Trial: Eels v Panthers Game Day Thread Feb 26 2022

[strider]

I only saw about 10 mins ... But Lane was f**kin awesome

 

[Gronk]

Last time we looked this good against the Panthers in a pre season game we won the spoon.

That seems an eternity ago. Also not long ago we couldn’t win away from home.

 

[Suitman]

That was a pretty reasonable hit out tonight.
It's nice to win a trial game for a change.
It was also nice to smack the Premiers.
It was just a trial, but our depth looks good.

 

[Gazzamatta]

A couple of observations:
. McGregor in the coaches box.
. Second efforts in the tackle when defending similar to Penrith, Storm and Chooks at their best. Thats a big improvement.
. Simonsson good in D but his hit ups need work.
. Sivo probably would have scored Russells try but with brute force not brains. Russell was very impressive.
. Drown is a star.
. Lane has always been a weapon on the edge.
. RCG was strong but reserved.
. Maka is a great benchie. Pretty much a clone of RCG.
. Rheed will be missed next year. Hes a terrific player when fit.
. Gutho and Moses phenomenal.
. Hopefully Mattos injury is minor.
A very enjoyable game.

 

[hindy111]

Mattersons injured?

 

[Soto]

A couple of observations:
. McGregor in the coaches box.
. Second efforts in the tackle when defending similar to Penrith, Storm and Chooks at their best. Thats a big improvement.
. Simonsson good in D but his hit ups need work.
. Sivo probably would have scored Russells try but with brute force not brains. Russell was very impressive.
. Drown is a star.
. Lane has always been a weapon on the edge.
. RCG was strong but reserved.
. Maka is a great benchie. Pretty much a clone of RCG.
. Rheed will be missed next year. Hes a terrific player when fit.
. Gutho and Moses phenomenal.
. Hopefully Mattos injury is minor.
A very enjoyable game.

Great summary. Maka is good but not a RCG clone.
Matto played awesome. Agree hope it's nothing serious.
Although it worked tonight I really wouldn't want Drown playing centre and playing Jarthur.
I don't think we can afford to carry Jarthur.
3 fwds and Stone/Cartwright as utility.
When all available I think the bench goes:
Nuikore, Kaufusi, Matto, Cartwright/Stone/Makatoa.
Will depend on conditions and who we are playing.
Can't wait for the season to start

 

[Eelementary]

We will miss Mahoney.

Gutherson is just so good.

Penisini is incredible.

Matterson looks really comfortable in the middle - hope we re-sign him. Having him start, and having Browny's aggression, and energy, off the bench, would be pretty dangerous.

Simonsson looked good - let's not forget the ground was soaking wet.

Sean Russell looks a gem of a player.

And Moses...he is a master of his craft when he is on. I heard he had some injury niggles last year, and he is now fit.

 

[Gazzamatta]

Mattersons injured?

Was getting medical attention and then wasnt sighted again towards the end of the first half. Fingers crossed.

 

[hindy111]

We will miss Mahoney.

Gutherson is just so good.

Penisini is incredible.

Matterson looks really comfortable in the middle - hope we re-sign him. Having him start, and having Browny's aggression, and energy, off the bench, would be pretty dangerous.

Simonsson looked good - let's not forget the ground was soaking wet.

Sean Russell looks a gem of a player.

And Moses...he is a master of his craft when he is on. I heard he had some injury niggles last year, and he is now fit.

Let's hope Hodgson plays well. There are parts of his game that are superior to Rheed. One is milking penalties. The other is engaging the defense.
Long term but Reed could of been here fo another 8yrs so its a shame he isn't going to be part of our spine.

 

[I'm a loser baby...]

Was getting medical attention and then wasnt sighted again towards the end of the first half. Fingers crossed.

Doesn't sound that bad.

 

[strider]

Let's hope Hodgson plays well. There are parts of his game that are superior to Rheed. One is milking penalties. The other is engaging the defense.
Long term but Reed could of been here fo another 8yrs so its a shame he isn't going to be part of our spine.

He is a quality ball theif ... I hate that fkn rule ... f**k his eyes

 

[Gronk]

 

[TheParraboy]

Only 8 pages ?

