Saturday, June 05, 2004
Match Preview: Eels vs Knights
It would be easy to focus on the battle of the Witts, with brothers Michael and Steve playing each other for the first time, but 1Eyed Eel has no doubt that this game will be won at halfback.
Parramatta’s ability to score points has slumped of late. We have no doubt that stems largely from opposition teams successfully shutting down Adam Dykes. With Michael Witt at five-eighth, Dykes will for the first time have a true pivot outside of him and he should have no excuses if his game goes awry on Saturday night.
Dykes needs to perform because he is up against a player who could very well be the game’s next superstar. Kurt Gidley has blossomed this year lifting his game to representative level and he will be the lynchpin of most of Newcastle’s attacking raids.
Danny Buderus is Newcastle’s other attacking weapon and John Morris will also need to return to his best and give the Eels as much penetration out of dummy half as Buderus will provide the Knights.
With Newcastle’s two most important players on fire and Parramatta’s pairing only coming back to first grade after a demotion to reggies, it will be important that the Parramatta’s forwards get on top of their less experienced rivals. While Josh Perry’s return adds some starch to the Knights, Parramatta’s pack is probably better credentially boasting representative players Nathan Hindmarsh, Mick Vella and Daniel Wagon. The Eels forwards must lay a platform and give their halves some time to use the ball.
And of course, it would be remiss to note the Witt vs Witt clash. Both brothers started their career as half backs but will meet each other for the first time in an NRL game as pivots. While Michael is generally regarded as the better prospect of the two, he also has far more responsibility than his older brother. To date, Steve has very much been used as a link man, distributing the ball to Newcastle’s classy outside backs and when you’ve got players running of you like Timana Tahu and Matt Gidley that’s totally understandable. On the flipside, Michael has the job of creating opportunities for a three-quarter line up that has not shown a great ability to break the line this year.
Our tip: Eels by eight.
We're a self-confessed one-eyed tragic who has never tipped against Parra in our life. Who do you think will win? Post a comment.
Parramatta’s ability to score points has slumped of late. We have no doubt that stems largely from opposition teams successfully shutting down Adam Dykes. With Michael Witt at five-eighth, Dykes will for the first time have a true pivot outside of him and he should have no excuses if his game goes awry on Saturday night.
Dykes needs to perform because he is up against a player who could very well be the game’s next superstar. Kurt Gidley has blossomed this year lifting his game to representative level and he will be the lynchpin of most of Newcastle’s attacking raids.
Danny Buderus is Newcastle’s other attacking weapon and John Morris will also need to return to his best and give the Eels as much penetration out of dummy half as Buderus will provide the Knights.
With Newcastle’s two most important players on fire and Parramatta’s pairing only coming back to first grade after a demotion to reggies, it will be important that the Parramatta’s forwards get on top of their less experienced rivals. While Josh Perry’s return adds some starch to the Knights, Parramatta’s pack is probably better credentially boasting representative players Nathan Hindmarsh, Mick Vella and Daniel Wagon. The Eels forwards must lay a platform and give their halves some time to use the ball.
And of course, it would be remiss to note the Witt vs Witt clash. Both brothers started their career as half backs but will meet each other for the first time in an NRL game as pivots. While Michael is generally regarded as the better prospect of the two, he also has far more responsibility than his older brother. To date, Steve has very much been used as a link man, distributing the ball to Newcastle’s classy outside backs and when you’ve got players running of you like Timana Tahu and Matt Gidley that’s totally understandable. On the flipside, Michael has the job of creating opportunities for a three-quarter line up that has not shown a great ability to break the line this year.
Our tip: Eels by eight.
We're a self-confessed one-eyed tragic who has never tipped against Parra in our life. Who do you think will win? Post a comment.
