Monday, August 23, 2004
Player Ratings: Eels vs Warriors
Wade McKinnon - 7 (89)
Was again a handful for the opposition, although he didn't get too many opportunities to shine.
Ashley Graham - 6 (59)
Got in and did a fair bit of work this week with 11 hit ups including four dummy half runs for 105 metres. Did well to back up Dean Widders and score a try but really should have bagged two after dropping another over the line.
Junior Langi - 6 (99)
Saw almost no action in either defence or attack, but didn't make any mistakes.
Luke Burt - 7 (118)
Enjoying a strong back half of the season and continued his good form in this game. Aggression in defence was a highlight.
Matthew Petersen - 8 (106)
Would be the second player picked after Hindmarsh based on his form over the last month. Grabbed another try but Petersen's real strength has been his ability to work down a skinny fringe and always stay in play. That has given his centre more room to work with and helped Parramatta finally look threatening out wide.
Chris Thorman - 8 (44)
Best game from a Parramatta five-eighth this year. Set up a number of tries and provided plenty of spark. Shame he won't be in Blue and Gold next year.
Michael Witt - 7 (46)
His best game of the year. Long kick game was good and scored a sensational try. Still needs to work on his short kicking game and there were a few moments he'd rather forget, but he's definitely gaining confidence and playing better for it.
Corey Pearson - 8 (66)
Pearson's contribution often goes unnoticed but he set a superb foundation for the Eels backs with 16 hit-ups for 180 metres and three off-loads. Superbs stats against the big Warriors pack. Was also aggressive in defence and generally inspirational.
Lee Hopkins - 7 (84)
Again provided a lot of spark from dummy half. Won't want to replay the dummy half pass that went to ground and led to Tony Martin's try, though. However, he redeemed himself late in the game with a try of his own.
Michael Vella - 6 (122)
Has been overshadowed by Corey Pearson in recent weeks and made on bad fumble. However, when he did hit the ball up he made good metres and his defence was strong.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 8 (139)
Made less than 30 tackles for the first time in a very long time, but it was again his attack that was a standout. Got heavily involved and constantly caused problems for the Warriors defence.
Craig Stapleton - 7 (138)
Another top performance from Stapleton. Made good metres too and contributed his usual tough defence.
Daniel Wagon - 7 (115)
Didn't do a lot in attack but it was a superb defensive performance. Put on a number of bone jarring tackles that put New Zealand on the backfoot and his kick chase was brilliant.
James Webster - 6 (38)
New Zealand looked like busting through Webster on any number of occassions but to his credit he almost always managed to hang on to a shoe-lace and bring his man down. Also managed to hold up Monty Betham went the New Zealand captain targetting him on-goal. Ironically, in the end it was a small player that left him clutching at air when Lance Hohaia cut through him.
However, his attack out of dummy half was again strong and he scored his own try to make up for the one he let in.
Dean Widders - 7 (128)
1Eyed Eel doubts there is a more impactful interchange forward in the game. Showed quite amazing pace when he got on the outside of the New Zealand centres and then demonstrated amazing presence of mind when he resisted throwing an inside ball when the cover defence was converging, stepped back inside to draw the fullback and instead found Ashley Graham steaming down the touchline. One of the Eels plays of the year!
Adam Peek - 7 (70)
Another top performance off the interchange bench in both attack and defence.
Justin Tsoulos - 6 (89)
Put the offload in the kit bag against the Warriors and concentrated on making good hard runs, which he did well in the time he got on the park.
Was again a handful for the opposition, although he didn't get too many opportunities to shine.
Ashley Graham - 6 (59)
Got in and did a fair bit of work this week with 11 hit ups including four dummy half runs for 105 metres. Did well to back up Dean Widders and score a try but really should have bagged two after dropping another over the line.
Junior Langi - 6 (99)
Saw almost no action in either defence or attack, but didn't make any mistakes.
Luke Burt - 7 (118)
Enjoying a strong back half of the season and continued his good form in this game. Aggression in defence was a highlight.
Matthew Petersen - 8 (106)
Would be the second player picked after Hindmarsh based on his form over the last month. Grabbed another try but Petersen's real strength has been his ability to work down a skinny fringe and always stay in play. That has given his centre more room to work with and helped Parramatta finally look threatening out wide.
Chris Thorman - 8 (44)
Best game from a Parramatta five-eighth this year. Set up a number of tries and provided plenty of spark. Shame he won't be in Blue and Gold next year.
Michael Witt - 7 (46)
His best game of the year. Long kick game was good and scored a sensational try. Still needs to work on his short kicking game and there were a few moments he'd rather forget, but he's definitely gaining confidence and playing better for it.
Corey Pearson - 8 (66)
Pearson's contribution often goes unnoticed but he set a superb foundation for the Eels backs with 16 hit-ups for 180 metres and three off-loads. Superbs stats against the big Warriors pack. Was also aggressive in defence and generally inspirational.
Lee Hopkins - 7 (84)
Again provided a lot of spark from dummy half. Won't want to replay the dummy half pass that went to ground and led to Tony Martin's try, though. However, he redeemed himself late in the game with a try of his own.
Michael Vella - 6 (122)
Has been overshadowed by Corey Pearson in recent weeks and made on bad fumble. However, when he did hit the ball up he made good metres and his defence was strong.
Nathan Hindmarsh - 8 (139)
Made less than 30 tackles for the first time in a very long time, but it was again his attack that was a standout. Got heavily involved and constantly caused problems for the Warriors defence.
Craig Stapleton - 7 (138)
Another top performance from Stapleton. Made good metres too and contributed his usual tough defence.
Daniel Wagon - 7 (115)
Didn't do a lot in attack but it was a superb defensive performance. Put on a number of bone jarring tackles that put New Zealand on the backfoot and his kick chase was brilliant.
James Webster - 6 (38)
New Zealand looked like busting through Webster on any number of occassions but to his credit he almost always managed to hang on to a shoe-lace and bring his man down. Also managed to hold up Monty Betham went the New Zealand captain targetting him on-goal. Ironically, in the end it was a small player that left him clutching at air when Lance Hohaia cut through him.
However, his attack out of dummy half was again strong and he scored his own try to make up for the one he let in.
Dean Widders - 7 (128)
1Eyed Eel doubts there is a more impactful interchange forward in the game. Showed quite amazing pace when he got on the outside of the New Zealand centres and then demonstrated amazing presence of mind when he resisted throwing an inside ball when the cover defence was converging, stepped back inside to draw the fullback and instead found Ashley Graham steaming down the touchline. One of the Eels plays of the year!
Adam Peek - 7 (70)
Another top performance off the interchange bench in both attack and defence.
Justin Tsoulos - 6 (89)
Put the offload in the kit bag against the Warriors and concentrated on making good hard runs, which he did well in the time he got on the park.
