Parramatta realises rugby league is a simple game
Columnist By Luke Doherty, 5 Jun 2012 Luke Doherty is a Roar Expert
Jarryd Hayne is cornered by two referees. (AAP Image/Action Photographics,Colin Whelan)
Related coverage
Parramatta trailed Cronulla 20 to 6 at half time. Hardly any of the Eels players were able to look Stephen Kearney in the eye as he addressed them. They’d made 107 more tackles than their opponents and looked spent, disappointed and frustrated.
Those feelings have become companions over the last two months. Losing has become a habit and Kearney was edging closer to the exit door.
If ad-lib football is their friend, it’s also their enemy. You can’t win games without scoring points, but you also lose if you keep giving the ball away.
It wasn’t a matter of having everyone on the same page early on, but more making sure everyone had the same book.
Passes were forced and dropped, cheap penalties were given away and field position surrendered.
Somehow, they turned it around in the second half, dominated possession and held Cronulla scoreless, winning 29 – 20. Keep the ball and you keep the momentum.
Fullback Jarryd Hayne provided the spark. The State of Origin representative wasn’t at the centre of everything, but more importantly on the end of everything good about their performance.
Halfback Chris Sandow seems to have learned how his cog makes the wheel turn. The former Rabbitohs playmaker attacked when it suited, but made sure Hayne had the ball with room to move and time to make something happen.
The trick now is repeating that second half performance week in and week out.
Kearney will get to reflect on the win over the bye week before his squad returns to play the Rabbitohs in round 15.
The next two months will still test the patience of the board despite last night’s win.
Parramatta takes on Manly, Canterbury, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Wests Tigers in what could be a horror run.
But if last night is any guide, who knows what to expect?
You can follow Luke Doherty on Twitter @Luke_Doherty and on Sky News Australia.
June 5th 2012 @ 5:57am
Kersi Meher-Homji said | June 5th 2012 @ 5:57am | Report comment
Enjoyed the article, Luke.
This seems to be my week. On Monday morning (Sydney time) my favourite tennis player Novak turned around a sure defeat to a stirring win in French Open. Then on Monday evening, Parramatta, my favourite NRL team did a similar turn around.
June 5th 2012 @ 6:05am
WQ said | June 5th 2012 @ 6:05am | Report comment
When will one of these high profile players get 10mins for dissent? The way Hayne carried on at the Refs last night looked like he had learnt a few lessons from Gallon at Origin!
June 5th 2012 @ 7:01am
p.Tah said | June 5th 2012 @ 7:01am | Report comment
Unfortunately after 40 minutes of good play the board now think everything is sweet at Parramatta and Kearney will stay. IMO its just a temporary reprieve before the enevitable.
June 5th 2012 @ 9:48am
steve b said | June 5th 2012 @ 9:48am | Report comment
Great to see Parra put it together to win one , although they had plenty of points put on them in the first half i thought they defended well and the high kick was their downfall , but a great second half gave us glimpses of the Parra of old they showed they have what it takes,,, now can they repeat the performance only time will tell..However it was great night for the long suffering Parra fan,, and good to see the Hayne plane flying again,,, i just hope this was the turn around we have been praying for and they can continue on with it ..
June 5th 2012 @ 10:35am
Numbers Man said | June 5th 2012 @ 10:35am | Report comment
Apologies all that I havent posted the latest attendence records. For some reason the NRL have been very tardy in realeasing the figures.
Round 10 – 10856 down 16%
Round 11 – 63593 down 4%
Round 12 – 76204 down 23% – SOO week compared to a full round
Round 13 – 109775 down 3%
Funny thing is that the season to date compared to last year means that the crowd totals are still 48000 in front than last year.
From the 13 weeks only 4 have exceeded last years number but they have been
Round 2 – 39% more
Round 6 – 25% more
Round 8 – 50% more
Round 9 – 79% more
Round 8 was massive being the 2nd hightest total crowd number in the history of the NRL.