OMEN
09-07-2007, 10:23 PM
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Steven Price lamented missed opportunities and Eels captain Nathan Cayless used phrases such as "toughening up" and "grinding it out." The two differing perspectives summed the Warriors 10-12 home finals game loss up perfectly.
The Warriors got off to an inauspicious start right from the get-go as from the very first hit-up prop Sam Rapira was left stunned and shaky after a shuddering shoulder check from Eels captain Nathan Cayless. It was a taste of the uncompromising and passionate defence that was the key feature of the Sydney side's game on the night. Rapira did recover promptly to play the ball and a solid Warriors opening set of six ensued but the Warriors never quite came to grips with the Eels' passion and commitment.
Early opportunities missed
The Warriors threatened twice within the opening half hour adopting a clear strategy of taking the Eels on at their own aerial game. Michael Witt ignored a three-on-one overlap early to kick early in the tackle count, his chipped kick to second string wing Patrick Al Van bang-on but Al Van's handling was not.
Witt then tried to repeat the dose on 25mins with another well weighted kick to Al Van's wing after the Warriors had consecutive sets of six. This time Al Van soared high and successfully tapped the ball down to centre Todd Byrne who inexplicably failed to ground the ball in-goal as a try seemed certain.
The Eels also had two clear-cut scoring chances but were unable to capitalise as No 6 Brett Finch - whose commitment and smarts epitomised the Eels on the night - broke the line but didn't have the legs to outrun McKinnon and Crocket who hemmed him and forced him into an injudicious pass.
The Eels were undaunted, however, and on the half hour a sloppy Al Van handling error saw possession lost on the first tackle and from the next set of six the Eels cashed in. Parramatta halfback Tim Smith benefited from a quick play of the ball darting out of dummy half and throwing a perfect short ball for centre Timana Tahu to collect at speed and cross the line. Replays showed that Tahu had lost control of, and never grounded, the pill as a brave tackle from Michael Witt dislodged his grasp.
McKinnon and Crockett both made crucial try saving plays in the dieing stages of the first half as McKinnon cut down a rampaging Ian Hindmarsh after excellent Eels offloading and support play cut the Warriors defence to shreds. McKinnon tested the referee's judgement to the limit: wrapping Hindmarsh's legs up and slowing the play-the-ball for five valuable seconds as his team mates desperately scrambled back in defence. With the halftime hooter poised to blow the Eels spread the ball wide to Crocket's wing where he somehow covered a three man overlap and showed great desperation to turn and chase down a grubber on his line.
The game was dead even over the first stanza as reflected by the game stats that saw the penalty count ready five to four in favour of Warriors but possession favouring the visitors at 55%.
The Warriors drew the first blood of the second half when, after two consecutive, fluid sets of six - aided by a penalty, Michael Witt found himself with the ball - and time to think - in centre-field 10 metes from the Eels line. In keeping with the game plan he launched another pinpoint bomb to Al Van's wing and again the strategy reaped rewards with Al Van again out-jumping his opposite and volleying a pass straight into the eagerly waiting hands of Byrne to score and redeem his earlier blunder. Surprisingly, and crucially, Michael Witt missed the conversion from a handy angle.
Turning point
Between 49-57 minutes the Warriors hammered at the Eels defence with four consecutive sets and excellent kicks from halfback Grant Rovelli pressuring the defence into mistakes.
But the pressure reaped no rewards as desperate Eels defence twice miraculously denied overlap try scoring opportunities. The first came on the third tackle of the third set of six when Logan Swann inexplicably ignored a two man overlap and went for the line - only to be held-up inches from scoring. Two tackles later wing Krisnan Inu saved a certain try as he nullified another two man overlap: stretching out to tap the final pass astray. The attacking momentum was completely lost on the fourth set when Steve Price threw a marginal forward pass on the third tackle.
Parramatta showed the kind of ruthless opportunism that finals footy demands as they finally won some territory after two much needed penalties gave them some much need respite and momentum. Finch then tapped a flat, short, Smith cross field kick back to Feleti Matteo - one of the Eels best on the night - who scored another kick assisted try. Teenage star Inu had a 'grim reapers' smile on his dial as he coolly lined up a forty five degree angle conversion and nonchalantly buried it.
