My brother-in-law is a dyed-in-the-wool Parramatta Eels supporter, and has no qualms about driving for four hours from his home at Forster to watch his team’s home games. So when he asked me about 2012, I gave him a soft answer.
How do you tell someone so passionate that his beloved club have yet again stuffed up?
He has been waiting since 1992 when the great Peter Stirling retired from the Eels to find someone who can organise. It has almost been 20 years and the Parramatta Eels have been unable to find someone who can run the team on field, and as a bonus be able to kick tactically.
It certainly has not been for the lack of trying, as the Eels thought young Dan Mortimer was the man and out-bidded the Bulldogs for his services.
But he played most of this year in the New South Wales Cup. Then shock horror, they stunned every professional footy analyst and paid a reported 500,000 a season for Rabbitoh Chris Sandow.
The guys who I share a cuppa with and eat rugby league for breakfast all agree that Sandow is worth between 200k to 240k tops. He is a halfback who cannot organise and has been the NRL’s worst defender for three straight years.
“What about that Ben Roberts?”, the brother in law asked. Sorry Gaz, he also cannot tackle or organise, and half of his kicks go out on the full.
So unless the Eels can fabricate a genuine half who can run the team, they will again be without any direction, and stars like Jarryd Hayne will suffer.
“Oh well, we at least have Will Hopoate to look forward to in two years,” Gaz quipped.
What can you say to a guy clutching at straws?
The Eels have paid another half a million a year for a guy who may never play again. Few guys ever come back to top form after being out of the game for two years.
No doubt Hopa is a super talent but 500k a season is over the odds for a guy who is best suited at centre. The Eels will no doubt attempt to make him their fullback but he will never be as good as Hayne in that position.
The Eels have replaced their recruitment manager Rod Ready with former Bronco Peter Nolan, who has everyone raising eyebrows with his valuations of players.
I ended up telling Gaz that as he lives in Forster he should consider following the Knights. He’d save a lot of petrol – and heartache.
Sara
Guest
This is a funny blog post to go back to. Wooden Spooners! Lol. Sandow fail
jared
Guest
So you actually think Leuluai is better then sandow? Interesting...
jared
Guest
Completely agree mate. This guy obviously hasn't watched a lot of cowboys games or origin one this year. He may not hit as hard as say Inglis, Tonga or Hodges. But positionally he is the perfect defensive centre. His wingers rarely if ever get caught out due to his poor reads.
jared
Guest
Tonga is a great defender. He played all origin 1 with a severe shoulder injury and defended as good as ever. He would be close to if not the best defensive centre in the game
Sluggers
Roar Rookie
Scott, Out of interest how can you question Peter Nolan ? He's only recently arrived at the club, he's in the process of cleaning up the mess that was previoulsy left for him. As a Broncos fan and watching our 17-23 year olds running around I say thanks Peter, great job.
jarrod
Guest
Scott you're not much of anylyst because what you just wrote is pure dribble. These days willie tonga is one of the best defensive centres in the game and last time i checked hes playing for Australia on Sunday so there goes your 'tonga cant defend" rubbish. Ben roberts strength is his running and kicking game so again your way off the mark with the typical 'most of his kicks go out on the full' crap which clearly has no credibility whatsoever, anyone who's seen the kid would know he's got one of the best kicking games in the NRL[also represented NZ, you know the best team in the world]. Will hopoate is one of the best young kids around so why not buy him? he played origin too remember? and the rabbits without sandow this year would of came dead last, he was they're best player by a country mile this year. You are seriously so far off the mark its quite amazing you call yourself an 'analyst', and i'm not even an eels supporter. Find me a team other then the titans who recruited better for next year and i'd like to see it, next time you might want some credibility to go with your article
Anthony
Guest
