What did we learn tonight

[NorthShoreEel]

A lot of people are saying that Mannah has been our best prop - have these people considered, by the time Mannah comes onto the field, the first 20 minutes of argy bargy is over? Of course he looks good - he is fresh, and goes over the advantage line - just like Fui does when he comes on fresh. As much as I hate to say it, Poore should start the game (and cut out the stupid penalties) & fui & Mannah off the bench.
Cayless is getting bagged - and yet, he rarely gives away penalties. The first 3 games, we have been smashed by the refs & our own bad play, and faced by teams who have had massive amounts of posession because of it. (Thank you J Poore) Cut the guy some slack imo.

As for those who do not believe that Kris Keating did much last night. I have now watched the replay, and there is no way known, that either Robson or Mortimer are ahead of him at no.7. His defence (tackling around the ankles) was spot on. Cutting down the big men, like it should be done. Not letting the big boys run over the top of you!

 

[Poupou Escobar]

A lot of people are saying that Mannah has been our best prop - have these people considered, by the time Mannah comes onto the field, the first 20 minutes of argy bargy is over?

Yep.

Of course he looks good - he is fresh, and goes over the advantage line - just like Fui does when he comes on fresh. As much as I hate to say it, Poore should start the game (and cut out the stupid penalties) & fui & Mannah off the bench.

I agree 100%.

Cayless is getting bagged - and yet, he rarely gives away penalties. The first 3 games, we have been smashed by the refs & our own bad play, and faced by teams who have had massive amounts of posession because of it. (Thank you J Poore) Cut the guy some slack imo.

I don't think Cayless has looked very strong this year, but neither is he playing to his strengths (his offloads).

He's not a big front-rower and never has been great at carting the ball up one-out. He needs to present the threat of second phase play and for that he needs support runners - hooker, halfback, fullback especially. With blokes following him in support it will force defenders not to gang up on him which will open up his own runs.

It will also pull fringe defenders out of position creating gaps for Mateo, Hayne and Mortimer.

As for those who do not believe that Kris Keating did much last night. I have now watched the replay, and there is no way known, that either Robson or Mortimer are ahead of him at no.7. His defence (tackling around the ankles) was spot on. Cutting down the big men, like it should be done. Not letting the big boys run over the top of you!

He's a brave tackler but I think modern coaches want their first defender in to wrap the ball up. In the caes of smaller blokes like halfbacks they just need to hang on until help arrives. Tackling around the ankles was nice back in the 70s but these days you're just inviting offloads and quick play-the-balls.

Small defenders are a liability coaches are willing to carry because of whatever attacking ability they might have. That's why big halfbacks are so useful (Johns, Firman, Hornby, Morris, et al) and also why you'll sometimes see a back-rower in the 6 jersey instead of a more natural five-eighth.

Also why plenty of small, brilliant attacking players end up at fullback (e.g. Preston Campbell, Todd Carney).

 

[lingard]

I'm not pulling my hair out by any means.

If we grab a win next week then we're 2-2. I really don't care how well we've played to get to that position because it's only March. We've then got Canberra at home and Souths - both of which we can possibly win without playing the house down. It's not out of the question for us to be sitting 3-3 without having played any great football, without having strung one full 80-minute performance together.

If that's the case after Round 6 then I will be quite content.

Having said that it doesn't mean we shouldn't be talking about areas where we can look for improvement. My biggest concern so far is that we don't seem to have any actual style that we're looking to play. Mateo is dying with the ball every time, Cayless isn't playing ball, we're not looking for clean feed to Tahu...that expansive style of play that we know works wonders for us doesn't even seem to be on the cards.

As such, we're left with a more up-front style that doesn't suit us. Sure, the likes of Fui and Grothe can play that way but that's about it. Poore is a marshmallow who only played well last year on the back of the man mountain Weyman (MORUYA SHARKS!!!) and Cayless doesn't have that steamrolling grunt anymore. Our ball players aren't conserative and so don't fit into that rigid style.

It doesn't even seem as if we're trying to start simple and introduce a more flamboyant style once we settle in. If this was true you'd have the likes of Cayless and Mateo at least trying something every now and then but they're not.

So what's it to be? Stick with a style that in no way suits our roster and pay the price for it or just say "f**k it!" and go hell for leather and let the dice fall how they may.

I say we roll those bloody dice. Sometimes you just need to roll a hard six. I say we suck it up and give it a shot. Give me death or give me glory.

I think the whole problem is that Parramatta hasn`t been able to settle in to a game so far - partly because of the quality of the opposition defence, and partly because of our inept handling. You can`t play an off-loading style if your on the back foot and dropping the ball. And that is the dilemma. Once they sort out the basics, then they can play whatever style they want.

 

[lingard]

Mateo plays very differently at 6 than at 13.

Mateo wants to be the goto man. When at 6 he always wants the ball.

That could solve our leadership problem at least Mateo will do something.

However, at 6, he doesn't run to the line as much.


I just think that robbo and mortz are suffering from 2nd year syndrome. The opposition have worked out that if they rushed them, they don't have anything else to offer besides get tackled with the ball.

Mateo is far too erratic to be a good six. I`m very disappointed in him, actually. I thought he would really stand up this year. Guess I was wrong. Looks like Anderson has got him playing a safety first game because he can`t be trusted with the ball (too many stupid passes, and desperate decisions - not good attributes for a six.)

 

[noosa-eel]

one word *FORWARDS*. Imo they are doing nothing

 

[lingard]

lol I'll never understand for life of me why people think taking talented outside backs & putting them in the halves is a good idea.

We have the best fullback in the world... Let's put him at 5/8th!

