What a great day it was as the Eels comprehensively outplayed the Raiders at Pirtek! Just on 13000 people turned up to an early Saturday game, a time that is normally guaranteed to draw a smallish crowd. Yet, inspired by each other, both the team and the crowd provided something special. An impressive performance, a brilliant atmosphere and a sign of the changing mindset around the club.
Resilience
The Team – To be fair, the lack of resilience in Parramatta teams since 2010 has been an undeniable reality. If something went wrong during a game – a penalty, the bounce of the ball, an injury to a key player – the players just didn’t seem to have the fortitude to overcome it. You could see it in their faces, in their body language and in their play.
Consider this – if it was so evident for those of us watching from the stands, you can only imagine how obvious it was for the opposition. Any team lining up against Parramatta could rightly expect that at some point the Eels would respond poorly to any difficult position that a team could encounter in a match. Such expectations would have inspired confidence and self belief in Parramatta’s opponents.
Presently, lack of resilience seems to be a thing of the past. An off-season spent pushing the players to their physical limits was accompanied by the catch cry of “body language” – a reminder to the players that even though they may be hurting, they were not to show it. This is now an important part of the Eels’ strength in defence. They are both physically and psychologically stronger than they have been in recent memory.
Even when he couldn’t run, Foran trained to be fighting fit.
The Fans – What a test this year has been for Eels fans! This is not to downplay our own resilience in staying behind the team during wooden spoon years. How many other clubs could achieve record membership numbers during seasons of abject failure?
However, with the possibility of lost points hanging over our heads, and a relentless media campaign on the same subject, it would be easy for the fans to feel deflated about Parramatta’s prospects. Not so. We are recognising and applauding the efforts of BA and his players. I think that we are astute enough to recognise that no other teams are being forced to prepare under these conditions. If the team are producing the kind of performances that we can be proud of, they deserve our support. And they are getting it in spades!!!
Positivity
The Team – The Parramatta Eels believe that they can win every game. Cast your mind back to Ricky Stuart openly stating in press conferences that we had to expect some floggings. In contrast, from the moment that Arthur took over the reigns, he stated that the team would aim to, and believe, that they could win every game. Now that’s not some earth shattering psychology, but it emphasises two different approaches, in both coaching and in messages to the fan base.
That message from just over two years ago was part of the rebuilding of this team. It would now appear that this self belief is embedded in the team psyche. The team want and expect to be winners. Consider the dissatisfaction with our losses. Consider Arthur’s challenge to the players before the match up against the Tigers – “Are the players comfortable or do they want to be winners?” I reckon that the winner mindset is becoming a part of the Parramatta identity again.
Welcome to that winning feeling.
The Fans – Positivity does not come easy for long suffering fans. After all, we’ve forgotten what winning consistently feels like and we don’t control that destiny. We are hopeful, we stick by the team, but having that positive self belief is a challenge.
However, there is a commonality developing within the fan base at matches. We have an expectation that our defence will hold the opposition. We believe that we are a genuine chance to win every game and dare I say it, we believe that we are finals contenders. It’s not part of our psyche just yet, after all we came back to Earth with a thud following that last second loss to the Panthers.
Nonetheless, we are turning up to matches with a positive enthusiasm. Let’s not underestimate our power as fans. The energy that we supply for the team is palpable. They draw from our roars. Imagine what it felt like on Saturday after they defended for nearly seven minutes on the line and were recognised with a standing ovation. We drew inspiration from them, in return they were buoyed by us. It felt unbelievable in the stands – imagine the impact on the field!
Striving To Be Better
The Team – This is made very clear by Arthur in his post match statements. He is not happy with any defensive lapses, regardless of the effort. He is not happy with any penalty, regardless of the circumstances. “We have to be better.” You can virtually quote the man after every match, even after a great victory. We stood to applaud the incredible defensive effort that began the second half against the Raiders. Arthur criticised our stupid play that led to such defensive effort being required. What a mindset!
The Fans – Because we are expecting better, we are demanding better. The victory over the Tigers was seen as scrappy. The loss against the Broncos was seen as a wasted opportunity. The last minute heartbreak against the Panthers was interpreted as 2015 revisited. There’s nothing wrong with this, after all, the coaching staff have similar demands.
In order for the Parramatta Eels to be successful, it has been essential for all of this attitudinal change to occur. So isn’t it great that, as fans, we are undergoing a similar mindset change. It’s a brilliant time to be an Eels fan.
As a final thought on our new mindset, let me suggest an image for you to re-visit. I was at Pirtek and felt the joy of this moment, but did not realise the just how brilliant it looked. So, if you get the opportunity, watch a replay of the Raiders match and take in that moment after Brad Takairangi scored. As he returns past half way, the cameras capture the elation on the faces of the fans. It’s how it feels to be following this team.
Get out to a game and be a part of it.
Sixties
Images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels
The atmosphere at yesterday’s game was fantastic, I thought I was back in the eighties .
The atmosphere at yesterday game was fantastic, I thought I was back in the eighties.
I think dementia may be kicking in Parra Nonna. You just said the same thing 2 minutes apart. Do you still think it’s the Eighties too?
I can’t remember ever giving a standing ovation for a defensive set before. The boys are impressing us everywhere.
There’s nothing like hearing the crowd roar at Parra stadium. More belief from the fans to match the player’s, will put more bums in seats making each try, each goal, each game all the more satisfying.
