Parramatta need to sort out their halves problem
Roar Guru By John Davidson, 27 Aug 2010 John Davidson is a Roar Guru
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- NRL, Parramatta Eels, Rugby League
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Hype and over-expectation have followed the Parramatta Eels throughout the 2010 NRL season, but that appears destined to be finally laid to rest this weekend.
Parramatta was installed as one of the favorites for the 2010 premiership after their fairytale run to the grand final last year. But, unfortunately that’s what it was, a fairytale.
The Eels’ current position on this year’s ladder of 12th should come as a surprise to no one.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Parramatta have some quality players.
Nathan Hindmarsh is an outstanding player who will go down as one of the Eels greats. A real legend. Nathan Cayless has been an admirable servant, but is coming to the end of his career, and then there are the young guns like Daniel Mortimer, Tim Mannah and Justin Horo. I wouldn’t be surprised if all three go on to play for their countries at some point in the future.
They also have a good coach in Daniel Anderson.
And, of course, you can’t forget Jarryd Hayne, one of the best players in the world. Hayne is a freak, a match-winner and often breath-taking brilliant. But I’ve always believed a really great side has fantastic players in the spine of its team, and in the case of the Eels, this is not entirely true.
Mortimer has been out of sorts this season and has struggled to replicate his brilliant debut season, which is understandable. It is the positions of halfback, five-eighth and hooker that are letting Parramatta down.
Fullback is, of course, sewn up with Hayne, but in those other three positions the Eels do not have enough quality. Jeff Robson, Anthony Mitchell and the Keating brothers simply do not stack up against the other sevens, sixes and nines in the competition.
You look at any other top team in the NRL and they have real talent in these positions, as well as in the fullback spot.
Melbourne have Smith, Cronk and Finch, albeit illegally.
The Saints have Fein and Young rotating, along with Ben Horby and Jamie Soward. The Roosters have the powerful combination of Mitchell Pearce and Todd Carney, along with Jake Friend, while the Broncos have class with Lockyer and Wallace.
The Titans also have class with Scott Prince, Matty Rogers and the underrated Nathan Friend, and so do the Tigers with Benji Marshall and Robbie Farah. Penrith’s pairing of Luke Walsh, Travis Burns and Parramatta reject Kevin Kingston are having the season of their life, and Manly’s selections may be somewhat young but they had rep experience. Foran has played for New Zealand, Hodgkinson for City and the experienced Ballin has played for Queensland and won a premiership.
Even comparing the Parramatta combination to the likes of Canberra’s and Newcastle’s isn’t flattering.
The simple truth is that without a very good halfback, hooker and five-eighth, you can’t win a competition. Parramatta did well last year because they had one of the two best players in the world, Hayne, playing out of his skin and they had a strong forward pack and several other players peaking in form. But they rely too much on Hayne.
They also had a touch of luck, especially with the Hayne kneeing incident in the semi-final. This year they have had too many players not playing to their potential.
Unfortunately for him, Timana Tahu has had to content with the racism controversy. Fui Fui Moimoi hasn’t been as explosive as he was in 2009. Feleti Mateo, like Hayne, can be brilliant and he is one of my favorite players to watch.
But he is too inconsistent and I’m guessing that is why the Eels are letting him leave. The same with Inu. While Justin Poore hasn’t lived up to all the expectations when he moved from St George.
Plain and simple, Parramatta won’t win the NRL until they sort their halves/hooker combination out. They might make the semis, might even win a few games in the semis, but they won’t win the grand final. I believe Parramatta management recognizes this problem because they have been courting just about every half and five-eighth on the market – Kimmorley, Barrett, Orford – even rugby’s Quade Cooper.
For the sake of the Eels fans, and there are many, I hope they get Cooper because then they can legitimately get their hopes up and they might have a chance of glory in 2011.
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The Crowd Says (10) | Page 1 of Comments
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- NRL, Parramatta Eels, Rugby League
August 27th 2010 @ 9:50am
M1tch said | August 27th 2010 @ 9:50am | Report comment
Even bigger was being unable to keep Kingston, he was dynamic off the bench last year and he has been even better as a starter for the Panthers this year. They have lost so much from the dummy half this year, Robon and the Keatings havent offered much at all.
August 27th 2010 @ 11:01am
Dan said | August 27th 2010 @ 11:01am | Report comment
Agree with most of what you said, however including Anthony Mitchell in the mix is a little harsh. Of course he doesn’t compare with any other hooker in the comp – he’s only played 2 or so first grade games (at less than a half per game).
However he is a player the Eels can definitely build upon.
