Sunday, July 11, 2004
Player Ratings: Eels vs Roosters
Wade McKinnon - 7 (80)
People who haven't been watching Wade McKinnon go round, might laugh out loud when Eels fans suggest that McKinnon is a chance at State of Origin next year, but the Eels fullback easily outpointed the current NSW fullback tonight. Impossible to be critical of him for the dropped bomb as he was hit by Chris Walker just as he made the take. Outside of that, he was impeccable, particularly with his position play on kick into the in-goal. That was a weakness in his game, earlier this year, but no longer.
Ashley Graham - 6 (43)
Didn't see much ball at all but didn't let anyone down.
Junior Langi - 6 (82)
Likewise, but got back and took some hit-ups to relieve the forwards when required.
Luke Burt - 7 (92)
When Burty is playing well he has a habit of being in the right place at the right time. Scored three tries and if it wasn't for a last ditch tackle from Minichiello he might have had four after he snatched a quasi-intercept.
Matthew Peterson - 7 (76)
Great winger's game. Finished off well and was always contesting the ball. Peterson has got a lot of the cock ups out of his game over the past month.
Daniel Wagon - 8 (100)
Single handedly rubbed Minichiello out of the game. No one rushed out of the line better than Wagon and he had the Roosters constantly hurrying their play. Made some customary big hits and was just awesome in defence. The third Eel to hit a hundred points for the year in out totals.
Michael Witt - 6 (28)
Witt received a lot of praise from the media for his performance, but there is still an immense amount of improvement left in his game. The bomb was his only tactical kick that really worried the Roosters and the Eels failed to get any repeat sets of six in the second half when they needed to lock the Roosters out. His running game doesn't seem to have nearly as much impact when he's playing half back and closer to the ruck, either. Still, it was an improved performance and augurs well for a good back end to the competition.
Corey Pearson - 6 (38)
Typically solid game. Thankfully, didn't have to do as much work as last week and the Eel's team performance was better for it.
John Morris - 7 (98)
Tried hard, but didn't have a lot of luck creating opportunities around the ruck. Defence was impeccable.
Michael Vella - 8 (96)
Micky V may not have stepped up last week, but this week he game to the game with his step ladder in tow. Made 40 tackles and 21 hit ups for 153 metres.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 8 (108)
Since playing State of Origin Hindmarsh' defence has gone to a whole new level. He no longer just makes a lot of tackles, he now makes a lot of heavy tackles. Constantly put big hits on the much-vaunted Roosters forwards. Didn't have a great impact in attack but did plenty of work here, too. Was best when used on the short side.
Craig Stapleton - 6 (111)Didn't get as much game time as he usually does but was his usual solid self.
Lee Hopkins - 7 (55)
Easily his best game of the year. Ran with a lot of purpose and his mobility was useful in defence. Did get a bit lazy in the second half and gave away a run of penalties.
Dean Widders - 7 (101)
Another Eel whose defence was impeccable. Again looked most likely to bust the Roosters open. Is in superb form. Also broke the hundred points this game.
Jack Afamagasa - 7 (47)
Widders and Afamagasa are wonderful bench players because they are both impact players. Afamagasa was excellent. His defence stung, and he was a handful in attack. His 10 hitups gained 86 metres.
Adam Peek - 6 (46)
While Widders and Afamagasa are impact players, Peek is solid. Got in, did his work. Impressive considering his long absence from suspension.
Justin Tsoulos - 6 (65)
Got least game time of any Eel forward but he made some good barges when he had the chance.
People who haven't been watching Wade McKinnon go round, might laugh out loud when Eels fans suggest that McKinnon is a chance at State of Origin next year, but the Eels fullback easily outpointed the current NSW fullback tonight. Impossible to be critical of him for the dropped bomb as he was hit by Chris Walker just as he made the take. Outside of that, he was impeccable, particularly with his position play on kick into the in-goal. That was a weakness in his game, earlier this year, but no longer.
Ashley Graham - 6 (43)
Didn't see much ball at all but didn't let anyone down.
Junior Langi - 6 (82)
Likewise, but got back and took some hit-ups to relieve the forwards when required.
Luke Burt - 7 (92)
When Burty is playing well he has a habit of being in the right place at the right time. Scored three tries and if it wasn't for a last ditch tackle from Minichiello he might have had four after he snatched a quasi-intercept.
Matthew Peterson - 7 (76)
Great winger's game. Finished off well and was always contesting the ball. Peterson has got a lot of the cock ups out of his game over the past month.
Daniel Wagon - 8 (100)
Single handedly rubbed Minichiello out of the game. No one rushed out of the line better than Wagon and he had the Roosters constantly hurrying their play. Made some customary big hits and was just awesome in defence. The third Eel to hit a hundred points for the year in out totals.
Michael Witt - 6 (28)
Witt received a lot of praise from the media for his performance, but there is still an immense amount of improvement left in his game. The bomb was his only tactical kick that really worried the Roosters and the Eels failed to get any repeat sets of six in the second half when they needed to lock the Roosters out. His running game doesn't seem to have nearly as much impact when he's playing half back and closer to the ruck, either. Still, it was an improved performance and augurs well for a good back end to the competition.
Corey Pearson - 6 (38)
Typically solid game. Thankfully, didn't have to do as much work as last week and the Eel's team performance was better for it.
John Morris - 7 (98)
Tried hard, but didn't have a lot of luck creating opportunities around the ruck. Defence was impeccable.
Michael Vella - 8 (96)
Micky V may not have stepped up last week, but this week he game to the game with his step ladder in tow. Made 40 tackles and 21 hit ups for 153 metres.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 8 (108)
Since playing State of Origin Hindmarsh' defence has gone to a whole new level. He no longer just makes a lot of tackles, he now makes a lot of heavy tackles. Constantly put big hits on the much-vaunted Roosters forwards. Didn't have a great impact in attack but did plenty of work here, too. Was best when used on the short side.
Craig Stapleton - 6 (111)Didn't get as much game time as he usually does but was his usual solid self.
Lee Hopkins - 7 (55)
Easily his best game of the year. Ran with a lot of purpose and his mobility was useful in defence. Did get a bit lazy in the second half and gave away a run of penalties.
Dean Widders - 7 (101)
Another Eel whose defence was impeccable. Again looked most likely to bust the Roosters open. Is in superb form. Also broke the hundred points this game.
Jack Afamagasa - 7 (47)
Widders and Afamagasa are wonderful bench players because they are both impact players. Afamagasa was excellent. His defence stung, and he was a handful in attack. His 10 hitups gained 86 metres.
Adam Peek - 6 (46)
While Widders and Afamagasa are impact players, Peek is solid. Got in, did his work. Impressive considering his long absence from suspension.
Justin Tsoulos - 6 (65)
Got least game time of any Eel forward but he made some good barges when he had the chance.