Its better if we lost

Rd 1: Titans 34-20

 

[Gazzamatta]

Lane > Kikau

 

[eels_fan]

I loved the interplay between our halves, we didn’t have that near enough last year, and Gutho is just a professional in every aspect of play. If he had the explosiveness of Turbo/Teddy he’d be the best FB in the game.

Paulo was immense and RCG seems to have added to his skill set with some strong late passes.

It was good just to see some more shape overall in attack, you can see BA has worked on it over the offseason.

the fact we didn’t concede when the kids came on is also a great sign.

I also agree Matto to start and Browny off the bench. Nath stifles our attack too much imo when playing middle taking unneeded late hit ups, whereas Matto offers something more with his variety, also has a solid short kicking game.

 

[Gazzamatta]

I loved the interplay between our halves, we didn’t have that near enough last year, and Gutho is just a professional in every aspect of play. If he had the explosiveness of Turbo/Teddy he’d be the best FB in the game.

Paulo was immense and RCG seems to have added to his skill set with some strong late passes.

It was good just to see some more shape overall in attack, you can see BA has worked on it over the offseason.

the fact we didn’t concede when the kids came on is also a great sign.

I also agree Matto to start and Browny off the bench. Nath stifles our attack too much imo when playing middle taking unneeded late hit ups, whereas Matto offers something more with his variety, also has a solid short kicking game.

I thought Gutho looked a bit quicker off the mark a couple of times tonight. Maybe some off season sprint training. Yes. He was impressive tonight.

 

[the phantom menace]

Braved the rain and went along for a look, very impressed with the live effort. Some observations:

- Our pack was awesome from the start through to the 60min swapover to NSW Cup guys, we'll miss Papali'i next year
- Paulo motivated, played big minutes and looking huge - bigger across the shoulder chest than last year?
- The two captains thing with Gutherson and Paulo seems to work well - with Moses and Mahoney obviously also calling shots
- Dylan Brown also very involved and motivated - good to see and bodes well for his season
- Defensive effort across the park top notch, Blake and Penisini had their opposing guys well covered too
- Russell impressive on the wing and will make the most of the starting wing spot - even filled in for Gutherson at fullback for a few sets, with Gutho in the centres
- Lane was woeful in his handling and attacking choices - shouldn't be near a starting spot in our pack at full strength
- Saw Mary McGregor at half time with an Eels staffer bringing a laptop from the change sheds to the coach's box, looking very focussed
- Cartwright's conrtibution was neglible/negative - his jersey number an indication of where he should be in the pecking order, shouldn't get near the bench when we're at full strength
- Penrith really missed Cleary and Fisher-Harris - really had no go forward and didn't ask any questions of us in attack (a disappointing hit out from their perspective I'm sure)

 

[eels_fan]

Lane was woeful in his handling and attacking choices - shouldn't be near a starting spot in our pack at full strength

Interesting observation.
I think Lane was terrific. He should have taken that ball from Brown and scored but it was slippery. In my opinion he looked much fitter and stronger than last year, and he’d be starting for me in round 1. He outplayed Papa today.

 

[Incorrect]

Interesting observation.
I think Lane was terrific. He should have taken that ball from Brown and scored but it was slippery. In my opinion he looked much fitter and stronger than last year, and he’d be starting for me in round 1. He outplayed Papa today.

The more I see him on an edge, the more I think why on earth would you move him to the middle. Every single time he gets the ball on an edge, with his height and Mitch Marsh Levers, he is capable of offloading and creating something...

 

[the phantom menace]

Interesting observation.
I think Lane was terrific. He should have taken that ball from Brown and scored but it was slippery. In my opinion he looked much fitter and stronger than last year, and he’d be starting for me in round 1. He outplayed Papa today.

I see Lane's got a bit of praise elsewhere in the thread too... I might have missed something, but though Papali'i outshone Lane easily?
Directly in front of me in the first 20-30mins I saw Lane spill a certain try, and cough up the ball for cheap turnovers when we were in attacking positions twice. Sure, it was slippery - but no-one else in the team was making those mistakes. We can't afford to carry those errors from a starting edge forward when the real comp starts.