The Tip Sheet – 2026 Ep 54: Round 11 Previews, Metcalf Joins Dragons

Añadido: 2026-05-22

[00:00:06]The thrill of victory and the agony of defeat AWAY >> MADISON. Great ball around THE CORNER PACINI. He thinks THE BALL.

[00:00:33]Junior Polar out wide. Bumped away from Tindle. Sharks coming through. None of them can hold it.

[00:00:41]>> Hello and welcome to a preview edition of the tip sheet podcast. As always, I'm your host John, also known as 4020.

[00:00:47]joining me to break down round 11, which is a combined sort of super round of football between Magic Round up in Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium for the NRL and the Festival footie adjacent to the beer, wine, and uh uh food food beer and wine festival in the city in North Sydney or North Sydney Oval. It's the festival footy out there in the New South Wales Cup. But we got a only two games to talk about, Craig. Uh but plenty in those two games to break down.

[00:01:12]Jersey flag on a global buy because of due representative honors in the city verse country matches and a few other things going about there with the logistics around the festival footie. Uh but yeah, still two games to break down, mate. And as always, before we do talk the turkey, how you doing on uh this gloomy Thursday?

[00:01:28]>> It is a strange old day today, mate. The bit of rain, a bit of cloud, the occasional sunshine, >> who knows what's going to go on. It's almost a bit like the footy, isn't it?

[00:01:38]It's it is very much like the the current kind of state of the NRL where it's been a tipster's nightmare and uh yeah, who knows what each game's going to bring. And of course uh tonight there will be some uh representative football in the uh by way of the women's state of origin game too. So we'll maybe do a quick uh preview on that. A preview quick uh tip on that at the end of the podcast, Craig. But yeah, we got a bit of NL news to talk about as well, mate.

[00:01:59]But um I guess before we get any further into the podcast, some housekeeping to do as always. If you're watching or listening, a like and a subscribe on our various platforms of representation would go a long way. And of course, a massive thank you to the sponsors of the tip sheet in Paramea Lease Club, home of the Eels, where you can catch us live in every Paramea home game. Obviously, Magic Ground, sort of a bit of a different, you know, kettle of fish there, but live at Stos with a legend to talk about. all those fantastic Paramea ambassadors willing to uh take some time to talk to us and then say hello to fans and of course star partners real estate Rowan and Paramatter uh who have been there since day doc Greg and the crew they bleed blowing gold and we love having them on board here mate and yeah I suppose I throw it over to you now because we got a little bit of a preamble to do here some NL news some general parameter stuff to yakab about where do you want to start >> well I want to let people know that uh next Tuesday I I will share a punter's lament Yeah. Part of the news podcast. Yes.

[00:02:59]>> Yeah. I'll save it for the news podcast because um I think it'll be more effective going to a live audience.

[00:03:06]>> Yes, I agree.

[00:03:07]>> I agree.

[00:03:08]>> And people might it it may even be that the person concerned might be in live or people that know him might be in live.

[00:03:16]So >> sometimes the the air to breathe on the wound as well as it were. It is and and all I will say is that it had to do with the uh result of the Eels Cowboys game.

[00:03:28]>> Extraordinary circumstances around our victory. Yes. Exactly.

[00:03:32]>> Yes. So stand by for that story on the news podcast next Tuesday. I'm s I'm sort of champing at the bit to share it with people, but again I think it's better going to the live audience. So, but we'll we'll kick we'll kick off with the story at the start of the news podcast, but yeah, there is some news floating around in the NRL, John's. Oh, and just before you do, um you mentioned about the city country fixture. There was uh a whole lot of the young players and I think the ones there might have been the the couple of the country squads were at Eels training today watching the I think they went through the they were there certainly they're in the center of excellence. There were buses there and um they were on the on the sideline having a look at the eels go through their paces for a period of time there. So, uh I think it might have been a mixture of using the facilities or visiting the facilities plus having a bit of a look at training and then um yeah, then they were on their way, but they were all in their uh city country gear.

[00:04:41]Again, I think was pretty much predominantly country. Anyway, I'll throw it over to you now for your NRL news that's floating around.

[00:04:49]>> Yeah, 13 minutes before we hit the record button. Um, and it would have been even less cuz we we had a slight delay on our recording time, which of course we're not live, so it's not a huge issue in that regard, but uh we we had a quick gander at the end on News and we found out that uh there's been a major signing and probably the one of the fastest developing stories we've seen in recent times, Craig, between a player being mildly unhappy supposedly about his uh not even contract situation because he extended at the club the year before, but his uh depth considerations and gone from that to release to signing for rival club in the space of just under a week. Uh but Luke Meetaf uh he who was uh given a release on teamless Tuesday I believe it was when we were were talking about the news then uh has now signed a three-year deal with St. George Ilawara uh in the vicinity of 900ish a season. So between Drinkwater Keon Colom Matangi and now Mechaf they've uh splashed some cash. They've probably assembled one of the biggest glass cannon spines I've ever seen, at least in the modern day. Drink water is obviously murial attacking talent. But Metaf, as we mentioned on Tuesday, Craig, what was it? 42 43 games in six seasons.

[00:05:58]>> Yeah.

[00:05:58]>> Like led the DMs last year, but that's a whole lot of muller uh to take a punt on a guy that has not stayed on the field.

[00:06:06]But that's where the Dragons are at. And I guess and this again I I always say this shouldn't preclude the eels from wanting to take risks but you look at the dragons and you see the other extreme of where the parameter eels are are opposite of where the eels are too risk adverse but maybe the dragons are quite opposite and they're so uh you know open to risk and and just splashing the cash to try and turn things around.

[00:06:29]Uh but yeah, I mean it's bold, it's big, and I imagine it's exciting for Dragons fans, but I'd be holding my I mean, I wouldn't want to hold my breath, but you're almost forced to hold your breath because of the uh the concerns around the availability there. But massive piece in the market suddenly comes off the board just as soon as it got on there.

[00:06:47]>> It's so I'm just double checking. It's It's 43 NRL appearances >> in six seasons. in in six seasons. And and the and if we go by the number of uh New South Wales Cup games prior to that across uh 2018 to 2024, has he been playing lower grade football? It's a total of 29 games >> across Blacktown Workers, New Town, and the Warriors.

[00:07:38]So from so from 2018 to now AC So what's that? um seven eight years that um where he's had >> you said 29 games >> a grand a grand total of 73 games of rugby league so this is for an ex now I don't know the ins and outs was it um just look he probably would have qualified for um jersey flag somewhere there there was also co in those seasons as well that affected lower grade like in 2020 and 2021.

[00:08:20]So that's probably a factor because 2020 is down for one game of New South Wales Cup. Well, I think that's about all that was played that season. One game of New South Wales.

[00:08:33]>> Only a couple of rounds at most. Yeah.

