Sunday, June 20, 2004
Player Ratings: Eels vs Broncos
Wade McKinnon - 7 (59)
Continued his great run of form, continually beating the first tackle and backup up brilliantly. Showed great hands and pace when he scored after taking the Junior Langi flick pass. Last line of defence was again good, and it took Karmichael Hunt for someone to finally beat him with a step. Unfortunately failed to defuse two bombs in the final ten minutes that saw Brisbane win the game.
Ashley Graham - 6 (26)
Signs were there last night that Graham is starting to regain his form and fitness. He stretched out nicely down the wing on a couple of occasions and also scored a try. Some of his defensive decisions were questionable but was definitely a sign that he is on the improve.
Junior Langi - 8 (64)
Great game by the big centre. Got around Darren Lockyer then threw a tremendous flick pass that put Wade McKinnon away. Got into dummy half and made a number of important runs when Parramatta was having trouble working their way out of trouble.
Luke Burt - 6 (74)
This game typified his season - up and down. Kicked brilliantly, scored a try and often looked dangerous but made some key mistakes, like not communicating with fullback Wade McKinnon when he spilt the bomb that led to Darren Smith's second try and mis-reading a backline movement that saw Michael De Vere stroll over.
Brett Anderson - 5 (17)
After a great game last week, he looked a little out of depth this week. Perhaps we're being harsh, but while he didn't make any obvious mistakes there were a couple of occasions where he just wasn't in the right place at the right time. A winger has got to want the ball and he just didn't seem to have that kind of confidence last night.
Daniel Wagon - 7 (91)
Played very much a five-eighth role last night and was given the job of keeping Darren Lockyer at bay. While he tried hard to do that, ultimately Lockyer was the victor. Threw some nice passes, but his limited experience at five-eighth showed when Dykes was off the park and he was called on to take more responsibility.
Adam Dykes - 5 (85)
Only played half a game and that was a mixed half. Took some poor options but was again always a threat and he created Luke Burt's try.
Craig Stapleton - 7 (93)
Typical game from Stapleton, worked hard in attack and defence while he was on the park.
John Morris - 7 (76)
Had to switch to half-back and did a fair job there, although his kicking is no match for Dykes and he didn't keep the Eels quite as fluid in attack. In the first half wasn't able to be as dominant from dummy half as the week prior but he did do a lot of defensive work making more than 40 tackles.
Michael Vella - 7 (77)
Wasn't quite as damaging as he was in the past weeks against the hulking Brisbane forwards but he did do a lot of work in defence and made 104 metres in his 12 hitups.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 8 (92)
Once again did a stack of work making 44 tackles and 15 hit ups but we still would like to see him doing less of the tough stuff and taking more advantageous of broken play. When he did that moving into dummy half and making a run down the blind side the Eels scored.
Jack Afamasaga - 6 (27)
Didn't get a lot of game time because Widders was performing well, but played well while he was on the park.
Lee Hopkins - 5 (38)
Got knocked around a bit and was pretty quiet.
Dean Widders - 8 (82)
Constantly troubled the Broncos with his powerful running out wide and was once again rewarded with a try.
Chris Armit - 6 (47)
Is slowly getting more time in NRL and he's getting better and better. Made some very solid tackles and his running was effective.
Corey Pearson - 6 (18)
Honest performance, getting strongly involved off the bench.
Justin Tsoulos - 7 (50)
Awesome performance from the bench. Was a constant handful with his damaging charges and his ability to slip a pass in traffic. Late in the game drifted wide and almost created a try.
Continued his great run of form, continually beating the first tackle and backup up brilliantly. Showed great hands and pace when he scored after taking the Junior Langi flick pass. Last line of defence was again good, and it took Karmichael Hunt for someone to finally beat him with a step. Unfortunately failed to defuse two bombs in the final ten minutes that saw Brisbane win the game.
Ashley Graham - 6 (26)
Signs were there last night that Graham is starting to regain his form and fitness. He stretched out nicely down the wing on a couple of occasions and also scored a try. Some of his defensive decisions were questionable but was definitely a sign that he is on the improve.
Junior Langi - 8 (64)
Great game by the big centre. Got around Darren Lockyer then threw a tremendous flick pass that put Wade McKinnon away. Got into dummy half and made a number of important runs when Parramatta was having trouble working their way out of trouble.
Luke Burt - 6 (74)
This game typified his season - up and down. Kicked brilliantly, scored a try and often looked dangerous but made some key mistakes, like not communicating with fullback Wade McKinnon when he spilt the bomb that led to Darren Smith's second try and mis-reading a backline movement that saw Michael De Vere stroll over.
Brett Anderson - 5 (17)
After a great game last week, he looked a little out of depth this week. Perhaps we're being harsh, but while he didn't make any obvious mistakes there were a couple of occasions where he just wasn't in the right place at the right time. A winger has got to want the ball and he just didn't seem to have that kind of confidence last night.
Daniel Wagon - 7 (91)
Played very much a five-eighth role last night and was given the job of keeping Darren Lockyer at bay. While he tried hard to do that, ultimately Lockyer was the victor. Threw some nice passes, but his limited experience at five-eighth showed when Dykes was off the park and he was called on to take more responsibility.
Adam Dykes - 5 (85)
Only played half a game and that was a mixed half. Took some poor options but was again always a threat and he created Luke Burt's try.
Craig Stapleton - 7 (93)
Typical game from Stapleton, worked hard in attack and defence while he was on the park.
John Morris - 7 (76)
Had to switch to half-back and did a fair job there, although his kicking is no match for Dykes and he didn't keep the Eels quite as fluid in attack. In the first half wasn't able to be as dominant from dummy half as the week prior but he did do a lot of defensive work making more than 40 tackles.
Michael Vella - 7 (77)
Wasn't quite as damaging as he was in the past weeks against the hulking Brisbane forwards but he did do a lot of work in defence and made 104 metres in his 12 hitups.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 8 (92)
Once again did a stack of work making 44 tackles and 15 hit ups but we still would like to see him doing less of the tough stuff and taking more advantageous of broken play. When he did that moving into dummy half and making a run down the blind side the Eels scored.
Jack Afamasaga - 6 (27)
Didn't get a lot of game time because Widders was performing well, but played well while he was on the park.
Lee Hopkins - 5 (38)
Got knocked around a bit and was pretty quiet.
Dean Widders - 8 (82)
Constantly troubled the Broncos with his powerful running out wide and was once again rewarded with a try.
Chris Armit - 6 (47)
Is slowly getting more time in NRL and he's getting better and better. Made some very solid tackles and his running was effective.
Corey Pearson - 6 (18)
Honest performance, getting strongly involved off the bench.
Justin Tsoulos - 7 (50)
Awesome performance from the bench. Was a constant handful with his damaging charges and his ability to slip a pass in traffic. Late in the game drifted wide and almost created a try.
