Good game of footy.
This is the best I've seen the Eels play since the mid-00s. Nobody over-plays their hand, they all have trust in one another and know their roles perfectly. In Gutherson, Brown and Moses they have plenty of options in attack and the strike weapons out-wide to make the most of it. The forwards are laying a great platform and they're just winning all the contests.
Wests were very brave. After their fast start, it appeared the game was going to get ugly when Nofoaluma accidentally took out Douehi but they kept getting off their line and putting pressure on the Eels for the remainder of the second half. They never died wondering with the football after, with Marshall launching raid after raid, if it wasn't for the Eels defence and some poor execution on the last pass those efforts would have reflected in the scoreline.
I was impressed with Blore's debut. I thought he physically asserted himself well and I enjoyed his stouche with Nathan Brown. There were several little moments like that in the game, like Ferguson's freakish effort being cruelly denied by Davey's errant hand and the tit for tat with Moses Mbye.
With Wests, I have to wonder how much longer until we see the former Schoolboys halfback Jock Madden receive an opportunity. Luke Brooks is struggling and while Billy Walters is an honest player, it's difficult to see him as the future playmaker of the club. I'd have to imagine Maguire would be keen to give Madden an opportunity later in the season and give him an opportunity to play alongside Marshall and Grant.
Madge is doing a good job of putting the pieces together, my fear is that they may struggle to cope without Grant at 9.