[00:08:35]So, and again, it's not a question of talent for Metaf because he's shown the last couple years when he's been on the field that he's a legitimate factor >> and you don't, you know, given that he went pretty deep into last year, well past halfway point before he got injured and was leading the DELMs. That's not a fluke. It's not about the talent, but it's about the availability. That's a significant significant risk taken by the Dragons there. Again, uh not to say the ELS should not take their risks and and their opportunities when they're presented to them, but that when you when you're down the bottom, sometimes you have to be the complete opposite of risk adverse and you you become far too, you know, open to risk. Well, you've got you've got a club like Manley with Turbo who, let's face it, over the last few years has barely made it onto the field and they had a significant amount of their salary cap that was paid to him.

[00:09:30]There is, you'd have to suggest based on history, a chance that that might happen with the Dragons with Metaf. I'm a little bit surprised that 900,000 was his asking price. Uh I don't know what he was on. What was he on at the Warriors? He might have been on a figure that was getting up towards that amount.

[00:09:54]>> Maybe 800.

[00:09:55]>> Yeah, it's only only can speculate on that without having the the facts and figures in front of us. But when you get close to a million dollars, you're going to you're going to want a good return on that based on potential.

[00:10:11]Based on potential, it's a step in the right direction for the Dragons, but the punting level is high on that.

[00:10:20]It is a real speculative amount of money to lay out because they've now laid out in excess of $3 million for three players.

[00:10:33]So, you'd have to say that at the they've they've now said these are our top of the roster players.

[00:10:46]Question for you, John.

[00:10:49]Are they likely to continue with someone like Clint Guth or do you think they will negotiate to have him move on?

[00:11:02]Because he's he's on around that million-doll mark, isn't he?

[00:11:05]>> Yeah, I at least that was the understanding when he signed that three figure extension with the Dragons was in the vicinity. Maybe not seven figures, but you know, close to um Yeah, very fair point, mate. And it might be one of the situations where they're going to have to if they want to move them on, they have to eat a pretty significant chunk of it. But maybe given what they've spent on those three players in Col, Tongy, Drink Water, and now Metaf, you you take whatever you can get. And >> yeah, >> and that's, you know, Valentine Holmes, Quinton Gufferson, uh, they're both players immediately come to mind where even if you have to eat a significant portion of their cap hits to, uh, getting the move on, signing them then finding a replacement level player or just a, you know, fringe first grader, it wouldn't be that bad for them, would it? Given what they're getting out of those players right now and the expected like continued fall off, like it's not just going to be they're going to plateau down here. you know, expected to keep falling off uh because of the way that, you know, age and form is tapering. So, yeah, it could be a case where they're going to have to eat eat some aggressive cap hits, but it's a it's tough, man. It's tough because I we sit here being critical of what the Dragons are doing, but we acknowledge that when you're down here, you've got to take a punt.

[00:12:13]>> And yes, and so it's not like we're saying they are stupid. We're saying that they're taking some significant risks here, but they've kind of got to just like how we want the eels to take a chance here and there uh on on the right guy, but sometimes the right guy isn't there when the market says, you know, this is what you got. This is what's available. Sure, you can try and squeeze something behind the scenes and sometimes it works out, but this year it was uh I mean Luke Mechov wasn't even there to be fair. He was he wasn't there for six months of this year or five five and a bit months of this year. Uh and then suddenly this week he is on the market. So they had to move fast to fend off the likes of the Bulldogs and obviously the Bears, maybe even the Chiefs, although I think the the over I know he wants to play halfback, but uh there's a bit of overlap between his skill set and that of Lewise. So yeah, the the Dragons moved quickly. They gave him the money he sort of was obviously in the in the ballpark for and gave him three years. So it's tough, mate. Like it is very easy to sit here and be critical of the Dragons. uh but also acknowledging that at some point they we everyone has to take a risk and and move on the guides available.

[00:13:18]>> And now I guess the next bit of news that broke after our news podcast was the Nathan Clearary.

[00:13:26]>> Well, I I query.

[00:13:29]>> Oh, sorry. Well, no, I I'm Yes, it is Ivan. You can you can spin it into an Yes. Because that was part of his justification for the his decision uh in not >> Yeah. So this is the this is the segue, right? Because we're talking about a halfback that particular club particular clubs might be chasing especially the newer franchises.

[00:13:51]So when when does Nathan Clearary come off contract?

[00:13:55]>> He is free to talk to rival Cobbs as of November 1. his contract was tied tied in alongside his father's at the end of 2027.

[00:14:04]>> So I think it gets interesting there because he's someone that has probably achieved all he can possibly achieve.

[00:14:13]There's a lot of speculation around PNG with attracting Lui that uh Brian to might be someone to immediately follow him. Do you then wonder do they because they can offer something that's irresistible financially to Nathan Clearary to keep him linked back with an old mate in Lui and maybe have a couple of other Panthers mates around them so that the PNG Chiefs start essentially on an absolute flyer.

[00:14:55]now with some elite recruits on money that no other club is able to match because of the tax concessions and therefore maybe start the ball rolling with other recruits that will follow because of the key recruits that are there. I think it's a real possibility because re like realistically speaking no other club not even the bears of their new marquee concessions given to them by the NRL will be able to compete with the money that the Chiefs could theoretically throw around and in in that way part of me is surprised that and maybe there is a plan there that they weren't in on me because as much as we talk about Metaf's issues with his availability the Bears are still lacking a marquee player in the spine and tech you can argue that technically Metaf isn't a marquee player he's only had a half a year of incredible like of top t top by production but has been you know good in the other games he's been around but yeah they missed out on another one there and maybe maybe they weren't interested but yeah for for Clearary no one no one's going to be able to challenge the the Chiefs for the financial compensation and very few clubs if any can challenge him for the challenge or or challenge other clubs for the challenge the narrative the story of helping an expansion club international expansion club uh get off the ground hitting the the deck sprinting And while there's other clubs that would absolutely be massively keen on securing someone like Nathan Quiry who I think is fast approaching consensus is probably the best club level club level clubland halfback we've seen in the modern day at the very least if you want to you know restrict the filter to more modern days.

[00:16:32]Uh and while he's had his certainly had his issues at representative level as a clubland halfback he is just incredible.

[00:16:39]Yeah, it's going to be fascinating to see because I I think it's a great sell go reunite with some of his Penf mates or former Penri mates. Uh be not just a celebrity but you know a demigod in terms of popularity amongst the the local population in Port Moresby and and maybe do something special and and take the Chiefs to the finals inaugural season and from there who knows. So yeah, I think it's a good sell and and it'll be interesting to see what happens with his father because there's obviously the talk or justification was and look I think Ivan's done the right thing in this regard in the Panthers were trying to work out an extension with him Craig multiple times and he he kept getting back to him saying I'm not sure I'm not sure and at some point he acknowledged he didn't want to leave them in the lurch and made a definitive call in his future but he opened the door to being some kind of uh football executive or managerial role or potential representative coach and uh I think he could certainly move on to the Blues, but if he went were to step into a football either GM or GM adjacent role, uh where where would he land there? And that could also influence where maybe Nathan goes.

