Well, if you thought that the Parramatta Eels weren’t premiership contenders, then surely now you can admit that they’re up there with the best teams in the competition.
Before I go on, I would like to say well done to Michael Jennings on scoring his 150th career try against his former club the Roosters. But it was all undone after he was deliberately offside and was sent to the sin bin in the final 11 minutes.
I know the Eels lost 24-10 but James Tedesco was missing for the last 25 minutes and couldn’t come back on after heavy contact from winger Maika Sivo.
Clint Gutherson was very good with 254 running metres, one tackle break, one line break and no errors. Veteran Michael Jennings showed a lot of footwork against his opposing centre Joey Manu and managed to score a great try and produce a try assist to Sivo.
Mitchell Moses’ kicking game was very good at times with 297 kick metres and five-eighth Dylan Brown set up one try to Jennings.
Luke Keary combined very well with Boyd Cordner to set up a try for the veteran second-rower and Kyle Flanagan kicked for 390 metres and kicked six out of seven conversions.
(Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
Siosiua Taukeiaho had a very good game with 203 running metres, 24 tackles and no errors, while Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was also very strong with 154 running metres and 32 tackles.
Jake Friend’s defence in the middle was very resilient with 43 tackles for four misses. Well done to Friend for playing 250 games.
The Eels finished the game with 49 per cent possession but a 72 per cent completion rate, which really let them down. They made 20 odd more tackles than the Roosters, missed 11 more tackles, conceded seven penalties and coughed up 11 errors.
Reed Mahoney topped the tackles list with 52, Gutherson had the most running metres with 254 and Josh Morris had the most line breaks with three throughout the game.
The Eels hit the front with 25 minutes to go after a Sivo try. Then all of a sudden the Eels dropped off and the Roosters made them pay for it after putting on two quick tries through Boyd Cordner and Daniel Tupou.
The Eels sit on top of the ladder with ten points and for the first time in 2020 the Roosters have gone into the top four, which really shows how the COVID-19 break helped the Roosters.
Next week, the Eels take on another premiership contender in the Raiders, who are currently sitting fifth with players like Jack Wighton, Jarrod Croker and Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. Meanwhile, the Roosters take on the Dragons. Let’s pray the Dragons don’t get a flogging.
eels47
Roar Rookie
Very true. The game against the Panthers was the same. Started strong, just couldn't put points on, and finished strong. The middle was garbage. That is the difference between Parra and the Roosters I think. Both teams, at their best, are doing a really good job of exploiting the new rules around the ruck. The Roosters just sustain it for the full 80 minutes (or near enough to), but the Eels drift in and out a bit. If they can get that right, I think they are a real shot at it this year.
eels47
Roar Rookie
I was a proud Eels supporter on Saturday night, even after a loss. The boys showed they can match it with the best, and their defense in particular, I thought was outstanding. There is plenty to learn out of it too though, most importantly, that you have to be on for the full 80 minutes to beat the top teams. Handling errors from some panic play, not looking after the ball and allowing strips, and some poor discipline cost us in the end. And the right side defense, Waqa Blake made some terrible reads on Morris, and his effort on that last try was just awful. My hope now is that they do learn from that game. 5 in a row was great, but continual winning can lead to complacency, so hopefully a hard fought game, resulting in a close loss to the favourites, brings the best back out in the team moving forward.
eels47
Roar Rookie
Brown shows plenty of aggression, which is great. But he is spending too much time on the sideline as you have said, which is a worry. One thing I have been very critical of him for is he started to become a bit Gallen like, in that he would get in the road of the attack by taking that 4th hit up of the set when we are in an attacking position. Not all his fault obviously, with blame also needing to go to the hooker and halves, as well as the coach, but it happened so much last year and the start of this year. In his two games back though, he has reduced that considerably, and is taking his hit ups earlier in the set (coming off the back fence I might add), and playing more of a link role later in the set, which helps the outside guys a lot more.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
Yep - RTS & Latrell. They don't come bigger than those 2.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Gee the two I thought you may mention are missing from that list. Opposing fullbacks in Saturday arvo game. I was trying hard not to open up another Roosters salary cap thread. I was replying to TBs comment on Mattersons form. The point I was trying to make is that value for money Matterson is a better option than Crichton. That of course is with 20 20 hindsight.
egbert
Guest
Yes Matterson for NSW this year, possibly the bench. Especially when you consider that the coterie of Dragons Origin forwards might be nigh on unpickable.
