The Eels deserve the wooden spoon

 
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By , 4 Sep 2012 Skinnada is a Roar Rookie

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    The Eels deserve the wooden spoon + enlarge image

    Jarryd Hayne in action for the Eels. AAP Image/Action Photographics, Renee McKay

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    The performance of the Parramatta Eels was bordering on disrespectful to champion player Nathan Hindmarsh during his farewell game on Sunday night.

    As an avid rugby league viewer this game was a massive disappointment. I must say I was expecting an open game of footy with plenty of points scored from these two teams.

    They had nothing more to play for than their fans who had paid and travelled to watch the historic game. Instead we witnessed yet another disgraceful and lazy performance from the Eels.

    A physical start, including a crunching tackle on Josh Miller by Reni Maitua, and the performance of Hindmarsh himself was about all the excitement produced by the Eels.

    After Miller was taken from the field with concussion due to the collision, Mitch Rein followed with an ankle injury leaving the Dragons with only 15 men for the night.

    These 15 players included a hobbling Dean Young in his last game which opened the game up for the Eels to wear the Dragons down in the second half.

    As a Dragons fan I expected this, but all I witnessed was one of the worst halves I have seen by a team all year. The idea of holding the ball and depriving the Dragons of possession was at the bottom of the list for the team that really does deserve the wooden spoon in 2012.

    The basics of rugby league don’t seem to exist in the Eels DNA, no matter which coach is in control.

    They have enough decent players on their roster to be more competitive than what they have been this season.

    This all comes down to attitude of the players. Changing coach after coach won’t make a difference if the players continue to fail to execute the basics of the game.

    Drop ball after drop ball, passes over the touchline, catching practice for the back three of the Dragons were just a few of the basic errors in attack. What about defence?

    Defence comes down to attitude in most sports, and rugby league is no exception. It seemed like they didn’t really mind letting the Dragons in for a few tries.

    The Dragons are the worst attacking team in the NRL, but you wouldn’t know it.

    They managed to run in six tries on Sunday night with potential for more. Dan Hunt strolled over for a try late in the game and he appeared to have spiders all over him.

    The Eels defence wanted nothing to do with making a tackle.

    Only a few minutes later, Hunt waltzed through the defensive line yet again only to be pulled up just short of the line.

    I was disgusted at the lack of effort by the Eels players and yet Hindmarsh kept tackling while his mates weren’t interested.

    It was so disrespectful to a true rugby league legend who deserved much better in his last game for the blue and golds.

    You would think that Eels players would want to send off Hindmarsh with a much deserved win after a horrid season. Apparently not.