[00:17:45]>> John, I have a theory on this, which is that I don't believe the blueey signing was solely money and the chance at history.

[00:18:02]with the Chiefs.

[00:18:05]I believe they've sold a vision to him around the team that they will assemble.

[00:18:11]They've made suggestions that they that wait to see who we put together because we've had agents reach out to us. There's a lot of players that are interested in being part of this.

[00:18:28]I just think there are dominoes that are falling. I think there are pieces of that jigsaw puzzle that might start to look like they're falling into place.

[00:18:40]And I think the decision from Ivan Clearary has perhaps been based on what he knows his son is likely to do, what maybe a couple of other Panthers and former Panthers are likely to do. And I think there I think the uh PNG chiefs have orchestrated this quite well.

[00:19:09]And >> in saying that, I do have some concerns about maybe getting too many of those Panthers old boys on the back none of their careers. But Nathan clearly clearly he the meat of his career is still ahead of him. But if they go out and say, "Yeah, we're gonna get Edwards and Yo and and Martin and bring all the boys here and cap recapture that magic of the premiership run from, you know, 2020 2021 to present day or just prior present day. I'm a little bit Larry about that. But yeah, if there is a vision to get Clearary and Tott and obviously Law is already there, then that that is a good sell. But uh >> I don't think it'll be over the top numbers, John. I just think they will have a core of, let's say, let's call them senior players that they need when you've got a new franchise starting that know what winning is about so they can start on the front foot with that expectation that they are going to be more than competitive from the start. That that will be their goal.

[00:20:11]they'll mix it up with some younger players from a range of clubs and they'll be able to attract them because if they get those younger players where they don't have to worry about maybe family being accommodated, they are happy to live away from home for a little bit for some tax-free dollars.

[00:20:34]M it almost like uh I guess not not quite like the fly in fly out >> FIFO mining or oil rigging and whatnot.

[00:20:43]Yeah, >> but not not not dissimilar in the in what is on offer in terms of being able to make a good uh more money than they would be likely to make in in their profession of NRL player on a standard NRL contract. just being able to get those tax-free dollars for however many years they can secure it as young players, it can set them up for life.

[00:21:13]And I think it'll be it will be interesting to have been a fly on the wall in the meeting with Jerome Lui and see what vision was sold to him because I am I am near certain John that to land someone like Lui, you would have had to have made him aware of who your targets were and how confident you were of landing them or not.

[00:21:40]And as you know this far ahead if someone's under contract for next year they can't receive an offer as s as such but they can lodge an expression of interest with the agent.

[00:21:55]>> That's right. It's it's very distinct an official offer from an expressive interest or a casual you know if you were available.

[00:22:03]>> Yeah. So everyone everyone knows that they would get an indication an agent if he gets an expression of interest from a club that is something that he's his client is desirous of receiving an offer from.

[00:22:24]um they'll give a bit of a nod and a wink to that club and say, "Yeah, we're most we we will be most pleased to receive your offer come November one."

[00:22:37]It's um anyway, we'll see how that plays out. Anything else floating around before we get into these uh these previews, John?

[00:22:44]>> Nothing major. Stuff that we can talk about on Tuesday for sure. I think the Knights have resigned young back Jermaine Mchuan for a couple years. He's obviously a good young talent there. Uh, and then all the peripheral interest in Luke Meetaf that's been linked in the media is now moot and void. Uh, given that he's now inking a deal with the Dragons and obviously we can talk about further about the potential fallout or, you know, possibilities for Ivan Quiry.

[00:23:06]I know he's probably going to stick around the Panthers at least in the short term post 27 in an administrative role it looks like. But, you know, where where could he end up if he didn't want to coach but would take on a administrative role or representative role somewhere else that could be good FOD for Tuesday. So on that >> bit >> a bit of yeah a bit of a news pod fod for sure and um on that note I think we can move on to the preview portion of the uh the tip sheet this week. So we start in round 11 Craig as I mentioned off the top it's a couple of our magic round or magic round adjacent festivals on this week. Obviously the main event up in uh Suncorp or Brisbane sorry Suncorp stadium but on Sunday the parameter they're going to probably is it closing out? I'm pretty certain it's closing out isn't it? Uh, let me go to the right portion of the draw. It's the wrong website. That's why it's not showing it to me. But the Eels are taking on the St. George Ilawa Dragons Sunday 3:00 p.m. out at North Sydney Oval. And just to clarify, if I can press the right buttons on my keyboard, the Eels are closing out the festival of football out at North Sydney Oval as the 11th place Eels take on the fourth place Dragons. Uh, this one, as I mentioned, is at 3 p.m. on the Sunday. and the Eels who again if I can just make sure I get the team list up that I clicked away from because I'm a goose look like this uh got some change in the roster this week Craig uh by way of uh people being available by way of some injuries as well so again a lot of tinkering being done by Nathan Kais uh some of it forced some of it optional but we start at fullback where young Brad Avery continues to uh dawn the number one on the wings you got Moy Alamine and Dante Villa who is back from concussion protocols So a pair of young flankers there. In the centers it's Aras Nanva and then upper Twidle. And then in the halves, Lorenzo Talatina will partner Jonah Pez. We move to the front row where Tian Brown, Kruz, Natili Schmidt and Tyrese Lini are your 8 n and 10.

[00:24:58]Tyrese moving from lock forward to prop this week. On the in the back row, but on the edges, it's Josiah Funa Aayuta and Kition Katonga. Good to see Gideon making his return from an MCL. I think it would have been something along the lines of a grade two, maybe a grade three sprain there. So good to see him back in the fold. Uh he will be on the edges there with an TBA at lock forward.

[00:25:18]So presumably one of the NRL players Craig dropping back from the game in Brisbane for uh whoever misses out in game time in that game will come back here and play lock. And then we go to the >> Harrison Edwards.

[00:25:30]>> Harrison Edwards is a pretty fair shout uh as you mentioned on Tuesday. A chance for him to start building connections and understanding of the parameter systems. And then we go to the bench where it's a stack of young players there in Trace Speedy, Zack Fiskconi, and then Ryder Tongi and then Jordan Hill being the back line till the option in the 17. Uh so a bit of change in the roster here. A couple of the flag players dropping out in Gal McMen and Chris Petrus. Uh Jordan Miller I dare say is probably in concussion protocols Craig given he took a heavy shot to the head uh that resulted in him departing the game and not coming back uh last week. Uh but then also Jack Hudson, another flag out of the uh the team this week too. This could all be subject to change as well. Of course, there's more flexible roster rules in regards to this the Tuesday team sheet and then the actual game day roster in the cup, but as it stands, that's your EOS taking on the fourth place Dragons. Uh again, 3 p.m. kickoff out at North Sydney Oval.