August 27th 2010 @ 12:17pm
Bradley A Smith said | August 27th 2010 @ 12:17pm | Report comment
I’m with Dan. Can’t argue with your comments about the halves and hooker being the problem with the Eels in 2010, but Mitchell probably should be spared any critique at this early stage. In fact, I would argue that in the 25 mins per game that he has had so far, we’ve looked very good with his crisp dummy half passing and runs. We had a great win against the Broncos in his debut, and the score was 12-4 in his time on the field against the Tigers.
I also don’t agree entirely with your comments about Moi Moi and Poore. The former has been very good again in 2010, perhaps a shade below his bullocking best from 2009, but he has absolutely held his own in my opinion. I also think Poore is getting an unfairly bad wrap about his season after an admittedly slow start. He’s taken a bit of time to find his feet, but after the first 4-6 weeks he really did start to hit his straps. The forward pack in general has really held their own all season. We’ve lost very few battles for field position this year. The problem (as you’ve identified) comes down to the halves, and our ability to convert that position and possession into points. Fingers crossed that Quade Cooper comes on board for 2011.
August 27th 2010 @ 1:09pm
John Davidson said | August 27th 2010 @ 1:09pm | Report comment
Apologies, I was not bagging Anthony Mitchell. He, like Mortimer and a lot of the Eels, is a good young prospect. But I think it’s a bit too much to throw him the deep-end with a few games to go. Parramatta need an experienced hooker at this stage of the season, not one who is a rookie. Then again, blooding Mitchell now and seeing how he fares may bode well for next season. Time will tell.
August 27th 2010 @ 1:24pm
Brett McKay said | August 27th 2010 @ 1:24pm | Report comment
I get a little amused about al this talk about Parramatta’s halves being no good, considering they got to a GF not twelve months ago with Mortimer, Robson, and the Keatings steering the ship. Since Anderson rightly bagged Hayne, put Robson back in the halves, and Matt Keating back at 9, Parra have looked a lot better……
August 27th 2010 @ 2:26pm
Springs said | August 27th 2010 @ 2:26pm | Report comment
No no no, don’t you know it was all Hayne last year? And that Mortimer and Robson and the rest of the team were just passengers? At least that’s what some of my fellow Eels fans will say. They will also say that Hayne is playing as well as last year, and the reason we are going badly is because of Mortimer and Robson and Keatings etc. Yet, if it was all Hayne last year, why isn’t it all Hayne this year? It couldn’t be that Hayne is playing poorly as well could it? No, to even entertain the thought would be sacrilegious.
August 27th 2010 @ 1:30pm
John Davidson said | August 27th 2010 @ 1:30pm | Report comment
Getting to a grand final is great, but it’s not winning it. Parramatta didn’t get to the grand final based on the stellar play of Robson and the Keatings. They got there on a combination of things, namely Hayne, a strong forward pack, several players playing very well and with a bit of luck. Mortimer was great last season, but has struggled this one. If they had a Quade Cooper or a Matt Balin or Jamie Soward they would have won the grand final last year.
August 27th 2010 @ 2:40pm
Brett McKay said | August 27th 2010 @ 2:40pm | Report comment
John, Springs hits this on the head just above. Yes it was the combination of factors that got Parra to the GF, but for some reason, the halves are the central point of failure this year? I highly doubt it.
Seems to me that if the questions are being asked about the halves – and worse, if replacements are being actively sought – they should equally be applied to the same combined factors of the success last year: Hayne, the forward pack, luck, etc…
August 27th 2010 @ 3:02pm
Sam H said | August 27th 2010 @ 3:02pm | Report comment
I’ve had this argument with a few Parra fans who all say I’ve got rocks in my head – and who may be right – but, if I was coach, I’d be thinking very seriously about giving Hayne another shot at five-eighth.
Obviously it failed last year. But there are a few inescapable facts:
a) Hayne is the most talented ball player in the Parramatta team by a longshot.
b) Parramatta’s other options have consistently been below first grade standard.
c) For all his skills from the back Hayne isn’t as regularly involved in structured attack as he should be.
Arguably he offers more from fullback but you can see why Anderson was so keen on getting him into the halves early last year. If Parra had any other outstanding options it wouldn’t be an issue, but they don’t, unless they jag Cooper.
August 28th 2010 @ 4:08pm
Rabbitz said | August 28th 2010 @ 4:08pm | Report comment
I guess the “Hayne Train” is as reliable as the Parramatta Epping line….
Sorry but it is better than a derailed joke
(For those outside Sydney, the Parramatta Epping line is a looooooooooong delayed extension to the rail system first mooted in the 1930′s)