Round 22: Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels
Gold Coast Titans vs Parramatta Eels
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Preston Campbell, Kevin Gordon, Steve Michaels, Clinton Toopi, William Zillman, Mat Rogers, Scott Prince, Luke Bailey, Nathan Friend, Matthew White, Anthony Laffranchi, Mark Minichiello, Ashley Harrison. Interchange: Michael Henderson, Brad Meyers, Ben Ridge, Bodene Thompson, Shannon Walker (one to be omitted).
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Jarryd Hayne, Luke Burt, Joel Reddy, Jonathon Wright, Krisnan Inu, Jeff Robson, Daniel Mortimer, Nathan Cayless (capt), Matthew Keating, Fuifui Moimoi, Nathan Hindmarsh (capt), Ben Smith, Feleti Mateo. Interchange: Kris Keating, Tim Mannah, Justin Horo, Justin Poore.
Eels need to work together: Hagan
Eels need to work together: Hagan
Former Parramatta coach Michael Hagan claims in-form fullback Jarryd Hayne needs more help from his supporting cast if the Eels are to get their NRL finals charge going again.
Despite labelling Saturday night's pummelling at the hands of the Sydney Roosters a mere "hiatus", Hagan said Hayne needed more from his teammates.
"If certain things aren't being done collectively by the group, it makes it difficult for those really talented players to have an impact, because they're not in the right part of the field or they're on the back foot," Hagan said.
"The intent was not there from the start (against the Roosters) ... if the start and the intent isn't as it should be then that's going to impact on the influence any good player can have on the game."
But Hagan said from what he saw in the three-match win streak that preceded the loss to the Roosters, the Eels were more than capable of forcing their way into the top eight.
"Apart from the weekend, there's been a very good contribution from a lot of people within the team," Hagan said.
"I'm sure it was just bit of a hiatus on the weekend where everyone was a bit off and the Roosters were certainly on."
Hagan coached Hayne in the early stages of the NSW and Test star's career, and gave him his first opportunity at fullback back in 2007.
He is also well placed to make a judgement on the ability of a side to ride on the back of one player, having coached one of the game's greatest individual talents in Newcastle champion Andrew Johns.
While acknowledging Hayne and Johns brought a different set of skills to the table, Hagan said the reigning Dally M player of the year could still take something from Johns' methods.
"Joey learnt to play a lot more patiently at the back end of his career because he knew that if he wasn't patient himself it didn't give you the opportunity to be in the right part of the field or execute the money plays," Hagan said.
"(Hayne's) only young so that's certainly going to come."
Parramatta don't have much time to dwell on the loss to the Roosters with another vital match against Gold Coast on Friday night.
A loss to the Titans and wins for the Warriors and Brisbane - who play lowly Cronulla and North Queensland respectively - could leave Parramatta four points out of the top eight and facing a tough ask to secure a finals spot.
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