Hands up if you need a pulse check?
An understandable notion given the events of the last month.
Every other day seems to present a new twist and turn in the narrative of the rugby league soap opera that is the Parramatta Eels.
Whatever it may be, I can understand that some supporters might be ‘checking out’ or have become desensitized to every new headline and perceived drama that transpires across the Cumberland.
But if there’s one thing that I take solace in, whatever the circumstances, is that every week I really enjoy getting to watch my team play.
Someone asked me just yesterday if I was looking forward to Origin one and what my thoughts were heading into the first match. I had to pause for a second and register what they said, before answering “Ohh yeah, that’s this Wednesday huh? I haven’t really thought about it, I’m more looking forward to the Eels v Knights game tomorrow”
And although this initially brought a chuckle and wry smile to their face, they asked me “Why?”
Well, when all things are said and done when it comes to that 80 minutes on game day, I don’t really care about the background noise, I just really love watching my team play.
Such is the life of an Eels supporter.
It can be hard to see the forest through the trees reflecting on the events of the past month, but one thing that mustn’t be lost is enjoying our football.
Whether it’s as a supporter; a player; or the coaching staff, there is still plenty of rugby league to be played and enjoyed in season 2016.
A week to forget: Corey Norman will be looking for a strong performance & to enjoy footy against the Knights tonight
It’s ridiculous how in sync Sixties and I can be sometimes when it comes to the thought process of our team. As he reflected on our loss to the Storm in his post Mission Impossible? Not even thinking about it, we must not get caught up in the semantics of “12 from….” or “X points”
Sure, as long as it’s mathematically possible I will always believe in the possibility of what our team can achieve, because deep down I know they can. It is possible for them. However, I don’t think that’s where our focus should be – supporter, player or staff.
We continue to play the Media’s game if we think about anything other than enjoying ourselves and improving as a squad.
Fact of the matter is, we all have an affiliation with this game because on a very deep level, we love it. Even more so this Club.
So it might be a worthwhile question to ask yourself – What do you love about this game? And what do you love about this Club?
For me, I just really enjoy watching my team play. Irrespective of the circumstances, I know that for 7 months of the year I’ll get to watch my team play almost every weekend and it’s something I always look forward to and something I really enjoy.
Tonight’s game also presents an opportunity for boys to enjoy themselves.
Debut? 9’s sensation Bevan French could be play his first NRL game tonight
Make no mistake, this is by no means an easy or guaranteed win, there is no such thing in the NRL. And this could very well be that one in four games that the Knights are competitive in and spring a surprise victory on us. However, it is also a game in which we will be coming up against a severely weaker squad who have had very little to be excited about in season 2016.
A part of me empathizes with and feels for the Knights. It was not too long ago that we were in a similar position. We’d jag competitive games here and there, even the odd victory, but for the most part we were on the end of 13+ defeats each week as our team only had a handful of first graders, some very young and raw kids and some players that now struggle to make reserve grade sides.
In fact most teams used to tick the ‘W’ column in their draw when they knew they had the Eels, as I’m sure many teams do now with the Knights and although it’s not something we can afford to do ourselves tonight, what we should be doing is looking to enjoy ourselves, to continue to improve and build towards both our short and long term future.
When you come up against a weaker squad like the Knights there is a real opportunity to be ruthless and play yourself into some form, to consolidate your combinations and build some fluency throughout the team.
By no means should we be looking to throw caution into the wind, throw the ball around recklessly and go away from what we’ve been doing, that’s how we get suckered into a tight contest and play into the Knights hands. However, we should be looking to be as sharp and as professional as we can be. To treat the game as though we were playing any one of the top four teams.
If we do as such, we will have way too many points in us for the young Knights team. We’ll blow them off the field and rack up a 30+ point victory and in doing so, encourage us to bring a little bit more enjoyment back in our rugby league.
Tonight also presents an opportunity among our playing ranks in relation to our squad succession and player management plan moving forward.
Opportunity: The release of Junior Paulo has given Daniel Alvaro the chance to make the starting prop position his
Following yesterday’s release of Junior Paulo, Daniel Alvaro now has a real opportunity to consolidate himself as a first choice prop and a regular member of our First Grade team. Additionally, he will gain more experience heading into next season when we’re without the dramas of points deduction and that can only be a good thing for both his development and the strength of our overall squad. The more games young Daniel plays, the stronger we will be next year – particularly given he’s one of only a couple of props we currently have signed for the 2017 season.
