The Parramatta Eels are a curious bunch. For whatever reason, their combination of characters makes it difficult for rival fans to find the hardest of soft spots for the ‘Blue and Gold Army’.
Many Eels supporters have been expecting and preparing for their slide toward failure long before it actually started happening again in 2021.
When Parra began dropping games, nobody was really surprised.
They are a great front-runner, in April and May, awesome for television ratings and merchandise sales, but for whatever reason they just can’t get it together when the whips are cracking.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Mitch Moses polarises opinions – his on-field demeanour towards teammates has been highlighted before, while his ineffectiveness to challenge opposition defensive lines in winning or losing sides frustrates good and bad experts alike.
When captain Clint Gutherson started abusing his colleagues a few weeks ago, all of it picked up by on-field audio, the wheels were well and truly off.
Last weekend, the Eels fronted up to the almighty Melbourne Storm – a runaway train shooting for the game’s record for most consecutive victories.
Parramatta were fantastic. Completely outplayed Craig Bellamy’s team.
Yeah, they had beaten North Queensland the week before, but the Storm wasn’t another beast – it was a 10,000-strong army of cyborgs.
Yet here the Eels were. Outplaying Melbourne.
22-10 it finished.
Parramatta were back.
In the lead-up to Tuesday’s team announcements, many predicted the likes of Melbourne, South Sydney and Penrith to rest some players. Some argued Manly should keep Tom Trbojevic in cotton wool ahead of the finals too.
The game’s heavyweight clubs made some strategic decisions for Round 25.
The Storm understand Ryan Papenhuyzen needs more football, while Cameron Munster does not. Hence, Papenhuyzen is playing and the great five-eighth isn’t.
Ivan Cleary believes the Panthers’ top 17 needs more footy together, so they are all playing.
Trbojevic is pulling on his boots despite locking up the Dally M Medal and the Sea Eagles safely into the playoffs.
The Rabbitohs are resting Adam Reynolds, Jai Arrow, Cameron Murray, Alex Johnston, Cody Walker, Damien Cook, Dane Gagai, Liam Knight, and Tom Burgess.
(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
Then there’s Parramatta.
Intriguingly, after one legitimately good performance, they are resting most of their team. It may be a masterstroke from Brad Arthur but it could also explain a few things about the Eels and none can be construed as positive.
Junior Paulo, Nathan Brown, Dylan Brown, Isaiah Papali’i, Marata Niukore, Waqa Blake, Gutherson and Moses haven’t been named in the top 17 against a full-strength Panthers.
One argument is that they are so low on confidence that they couldn’t possibly risk losing a star to injury before the semis and would prefer to just ‘be there’ and hope everything clicks again for the finals.
Another is that they really think they are the premiership contenders they’ve always thought they were and Round 25 against their arch-rivals and a possible 40-point flogging doesn’t count.
The other side of the coin is that if they did actually win this weekend and Manly lost, they’d finish in the top four. But that doesn’t appear to be a worry for Parra despite most, in their right minds, thinking you need to win the premiership from the top four.
Parramatta’s statement last week against the imperious Storm doesn’t mean as much if they get pumped this weekend by the Panthers.
And it’ll mean even less if they finish fifth or sixth and get bundled out of the finals in Week 1.
Jim
Guest
Yes I am, but I'm not the one taking cheap shots at BA.
Brad
Guest
Souths are resting more players then the eels and the storm have rested the same number of players before. Seems like another bash Parra article from someone who probably supports a team that missed the 8. Last year Parra had injuries so were forced to play Dunster in a final despite not playing for months due to Covid and other players out of position. Giving reserve players a run in nothing game is not just about resting players with niggling injuries. It gets game time for reserves which is where Parra were severely caught out last year.
Nat
Roar Guru
Parramatta is a good 'hit out team as well. Not too easy but not too be taken lightly.
Onya.