With 15 minutes left Al Van came within inches of scoring on the back of a trademark scything break from Warriors fullback McKinnon (faultless on the night and too furious to speak coherently aftermatch) who fielded a kick on his own line and carved off forty metres. The Warriors kept the ball alive and travelled the length of the field only for Al Van to be dragged down and stripped of possession agonisingly, inches, short. The referee, however, failed to see the Eels hand that raked out the lost ball.
Marsh has the last laugh
But it was a former Warriors favourite son PJ Marsh who drove a icy cold stake through his former fans' hearts as he worked a double around move and surprised the home defence with a clever short grubber kick off the outside of his foot. Jarryd Hayne had motioned for the kick through and made no mistake as he outpaced Steven Price and Michael Witt to the bouncing ball for the clinching try. Grim reaper Inu again made no mistake with the simple conversion.
Not over until Witt says so...
But the Warriors had one riposte left, to keep a slimmer of hope alive, ensuring an excruciating final two minutes as Michael Witt conjured up a brilliant try. The (vastly improved) stand-off spotted Todd Byrne steaming down the wing and picked him out with a pin-point kick for Byrne to draw Inu's cover tackle and return the favour with a pass inside to Witt with no defenders ahead. Witt was then cut down before he could catch the ball as Chad Robinson resorted to a desperate professional foul. Referee Bill Harrigan saw it as such and correctly awarded the penalty try.
This time Witt converted and from the next attacking set he launched a towering bomb and as the packed house watched with hearts in mouth Brett Finch again came up trumps, bravely putting his body on the line to handle the kick as a wall of Warriors rushed towards him. Finchs' courageous final play summed up the Eels effort and the wafer fine line between victory and defeat on the night.
Eels 12: Tries: Feleti Matteo, Tamana Tahu. Cons: Krisnan Inu (2).
Warriors 10: Tries: Todd Bryne, Michael Witt. Con: Witt.
TVNZ
Steven Price lamented missed opportunities and Eels captain Nathan Cayless used phrases such as "toughening up" and "grinding it out." The two differing perspectives summed the Warriors 10-12 home finals game loss up perfectly.
The Warriors got off to an inauspicious start right from the get-go as from the very first hit-up prop Sam Rapira was left stunned and shaky after a shuddering shoulder check from Eels captain Nathan Cayless. It was a taste of the uncompromising and passionate defence that was the key feature of the Sydney side's game on the night. Rapira did recover promptly to play the ball and a solid Warriors opening set of six ensued but the Warriors never quite came to grips with the Eels' passion and commitment.
Early opportunities missed
The Warriors threatened twice within the opening half hour adopting a clear strategy of taking the Eels on at their own aerial game. Michael Witt ignored a three-on-one overlap early to kick early in the tackle count, his chipped kick to second string wing Patrick Al Van bang-on but Al Van's handling was not.
Witt then tried to repeat the dose on 25mins with another well weighted kick to Al Van's wing after the Warriors had consecutive sets of six. This time Al Van soared high and successfully tapped the ball down to centre Todd Byrne who inexplicably failed to ground the ball in-goal as a try seemed certain.
The Eels also had two clear-cut scoring chances but were unable to capitalise as No 6 Brett Finch - whose commitment and smarts epitomised the Eels on the night - broke the line but didn't have the legs to outrun McKinnon and Crocket who hemmed him and forced him into an injudicious pass.
The Eels were undaunted, however, and on the half hour a sloppy Al Van handling error saw possession lost on the first tackle and from the next set of six the Eels cashed in. Parramatta halfback Tim Smith benefited from a quick play of the ball darting out of dummy half and throwing a perfect short ball for centre Timana Tahu to collect at speed and cross the line. Replays showed that Tahu had lost control of, and never grounded, the pill as a brave tackle from Michael Witt dislodged his grasp.