I agree. On the other hand, if you got Timana Tahu and put him at five-eight (with Inu and Reddy in the centres) and then you have Robson, K. Keating, D. Mortimer and M. Keating fighting it out for the 7, 9, and 14 jumper ..........hey, that could work! But then you`d have to have a pack of forwards who play as a unit, so ........

 

[Fui!!!]

I learnt that the bandwagon is getting kinda empty

 

[IFR33K]

Mateo is far too erratic to be a good six. I`m very disappointed in him, actually. I thought he would really stand up this year. Guess I was wrong. Looks like Anderson has got him playing a safety first game because he can`t be trusted with the ball (too many stupid passes, and desperate decisions - not good attributes for a six.)

In his defense, Mateo at one stage could of off loaded the ball 4 times, in the one run, but there were no runners.

I spoke to K Keating after the game, and asked him what the game plan has been so far, and if it included off loading, and he said that they have had a different plan each game, and that off loading wasn't part of the plan.

If I recall correctly, DA also stated that earlier on, that it was a challenge in 2010, to try and reinvent the eels. Maybe he should revert back to the 2009 game plan.

I believe Robson should at least be given a stint in Wenty, and give Morts and KK a run in the Halves.

Mateo should be given more ball playing opportunities. Restricting him from ball playing, is limiting our options. Lets put the defense in 2 and 3 minds ffs. Quiet simply, he is a ball player, not a 1 out hit up man.

Inu could start on the wing, and if DA doesn't want to give Anthony Mitchell a bench spot, maybe Burt, could be the spark off the bench. He normally make many meters from dummy half.

BTW, Burt could be back next week from injury.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I think the whole problem is that Parramatta hasn`t been able to settle in to a game so far - partly because of the quality of the opposition defence, and partly because of our inept handling. You can`t play an off-loading style if your on the back foot and dropping the ball. And that is the dilemma. Once they sort out the basics, then they can play whatever style they want.

They're more of a skillful, hard-working, mobile forward pack than anything - tryline defence and offloads are what they do best.

They really lack the size to play a conservative up-the-guts style and Fui's the only one with real explosive power. Ben Smith and Mateo have good footwork and can make breaks on the fringes, which is nice, but no help in the bash-and-barge game.

You're right they don't need to be throwing offloads when it's not on, but they should always present the threat, and that means popping a few balls before the line, and always supporting the ball carrier.

 

[mickdo]

I spoke to K Keating after the game, and asked him what the game plan has been so far, and if it included off loading, and he said that they have had a different plan each game, and that off loading wasn't part of the plan.

I can understand DA wanting to try different things, but unless we play the offload game, we won't make the 8

 

[Y2Eel]

I can understand DA wanting to try different things, but unless we play the offload game, we won't make the 8

That and our forwards are getting smashed running one out of the ruck they need to get wider from the ruck and off loads will happen...

 

[NorthShoreEel]

I learnt that the bandwagon is getting kinda empty

Yeah, I have missed that moron "The Hog" not!

He did make a few posts in the punting forum, but has been warned off! Thankfully.

 

[The EELiminator]

A lot of people are saying that Mannah has been our best prop - have these people considered, by the time Mannah comes onto the field, the first 20 minutes of argy bargy is over? Of course he looks good - he is fresh, and goes over the advantage line - just like Fui does when he comes on fresh.

lets face it none of the others are doing much to outshine him

 

[forward pass]

I spoke to K Keating after the game, and asked him what the game plan has been so far, and if it included off loading, and he said that they have had a different plan each game, and that off loading wasn't part of the plan.

I find that quite extraordinary. Apart from Hayne, offloading is all we have. We don't really have hole runners, set plays, or ball players at the line so offloads and second phase play is really all we have to offer.

I think Mateo is warming up to a big one, just needs some support.

 

[Parra Guru]

My team vs Sharks

1. Hayne
2. Inu
3. Reddy
4. Tahu
5. Grothe
6. K Keating
7. Mortimer
8. Cayless (needs to lift or he should be on the bench)
9. Robson
10. Moimoi
11. Hindmarsh
12. Smith
13. Mateo (needs to be out on the park longer though)

14. M Keating
15. Mannah
16. Horo
17. Poore

 

[The Colonel]

What did we learn from the first three weeks? That if we don't score first at the very least our first half sucks..... they need to build pressure early, stay away from scoring off every play and look to repeat sets and try and score first.

The team we have despite its shortcomings that everyone points out is still more than capable of being in it at the end of the season. Confidence in the early sets is an amazxing thing - just about every other game over the weekend proved that.

 

[The Engineers Room]

My team vs Sharks

1. Hayne
2. Inu
3. Reddy
4. Tahu
5. Grothe
6. K Keating
7. Mortimer
8. Cayless (needs to lift or he should be on the bench)
9. Robson
10. Moimoi
11. Hindmarsh
12. Smith
13. Mateo (needs to be out on the park longer though)

14. M Keating
15. Mannah
16. Horo
17. Poore

I don't agree that either Keating should move in fact I wouldn't even play Kris Keating. I would go for another backrower/centre type.

 

[The Engineers Room]

they need to build pressure early, stay away from scoring off every play and look to repeat sets and try and score first.

As long as they don't play a negative style they will get early momentum. We need more offloads and second phase play early. Not trying to score off every ruck but at least run the opposition around, don't forget last year we played a negative style against the Sharks and gave them a victory.

 

[forward pass]

What did we learn from the first three weeks? That if we don't score first at the very least our first half sucks..... they need to build pressure early, stay away from scoring off every play and look to repeat sets and try and score first.

.

Haven't we conceded the first try in FIVE straight games now?

That is pretty abysmal really. Their minds do not seem to be on the job early.