2020 Parramatta Eels Thread......Lets not get carried away.

French will be a bit of a blow, allthough only minor apparently.  Norman looked a bit tender at the end as well.

Disappointing result against an inform knights. Didn't see it but looks like discipline and a lack of a decent FB hurt us and probably we took them a little lightly. Not overly concerned though. Losing to last place should give the boys a bit of a kick up the backside leading into the final three rounds and the finals. Top 4 still not out of reach.

Knights putting in every week.  Eels just looked flat.

I'm not at all enthused about meeting a Hayneless backs to the wall Titans side this week after meeting the inform Knights. I just don't like it one little bit. Also, I'm hating that the Raiders are going to make the 8 with such good momentum. They will beat the Storm In the last round to secure their spot cause the Storm will rest the big guns the week before finals start having secured the Minor Premiership, and that really shits me.

Storm will rest their players round 25 rather than the last round.

Dip wrote:Storm will rest their players round 25 rather than the last round.

I hope so.

Solid win. Defended really well which is what you want this time of year. I honestly didn't think Moses would be going as well as he is at this stage. Really encouraging signs for the future.

Wow, who would have thought a Top 4 finish would be within a grasps at the start of the year. A Top 8 finish was ambitious coming of the season prior.

Brad Arthur is surely a lock as coach of the year.

Bellamy will likely get it for taking A spine consisting of arguably 1 of the top 5 halves of all time and the best hooker and FB of all time to a minor Premiership, but I think if the Eels make the top 4, Arthur can feel hard done by if he misses out.

In other news, great results mean Raiders are gone. I think their is every likelihood the Cowboys miss out on the 8 also.

They won't beat Brisbane, so if Manly beat the Panthers and the Dragons beat the Dogs then they'd need Manly to win by more than 40odd IF they only go down by a couple to Brisbane.

Lot of games have real meaning in this final week, unlike many years prior. Broncos playing for home advantage in week one, same with roosters. Eels playing for top 4 and miraculously a top two if Brisbane and Roosters both lose, chooks by plenty. Sharks must win for top 4 chance. Panthers, Cowboys, Manly and Dragons all playing for a top 8 spot. None are secure.

My top 8 prediction is
Storm
Roosters
Brisbane
Eels
Sharks
Manly
Dragons
Panthers

Ice wrote:, so if Manly beat the Panthers and ......

Will take ten field goals for them to beat the Panthers.

Storm
Roosters
Broncos
Eels

Sharks
Panthers
Dragons
Cowboys

code delta wrote:

Will take ten field goals for them to beat the Panthers.

A lot will depend on the Broncos v Cows result. If the Broncs win as expected, panthers are safe unless they lose by plenty, whereas Manly, at home, will have their season to play for. I wouldn't rule out a Manly win.

I like the way it is panning out though, if we finish 4th and games go to seeding, I'd rather meet Roosters week 3 than Storm. I think playing storm week one will give us a good indication of how far off the pace we might be and I'd back Arthur to make the adjustments for week two and beyond.

Do Parra finish 4th and play the storm in Melbourne only to lose and potentially have to play them again in the grand final or throw this weeks game to finish 5th and get a home semi against St George and only have to play Melbourne once ?

First option.
Loose in 5th position, potential for gonzkie.
Finish 4th and then beat the Storm and throw the finals into turmoil.

No Worries wrote:Do Parra finish 4th and play the storm in Melbourne only to lose and potentially have to play them again in the grand final or throw this weeks game to finish 5th and get a home semi against St George and only have to play Melbourne once ?

Absolutely win this week at all costs.

If we are at hope of winning the GF we must beat the Storm, so I'll take the first week/GF combo.

Nathan Brown deservedly cleaning up at the Eels awards night. From scumbag thug to legend in 12 months, what a great turnaround for the young guy. He has been massive for us and clearly the buy of the year for any club.

If any coach can turn a guy around, Hoo......Athur can!

Ice wrote:

If any coach can turn a guy around, Hoo......Athur can!

Except the Hayne Plane that's like turning MH370 around

No Worries wrote:

Except the Hayne Plane that's like turning MH370 around

Brad has been there and done that's for one season in 2014.How did Hayne go under Brad Arthur??

Not that there is any indication that he would, but Arthur would be mad to take hayne back and risk ruining the makeup of the side. He needs parra more than parra need him.

Gutho is a lock for fullback for the next decade. He is an absolutely brilliant player. Talent and hard work mixed together. Really enjoy watching him play. Seems like a really likeable guy too.

Off the top of my head, the only sides that could possibly benefit from having him at this stage in his career could be the raiders or the Cowboys IMO. Would love to see him play with JT week in week out, hayne at FB. And I think he could be the xfactor that the raiders need too.