Guest
It’s a cover up. Paulo is suspended anyway. So couldn’t play. Still think that his injury & the injury to Gutherson are much worse than they are saying. Moses is only playing after being needled up each week. The other 2 will be doing the same thing before the finals game/s. Winning 4 games to win the GF , with them all playing injured & without Mahoney, Sivo as well. No chance!
Shed Bloke
Roar Rookie
Perhaps prior to the Storm game, he told his players “If you can beat them, I’ll reward you with a weekend off”…That incentive of not having to put their bodies on the line for another afternoon of physical torture, inspired the lads to play well beyond their normal lacklustre performances, and actually topple the ladder leaders. After the week off, they will be back for their first crack at this years Finals. To encourage them to win that, I wonder if the same reward will be offered?
McTavish
Roar Rookie
Eels have already had 50 put on them during the season so none of it matters anyway!
Albo
Roar Rookie
They would probably have the Sharks / Raiders / Titans quaking in their boots for the the 5th v 8th match the next week. But I'm not sure the Storm , Panthers & Rabbitohs will be too concerned after that .
Albo
Roar Rookie
I think I'm with Ivan Cleary's thinking that the Panthers are still not firing as he would like for the finals, and he thinks another tune up game with his top squad is needed. If Cleary Junior goes down ( more touching wood) , that will be bad luck and they will have to go to Plan B. But I like the positive approach that Ivan has always had with this team.
Albo
Roar Rookie
Whoops ! 5th would be playing 8th I guess ! Not the Roosters .
Albo
Roar Rookie
Yep ! Even if he plays his top 17 and beats the Panthers, it is highly likely Manly at full strength also beat the Cows and hold the 4th spot on for and against ! So the Eels are still likely to finish 5th and be set to play the injury riddled Chooks in an elimination final next week. Arthur has taken a pretty pragmatic approach of putting his eggs into next weeks finals match with a fresh squad.
mushi
Roar Guru
You know the numbers referred to in my post support your view right? And the numbers matter - everything is just about increasing the chance of winning the GF right which is just a view on probability? Just because you don't understand something, doesn't mean it doesn't matter.
Jojo
Guest
Imagine If Mitch Moses reaggravated his back injury and misses the season, or Nathan Browne has brain snap and gets suspended for a couple weeks, why risk playing a uselees game. Brad Arthur made the right move.
U know
Guest
Why risk injury or suspension to a key player with nothing to really play for a concussion or lousy grade 1 offence can derail your season. Manly won't lose to Nth Queensland so 4th is out of picture. Get a week off, get to play a mediocre team in finals week one and you do not have to go play away this year as every game in QLD.
Cam
Roar Rookie
I’m all about momentum coming into the finals and if asked, I’d reckon Cleary and Hasler would give that answer as the main reason they are playing at 100% capacity this weekend. I can understand Bellamy resting his squad, although they have dropped their last game, they were 19 in a row before that and if/when they bounce the Sharks this weekend, momentum is going to be the least of his worries. Bennett assumes he can beat the Dragons with his B team, so isn’t really risking too much. Which brings us to the Eels. Could Brad Arthur be worried that if he played the Panthers with his best team and got pumped, they lose all that confidence from the Storm match? Would he field a team if the Eels were playing the Bulldogs this weekend?
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Yeah. You don't sit back in a gun fight and hope you don't get shot. You pull the trigger and keep shooting.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
#Potatosgunnapotate :laughing:
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Apparently it's for a rest from what I keep hearing but if your side has been so bad for so long and you start finding some form? AND you beat the Storm? You keep playing.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
It doesn't matter what the numbers are. Never heard so many mathematical excuses for a potential top 4 side and "contender" for the title. If you beat the Storm after a shocking few months, you play again.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
Imagine if they played their strongest team and beat the Panthers. What a roll that would be. Three in a row including the Storm and Panthers.
Curtis Woodward
Expert
You can't call an audible and run with the momentum?