Dyldam Parramatta Eels Nathan Peats has labelled the Blue and Gold performance against the North Queensland Cowboys last week as embarrassing and the hooker knows the Eels need to turn things around this Monday night against the Melbourne Storm at AAMI Park.
“It is obviously very disappointing with little efforts that we didn’t commit to,” Peats said.
“All we needed to do was defend one set when it got to 30-12 and we just couldn’t do that. They rolled us with a couple of 100m sets a couple of times in a row. “
“That’s all we had to do, just defend one set and get the ball back but we didn’t seem to do that and it was just a snowball effect from there.”
After review of the game, Peats said the Eels had an honest look at the footage and the side knows that they have let several games over the past few weeks slip away, which has caused them to be at the bottom of the ladder.
“It is embarrassing what happened on the weekend,” Peats said.
“Cowboys are coming in the top two, and we outplayed them and out enthused them for the first 55 minutes and for that to happen is embarrassing.”
“We are honest on video day and we had to be after a performance like that. We know how good we can be but that second half just wasn’t good enough and at the end of the day it cost us two points that has left us down at the bottom of the ladder,” Peats added.
Eels Head Coach Brad Arthur said the said needs to work on their mental toughness and Peats agreed.
“We have to be mentally tougher because that just wasn’t good enough,” Peats said.
“You look back at the post month with the Warriors in golden point, and Souths in the last 5 minutes.. We beat Penrith, but we could be in the top 8 quite easily.”
“We just haven’t been able to play for the full 80 minutes which is disappointing.” Peats added.
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The challenge for the Eels this week will be a Melbourne Storm side without their Origin stars, however Peats said the road trip to AAMI Park will still be a tough ask.
“We have Melbourne this week, and we will be looking to resurrect what happened on the weekend. It will be a tough ask because they are a great side,” Peats said.
“Bellamy is a world-class coach and obviously their 4 major players out [Slater, Cronk, Smith, Chambers], but it doesn’t mean anything.”
“They have players that can fill in there and you can’t go thinking we will walk all over them without their Origin players. They are a top side and they have proven that for the last decade.” Peats added.
Whilst their ‘Big Three’ and Chambers are unavailable, the Storm still have plenty of strike across the park says Peats.
“Ryan Hinchcliffe will slot straight into hooker, Cameron Munster played fullback last week against Penrith and he killed it whilst Blake Green has been dominant in five eight hfor them this year,” Peats said.
“It doesn’t really matter who plays for them, they will show up with a great squad.”
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Over the last few years, the Eels have made a late charge at the back end of the season and whilst Peats says that is not in the back of the mind of the squad, the hooker said the Blue and Gold will keep trying until it us mathematically not possible to make the eight.
“Mathematically, until we can’t make the eight, we are going to keep trying. That is just how it is,” Peats said.
“The last month we have been playing decent footy and we should be on more wins than we are.”
“It is Round 13 this week and there is plenty of footy to play so if we are good enough we will make it.”
With the Eels holding a 4-9 record there will be extra importance on their Round 13 clash as it will feature two milestones for the Blue and Gold, with Anthony Watmough playing his 300th NRL game whilst Corey Norman plays his 100th first grade game.
“It is obviously a big achievement for both of those guys,” Peats said.
“Choc has been around for a long time and he will be looking to bounce back in his 300th this week.”
“A credit to Normy, 100 games this week, he is the same age as me and he has done really well at Brisbane before coming down here. I think he has had his best year so far and he is definitely one of the leaders in our side and I am really stoked to play alongside him and Choc.” Peats added.
