I've basically spent all night, writing and anlaysing the Eels recent games and I reckon I've come up with a team that will go far better than what we've been producing in recent weeks (not that that is difficult).
1. Wade McKinnon
2. Brett Anderson
3. Ben Smith
4. Ashley Graham
5. Eric Grothe
6. John Morris
7. Chris Thorman/Adam Dykes/Michael Witt
8. Justin Tsoulos
9. Lee Hopkins
10. Fuifui Moimoi
11. Nathan Hindmarsh
12. Chris Muckert
13. Daniel Wagon
14. James Webster
15. Michael Vella
16. Craig Stapleton
17. Dean Widders
Most importantly, this team has balance, which as I've written in my blog is what I think we are missing. Importantly, I don't care who plays half-back, they're all good players but they all play the same game and successful sides only have ONE of these players in their team. When you consider Tim Smith is coming up as well, we have four classic-style small half backs. We don't need Orford or Head (unless you cut at least two of these four), we just desperately need a five-eighth. In the meantime, Morris needs to go back there.
This team has a full-back who backs up, wingers who have noses for tries, three-quarters who can run into holes, a five-eighth who is a solid defender and has the ability to set up outside backs, a half back who can control play and make zippy runs through the rucks, two big strong, intimidating starting props, one with a good offload, the other with menacing strength, an 80 minute second row with allround skills complemented by another big second rower with the ability to create chances, a lock who is strong defensively and a hooker who will give reliable service and work hard in defence. Off the bench, I've got a nippy hooker to exploit a tiring defence, a fast interchange prop who has seniority to come on and take over workload, a reliable forward who will come on and not make mistakes and work hard and a backrower with a great step who can break a game open. Sure, its a little inexperienced, but the inexperience comes in positions that are instinctive, not thinking positions, on the wing and in the three quarters.
1. Wade McKinnon
2. Brett Anderson
3. Ben Smith
4. Ashley Graham
5. Eric Grothe
6. John Morris
7. Chris Thorman/Adam Dykes/Michael Witt
8. Justin Tsoulos
9. Lee Hopkins
10. Fuifui Moimoi
11. Nathan Hindmarsh
12. Chris Muckert
13. Daniel Wagon
14. James Webster
15. Michael Vella
16. Craig Stapleton
17. Dean Widders
Most importantly, this team has balance, which as I've written in my blog is what I think we are missing. Importantly, I don't care who plays half-back, they're all good players but they all play the same game and successful sides only have ONE of these players in their team. When you consider Tim Smith is coming up as well, we have four classic-style small half backs. We don't need Orford or Head (unless you cut at least two of these four), we just desperately need a five-eighth. In the meantime, Morris needs to go back there.
This team has a full-back who backs up, wingers who have noses for tries, three-quarters who can run into holes, a five-eighth who is a solid defender and has the ability to set up outside backs, a half back who can control play and make zippy runs through the rucks, two big strong, intimidating starting props, one with a good offload, the other with menacing strength, an 80 minute second row with allround skills complemented by another big second rower with the ability to create chances, a lock who is strong defensively and a hooker who will give reliable service and work hard in defence. Off the bench, I've got a nippy hooker to exploit a tiring defence, a fast interchange prop who has seniority to come on and take over workload, a reliable forward who will come on and not make mistakes and work hard and a backrower with a great step who can break a game open. Sure, its a little inexperienced, but the inexperience comes in positions that are instinctive, not thinking positions, on the wing and in the three quarters.
