Forget the Brisbane thrashing, Melbourne is a whole new ball game for Parramatta
It’s one of the great sporting cliches — you’re only as good as your last game. But Parramatta can forget that Brisbane rout. Try to play the Storm like the Broncos and the Eels will suffer, writes MATTY JOHNS.
NRL
Don't miss out on the headlines from NRL. Followed categories will be added to My News.
For the Parramatta Eels the challenge doesn’t come much bigger.
It’s not just about facing Melbourne in Melbourne, it’s the ability of the individuals and the collective group to recalibrate after the annihilation of the Broncos last Sunday.
Last Sunday the Eels were magical. If you are selling rugby league as a sport, then the way in which Parramatta used the football was ideal.
Long passes, flicks, tricks, the Eels were the Harlem Globetrotters, the Broncos, the poor old Washington Generals.
Stream every match of the 2019 NRL Telstra Premiership Finals Series before the Grand Final Live & On-Demand on KAYO SPORTS. Get your 14 day free trial and start streaming instantly >
The Eels love dry, Sunday afternoons, the way the balls hits your hands, gives you an extra second of time, that extra grip you have on the football means you have more options, you go to the defence looking to pass short, but still able to throw long.
On a dry Sunday arvo, the field feels wider, there’s more space, and the ball always beats the man.
On Saturday night in Melbourne will be completely the opposite of that.
As the scoreboard threatened 60 last Sunday, Storm coach Craig Bellamy would have been beaming, knowing the style of contest at AAMI Park will be so dramatically different, that to a new eye it’d be like a different sport.
Night football is different, but night football in cold-weather cities is an art form.
The heavy dew makes the football so incredibly slippery.
The modern day synthetic football is absolutely brilliant in dry conditions, and in pouring rain, but the night time dew, mixed with perspiration, turns it to a piece of soap.
Ironically the old leather ball was best gripped with a little dew and sweat applied, and like the AFL, we should have different balls for different conditions, but that’s a story for another day.
Playing in dewy conditions gives the advantage to the defender.
Playmakers need to receive the ball with extra caution and you just don’t get the same purchase, so it robs you of a second of time and it narrows your options.
I described winning in these conditions as an art form because you can turn up in great form but suddenly get belted, because for the previous month you’ve been playing in conditions conducive to attack.
LISTEN! Matty, Finchy and Kenty address “Pokies-gate” and the Broncos self-combustion, Joey Leilua’s fireworks mishap, and how Wayne Bennett and Des Hasler know exactly how to get the best out of their individuals. PLUS, the Roosters had a sleepover at the SCG?!
That’s why back in the 1990s, those great Raiders teams were virtually impossible to beat at home.
Think back, even in those years when the Broncos were going back to back, they’d arrive at the old Bruce Stadium and the Green Machine would hammer them by 30.
Playing football in Brisbane compared to night football in Canberra is chalk and cheese.
As is Sunday afternoon at Bankwest Stadium compared to Saturday night at AAMI Park.
When I say the Eels need to recalibrate, that’s what I’m talking about, those 30 metre passes that stripped the Broncos short will be suicidal in Melbourne.
The Eels can’t get the final 20 minutes of last Sunday confused with the first 20 Saturday night.
If they turn up and try to base their game on flicks and tricks they will get lapped.
Saturday night the ball will not beat the man.
Saturday night will be about physicality and mental toughness.
To beat the man, you may have to run over the man.
The most crucial factor going into this contest is how quickly Parramatta were able to let go of their amazing week one finals victory, and get their heads into this game.
In round eight Parramatta took on Melbourne at Suncorp Stadium as part of Magic Round.
Parramatta turned up buoyed — in their last performance they’d blown away the Dragons.
St George Illawarra led at halftime but in the second half the Eels put on an attacking clinic on the dry Sunday afternoon at Bankwest Stadium.
MORE NEWS
Campo’s Corner: Feast in finals footy!
Stop Suli! Gagai prepped for Manly giant
Meanwhile, Melbourne turned up at Magic Round highly irritable, and with a point to prove.
The previous week they suffered a shock loss to the Cronulla Sharks.
All sounds familiar.
At full-time the score read Melbourne Storm 64 Parramatta 10. The scoreline was not an indication of the contest — Melbourne were far more dominant.
In fact, with 20 minutes to go, it looked highly possible that Melbourne would reach 80.
That night Parramatta turned up to play a game of football while the Storm players performed like they were playing for their careers.
Parramatta turned up happy with themselves, Melbourne self-loathing.
For Parramatta, it all hinges on preparation.
‘Love him to death’: Moses’ impassioned plea to keep Brown at Parra
Speaking for the first time since taking over as Eels captain, Mitchell Moses has launched an impassioned plea to retain Dylan Brown, and revealed how Jason Ryles has transformed Parramatta.
Mass changes at Parramatta continue as Eels boss steps down
The major changes in leadership at Parramatta continue with chairman Sean McElduff stepping down from the role, just six months after appointing Jason Ryles as head coach.