to look at our garbage Cup backs in particular.
2. Merkins in here would be shitting their livers if a kid like this was not played in NRL after just a dozen games.


So we need to be brave enough to play them up, but then have patience before they play NRL.


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One of TCT interviews with Joey G, there was a discussion on juniors playing flegg/cup....it's not the players ability to play those grades, but the week to week preparation/physicality of those comps. It takes a lot from the players.

Penrith are obviously 10 years in front of us...we are just working on a system that suits us doing just that. Probably best demonstrated by how many players we have had play cup this year for a game or 2 but then drop back down to flegg.,,

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Watching Dogs press conference when Ciraldo was asked if he realised they’ve had 7 or 8 2nd half’s keeping teams scoreless it gave me hope. He claimed they are potentially the fittest NRL team and off season work pays off.
I can’t help but hope Ryles is exactly as hard nosed and we can enjoy the same level of competitive nature.
Dogs likely top 4, what a Turnaround around considering they had 10 new players this year.

Look at their forwards from yesterday, it's not that they are the fittest, it's that they only had 2 forwards that were 110 kg plus (we had 5 or so on Friday), and one was an edge, so he gets to rest. Most of their pack are around 100 kg, it's light, no wonder they are fitter...more mobile

BTW it's good coaching / planning by Gus/cc to get that pack

 

[JokerEel]

Look at their forwards from yesterday, it's not that they are the fittest, it's that they only had 2 forwards that were 110 kg plus (we had 5 or so on Friday), and one was an edge, so he gets to rest. Most of their pack are around 100 kg, it's light, no wonder they are fitter...more mobile

BTW it's good coaching / planning by Gus/cc to get that pack

They have made Curran and Hughes into the form front rowers of the competition ffs they are plodders any where else...

 

[King-Gutho94]

Leeds are doing okay

If you have to sack a coach mid season I think it's a sign there not doing okay.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

They have made Curran and Hughes into the form front rowers of the competition ffs they are plodders any where else...

TBF, both were very highly rated juniors. Probably close to the best in their age group.,But just needed time/experience to develop.

 

[Soren Lorenson]

TBF, both were very highly rated juniors. Probably close to the best in their age group.,But just needed time/experience to develop.

Buzz was raving about Hughes on the DT podcast last week. Thank god he didn’t know he was an eels Jnr. Thought he came from Cronulla.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

We had the wron plan. Getting Parra fit.
We needed to get Ciraldo fit

He hasn’t even made a grand final ffs

 

[hindy111]

Look at their forwards from yesterday, it's not that they are the fittest, it's that they only had 2 forwards that were 110 kg plus (we had 5 or so on Friday), and one was an edge, so he gets to rest. Most of their pack are around 100 kg, it's light, no wonder they are fitter...more mobile

BTW it's good coaching / planning by Gus/cc to get that pack

Along with a soft draw,limited injuries they manage possession better then any side. If that turns I'm unsure how their pack goes.
Storms.pack is still reasonably big

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Look at their forwards from yesterday, it's not that they are the fittest, it's that they only had 2 forwards that were 110 kg plus (we had 5 or so on Friday), and one was an edge, so he gets to rest. Most of their pack are around 100 kg, it's light, no wonder they are fitter...more mobile

BTW it's good coaching / planning by Gus/cc to get that pack

Kikau was the biggest forward at Penrith too. Leniu was next biggest but played limited minutes. The rest of them were lightweights.

 

[Gazzamatta]

TBF, both were very highly rated juniors. Probably close to the best in their age group.,But just needed time/experience to develop.

Was Hollis seen as good? He appears to have disappeared.

 

[Joshuatheeel]

Was Hollis seen as good? He appears to have disappeared.

Not sure, don't think he was really chased by many clubs as a junior. The others were.

reckon he may have ended up a solid fringe player, but appears covid and motivation killed his career.

 

[Legal Eel]

If you have to sack a coach mid season I think it's a sign there not doing okay.

You make logical sense but you forget the overriding principle - protect and justify BA at all costs.

 

[Legal Eel]

He hasn’t even made a grand final ffs

Keep towing that BA line - it’s noble work!

I think that Ciraldo wins a comp if he has the squad BA had between 2019-2022

 

[Poupou Escobar]

If you have to sack a coach mid season I think it's a sign there not doing okay.

They were mid table. It’s the definition of going okay.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

Along with a soft draw,limited injuries they manage possession better then any side. If that turns I'm unsure how their pack goes.
Storms.pack is still reasonably big

Storm’s pack is bigger, which shows there’s more than one way to play the game.