[00:26:22]What are your initial takes in this one, Craig? What do you think about the team composition? What do you think about the uh the opposition? Because I think the these these two teams, they met back in round three. So the parameter eels in that game got beaten pretty handily 38 to8 uh in one of their uh more ordinary shown this year despite some uh issues with the roster in terms of availability and and guys being injured. Uh this was a game where they were pretty much outclassed by their opposition.

[00:26:49]>> Yeah, the Dragons have had five wins this season, the Eels three wins this season.

[00:26:55]Uh Dragons did particularly well last season. They they were grand finalists.

[00:27:01]Did they did they win or was it the >> the Warriors won? I believe did I maybe it was the upset on them going for grand final today because the Warriors were so good throughout the vast majority. No, the Warriors won 30 to 12.

[00:27:15]>> There we go.

[00:27:16]>> Yeah.

[00:27:16]>> Um >> they upset that is they upset the Warriors in the grand final qualifier.

[00:27:21]>> The initial the initial seated grand final qualifier and then uh we took on the Warriors a week after uh and then lost and they they then lost to the Warriors.

[00:27:30]>> Yeah. Yeah. So, uh, you look at it and they got Hame CE there. Apart from that, it's younger players that are coming through with the Dragons rather than any fringe first graders that have been around for a while. Uh, you might be able to correct me on that. John, just looking at the Dragons list.

[00:27:51]>> No, it's it's a lot of young players like you mentioned, Craig. Um, I'm looking at I mean, Jacob Helen, who we've seen play for New South Wales 19, he's a very talented back rower. He's gotten a little bit of first grade uh time, but uh there's another female there, but I don't think it's one that's being graded, but C is obviously experienced. Um who else is there? Yeah, it looks like it's a pretty inexper I mean, in the back one, I think I saw I was looking at some of their numbers and there's some good young players there, but none of them are graded. And so, it maybe that's an opportunity for the ELS to uh look to, you know, sort of work some experience that they've got across their team. not hugely experienced, but you know, they've got Jonah Pez, they've got uh uh Katonga coming back there, too. I'm trying to think. We're pretty sparse on our experience right now, too.

[00:28:36]Honestly, the way we've been shaking out our injuries, >> so it's less an advantage I was hoping.

[00:28:43]>> Yeah, John, the Dragons are coming fourth. the team that beat us last week, the Bears. They're sitting nice nicely up in second spot, which again is a uh fine achievement so far by the Bears given that they aren't any clubs feed a team. Um although we talked about the advantage that they may have in that they're not going to be as disrupted with their team lists on a weekly basis because they're they got no club that's calling up their players for higher duties. So it's really just the scenario of injuries or suspension that's or or loss of form where their team list would be changed in any way. Um the Eels got that what was it? 46 to >> 10.

[00:29:36]>> Was it 4 to 10? Yeah. An an absolute thrashing at the at the um at the hands of the Bears last week. So that's what that's the what the Eels are coming off in terms of form. Um the Dragons. Yeah.

[00:29:51]What was their last up? Let's have a bit of a look at at their last up uh performance. They were round. So that's round nine.

[00:30:07]Oh, a buy of course while we're talking this through. And prior to that, oh, highscoring game with the roosters. They went down 48 to 28 in that one. Um, >> but they've won >> lost the rabbitos and then yeah, they fresh seagulls. So they've been a bit bit polarized in their in their results, but still obviously ahead of the parameter right now.

[00:30:35]>> Yeah. And the Eelss have obviously been smashed around with injuries because those injuries haven't impacted them just from their own list of players that are out of action. But it's the first grade team as well, which has meant that there's been players called up to the Eels NRL team that might have been a regular in New South Wales Cup. So, they've lost a lot of of their strength to NRL callups. They've lost some of their depth to injuries themselves.

[00:31:14]And I'm expecting John to have no idea how this is going to go based on what I've seen this year because I've seen we've seen there the fluctuating results of the Dragons. We've seen the fluctuating form of the Eels in this grade because the previous week was an absolute ripper of a victory over the Warriors.

[00:31:37]And the Warriors are such a physical team and the Eels took that physicality up another notch and threw it back at them.

[00:31:47]>> Mhm. and for them to then turn around and be beaten by a North Sydney team who looked well coached. They had great combinations there.

[00:32:01]They dominated possession in that game.

[00:32:05]I think you had some stats on on that.

[00:32:07]>> Yeah, I think it was 63 37% splits. It was like really heavy heavy traffic favoring the Bears.

[00:32:13]>> Yeah. So, if you if you were to just go on ladder positions, then you go, "Okay, the Dragons will probably get this." But honestly, I don't know which Dragons team is going to turn up. I don't know which Eels team is going to turn up for this. I I believe the Eels have some talent that's there. And I'm just wondering whether last week they got exposed by a team that had continuity of uh a stability in their team list.

[00:32:49]uh some some players that are good at this level of football and are maybe pushing for a if not a development deal with the uh Perth Bears, then maybe second tier or train and trial for their New South Wales Cup team.

[00:33:12]Whatever the case was, they were certainly an upbeat team out there on the field. played sharp fast football deserve thoroughly deserve the score line that they got. Um and the Eels just couldn't go with them. So what is the real Eels team? There's some young players that we've got high opinions of that are running around for them.

[00:33:37]There's also some players missing that fit into that category as well. So, >> I guess this is this is one of those ones where I'm just I'm hoping the Eagles get a win. I can't confidently predict it >> in any way.

[00:33:52]>> I think the Dragons going to be favored in this one. I mean, just ladder position says so. Although, again, their polarized results show that there is going to be opportunities for Paramata there.

[00:34:01]>> I think last week uh again, you give a lot of credit to the Bears because they play some great football. In saying that, I think that the Eelss reached a genuine crisis point in their backline depth. when you have to throw poor Jazai Furang into right center. Again, I want to stress the player we've got massive wraps on. He's a fantastic young talent, but he's not a center. And just the way the way things shook out last week was just players in concussion protocols from the week before uh you know, injuries uh elsewhere and then players like Sam Rani deservely getting drafted back up to the NRL.

