The Parramatta Eels suffered a 26-14 defeat in Round Three of the NRL Telstra Premiership, and halfback Jeff Robson says the Blue & Gold drop balls, penalties and attitude cost them the two points.
Looking to come away with the win, Robson said that the side was disappointed with their performance, especially after their opening two rounds of the competition.
“Definitely not the result we were chasing. We went up there wanting to get the win but it wasn’t to be.” Robson said.
“Too many drop balls, penalties and the Titans are a good side and they made us pay.”
Robson ruled out any question of complacency leading into the game or underestimating the opposition.
“We prepared the best that we could, went up there to win the game but as I said, with the errors and penalties, you cant make that in a game and expect to win footy,” Robson said.
“We knew they were going to come out hard, they have a great forward pack, and that they had a couple of young guys that were going to come out and do their jobs so we knew we had to play some good footy, and we just didn’t do that.”
“Their players that came in did a really good job. Their forward pack played really well and they are a good team that deserved to win last night because they played better football than us,” he added.
The halfback’s thoughts was echoed in Brad Arthur’s post game talk.
“Very disappointing in the dressing room afterwards especially after playing really good footy in the first two rounds and getting wins,” Robson said.
“Everyone was disappointed with the loss.”
“Pretty much our errors, penalties and ill discipline footy cost us that game,” Robson said when asked of what Arthur’s message to the players was.
Robson was called into the side in place of halfback Corey Norman who was ruled out through injury.
With Norman expected to return to the side this week, an injury sustained by Kaysa Pritchard may see Robson named in the side in a different role in Round Four.
“Corey is a great footballer and I was never going to play to his standard. He is an outstanding footballer but I was just going out there to do my job and unfortunately with too many errors and penalties, we couldn’t come away with the win,” Robson said.
“We have plenty of strike within our Club and if he is not right next week, I am sure we will come away and play a lot better footy than we did this week.”
“I will play wherever the coach wants me to play. I am not sure what is happening there, but if need by, I will play where he wants me to play,” Robson added on playing at hooker if Pritchard becomes unavailable.
“Look at my head, I have played plenty of hooker in my time!” he joked.
“I played plenty of hooker in my junior footy, and if need by, I can slot it in there if the coach needs me to.”
The Eels will be looking to rebound in Round Four against the Premiers, the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks at ANZ Stadium on Saturday 25 May.
The clash will be the Eels first home game of 2017.
