Tuesday, July 27, 2004
Player Ratings: Eels vs Storm
Wade McKinnon - 6 (76)
Failed to clean up the Scott Hill grubber that led to Orford's try and needed to hit Matt King low rather than high when he touched down out wide. Those moments sullied another solid game.
Ashley Graham - 4 (47)
Probably stopped one try when he came in off his wing to hamper a promising Storm attacking raid, but gave one back when he attempted the intercept that led to Matt King's try. Involvement not high-enough with only one hitup all game.
Luke Burt - 6 (98)
Continued his try-scoring run and played solidly.
Matthew Peterson - 7 (83)
Another fine performance on the wing by Peterson. Did plenty of work out of dummy half, made a couple of runs where he could have been dragged out but managed to stay in the field of play. Has eliminated a lot of the errors out of his game and has really matured into a fine asset to the team, in the back half of this year.
Daniel Wagon - 6 (106)
Solid game highlighted by a couple of good hits.
Corey Pearson - 6 (44)
Was used more as a link player and put in positions where he would be able to offload, which he did relatively successfully with four offloads.
John Morris -4 (102)
Leg injury forced him from the field
Michael Vella - 7 (103)
Worked hard and put on a couple of big hits. Seemed to appreciate coming on after the opening dust-up.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 6 (114)
Did his usual mountain of work but didn't really trouble the Storm forwards. Tended to crab sideways with little effect. Made a couple of mistakes and was involved in the missed tackle that led Matt Orford downfield in the final minute.
Craig Stapleton - 6 (117)
His usual honest contribution.
Lee Hopkins - 8 (63)
Was faultless defensively and did good work out of dummy half, culminating in what could have been a match-winning try. Has really come good in recent weeks.
Dean Widders - 6 (107)
It was either ironic, or understandable, that the Eels two hardest working forwards were responsible for the lazy tackle that let Orford through. Widders did plenty of work but like Hindmarsh, that moment is etched as a blight on his game.
Jack Afamasaga - 5 (53)
Relatively quiet game, although contributed his usual enthusiasm.
Chris Thorman - 6 (24)
A roller coaster game. Stupid defensive decision let Orford through for his first try and took some poor last tackle options. However, his second half was excellent and he became the Eels player most likely to bust the Storm open which he did on two occasions. One break led to a try and the other probably should have. Maybe, just maybe, he is up to NRL standard after all.
Fuifui Moimoi - 6 (24)
The Eels hardest running forward and he was on hand, and showed good hands, to pick up the try off the Thorman break after the pass went to ground. Should retain his position on that performance.
Feleti Mateo - 7 (7)
Made every post a winner in his debut. Despite limited game-time got heavily involved making 15 hitups for 107 metres. Looked a constant threat, managed to slip a couple of smart offloads and will now be difficult to displace. Without doubt, a future star. The question is will it be at five-eighth or lock?
Ben Smith - 6 (6)
Like Mateo, a big young Eel on debut. Shoved off Matt King and then attempted to get around the Melbourne outside backs in an audacious attacking move. Got dragged into touch, but in that moment he showed enough power and speed to suggest he's cut out for the big-time. Defensively faultless and should start in the centres next week, whether Langi is back or not.
Failed to clean up the Scott Hill grubber that led to Orford's try and needed to hit Matt King low rather than high when he touched down out wide. Those moments sullied another solid game.
Ashley Graham - 4 (47)
Probably stopped one try when he came in off his wing to hamper a promising Storm attacking raid, but gave one back when he attempted the intercept that led to Matt King's try. Involvement not high-enough with only one hitup all game.
Luke Burt - 6 (98)
Continued his try-scoring run and played solidly.
Matthew Peterson - 7 (83)
Another fine performance on the wing by Peterson. Did plenty of work out of dummy half, made a couple of runs where he could have been dragged out but managed to stay in the field of play. Has eliminated a lot of the errors out of his game and has really matured into a fine asset to the team, in the back half of this year.
Daniel Wagon - 6 (106)
Solid game highlighted by a couple of good hits.
Corey Pearson - 6 (44)
Was used more as a link player and put in positions where he would be able to offload, which he did relatively successfully with four offloads.
John Morris -4 (102)
Leg injury forced him from the field
Michael Vella - 7 (103)
Worked hard and put on a couple of big hits. Seemed to appreciate coming on after the opening dust-up.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 6 (114)
Did his usual mountain of work but didn't really trouble the Storm forwards. Tended to crab sideways with little effect. Made a couple of mistakes and was involved in the missed tackle that led Matt Orford downfield in the final minute.
Craig Stapleton - 6 (117)
His usual honest contribution.
Lee Hopkins - 8 (63)
Was faultless defensively and did good work out of dummy half, culminating in what could have been a match-winning try. Has really come good in recent weeks.
Dean Widders - 6 (107)
It was either ironic, or understandable, that the Eels two hardest working forwards were responsible for the lazy tackle that let Orford through. Widders did plenty of work but like Hindmarsh, that moment is etched as a blight on his game.
Jack Afamasaga - 5 (53)
Relatively quiet game, although contributed his usual enthusiasm.
Chris Thorman - 6 (24)
A roller coaster game. Stupid defensive decision let Orford through for his first try and took some poor last tackle options. However, his second half was excellent and he became the Eels player most likely to bust the Storm open which he did on two occasions. One break led to a try and the other probably should have. Maybe, just maybe, he is up to NRL standard after all.
Fuifui Moimoi - 6 (24)
The Eels hardest running forward and he was on hand, and showed good hands, to pick up the try off the Thorman break after the pass went to ground. Should retain his position on that performance.
Feleti Mateo - 7 (7)
Made every post a winner in his debut. Despite limited game-time got heavily involved making 15 hitups for 107 metres. Looked a constant threat, managed to slip a couple of smart offloads and will now be difficult to displace. Without doubt, a future star. The question is will it be at five-eighth or lock?
Ben Smith - 6 (6)
Like Mateo, a big young Eel on debut. Shoved off Matt King and then attempted to get around the Melbourne outside backs in an audacious attacking move. Got dragged into touch, but in that moment he showed enough power and speed to suggest he's cut out for the big-time. Defensively faultless and should start in the centres next week, whether Langi is back or not.