[00:34:31]>> Uh the the Parames were very fit in the backline and the Bears to their credit saw the back roll in the center spot and said, "Well, we're going to go after him." And they did. So I think there's a better balance in the backline this week. Obviously Nan and Tw on the centers. Uh getting Devonte Vala back on the right wing is really nice. I think he's been one of those young players that has uh exceeded expect I mean we heard Jason R talking about Saxon Pri in that regard in the in a row and I think Devonte in terms of the cup has exceeded expectations uh given his age and the opportunities afforded to him and he's been really good and I'm keen I really keen to have him back on that right wing and I think another player look I I know fans have been a bit have been probably a little bit down on his performances in first grade but you you can't you can't not be happy getting Jonah Pez back at half back in reserve grade that's a big boost to deals had a great combination with Lorenzo Talletina in that game against the Warriors that you alluded to Craig. I think that's a big in for them and it lets Arpa show a bit more versatility out in the centers and I think that's going to be if if we're going to win you got to imagine that the peasant tail combination is going to be a big reason as to why. So I I remain at least partially optimistic here. Uh again, we've seen this team really show some genuine potential despite all the injuries and all the issues. They've had to deal with roster wise boom boom. U all all the issues and injuries.

[00:35:52]>> Yeah, >> it's a bit speedway track outside the house at times. Yeah.

[00:35:55]>> Um they they've definitely shown that they can throw down a lot of the great teams in this grade. So, if they can not get a 37% split of the ball and they can actually get closer to the parody, I think they're absolutely every chance here, but that's a a big butt, isn't it?

[00:36:10]Um that it's always hard backing up those kind of defeats and obviously want to see an improved result, but they're not at home. They're out at North Sydney Oval. It's going to be a bit of a chopped up field, too, unfortunately, because they're the last game of the football festival. Uh so, that could also be some consideration, too. So, obviously, you want to hope that the players get through unscathed. Um, just trying to think. Um, you know, maybe our first look at Harrison Edwards, that'll be fun. Uh, if not him, then maybe, you know, I guess could be like Charlie Gmer or someone that could be bumped out of NL based on what happens in the game there. If they need Harrison Edwards dummy half, there could be a player that misses NRL in that regard and that gets thrown down into this one. Um, but yeah, I just, you know, I want to see more development out of guys like Ryder Tangi and Zack Viscanti and Trace Bey. I want to see I mean Tian Brown and and Joai Finayutra both pushing for inner world debuts Tyrese Lini too I shouldn't shouldn't forget Tyrese who's been in some tremendous form uh so yeah just get an equal equal share of the ball uh it's uh again not to the similar what we've been talking about with the parameter Craig and and the possession and completion splits and how crucial they are in the current game the way uh six agains and possession flows can completely swing a game the need to you know be cognizant of that and just be smart. There's there's even less space for silly football, stupid football right now than there is in the past. And obviously that it wasn't exactly like a huge slice of the pie could be assigned to stupid football. I'm not saying that.

[00:37:37]But right now, you make two or three errors in a row and you're looking at maybe 10 minutes about the ball.

[00:37:44]>> Yeah. Just backtracking on some of your comments, John, seeing Josiah out at center and I don't recall him training at center for the game. So, uh, I could be wrong. I You know what? I'm even struggling to think. Did I Did I see the captain's run last week? I may not have, but center is not his position. And I'm I still wouldn't be surprised if Josiah ended up being a middle forward rather than an edge forward. And he was expected to match players for pace out wide. And that's just not a fair ask of uh of of a player that's as I said trending towards maybe being a middle forward. So, um, >> it was an issue that got exacerbated by the the weight of possession, too.

[00:38:38]>> You know, he he made some defensive plays as well, like there were times where he got to his guy or got to, uh, the defender, or sorry, the runner. But then, you know, the arms be free because there was a bit of fatigue in the game and he was able to get an offload away.

[00:38:49]So, again, I'm not trying to drag Joia here. I got a massive wrap on him. It was just that circumstance thrust him into an unfamiliar position. He had the moonlight in the centers and the Bears went after him as they're meant to. So him back in the on the edge and like you said probably trending towards if if not a middle at least a tween aer forward you know the ability to play middle and edge.

[00:39:08]>> Uh so yeah I'm I'm hoping he can have a good bounceback game because I'm a big rep of um JFI and I'm I'm really keen to see him make some uh big strides towards narrow debut.

[00:39:19]What I'd want to see in this John are the players that we are expecting something from. And the players we're expecting from in this game are obviously the halves, Jonah Pez and and Lorenzo Telatina.

[00:39:36]Pez not just because he was he was bought by the Eels to be a first grader this year, but he is going to be the Broncos. Well, the plan was he was going to be the Broncos halfback from 20 27 onwards. So, big wraps on on Jonah.

[00:39:56]Jury's out on how he's performed with the Eels thus far. He's had a season that's been interrupted by injury already. Then we get to Lorenzo and a lot of fans were calling for his elevation at the time uh when uh we had Ronnie Vulman elevated to the first grade. Now Vulman's justified the coach's faith in him, but there's there are still plenty of Eels fans out there who are saying, "Look, this should have been the opportunity to blood Lorenzo Talletina." So, he's held in high regard by a lot of supporters. He's held in high regard by the club. Is he ready for first grade? Well, you'd have to say that Ri doesn't think so as yet. So, in these games, if he's got a player who is ostensibly a first grade halfback who's sharing the response playmaker responsibilities with him, he's in the Pezants obviously in the primary playmaker role, but Lorenzo's there. you would expect this. He's getting some lessons that he's learning through the preseason, through training, through playing alongside Jonah Pezet. So, you need to start to expect to see more from Lorenzo, even though he's still a young player himself. And the other one that you have to see something of this week is Gideon because Gideon difference of standards for expectation, but you're right, you want to see him there.

[00:41:29]Yeah, he's a strike player at NRL level.

[00:41:31]He's coming back from injury. You'd like to see that you you'd like to think if you see glimpses of that in this game, then it's going to go a long way towards the Eels winning the contest. So, um, but as I said before, John, I just don't know what to expect.

[00:41:53]It's Jonah's an inclusion from last week.

[00:41:59]You've got um Gideon as an inclusion from last week. You've got the the center situation with Arpa playing center where we had a second rower playing center last week.

[00:42:14]We should be better. We should be performing better this week.

[00:42:19]Will it all click? Well, it hasn't in every game so far. So, it's whatever Eels team turns up, is it the is it the team that's going to have high completions? And I say the same thing about the NRL, but if they if they complete high, um, take their opportunities when they're there.

[00:42:39]Don't give away silly penalties or set restarts.

[00:42:44]Uh, good first up contact in defense.

[00:42:46]They're the basics of rugby league. If they can do that, then they go a long way towards winning this. Um, let's jump on to the NRL now, John.

