NICK WALSHAW
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH
JULY 09, 2013 12:00AM
Manly thrash EelsManly have thrashed Parramtta 50-10 at Brookvale Oval.(2:11 / 13.1MB)
Video Quality 3GWi-Fi
IS it just us or, since that NRL crackdown on violence, has there been a wonderful increase in straight right hands?
First, it was Origin. Then Toyota Cup. Now it seems even the struggling Parramatta Eels, a team flat out striking a blow anywhere this season, are getting in on the act.
And on Tuesday, the entire Parramatta roster should be thanking prop Mitch Allgood for that punch none of them, under instruction from the coach, are allowed discuss.
Without it, Parramatta fans would be waking to headlines shouting how their beloved side is now favoured, and firming, for back-to-back wooden spoons for the first time since 1961.
Not since the late '50s, when the Eels finished last for six consecutive seasons, have things looked so dark for the Blue and Gold Army.
On a run of six consecutive losses, and with both their byes done, it's a real possibility the Eels could go winless for the rest of the season. Maybe longer.
Nine times Monday night Manly crossed the white stripe. Another four chances were bombed.
The embarrassment proved too much for Immortal Andrew Johns who, working the sideline for Triple M, cursed into his microphone: "Honestly, this Eels defence isn't even Holden Cup stuff ... Parramatta should hang their heads in shame."
All up the Eels missed 47 tackles. The worst offenders were halfback Chris Sandow (eight) and winger Brayden Wiliame (seven). Skipper Reni Maitua was **** another four players who missed five or more.
But the real issue, rather than how often Manly crossed the white stripe, was simply how.
There were tries from simple catch and passes. Another, a backline sweep from a scrum. And can anyone explain how, with the Sea Eagles attacking and Glenn Stewart down seeking treatment, Manly still scored with an overlap of two?
"There were some real fundamental errors in defence," Stuart understated afterwards. "At this level, you have to play for 80 minutes, make sure you're on for every tackle of every play, or you're going to have blowouts like tonight."
Yet worse than the lopsided scoreline, Parramatta may have also jinxed the NSW Origin side.
Unfortunately for superstitious NSW players - and there are a few of them - the Eels have now twice borrowed the Blues' team bus, unmistakable with its signage down both sides, to get to games at Cronulla and, Monday night, Brookvale Oval.
First time around, the Eels were pumped by the Sharkies and, days later, said bus got stuck on a Brisbane roundabout. Then 24 hours after that, the Blues were completely stranded.
Much like the Eels.
So that makes Parramatta and the Broncos totally basket case clubs - the only hope for Parramatta seems to be start fighting! And their praising it - what sort of messages are they sending to kids who look up to these thugs? When NSWRL Junior RL have a player code of conduct trying to eliminate this very thing we have the media and clubs doing their best to tell kids that this is the way to go! What sort of barbaric caveman sport is this? That praises these exploits? What sort of neanderthal would support this in sport - don't get it in Soccer and Union seems to be more intent on actually playing the game better - so I ask the question WHAT SORT OF BRAIN IMPAIRED NUPHY WOULD APPRECIATE THIS BEHAVIOUR IN THEIR SPORT. Oh sorry guys I looked at that description and the name became obvious RAIDERDAVE ! (Come out of the Giants closet RD - RD is stuck in the Giants closet!) :_<>
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