Mateo and Eels clicking nicely
June 15th 2008 09:42
Too hot to handle - Feleti Mateo was superb once again for the Eels
The Poor Tiger fans that left ANZ stadium today won't eat or sleep soundly tonight.
They'll struggle to breath after seeing Eels dynamo Feleti Mateo shove their chances today face down in the dirt. Whenever he touched the ball, the Tigers were permanently being hurt, knowing full well containing this freakish talent simply won't work.
For me, his presence in the opening 20 minutes was sufficient enough to suggest the Eels were ready to roll on a cloudy Sunday afternoon. Judging by Mateo's performance today, the Eels will be glad to see the Tongan international as an advisery, not an enemy.
Legendary commentator Ray Warren even struggled to keep up with Mateo's ball playing skills. Neither he or Phil Gould could contain their excitement after watching this kid play.
After coming to terms on a decent halves combination, Eels coach Michael Hagan can now sit back and watch with reason why Parramatta are now clicking into gear.
Based on today's performance, the Eels simply had to much beef in attack or defence for the Tigers to swallow. Coming into the contest without Taniela Tuiaki and Keith Galloway mean't the Tigers were never going to assert their authority up the middle.
Flesh to Flesh, the Eels, one through seventeen, looked double the size of their Tiger counterparts. Parramatta hardmen Moi Moi, Cordoba and Cayless settled into their groove very early on. Like a demon unleashed, the Eels showed no mercy and finally displayed consistency in their football.
For Michael Hagan, it was the first time this season that his side did not beat on themselves after securing a healthy lead going into the break. They needed no help knowing this game goes the full eighty minutes.
As for the Tigers, they basically played most of the game with 15 men after Danny Galea and Ben Te'o got injured to literally see out their side's chances of victory.
Despite never being in the contest, best believe the Tigers will have something to say before the season's over. As close as the competition is at the moment, the Tigers at full strength do have the potential to expose teams like no other. Their core of Benji Marshall, Robbie Farah and Brett Hodgson all have the skills. If their forwards recover from injury in time, there is no doubt they will be in the eight somewhere.
But back to the Eels and Mateo. You cannot close your eyes without this player doing something special on the footy pitch.
He makes opposition defences nervous. His game is built around purpose yet he maintains the ability to hurt any teams focus and in the end makes defence a worthless component.
LIke the circus act himself, there was no appeal from Eels fans to stop the magic Mateo possessed against the Tigers today. But as the game yelled curtains, the Eels five-eighth entertained, serving up another play to eventually see Brett Finch lay on a try to centre Joel Reddy to round off proceedings.
On his day, Mateo is a label mean't for success. A man that has the potential to oversee things in the NRL that will one day make him one of the best players to grace the competition.
Starting off as a second rower, Mateo has been molded into a fine playmaker who is now able to perform on any turf the NRL has to offer. The way he offloads at will is almost to fiction to believe.
Through that component alone, the Tigers were deceased of all opportunity to claim the two points today. They simply had no time to rest as Mateo and co. ran rampant in a crushing display of attacking football.
Walking like a beast during a set of six, Mateo blazed everything that came his way while the likes of Inu and Burt stalked, eager for an opportunity to score.
Understanding the pain caused, the Tigers had to move sideways hoping for a sneak peep in the Eels defence. As time grew against them, the Eels, who looked larger than life, stormed home without much fight from their opposition.
Even the grand champ Nathan Hindmarsh could celebrate as he scored two tries to tighten the Tigers woes. Too much to swallow perhaps.
The Tigers now will look to end this decay they have against the Eels by beating the Broncos next Friday night at Suncorp.
As for the Eels, the blue and gold have finally realised that season 2008 is a year worth playing and fighting tooth and nail for. Everything now depends on consistency.
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