[00:42:56]>> Yeah. Main event. This one comes Saturday night, 7:45 p.m. out at Suncorp Stadium. Uh, as we mentioned on the the Tuesday live stream, uh maybe the uh the Blackest of Black Magic, the the darkest of a cult lining up here for the Parameter Reels. Not only they meet the Melbourne Storm in Magic Ground, a team that has put 60 and 48 on them in 2019 and 2024, I think, uh, but they've got Peter Goff in charge of the game. So, uh, yeah, whatever uh, your your preferred curse breaking uh, method or methodology of choice is, employ that this week, please. Uh, whether it's uh, your your verses of Latin, your salt, burning sage, whatever, you know, break it out.

[00:43:37]Apollish for that. We are back.

[00:43:39]interrupted by a phone call there for the big fella such as the uh the way of recording. We do have the luxury to be able to splice things together. So, good to have you back, mate. Uh I was just about amongst all my waffling and wobbling was about to start going through the team sheets. Uh again, just to reiterate, uh this is kicking off at 7:45 p.m. out at Suncorp Stadium. Eels vtor Storm. And we go across the two teams now at fullback. It's the two pocket rockets in Joish Papali and Sa Lavi Far Longo who was uh fortuitously fortuitously I suppose he still got a knock to the head but was cleared of potential facial fractures and has managed to navigate concussion protocols on top of that to take to the field against the Eels. You got Brian Kelly and Josh Adakar on the flanks of the Eels taking on Will Warbrick and Moses Leo uh for the Melbourne Storm. Jack Hal and Nick Mini meanwhile will be in the center three quarter spots for the Melbourne franchise up against Jordan Sam Ronnie on the right and Sean Russell on the left for the Eels in the halves.

[00:44:32]We had a bit of a chat about him before in regards to the uh likes of Pezant and Talina but it's Ronald Wman Greg in the number six he'll be working of course he's captain Mitchell Moses front row it's Luca Moretti Talon the Silva oh sorry Cameron Monster and Dr. By the way, they're the Melbourne halves in case you you hadn't heard about those guys. But yeah, front row, Luca Mery, Talon Silva, and Junior Barlaw up against former Eels prospects Stfano Uto Kamanu, Harry Grant, and Josh King. Only one of those was a Paramea prospect by the way, just Stefano there. Harry Grant obviously spent some time with the Tigers on a loan deal, but not a Paramea Junior. Uh in the back row, Melbourne have Shawn Blau and Atavalo Lazati on the wing on the wings on the edges. Kel Langi and Jack Williams meanwhile born Gold edgeback rowers. Then we got Jack Debell up against Trent Lieru at lock forward. Then we go to the interchange for the Melbourne Storm it's Trent Tolo Cooper Clark Davy Mali Joe Chan Stanley Huan and Preston Khan and then for the parameter Eels Dylan Walker Saxon Pri Tony Matielli Charlie GMA Arpidle and Tian Brown extended rosters you got Harrison Edwards Araz Namba and Jenna Pez for the Bourne gold Josiah Palu Mania Wateri and Angus Hinchi for the Melbourne Storm and then of course the coaches it is uh Jason RS up against what's the proto as he's one of his former mentors between Trent Robinson and of course in this case Craig Bellamy. So we've got the uh the student and the master there and then the EOS obviously looking for revenge from round one as well. So a few different story ones in this game Craig but there your two teams and of course the uh unfortunately the Mantha Whistle is Peter Golf. We got Chris Butler in the box. So there's your tale of the tape here between the Eels and the Storm at least by the way with the team sheets.

[00:46:10]I'm sure there's some other stats we can dig into but what's your initial takeaway here? Where do you want to start? because the Paradial is looking to avenge that round one loss.

[00:46:17]Paramaterial is looking to improve a pretty dreadful Magic Ground record, particularly against Melbourne Storm where they're 0 and2, but in general, Magic Ground hasn't been a happy hunting ground for the Eels.

[00:46:27]We're coming off the back of a pretty crazy 33-30 win. Melbourne got their uh their losing streak snapped with a game against the Tigers. Who's got the better claim in the victory right now, >> John? It's it's again a little bit difficult to read because there were aspects of Melbourne's performance that you could like against the Tigers, but it was a vastly depleted Tigers team.

[00:46:57]And after that initial onslaught, there wasn't a huge amount that that like that separated the two teams in terms of performance.

[00:47:10]There were aspect of me aspects of Melbourne's performance uh with defense and some lack of penetration in attack that reflected what's been happening for them recently.

[00:47:23]I keep saying it every time I talk about Melbourne.

[00:47:27]Their play has always been to start off fast, bodies in motion, try to crack a team early on.

[00:47:38]And if you stay with them, the contest is on if you don't let them get that sort of jump on you. I look at the Melbourne team and if we're talking about elite players, and by elite players, let's talk about players who are in the top five in their position across the NRL.

[00:47:56]The Storm probably have three players that you would put into that category.

[00:48:00]Obviously, three of their their spine players in Hughes, Monster, and Grant.

[00:48:06]Monsters's grip on that spot is a bit tenuous these days, but he's still around there.

[00:48:11]>> Yeah. Uh the Eels, in contrast, if you're being brutally honest, have won in in Mitch Moses. There are maybe some players who have the potential to move into that. within the E squad who are out injured. But if you're talking about who's got the the ace hands in terms of being able to uh lead the team to a victory, then you'd go, okay, that falls to the storm.

[00:48:47]But as Shelley pointed out in her column this week, it's about the collective will that's there and the and to that end as well, the collective performance.

[00:49:01]The Storm haven't been delivering a collective performance. Players in their team have been letting them down.

[00:49:07]Sometimes it's been those key players.

[00:49:09]haven't been performing at their best to the extent that there was apparently some concerns in state of origin circles, the Queensland team about the form of monster in particular.

[00:49:25]So I think it comes down to we know what those storm players, those key players that they're likely to be up for the game.

[00:49:39]It's magic round. There'll be a big crowd.

[00:49:44]Brisbane's the home away from home for the storm. We've got a shocking track record against the storm up there in Brisbane.

[00:49:54]Will those players be abley supported by those around them?

[00:49:59]I know John, you probably got a bit to say because you're not overly impressed with the the Storm Pack and um who some of these support players are for them.

[00:50:11]We need the Eels to not just have the players step up to support Moses. We need them to do the little things right again, especially with completions. We got to have a high completion rate. just it's there's no way of avoiding saying that. We need to the players to be on the same page in their defensive systems because we had players falling out of the system on the edges and it was like the Cowboys the Cowboys probably butchered the opportunity to get a lot more points last week because our defense wasn't holding up. But they failed to complete.

[00:50:56]They gave us plenty of possession and ultimately having more possession led to the Cowboys being penalized and the Cowboys presenting us with opportunities and we took them.

[00:51:12]The Storm, they've presented other teams with opportunities, but again, I keep thinking it's magic round.

[00:51:21]It's a bigger stage. I think they'll lift their key players will lift on the bigger stage. So it's what the rest of the team does around the key players.

