Saturday, April 24, 2004
Player Ratings: Parramatta vs Cronulla
Wade McKinnon - 6 (6)
Was mostly safe but wasn't in the right place at the right time when Cronulla were able to score next to the post from Brett Kimmorley's crafty chip.
Matthew Peterson - 7 (7)
Probably Peterson's best game of the year. Typically enthusiatic and continually outpointed his opposite number in the air.
Junior Langi - 6 (26)
Wasn't able to reproduce his fabulous performance from last week. Made no mistakes but didn't have much of an impact.
Luke Burt - 5 (41)
Just didn't get involved in the centres, although his defence held up fine in the three quarters.
Eric Grothe - 7 (46)
Could have scored an eight or nine, but made some silly errors again once which resulted in a Sharks four pointer.
Daniel Wagon - 8 (?)
Brilliant defensive game, continually shutting down Cronulla attacking raid with perfect ball and all tackles. Finished with a monster count of 48 tackles.
Adam Dykes - 7 (50)
Again provided most of Parramatta's attacking spark but sometimes seemed to even outsmart his team mates. Made a number of crucual errors and can be blamed for Cronulla's second try. Kicking game was exceptional, though.
Adam Peek - 9 (34)
What a great game. Made 38 tackles, scored a great try and always looked dangerous when hitting the ball-up. 1Eyed Eel had grave doubts about Peek's ability to replace Vella, but he came through his biggest test of the year with flying colours. He and Hindmarsh were the best Parra players on the park.
John Morris - 5 (42)
Just about his poorest game of the year. Key mistakes let Cronulla off the hook or gave them the opportunity to pressure Parramatta on a number of occasions.
Craig Stapleton - 8 (47)
Has Stapleton ever made an error in Blue and Gold colours. Was again solid as a rock, making tough yards and defence was outstanding too.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 9 (54)
The man is a machine. Backed up from the test, made a truck load of tackles, made more hit ups than anyone and continually brushed players aside. Phenomenal effort.
Nathan Cayless - 8 (49)
Also did a huge amount of work when he was on the park and looked like he could slip a match-winning try at any time. He almost did with a pearler that found Daniel Wagon, but desperate last ditch defence saw Wagon held up over the line.
Dean Widders - 7 (33)
Didn't let anyone down. Did a lot of work in defence, but wasn't quite as potent with his attacking runs today.
Chris Armit - 4 (24)
We're not sure how many minutes Armit actually played because he presence was barely noticeable. Needs to try and be more dominant when he does get a run.
Justin Tsoulos - 5 (5)
After today's game, 1Eyed Eel reckons Tsoulos might just be Australia's next Shane Webke. A big call, considering we only gave him a five. He tried too hard to push passes today and let the team down in doing so. His mobility in defence is a worry and had someone else been on the park in overtime, the winning Cronulla try might have been shut down but Tsoulos didn't have the pace to clean up what should have only been a half-break. However, Tsoulos is a monster and was almost impossible to bring down even when he had four players clinging to him. No doubt, he is going to develop into something special.
Shane Muspratt - 5 (5)
Didn't have much of a chance to make a difference, but didn't let the team down at any stage either.
David Vaeliki - 4 (36)
Why bother putting Vaeliki on the bench? Was only injected late into the game and added nothing which is not surprising considering the rib injury he is carrying. We understand he provides utility value, covering any injury concerns in the backs but with Wagon and Morris in the team, both of who can play just about anywhere, we can't understand why that was needed. Parra tired badly at the end and considering Parra's bench offered very little, its not hard to work out why.
Was mostly safe but wasn't in the right place at the right time when Cronulla were able to score next to the post from Brett Kimmorley's crafty chip.
Matthew Peterson - 7 (7)
Probably Peterson's best game of the year. Typically enthusiatic and continually outpointed his opposite number in the air.
Junior Langi - 6 (26)
Wasn't able to reproduce his fabulous performance from last week. Made no mistakes but didn't have much of an impact.
Luke Burt - 5 (41)
Just didn't get involved in the centres, although his defence held up fine in the three quarters.
Eric Grothe - 7 (46)
Could have scored an eight or nine, but made some silly errors again once which resulted in a Sharks four pointer.
Daniel Wagon - 8 (?)
Brilliant defensive game, continually shutting down Cronulla attacking raid with perfect ball and all tackles. Finished with a monster count of 48 tackles.
Adam Dykes - 7 (50)
Again provided most of Parramatta's attacking spark but sometimes seemed to even outsmart his team mates. Made a number of crucual errors and can be blamed for Cronulla's second try. Kicking game was exceptional, though.
Adam Peek - 9 (34)
What a great game. Made 38 tackles, scored a great try and always looked dangerous when hitting the ball-up. 1Eyed Eel had grave doubts about Peek's ability to replace Vella, but he came through his biggest test of the year with flying colours. He and Hindmarsh were the best Parra players on the park.
John Morris - 5 (42)
Just about his poorest game of the year. Key mistakes let Cronulla off the hook or gave them the opportunity to pressure Parramatta on a number of occasions.
Craig Stapleton - 8 (47)
Has Stapleton ever made an error in Blue and Gold colours. Was again solid as a rock, making tough yards and defence was outstanding too.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 9 (54)
The man is a machine. Backed up from the test, made a truck load of tackles, made more hit ups than anyone and continually brushed players aside. Phenomenal effort.
Nathan Cayless - 8 (49)
Also did a huge amount of work when he was on the park and looked like he could slip a match-winning try at any time. He almost did with a pearler that found Daniel Wagon, but desperate last ditch defence saw Wagon held up over the line.
Dean Widders - 7 (33)
Didn't let anyone down. Did a lot of work in defence, but wasn't quite as potent with his attacking runs today.
Chris Armit - 4 (24)
We're not sure how many minutes Armit actually played because he presence was barely noticeable. Needs to try and be more dominant when he does get a run.
Justin Tsoulos - 5 (5)
After today's game, 1Eyed Eel reckons Tsoulos might just be Australia's next Shane Webke. A big call, considering we only gave him a five. He tried too hard to push passes today and let the team down in doing so. His mobility in defence is a worry and had someone else been on the park in overtime, the winning Cronulla try might have been shut down but Tsoulos didn't have the pace to clean up what should have only been a half-break. However, Tsoulos is a monster and was almost impossible to bring down even when he had four players clinging to him. No doubt, he is going to develop into something special.
Shane Muspratt - 5 (5)
Didn't have much of a chance to make a difference, but didn't let the team down at any stage either.
David Vaeliki - 4 (36)
Why bother putting Vaeliki on the bench? Was only injected late into the game and added nothing which is not surprising considering the rib injury he is carrying. We understand he provides utility value, covering any injury concerns in the backs but with Wagon and Morris in the team, both of who can play just about anywhere, we can't understand why that was needed. Parra tired badly at the end and considering Parra's bench offered very little, its not hard to work out why.