It also presents an opportunity for us to further identify where our staff should channel the focus of their recruitment strategy. I’ve made no secret in offline conversations that I have concerns about our prop rotation moving forward into 2017. I feel that it’s out of balance and that we need a different style of prop to compliment what we currently have.
For the rest of the 2016 season, we get the opportunity to see what the likes of Mannah, Alvaro, Wicks, Terepo, Gower et al can produce as a prop rotation. If it suits our style of play and still allows us to be a Top 4 worthy team, we can persist with them. If not, we have identified an area of weakness that can be addressed.
Personally, I’d love to see us acquire a taller, more athletic prop who can regularly get the ball free/break tackles or a metre eater who produces quick play-the-balls to our squad. As it stands I think we have a lot of the ‘honest toiler’ style props in our rotation, who although reliable, don’t give us a point of difference. I.e. a game changing charge or an offload.
James Tamou would have been the most ideal candidate, however he looks all but certain to join Penrith and with no other clear standouts currently on the open market, the current boys can really stamp a name for themselves by producing quality football for the rest of the 2016 season.
If they’re going to do as such, it starts tonight against Newcastle – our middle has to be ruthless. If they don’t dominate the Knights, and dare I say, lose the forward battle, then you can expect us to be making some inquiries and wholesale changes to our forward rotation for season 2017.
Strategy: Kaysa Pritchard would benefit from more minutes in the hooking role moving forward
Considering also, that Kaysa Pritchard is our only hooker on the books for next year, this is the type of game that I’d like to see us start increasing his minutes at no. 9 in. It’s important that if we’ve made this investment in him that we build towards him playing at least half a game in the dummy-half role by season’s end.
However it unfolds, I look to tonight’s game as an indicator for the type of team we want to be for both the rest of season 2016 and moving forward into next year. If we’re not merciless in the way we approach the Knights, then we know we have some further changes to make to strengthen our squad for the future (particularly in our middle third) and if we are merciless, we know the coaching staff will have a couple more weeks yet to identify where we’d like to prioritize our recruitment strategies moving forward.
Either way, I’ll be enjoying watching my team play.
Clint
All images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels, NRL.com and Getty Images.
Totally agree with the assessment. This game really is the high mark for the eels in this season, or perhaps its base camp prep for the climb to our Everest, the win will take us to the first step on the climb, & the dangers of a fall or slip at each level, I live in hope that the reach the summit.
The squad with the inclusion of Alvaro & French is a real pointer to the future, if as I think may happen is anyone else leaves the club, then we likely see Twal added to the 25, also O’Brien really has an opportunity window that only he can open, all windows have inside locks & not outside ones only. If French shows his wares tonight & comes through well, then he has come of age, & while I will miss Gordon should he go to the chickens then, its not all gloom.
Totally agree with you in regards to Pritchard, would love to see him start the game tonight, or at least come on at the first interchange point.
I guess I am seeing things in a better light than many others are, but rather be optimistic than pessimistic any day.
Tamou would have been a good pickup, however, the one that has impressed me heaps is the young prop from the Storm, Solomona, he was to head to RU, then staying at the Storm, no word since, but with the Storm last week signing Tui Kamikamica, it may indicate that Solomona is yet to sign. Would like to see the club target him.
It’s probably the best possible game to introduce Bevan to the NRL Colin. He’s played a couple of NSW Cup games before and held his own. Coming up against a mixed squad like the Knights will be the ideal way to ease him into the NRL team to see how he handles it.
Nelson Asofa-Solomona would be a fantastic acquisition for any side. He is definitely quality, however it’d be a big ask for him to be our middle forward leader. I think it’s something he could probably do quite well come his next contract, but it would be a gamble on this one. You could make a similar argument for Nathan Brown at Souths, who is also currently off-contract, but at the same time we could do much worse and I’d look into pursuing either one of them.
As it stands with the current make up of the team and players contracted for next year we have Mannah, Moeroa and Pritchard starting in the middle third (not with-standing any players currently off-contract being re-signed). Mannah is the only one with considerable NRL experience there and I think he plays the secondary prop role to great affect.
Ideally our primary prop role would be someone with some first grade experience and a real threat but only Tamou was the real free agent on the market with that type of experience. If I was in charge of recruitment I’d definitely put the feelers out for someone like Ben Matulino, who isn’t overly happy at the Warriors at present and his club isn’t overly happy with him. The old change of scene and previous club subsidizing part of their contract could be an option if the dramas in NZ continue to unfold.
