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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...rol-at-half-time/story-e6frexnr-1226036771521
DROPPED balls, missed tackles, off-the-ball collisions, on-field blow-ups and forwards being forced to kick.
Welcome to Parramatta's afternoon from hell.
The Storm gave the Eels a crash course in Rugby League 101 yesterday as the Melbourne homecoming of Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney turned into a nightmare.
Kearney returned south for the first time to take on former mentor Craig Bellamy. He knew first-hand how difficult it was going to be to win down south.
"But it certainly wasn't what I was expecting. It was a good lesson from the master," said Kearney, whose woeful Parramatta looked more like the Keystone Kops.
"The last three games at home Melbourne have been on. From our point of view, against a side like Melbourne, every little thing is important. If you're untidy in one tackle in a set of six, or two tackles in a set of six, they will make you pay. Their four tries in the first half came on the back of penalties."
Eels skipper Nathan Hindmarsh said something was amiss from the opening exchanges.
"I had a feeling from the early sets we weren't quite on, and I think the scoreline ended up showing that," Hindmarsh said.
"If we give away a penalty, we need to flick the switch and say, 'let's defend this set'. We weren't doing that. A couple of penalties and couple of dropped balls, and four or five tackles later they score.
"They're a quality team that won't go away. They build and build pressure until you crack."
Sadly, the Eels have just five days to turn things around against fierce rivals Canterbury.
Yesterday they trailed 12-0 after 15 minutes courtesy of tries to Cooper Cronk and Adam Blair.
Eels back-rower Taniela Lasalo thought he had a possible four-pointer when he dived on a Jeff Robson grubber. Replays suggested Lasalo dropped the ball, but may have been entitled to a penalty try after Dane Nielsen held him back.
Video referee Sean Hampstead denied Lasalo altogether.
The Storm then marched back up field and crossed the line two more times through Beau Champion to lead 22-0 at the break.
Things did not improve for Parramatta as Ben Smith ran into Jarryd Hayne, Hindmarsh went to offload to Robson (who had his back turned), Jordan Atkins and Smith almost collided during a dropout, and Fuifui Moimoi kicked for the final play of the game.
To prove their afternoon was completely rotten, Atkins was denied a try when he accidentally planted the ball on Billy Slater's head.
Bellamy tipped Kearney would take time to put his own polish on his new club but he was destined for success at the Eels.
MELBOURNE 38 (B Champion 2 A Blair C Cronk M Duffie A Quinn B Slater tries C Smith 4 G Widdop goals) bt PARRAMATTA 0 at AAMI Park. Referee: Tony Archer, Alan Shortall. Crowd: 11,805.
DROPPED balls, missed tackles, off-the-ball collisions, on-field blow-ups and forwards being forced to kick.
Welcome to Parramatta's afternoon from hell.
The Storm gave the Eels a crash course in Rugby League 101 yesterday as the Melbourne homecoming of Parramatta coach Stephen Kearney turned into a nightmare.
Kearney returned south for the first time to take on former mentor Craig Bellamy. He knew first-hand how difficult it was going to be to win down south.
"But it certainly wasn't what I was expecting. It was a good lesson from the master," said Kearney, whose woeful Parramatta looked more like the Keystone Kops.
"The last three games at home Melbourne have been on. From our point of view, against a side like Melbourne, every little thing is important. If you're untidy in one tackle in a set of six, or two tackles in a set of six, they will make you pay. Their four tries in the first half came on the back of penalties."
Eels skipper Nathan Hindmarsh said something was amiss from the opening exchanges.
"I had a feeling from the early sets we weren't quite on, and I think the scoreline ended up showing that," Hindmarsh said.
"If we give away a penalty, we need to flick the switch and say, 'let's defend this set'. We weren't doing that. A couple of penalties and couple of dropped balls, and four or five tackles later they score.
"They're a quality team that won't go away. They build and build pressure until you crack."
Sadly, the Eels have just five days to turn things around against fierce rivals Canterbury.
Yesterday they trailed 12-0 after 15 minutes courtesy of tries to Cooper Cronk and Adam Blair.
Eels back-rower Taniela Lasalo thought he had a possible four-pointer when he dived on a Jeff Robson grubber. Replays suggested Lasalo dropped the ball, but may have been entitled to a penalty try after Dane Nielsen held him back.
Video referee Sean Hampstead denied Lasalo altogether.
The Storm then marched back up field and crossed the line two more times through Beau Champion to lead 22-0 at the break.
Things did not improve for Parramatta as Ben Smith ran into Jarryd Hayne, Hindmarsh went to offload to Robson (who had his back turned), Jordan Atkins and Smith almost collided during a dropout, and Fuifui Moimoi kicked for the final play of the game.
To prove their afternoon was completely rotten, Atkins was denied a try when he accidentally planted the ball on Billy Slater's head.
Bellamy tipped Kearney would take time to put his own polish on his new club but he was destined for success at the Eels.
MELBOURNE 38 (B Champion 2 A Blair C Cronk M Duffie A Quinn B Slater tries C Smith 4 G Widdop goals) bt PARRAMATTA 0 at AAMI Park. Referee: Tony Archer, Alan Shortall. Crowd: 11,805.
