What's the matter with Parra ???? Seriously, I have no emotional ties with either team, just calling it how I see it. No I didn't see the Eastwood/Gordan game,all I know is SC aren't won on Saturday mornings and the physicalitity differential between Parra team and the others is closing. In my view Parra are a very good team full of some very talented boys but so are Gordon. I know you'll all be keen to discuss the result with me tonight but I'm away till Wednesday, Good luck to both teams, and may the best team win.
I expect Gordon to be very competitive early but in the end Parra will have too much class all over the paddock. Gordon's forwards play a very aggressive and physical game, plenty of talk and geeing up but to be honest have a few too many "hot heads" and will concede plenty of penalties as they did in their first round game against Eastwood. Parra's pack will more than accomodate them and the Gordon forwards will get sick of the sight of Afele, Maa and Taiki running at and over them. Parra's bench is also loaded with equally good forwards so Parra's go forward and momentum up front won't diminish when changes are made.
Gordon's attitude in attack seems to be just get it wide to Kellaway at outside centre as quickly as possible so that he can hopefully weave some magic. Their inside backs do little more than catching and passing although they will often run a back rower, notably Welch, off their no 10 like a "crash" inside centre in the hope of disrupting the oppositions inside backs to give Kellaway and Docker outside him more time and space.
Kellaway is a very gifted player... a superbly balanced runner with a great fend who does things in attack that others can't because they lack the reaction speed and physical capabilities needed to take advantage of opportunities as they arise, particularly when opposing backs spill the ball. He is at his most dangerous when attacking down the left side using his strong right arm fend to great advantage and will often link with their no 15 running a line inside him at an opposite angle to any opposition cover defence. But it is a folly in any team sport to place too much reliance on one player. Parra have two very creative backs in Angeloni and Clark who make so many opportunites for others and can do some quite amazing things in attack themselves. Parra also have Tepai and if he fires will create havoc. In the games I saw on the weekend he was playing inside centre... much prefer him at outside running at Kellaway in attack. Parra also more than equal if not surpass Gordon for speed out wide.
Parra champions again imo.