Pickett
Roar Rookie
You can't keep them all. And as many like to believe Easts have a sombrero, we've had to let go a lot of players. Off the top of my head: Parra - Kane Evans, Jenko, Ferguson, Matterson Newcastle - Guerra, Watson, Pearce, SKD
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Well, this was just his second match back after a 2 week suspension, doesn’t feel good. With the Moz Bros. cementing themselves you wonder why international Ryan Hall hasn’t got his manager looking around..come half way round the world to be an injury stand by must be frustrating.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Do you think The Roosters took note of the way Parra were wooping it up after the try and sideline conversion to go 2 in front with 20 minutes left? It looked like the kind of celebration you might do if there was 3 to go.
Superspud
Roar Rookie
Matterson's game went on a sharp incline the minute the Roosters announced the signing of Crichton. As good as Crichton is going I think the Roosters would like that one over again.
The Barry
Roar Guru
Do you think Nathan will get a charge for his hit on Radley? Wasn’t huge contact but the arm was swinging and definitely copped him high I’m a big fan of Brown. He doesn’t get many wraps with how many good 13s there are around. Not quite a liability yet but spends plenty of time in front of the judiciary
Paul
Roar Guru
It'll be interesting to see how both sides pull up next week. Parra will be glad to have the extra day's rest compared to the Roosters, but my Dragons might be brought down to earth in a big way if Easts play the sort of footy they've displayed in the past few weeks. The Eels also appear to have found a habit that must be hugely annoying to their fans. They seem to switch off in games, allowing the opposition to score points. It should have cost them the two points against Manly and it did last night. It certainly something they need to get out of their system, because as the Roosters showed, the top teams get in front and stay there.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Parra great moments of courage, in particular both Browns, were let down by bigger moments of certain individuals unbelievable disrespect to team mates with lazy grabs in defence. Roosters too hungry, all credit to them.
The Barry
Roar Guru
This season I’ve said I’m not ready to make a call on the Eels until I see them against good teams who play back at them and we’ve seen that over the last two weeks Parra put on plenty of plays that against weaker defences would have seen them score plenty of points. It’s another matter unlocking the Roosters and they have for a few years Easts were able to find another gear when they needed it Parra are definitely contenders but still have some work to do to beat the Roosters The Sivo try was a cracker though. The ball went sideline to sideline with three beautiful long, out in front passes from Fergo at dummy half, Mahoney at first receiver and then Gutho. Old bull Jennings showed young lion Manu that he still has a few tricks up his sleeve, with beautiful footwork, brute strength fend and lovely positioning of and pass to his winger Sivo v Tedesco looked like Lomu v Catt in the 95 RWC...although Tedesco looked like he wanted to stop Sivo, while Catt looked like he wanted to run for the grandstand :silly: Parra looks to have a bit of a defensive problem down their right edge, which the good teams will look to exploit NSW are spoiled for choice in the backrow again. I’ve never seen seen Cordner play this well, this early in the season, Crichton is playing great. But Matterson is in better form than any of them. I didn’t like how he left the Tigers, but he’s built on his great breakout season last year. He can do it all, gets great running metes, his offloads are brilliant, he can create for players around him, he can score points and his defence is great I’d find a way to get him into the 17 at least for game one. He could be used as part of the forward rotation or to change the pace of the game if points are needed or as injury cover being able to play backrow, centre, middle third or 5/8 if needed
Herewegoagain
Guest
They’re something special those two lads . Great to see them in good form together again.
Rob
Guest
The Roosters defence is scary. They were off in attack tonight but the way they just sit back and rely on their defence is like nothing i’ve ever seen. I know the Morris boys have said they’ve retired from origin but i’d be happy to see them back.
Watda
Guest
The scary thing for the rest of the comp is....the roosters still have plenty of improvement in them.