It was such a spontaneous reaction to get to our feet and applaud. What a moment!
Oops.
Dementia perhaps Trouser? lol
I attended the game on Saturday with my husband, son and granddaughters…What a fantastic experience…I will be devastated if points are taken away from this fantastic team that Brad Arthur has put together…I have followed the Eels for 58 years through all the good and the bad….It would not be justice to take away from this team points that they have worked so hard for…I wonder if the NRL would be able to ask ALL CLUBS to show the TPA agreements and see what happens..If the points taken mean that we miss the Semis that will be it for me this year…Why bother going….In all of this have the powers that be ever thought of the Eels group of supporters who after all the bad years we have left behind and now have hope for the future find that it is all for nothing…..I would have thought that the NRL needs supporters like Eels supporters to keep the game alive….
Thanks for the reply Helen. This is the challenge for us as fans. I support the jersey, the players that wear that jersey and the coach who bleeds those colours. I didn’t grow up supporting boardrooms. I’ve got to know various people associated with the club over the years, but it’s the team and jersey I support, not individuals. So, if the team’s prospects are diminished or destroyed by an NRL punishment this year, will we as fans take it out on the players or will we support them in what would be an incredibly difficult time? It’s a choice that I hope we don’t have to make, but who knows!
I read a comment last week in the DT where one of their Journos was critical of Channel 9 excerpting pressure on the NRL to go light on the Eels points penalty. The basis of the comment was that given the popularity of the Eels channel 9 are looking to protect their ratings that the eels are giving them. This was apparently followed up tonight by Paul Kent on NRL 360 (I did not see it myself) who was claiming that the NRL is beginning to weaken their resolve on penalising the Eels with loss of points.
My opinion on this is that if our current squad turns out to be cap compliant after the NRL investigation then it is going to be difficult for the NRL to come down heavy on us with a points penalty.
John, we have avoided discussing the topic partly because the landscape has changed daily. It’s not to say that we don’t have our thoughts/opinions – who wouldn’t! When we talk amongst ourselves, it’s a major topic. However, we are primarily a footy site and concentrate on that. When the time comes that the footy is affected, we will revisit our stance.
Fair enough
I do share your concerns mate.
Nice write up 60s, i was so impressed with our application amidst all the dramas.
Best atmosphere this year, especially after that defence. The Ricky chant – brilliant!
I nervously listened to the game, certainly there is even a feel coming through on the radio that this years eels are a different team than what has shown up in the past several.
What is really seen is the enthusiasm of a group of players & coach committed to a goal & more importantly to each other as a team. Interesting in that when Ricky Stuart came to the club he constantly pushed the concept of the game was not one of individuals but as a team, he said being a team meant being part of a team no matter how good the individual. Sad part really was that Ricky at that time did not seem to have the ability to get the message across here.
The latest set of gallery photo’s on the eels web site shows the group training well, there are a lot of smiles on their faces, along with the determination that they are committed as a team. One of the photo’s that stood out for me shows the coach addressing the players, with a huge smile on his face, in fact his face was a huge smile, that I think was infectious & the players would no doubt have been caught by that desease of happiness & contentment, therein is on show the new mindset in & throughout the club.
This brings me to one of the more recent threads posted here, & as 60’s has said this site is about football not the other stuff going on. As we approach round 6, the weeks off field drama’s keep escalating yet, here is the coach shown in a real positive frame of mind, the smile did not look put on for the camera it was real & genuine, in the past this would not have happened, & we likely would not be looking towards this Thursday nights peninsular journey with anything akin to that outlook.
So, to the recent thread I mention above. That thread was about the need for the eels to fast track an upgrade & extension of BA’s coaching appointment, not as a matter of ASAP, but it is more critical for the future than that & even using the word critical. The need is for the club & for BA to have this in place, before any NRL decision is handed down.
My thinking & reasoning is simple, that in a new deal for him the players & other staff will have certainty for the future, the new mindset is the birth of a new future with a leader that can not just get the team past these times but also look to any positives that may flow from the negative attacks against our club.
I am so glad that you mentioned about re-signing BA, Colin. I have written about it once and had considered writing about it again, but of course to write on the same topic again you need to add something new. Probably the only new content is how imperative his contract upgrade/extension has become. Let me continue to ponder my words.
Mate half way through what I wrote I considered trying to put it in as a separate thread, but could not work out how, also how to join/log in to the TCT. as I do not have an account.
For me, & again I do not want to bring up any item directly associated with the off field drama but! Somehow, & I don’t have the access or whatever to the players & training as I used to have many moons ago & as I am no longer associated by membership at the club, that’s affectively cut off. So there is a real need for supporters to start something & get to the club that the signing of BA to a long term deal is the highest imperative that we must do, it really has to be done yesterday or last week, in simple terms before any decision by the NRL is handed down.
If we cop something really bad that means we affectively cannot compete for the 8, then it will hurt us worse than we may like, ((I sincerely hope that does not happen, but looking at worse case scenario) BA is likely to be inundated by the media, along with the players also by agents sniffing him out along with players to sign elsewhere. While BA is still under contract for next year & no doubt he would honour that but it could be more devastating to have other key players take up deals elsewhere without the assurance that BA will be here long term.
The NRL may not want long term damage to the club but, the eels board has to preempt the worst case post haste.