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You can’t always get what you want, but if you try sometimes, well, you just might find you get what you need
Rolling Stones fans did not always view this classic as having a positive outlook on the future, but Mick Jagger’s core message is optimistic and defines the difference between desire and need.
The Parramatta Eels certainly have the desire; with the exception of one early season away match in stifling conditions against the Sea Eagles, the have turned up to play their hearts out every week for their coach.
So why are they running 16th when most pundits had them slotted in to play top four footy like they did last season?
It has taken 16 rounds for big off season recruit Jarryd Hayne to hit top form as the club’s successor for champion winger Semi Radradra.
Jarryd Hayne of the Eels celebrates (Photo by Jason McCawley/Getty Images)
It’s too late; the Eel has slithered away, at least for season 2018.
No one can blame head coach Brad Arthur for not working hard and using all the nous that he picked up when deputy to Craig Bellamy at the Storm, as this is how he re-modeled and re-energised a ravaged Eels that he inherited to take them to a top four spot last season against all odds.
Rugby league fans are traditionally very vocal when their team is not winning and Eels forums are flooded with what the problem is and what has to be done.
Most blame the forwards and the lack of size, but figures and video analyses testimony indicate the Eels ‘big men’ are competitive and the problem lies elsewhere.
With delicate rule changes and the interpretations of those rules by coaches, the key spine position of hooker has increased in value to the salary cap percentage largely thanks to Cam Smith and his heir apparent Damien Cook.
The logic is that they get their hands on the ball more than anyone else so it stands to reason those hands should be guided by high intelligence and footy smarts.
The teams likely to play top four footy this season all have class number nines including Cam McInnes (Dragons), Damien Cook (South Sydney), Cam Smith (Storm) and Andrew McCullough (Broncos) – yes, I do think the Broncos will make the four!
The jury is out what will happen to the ‘rocky’ Warriors, but their rise to early prominence this season is largely attributed to their hooker Issac Luke who has found his best form.
Conversely, the injury to Josh Hodgson is why the Raiders will likely not play finals this year.
Clint Gutherson’s good form has lifted the Eels in recent weeks (AAP Image/Dan Himbrechts)
So how does this help the Eels?
Maybe the answer is attached to the captains arm band, the 23-year-old rookie skipper Clinton ‘King’ Gutherson.
Gutho is everyone’s favourite, he is one of those infectious players that you cannot help but admire on the field, and off the field, someone your kids can look up to. Grandmothers love him.
The greatest challenge for the Eels is what is his best position?
He is the fittest player in the club and would be a factor in any position he played in. He has been very good as a half, a centre, off the bench and now at fullback, but is very good good enough?
Gutho could be a real “King” if he moved to the troubled dummy half position. Cam Smith moved to Melbourne as a halfback before they struck gold.
There is only one Cam Smith, but Clint Gutherson has many of his characteristics and even has a similar running style.
They both became club captains at age 23 and when they have their hands on the ball, things seem to happen. He would touch the ball twice as much at dummy half.
Judging and rating players is not always about analytics, and Gutho’s return this week against the Knights was an exceptional 167 metres from 19 runs, but what was missing was a vital criterion for a modern day fullback – express speed.
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Gutho is quick, you might say Cam Smith quick, but he lacks the vital express pace of a rep custodian like Bill Slater, James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic or Kayln Ponga. He failed to make a single line or tackle break against the under strength Knights, yet many of his figures were above benchmark.
The Eels starting hooker Cameron King only made one dummy half run and was too tired after making 55 tackles to trouble the opposition with the ball.
Gutho, with number one on his back, made four DH runs for 51 metres, engaging the line twice and making a linebreak assist and an offload.
Could King Gutho do for the Eels what Cam Smith has done for the Storm?
What do you think Mick?
If you try sometimes, well, you just might find you get what you need
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