[00:51:31]John, what's what what do you have to say on this?

[00:51:34]>> Yeah, look, as I mentioned, it's been it magic has been a very unhappy hunting ground for the parameter. I think what the Jake Arer gambling try against the Warriors.

[00:51:43]>> Is that our lone victory in match ground? it might be our might just >> and uh you know whatever it is we we just don't tend to play our best football there regardless of how good the team has been and the team's been good uh in quite a few of those magic round years you know going through deep into the finals multiple times all the way through to a grand final in 22 uh but in this case yeah there's a few things here in terms of uh you know curses and and bad matchups between golf and and the storm of course but you don't want to get too swamped down in that because at the end of the day you just got to play football And like you said, Craig, I think a lot of this game will hinge defensively. I'm not expecting the Eels to be a dominant defensive team in this game. I just don't think the way the the wider code issues are alongside Paramea's issues both roster-wise and availability wise of a lot of players sidelined really line up for the Eagles be able to stifle Melbourne. I think you want to be competitive defensively, right? That's got to probably be the benchmark you're looking for. Uh so yeah, I look at that and we we need to be better than what we saw against the Cowboys. Obviously, the defensive desperation against the Cowboys was great. There was a lot of scramble, a lot of guys that made plays after the line break, after the tackle bust, that's good. But you don't want to be conceding them with regularity the way we did against North Queensland because Melbourne, despite their issues, Craig, they've still got that roof streak in them. We we saw it for about a quarter of a game against the Tigers, if you given the opportunity to break the line, they will score points. Uh so, yeah, we need to see a much improved defensive coordination this week. Um, and you know, there's a bit of continuity between the roster between this week and last, which has been a bit of a a premium luxury for the Eelss.

[00:53:17]They haven't enjoyed that too often on a week- toeek basis. Maybe that makes a difference. I'm hoping it does. Uh, but yeah, like you sort of you mentioned it, but I'm I'm not a big rap on Melbourne's forward pack the way it is these days. I think Stfano's an excellent prop forward. Uh, and he was a big difference maker when these two teams met in round one. I think he went for over 200 on the ground that game there. Uh, and he was better against the Tigers last week.

[00:53:39]through a little bit of a slump. Uh but you there's there's some workers there.

[00:53:42]King and Loyer are workers. I know Cooper Clark's been an exciting rookie for them. Uh but you know, Blur and Lazardi, there've been some fantasy value there if you play fantasy football, but I think Lazardi has had a couple big games where he's blown up.

[00:53:57]But uh I I don't look at them and say, "Oh my god, it's Ellie Cataua like that.

[00:54:01]It's just a matchup nightmare on the ground and under the highball." So yeah, if the Eelss if they can tidy up the areas that we've always been talking about, that's a big if and if they're diligent and if they stay in in the they keep their heads in the battle and and don't let the game get away from them in in so far as that we know the game is I keep helping on this Greg, but you know the game is going to go away from your points because that's just how it works at the six against at some point there will be the run against you but the Eels need to stop that from going this far away to that far away and that's been their challenge this year is that they done a very poor poor poor job with that mitigating how big that uh run against you can be. Um beyond that, I mean, look, uh Far Long was a big in for Melbourne. I think he's a player that can cause us some trouble. That's going to be definitely one of their their key players on the tip sheet. Uh and I think that back one's actually in a pretty reasonable position now. Uh the Will Warick's obviously gotten back to some of his better football. Uh they've had Jake How, Jack How, sorry, not Jake, navigate a downturn in his form and I think he's probably been a bit better in recent weeks. Uh, and Nick Menny's obviously a super reliable player. Uh, not too similar to Shawn Russell for the Eels. Uh, so yeah, I don't know. Like Monster's form has been pretty ordinary if I'm going to be brutally honest.

[00:55:15]Craig, huge is still a very good halfback. And Harry Grant like Far Long, I think he's one of the key players to watch because, you know, he's going to have a crack at the defense like more more than once this game. He's going to be constantly looking to run around the ruck from the midfield. And the moment our markers get laxed, and they have been laxed this year, there's no way to spin that or avoid that. We've had some lax market defense, you know, he's going to try and score a try, and he's the best at it from short range. So, yeah, I look at those matchups there. You know, I I don't see why the likes of Sam Rani and Kelly can't make some inroads in the backline for the Eels. I don't know if you've seen uh uh there's a online associate of ours, Arc, who put together the stats for Brian Kelly. he posted on Reddit and uh Kelly since moving to the wing is putting up sorry I got a mosquito is putting up Zack Lomax like numbers with like a quarter a fifth of the error rate of Zack Lomax last year you know for for all the issues that we've had with Kelly because there are some heart and mouth moments and teams like you've pointed out Craig are definitely targeting him to try and exploit the referees uh again the tip sheets on on his ball security uh he's he's been very productive for us and likewise in the fords Uh Junior's been playing some pretty good football. Tal Silva has really even though it's been one game look like a more assertive player playing at a dummy half as a starter. So is there going to be a dummy half jewel here between the Silva and Grant? Like there are just matchups across the park where I I feel like the Eels even though they might be unfavored, there's opportunities, you know. Uh and again, you look at that bench. Are we going to get some more value out of Pria Matelli this week? Uh Dylan Walker has clearly been playing a bit of a handicap ever since that manly game. Does his shoulder clear up enough to be a bit more of a ball player this week? I don't know. These these are probably the little question marks where I think, you know, Melbourne might have the perceived uh uh positive matchup or or in their favor uh mini contest in a contest. But if the Eagles can get up in one, two, three, four of these areas, then suddenly the game maybe tilts their favor.

[00:57:22]Yeah, I can see that there are those there those places on the field where the Eels might have an edge in attack. One of my concerns is what we saw last week was a disconnect between our halves >> and the back was along alongside them to the back as well. There was a couple times down the left Sean Russell >> was completely disconnected from what was happening. um with his back roll there.

[00:57:53]>> Yeah. So that edge defense is a has been a real concern with mine around the ruck where I get most concerned is where we get players left on the ground as the ball's being played. We cannot afford for players to be left on the ground.

[00:58:13]>> Aaron Grant's going straight for your rock if it happens. Oh, that this is th this is where I have the concern around those three players. The these are three players who will well and truly identify any issues in defense around the ruck or any disconnect on the edge between th those players. If you got players coming in when going out when they should be coming in or coming in when they should be going out that aren't working in in cohesion with the player alongside them, we dodged a bullet in that regard last week and we we looked at all the positive after the game and we we talked about some of the areas that we could be critical about, but we're also great believers in enjoying the win. But we're also realists that there are those issues around defense and that's impossible to ignore because I think we've just about got the worst as far as points are concerned defense in the in the NRL and at the very least it's so obvious to see where those problems are occurring and they need to be they need to be addressed by the players out there on the field. They they do the work at training. It's up to them to execute when it comes to the game. It's up to them to communicate. They have to talk.