Scott, you seem to be analysing way to much and have everything wrong there is to say about the eels (jumping straight on the yearly bandwagon of Parramatta is hopeless etc etc). I cant say they are going to do well yet...you never know until it happens. Next year the eels have the roster to gain enough respect from people to at least not judge or presume their downfall. I am a Parramatta supporter but i would say this about any team who bought signings like Parra have. It also can bring an element of excitement, which can get the players happy and the team gelling together.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Scott, 2-3 years ago I'd have agreed re: Sandow but he really has improved in guiding a team around the park and his ball playing. He's much more consistent and his kicking game is top shelf. Is he worth $500k ? I wouldn't pay it, but I'm not convinced that's the $ he's actually getting for next year. As for Roberts...on his day he's as electrifying a player as there is in the comp...unfortunately those days are few and far between. If someone can work out how to get his best (or even 80% of his best) week to week then he will be a very good player. "half of his kicks go out on the full" - not really expert analysis but we're all prone to exaggeration at times...his short kicking game (inside opponents 20) can be deadly. Playing on the left he has the ability to grubber into the in-goal and have the ball turn left along the dead ball line. It's a great kick because defenders think the kick is going dead or it gets away from the inside defenders chasing it down. Morris and Goodwin scored a bag of tries in 09 (probably Roberts best season) and a lot of them were from Roberts kicks.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Sara Put it this way Sara. If Sandow was the Maroon 7 I would unload on the Blues.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
eelmatic I make my living analysing NRL teams and it would be suicide to have an agenda, it just doest work. I have many Eels friends but I am not going to "suck up" to them when I have an oppossed view. To be honest, I hope I am wrong. To be a successful club, you must have a good board and CEO. The jury is very much out on your club leadership. Then there is the coach and leaving the results aside his team during the year lacked any structure in attack or defence. That is very much a coach problem. His stats are very poor on all my key areas. I would have thought that the coach would be concious that his number one priority was to sign an organiser, someone who can run his team on the field. As a player/coach at the Storm he had Kimmorley and Cronk and would know their enormous value, yet he paid huge overs for a number 7 who is a brilliant individualist, but not what the teams needs. They need direction and they will not get that from Sandow. Sorry Eel if the truth hurts, and I will be happy to eat humble pie. Good luck mate.
Sara
Guest
Sandow will not be the next QLD origin halfback. It will be Cronk then DCE who were both named in the Australian train on squad this year. Whoever thinks Sandow can play representative footy is kidding themselves. Bennet said he saw potential in him 3 years ago. Funny how no-one asked him what his thought's are lately
eelmatic
Guest
Mate.. lets just hope you are man enough to eat your own words in just under 12 months.. you talk a lot, but sound like you have an agenda more than anything.. Will be back next year to see you eat some humble pie..
PaddyBoy
Guest
He gets bogged down a lot by the defensive workload. When he was dropped he had the highest tackle rate for any five-eighth in the comp. A five eighth can't be doing this, but a hooker can. Good short delivery, good workrate, small and elusive for making metres off the back of rolling play, pretty decent vision for a youngster. I think he'd go alright.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Paddy He is quick off the mark and has genuine pace over a short distance. put it this way - if he cant play 9, he cant play.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
No
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
League You cant believe how many people ask me that question. It is doubtful if Thomas Leuluai will be available but he would be good. Souths coach Michael Maguire is very good strategically and there is no doubt that he will have someone in mind with maybe Cronk down the track, but next year is a mystery at this stage. I would have faith in the coach.
League_Coach101
Guest
You don't think Mortimer has the potential to develop those skills? Remember - skills are learned. Talent you are born with.
League_Coach101
Guest
I'll be holding you to that :) On a side note - who is South Sydney going to field as a half back next year?
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
jcvd The 3 teams you mentioned all have problems in the halves. Parra STILL do not have an organiser and I dont like who they have purchased. The Tongas cant tackle. Titans need to sort out Prince and who will play 6 and they will miss Lanfranchi. Dragons have some good kids and I think Kyle Stanley could be anything, but maybe their skipper is past his best.
JCVD
Guest
I think the eels will suprise a few people next year. We've seen the fluctuation of teams from one season to the next. On paper next year the eels look a solid team with sandow, tonga, hayne, reni matua, hindmarsh etc.. I think they will make the top 8 next year and I feel titans will be a top 10 team with the purchases of nate myles and idris. Dragons are no chance to make the 8 next season. Losing gasnier and boyd not to mention losing their head coach Bennett. Thoughts???