Agree Clint re Bevan, but I also would like to see Twal have been lifted up as well. Certainly with Alvaro taking Jnr’s spot, Twal should get a permanent spot at Wenty, & then bring him in some other games through the year. Key is that the club identifies those they want to keep & give them the priority spots. Pritchard should start this week, & play more game time.
There are some decent forwards out there for the pick up, just need to have the time for the talent scouts to watch all the games to pick the eyes out of them & make reccomendations.
If I was a betting man, I’d suggest that Twal will get some Wenty time in the near future. He’s definitely got the junior credentials to start making the transition to first grader.
Definitely some decent forwards on the market, time will tell what direction we go in. Either way, it’s an exciting prospect!
I too will enjoy watching the game especially if they have a red hot go….
Always great to hear from you Pete, there’s nothing better than when we’re competitive, regardless of any circumstances.
As a bloke who enjoys watching opposed sessions at training, how can I not do anything other than enjoy a game of footy. Opportunity now presents itself at the Eels. Will the younger blokes step up when given a chance, will those in Wenty put their hand up over the next few weeks to lay claim for an extended contract. At this stage those at the next level have not done so, which means the club will perhaps be looking at a number of spots opening up for recruitment.
As you referenced Clint, its time for us to be realistic, but at the same time we should continue to enjoy watching our team go around.
I was fortunate enough to have a few words with Tim Mannah after the Captains run yesterday. The thing about Tim is he has a genuine interest in the fans. Afetr answering my questions about his injuries, he asked me how the fans were holding up. I said that in my opinion, most fans felt that the things that were happening were to a large extent out of the control of the players. However, whilever the players put in on the field, we would continue to support them.
In response, Tim said that given the number of lean years, the Parra fans were amazing. We chatted for a bit more and I can assure you this bloke is a true Parra man as well as a class act.
Thanks Tim.
Thanks 60’s. Mannah is more to this club than many consider, he’s the sort of player that does lead in many ways & not just on the field for whatever time he’s out there for. I really hope in years to come there is a place somewhere with the eels for him.
He puts in more than most seem to see, & I have no doubt the side is leaner without him.
Tim’s contributions certainly don’t go unnoticed by those who matter Colin. He doesn’t just front the media because he’s well-spoken, but he’s a very knowledgeable man across the broader sporting landscape. He’s also qualified in Sports Management, so undoubtedly there will be a place for him at the Club when he eventually retires.
As for on the field, I think his defensive presence in the middle has definitely been missed. He really tightens up the ruck in behind the play-the-ball and his 100m+ attacking efforts have been missed also. I look forward to his return and to to see how he leads our prop rotation for the rest of the year and beyond.
Clint, good insight into Tim, & not one bit of what you say about him tells me anything that I already see in his overall character. I have never met him or any of the current team, so I consider myself poorer for that. For me there is always something about the overall persona that comes out with Tim, especially when he’s speaking. His thought pattern is very measured & as a result he talks sense.
Many supporters say they don’t want former football players involved with the club’s administration & the like, mostly for reasons that are a result of what is going on at the moment, so easy to wide brush a particular group & say they are no good, no hoppers & the like, but in the case with Tim, I think they are very wide of the mark.
Cheers
Ohh absolutely Sixties, as someone who has spent quite a bit of time with Tim Mannah in the past he’s very emotionally aware of the supporters plight. Experience, his upbringing and his studies have left Tim very well placed to understand things from a broad perspective. We’re very fortunate to have a high quality player and even higher quality human-being in Tim Mannah at our Club.
It will be very interesting to see how we manage the recruitment and retention decisions unfold over the coming months. I have full faith that Brad will keep us on the up.
Great read & you are 100% right. Come kick off time all the issues off field seem to disappear from my thoughts. My heart beat gets faster & the thrill begins as I watch the game start. No matter what happens off field, this is Rugby League & I love it. There is no better game anywhere & I have loved watching the Eels play since I started following them in 1973. This season has been called our season from Hell, but I think Hell is having no footy. ( I think they call it off season, it’s a terrible time of year ) I have ridden the emotional Rolla coaster that has been season 2016 with all you other Eels fans but one thing is for sure, We are Eels fans, We will stay strong for our team, The resilience that we build as a supporter group through these tough times will just make us a stronger unit.
Go The Mighty Eels.
Very well said Jim, I couldn’t agree more. Honestly and call me crazy, I’d prefer a dramatic season to the months of November to February where no rugby league is played. Even as a busy man, off-season leaves a big hole in my schedule.
The Club is very lucky to have supporters with your mindset who irrespective of circumstances, continue to make the investment that you do.