[00:59:38]That talk is so important. They have to let the bloke next to them know what they're going to do. Um so, John, this is a real tough call and and I feel like it's a a head and the heart thing. I I magic round is not something I look forward to because we just don't have a great track record.

[01:00:02]Playing against the storm is not something I look forward to again because our track record is not great.

[01:00:08]Having Peter Goff as as the match official is not something that I look forward to because again this track record speaks for itself. It's like 10 out of 31 or something absurd. Now, um, what stands in our favor is that in the wins that the Eels have had, they've just they've competed for 80 minutes in those games, like they've they've made sure that they fought to the end. And last week was a game where they fought into that extra time.

[01:00:48]So, I've got to believe that the Eelss realize how important the two points are in this coming into the buy.

[01:00:57]The heart tells me, the the head says, "You're right to be concerned." The heart says, "Let get let's get this done. Let's let's, as you've said, John, get out the sage and and all of those spellb breaking or or bad ju guu um fixes out there and and let's let's end this curse that happens against the storm. End the curse of magic round. End the curse of Peter Goff. I'll go for an eel's win. John a score line of 34-26.

[01:01:42]Best on field to be Mitch Moses. So no no no big surprise there. First try scorer Jordan Samrani.

[01:01:53]Yeah, look again we always talk about head versus heart for these ones and even if the Eels were traveling well like you know let's let's say we'd won 7% of our games and we're sitting at seven and three right now heading into round 11 uh high up on the ladder and Melbourne still had the same struggles you'd still come into this one so nervous wouldn't you just because of the legacy that uh history of uh between both Magic Ground and the Melbourne Storm of struggle so given that we are in our own set of struggles even coming off that last start win. I think the the realistic outlook is that it's going to be a tough a tough game to win. And uh I'm not going to skirt around that, but even saying even saying that, you got to you got to back the deals, mate. Like, what's the point? What's the point of being a fan if you're not going to have a bit of a fanaticism to your your tipping? And yeah, I I hate that you're right about the highscoring nature of all the tips. And uh there there was even a time in that game against the Cowboys where I think it was like 18 to 22. I was like, "Oh, maybe it might stay in the ballpark of my tip." and then it spiraled out to 33 to 30. So yeah, if the win, it's probably going to be high scoring for better or worse. And if the win, the reality is that it's going to take an outstanding effort of Mitchell Moses. So while I won't tip him for best on fuel because you've already given him that that moniker, I think the reality is that you're going to need a five-star performance from Mitchell Moses, aren't you, to to overcome the Melbourne Storm here in Magic Round, to overcome Peter Goff, to overcome all those other factors there. Uh so if not Mitchell Moses, I'll go back to my core that drill between the dummy halves and I'm again it's a lot of pressure put on a young kid in Talon Silva who still is a young kid uh barely out of fa eligibility but I think that we saw some great signs against the Cowboys and if this game is going to open up the way that scoring suggests then I think that maybe he'll have some influence around the middle some line breaks some try assisting maybe even just pure backing his speed as maybe he should have done against the Cowboys against against Scott Drinkwater in that uh instance, although the turf didn't help him there.

[01:03:49]So, I I'll go for the young hooker again in TDS to be best on field. First try scorer. I won't go for the double there, but I will go I will go you went Sam Rani.

[01:04:02]Back line's always a safe option there.

[01:04:04]We do like to spread it out to the left edge. What about what about Ronald? I'll go Ronald Vulkman who uh has been a bit >> cool. Well, I thought you might have gone Joash just then.

[01:04:16]>> Yeah, >> it's >> we're so close to seeing Joash start uh really break open and and have a big game offensively like not just in terms of his running, but he's he's being, you know, very close to putting it all together. So, not a bad shot there. Uh but yeah, there there's my tips there.

[01:04:30]And the Eels or the score line, I didn't put that one out there. I don't know. I don't know. I would love to see it be a bit bit cleaner than what you're suggesting, Craig, but the reality is I think that Melvin going to get at least 20. So, let's keep it 220. Uh, Paramata Hills 34, Melbourne 20, and another plus 50 point score total between the two teams because that's how things are these days.

[01:04:52]It it was it was funny last week when we did that preview, John, and I said to you, I am coming to terms with accepting that the Eelss are going to concede a lot of points, and the only thing that matters is that we score more points than what we concede. And it just came out exactly in that regard. And uh in goals preview I said over 61 and a half >> Yeah.

[01:05:17]>> total points for for your punt and it ended up being >> scraped there.

[01:05:24]Yeah. Exactly.

[01:05:25]>> Yeah.

[01:05:27]But um I I I just don't see any way where this is going to be a low >> if we keep them to 20. That's honestly based on and I I know it's not where you want to be, but based on our defensive metrics and then relative like the relativity of the NRL right now, it would actually be an okay defensive effort. Like it's not a one you're going to hang your hat on, but the way things are these days, Paramata obviously have their issues at a at least the coach is saying that it's a player level in terms of communication, execution. So, let's let's put aside any concerns about a systemic issue for the Eels because last year they had it figured out and were defending very well. So, let's say that the coach is right. Uh but yeah, they've got some player issues there and there's some uh you know, injury and dis discontinuity issues there, but uh the the defense in the game right now just I know the Eels are on a historic pace in a bad way considering points, but the the per game point totals have to be outstripping anything we've seen ever.

[01:06:23]>> I just I I can't I can't imagine it's anything else.

[01:06:27]Well, we had that stat that we put up from that was done by SCN >> from the Tuesday uh live stream.

[01:06:33]Exactly.

[01:06:34]>> Yeah. Yeah. So, uh the end of defense as they called it and it feels it very much feels that way.

[01:06:41]>> But again, it's as our legend players often say to us, rugby league is a simple game. How do you win? You score more points than the opposition. So, if the opposition score a lot of points, you got to score a lot of points plus.

[01:06:56]So, um I think it's going to be again one of those games. John, thank you for this. Uh apologies for the interruption during our recording. Thank you to our our sponsors, Star Partners Real Estate, Orbin, Maryland, and Paramea. And of course the home of the Eels Paramet Leagues Club where we see you there on home games that are at Com Stadium, not home games that are up in Brisbane as it is on Magic Round. And remember, of course, our Magic Round is round 13 when all those players are due to come back.

[01:07:27]So that's when the real magic happens.

[01:07:30]And uh John, of course, a thank you to everyone who watches and or listens to the various platforms that we have. We appreciate that you're doing a like and subscribe. And if anyone wants to jump on board as a sponsor for the most comprehensive and the most trusted eels website and podcast, you know who to come talk to. Again, let's finish with the usual. Go you mighty eels.

[01:07:57]Parap proud.