McKinnon and Crockett both made crucial try saving plays in the dieing stages of the first half as McKinnon cut down a rampaging Ian Hindmarsh after excellent Eels offloading and support play cut the Warriors defence to shreds. McKinnon tested the referee's judgement to the limit: wrapping Hindmarsh's legs up and slowing the play-the-ball for five valuable seconds as his team mates desperately scrambled back in defence. With the halftime hooter poised to blow the Eels spread the ball wide to Crocket's wing where he somehow covered a three man overlap and showed great desperation to turn and chase down a grubber on his line.
The game was dead even over the first stanza as reflected by the game stats that saw the penalty count ready five to four in favour of Warriors but possession favouring the visitors at 55%.
The Warriors drew the first blood of the second half when, after two consecutive, fluid sets of six - aided by a penalty, Michael Witt found himself with the ball - and time to think - in centre-field 10 metes from the Eels line. In keeping with the game plan he launched another pinpoint bomb to Al Van's wing and again the strategy reaped rewards with Al Van again out-jumping his opposite and volleying a pass straight into the eagerly waiting hands of Byrne to score and redeem his earlier blunder. Surprisingly, and crucially, Michael Witt missed the conversion from a handy angle.
Turning point
Between 49-57 minutes the Warriors hammered at the Eels defence with four consecutive sets and excellent kicks from halfback Grant Rovelli pressuring the defence into mistakes.
But the pressure reaped no rewards as desperate Eels defence twice miraculously denied overlap try scoring opportunities. The first came on the third tackle of the third set of six when Logan Swann inexplicably ignored a two man overlap and went for the line - only to be held-up inches from scoring. Two tackles later wing Krisnan Inu saved a certain try as he nullified another two man overlap: stretching out to tap the final pass astray. The attacking momentum was completely lost on the fourth set when Steve Price threw a marginal forward pass on the third tackle.
Parramatta showed the kind of ruthless opportunism that finals footy demands as they finally won some territory after two much needed penalties gave them some much need respite and momentum. Finch then tapped a flat, short, Smith cross field kick back to Feleti Matteo - one of the Eels best on the night - who scored another kick assisted try. Teenage star Inu had a 'grim reapers' smile on his dial as he coolly lined up a forty five degree angle conversion and nonchalantly buried it.
With 15 minutes left Al Van came within inches of scoring on the back of a trademark scything break from Warriors fullback McKinnon (faultless on the night and too furious to speak coherently aftermatch) who fielded a kick on his own line and carved off forty metres. The Warriors kept the ball alive and travelled the length of the field only for Al Van to be dragged down and stripped of possession agonisingly, inches, short. The referee, however, failed to see the Eels hand that raked out the lost ball.
Marsh has the last laugh
But it was a former Warriors favourite son PJ Marsh who drove a icy cold stake through his former fans' hearts as he worked a double around move and surprised the home defence with a clever short grubber kick off the outside of his foot. Jarryd Hayne had motioned for the kick through and made no mistake as he outpaced Steven Price and Michael Witt to the bouncing ball for the clinching try. Grim reaper Inu again made no mistake with the simple conversion.
Not over until Witt says so...
But the Warriors had one riposte left, to keep a slimmer of hope alive, ensuring an excruciating final two minutes as Michael Witt conjured up a brilliant try. The (vastly improved) stand-off spotted Todd Byrne steaming down the wing and picked him out with a pin-point kick for Byrne to draw Inu's cover tackle and return the favour with a pass inside to Witt with no defenders ahead. Witt was then cut down before he could catch the ball as Chad Robinson resorted to a desperate professional foul. Referee Bill Harrigan saw it as such and correctly awarded the penalty try.
This time Witt converted and from the next attacking set he launched a towering bomb and as the packed house watched with hearts in mouth Brett Finch again came up trumps, bravely putting his body on the line to handle the kick as a wall of Warriors rushed towards him. Finchs' courageous final play summed up the Eels effort and the wafer fine line between victory and defeat on the night.
Eels 12: Tries: Feleti Matteo, Tamana Tahu. Cons: Krisnan Inu (2).
Warriors 10: Tries: Todd Bryne, Michael Witt. Con: Witt.
TVNZ