In a bid to get the squad fired up and playing well, Eels coach Stephen Kearney has called on the rest of the Eels team to support halves Jeff Robson and Daniel Mortimer, and help them deliver.
With new recruit Casey McGuire set to miss at least 1 week due to a calf strain, the pressure on the under-fire halves will only increase, after some fans have become frustrated with no real play-making sense, some even calling for the head of Robson, Mortimer and Kearney.
“Everyone’s quick to point the finger at them but we can all take some responsibility there,” Kearney said.
“Our performance as a team, particularly in the second half against Souths, hasn’t been real good. You’ve got to put it into context, we played with a man down for 10 minutes against the Rabbitohs and they had the ball rolling.
“So we were on the back foot. I’m not saying there isn’t room for improvement, but I am saying I think it’s a bit premature to be pointing the finger solely at the halves.”
Edge defence seemed to be a problem for the Eels against the Bunnies, and Kearney does have some options up his sleeve, with both Joel Reddy and Ben Smith options to move into the centres.
Kearney will however, assess his options, and take it from there.
“I’ve looked at the tape and we’ll have a look at how a couple of the lads who are playing for Wentworthville [last night] pull through,” Kearney said.
“Our completion rate was poor. We need to improve there.
“Then it’s just a matter of working out what works best for the group.”