[RLL3] Parramatta Eels 'We are here to WIN!'

[bestbrother]

PARRAMATTA EELS

Game Settings:
Game - Rugby League Live 3
Version - PC w/latest patch
Mode - Career (includes all AUS & UK league setups)
Roster - 2015 base
Difficulty - Veteran

[bestbrother]

INTRODUCING THE NRL

[bestbrother]

No Hayne, No Hope?
Eels could well wish its 2016 before we begin!


Above: Brad Arthur is in for a long season at the helm of the Eels

Parra are as good as done. Without Jarryd Hayne, their X-factor is all but decimated. Outside Chris Sandow, Will Hopoate and a rampaging Semi Radradra, Parra are essentially a bunch of big units capable of inflicting pain. The addition of Reece Robinson is a positive, but the signs are that this team may well fall short of a finals place once more.

Darcy Lussick, Manu Ma’u, Tim Mannah, Junior Paulo and Pauli Pauli, are big beasts and will run into men at speed, and it will hurt to stand in their way. It will be interesting to see how Anthony Watmough (from Manly) and Danny Wicks (from Glen Innes Correctional Centre) fit into the squad, and what they do. However one’s an old man, one hasn’t played in the NRL since 2009, so its a big gamble from a team desperate to end an absence of finals footy that has hung over them since 2009.

Sandow is capable of electrifying the field. But without the Hayne Train floating out the back like a dangerous wraith, defenders worrying what he might do even though he doesn’t have the ball, you’d suggest Sandow will be a man most marked.

The Eels’ best player is probably Hopoate in the centres, a highly skillful man who along with the aforementioned Sandow are just about it. Success is built on foundations and right now, the Eels may well be too slippery for their own name!

[bestbrother]

Eels Jellied in Nines Debacle

Shut out, blown out, kop out. 3 terms to describe the lacklustre showing by Parramatta in this years Auckland Nines as they failed to make any sort of impact, crashing out of the competition in the Group stage.

The Nines itself is a showcase event, giving the fans a teaser before the NRL comes back into action and as such reading too much into the results would be unwise. However for the Eels, their capitulation and distinct lack of 'readiness' for the upcoming season could well be a bad sign as we stand just weeks away from the opening round of fixtures.

Parramatta fielded a strong 18 that included Nathan Peats, Chris Sandow and recent acquisition Reece Robinson, but there would be very little positives to come out of their 3 fixtures.

Opening up against Manly, the Eels failed to score a solitary point as the Sea Eagles put them to task and raced away with a 19-0 win. Coming off the back of that defeat, Parramatta appeared to have bounced back, racing away to a 13-0 lead at the half in their game against Newcastle.

Unfortunately a rash of errors and poor decision making saw Newcastle overturn that defecit and race back to win 22-13 as the stunned Eels were unceremoniously dumped from the competition. Then in the final group game and with a chance to save face, St. George-Illawarra had little sympathy for the fledgling Eelss and romped to a 23-6 win that could easily have been much more.

All in all, the Eels have taken very little from their foray into the Nines this year and leave the competition with more questions raised about their prospects in the upcoming NRL campaign, than answers.

Results:

Parramatta Eels 0 - 19 Manly-Warringtah Sea Eagles
Parramatta Eels 13 - 22 New Zealand Warriors
Parramatta Eels 6 - 23 St George Illawarra Dragons

Reactions:

Brad Arthur "We obvioulsy didnt come here to lose, but im not concerned with how things went for us. It was a chance to put into place some of the things we have worked on and from that I can take positives going into pre-season and then the season ahead. Last year we came up a little short in the race for the finals, so thats our focus and I dont feel anyone should read much into our efforts here"

Chris Sandow "I think all 3 of our games came down to individual errors. We made some bad decisions and that left us chasing games and leaving gaps. If we can step up and take ownership of these situations as a team in the regular season, then I see no reason to doubt our chances of making the finals this time round"

[bestbrother]

AUCKLAND NINES RECAP

[bestbrother]

Eels Remain Winless
Pre-season woes continue for Parra'

Above: Cherry-Evans caps off a big night with the teams 3rd try to seal the deal

Parramatta continued where they left off from the Auckland Nines, as they lost out in a battle with Manly to open their pre-season schedule. Manly held control all night, with a late rally from Parramatta putting them on the scoreboard but never threatening.

Above: Tough defence by the Eels, but its not enough to stop the Tigers running in 3 scores

Pre-season is in the books for the Eels as another defeat will see them head into the opening weekend of fixtures without a win. They did actually lead for 30 minutes of the game versus 'Wests, but once the Tigers got on the board, they would continue to edge away for a convincing 20-4 win.

[Tekkonkinkreet]

I'll be following. More of a Union fan but good to see a Rugby thread.

[Matty Aqua]

Couldn't believe my eyes when i seen a Rugby thread!, Stooooorm!