Forgive me fellow Eels supporters, for I have sinned.
I have a confession to make. With about ten minutes to go I thought that the Eels were gone on Friday night. Watching the momentum shift to a fit Warriors side blessed with size and the Kiwi test spine, my mind was going to a dark place.
Logic had taken the place of faith.
Parramatta were already going through an injury crisis of epic proportions when Mannah and Vave withdrew from a team which was missing Norman, Jennings, Terepo, Frank Pritchard and De Gois. During the week I had witnessed busted players pushing through training sessions. I was concerned that their energy levels had been impacted. It was going to be a huge ask even before a footy had been kicked in anger.
Hopefully both players will be in their playing kit next weekend.
Now, as this clash against the Warriors big blokes was unfolding, the Eels dressing room was doing its best impression of a hospital triage. Kaysa Pritchard, Josh Hoffman and David Gower were all gone from the game as the Eels interchange bench was reduced to a solitary player. Surely there was no gas left in the tank?
Here’s where my confession goes from bad to worse.
In speaking with Brad Arthur over the weekend, I uttered these foolish words. “Gutsy win Brad. Without about ten to go, I thought we were gone.”
His reply immediately reinforced the importance of belief.
He looked me in the eye, and said simply and firmly, “I didn’t!”
In that moment I knew why the players were able to find that intangible something extra.
Arthur close to the action on Friday night.
When you have a bloke like BA eyeballing you from the sideline or exhorting you to find another level as you take that solitary interchange chair for the briefest respite, you know that he’s coming from a place of faith. And you wouldn’t want to let him down. You wouldn’t want to let your team mates down either.
Let’s not underestimate the bond between the players. These Eels have regularly spoken about playing for each other – being able to look their team mate in the eye and know that they didn’t let him down. They are a tight knit group. All teams will probably speak similarly, but as a regular visitor to training, I can assure you that this is the case and it manifests both at Saleyards and on match days.
So it was that on Friday night, players who pushed through the pain barrier at training during the week, also found a way to take the hits from a physical Warriors side for 80 minutes.
Consider for a moment the courage of Nathan Brown who, despite agonising rib damage, not only took his place for the entirety of the match, but actually starred. He constantly and forcefully reminded the Warriors pack about his presence. You can imagine how quickly those Aucklanders forgot about his injury cloud! Has he already staked his claim for buy of the season?
A painful knee injury couldn’t stop Kirisome Auva’a from remaining on the field for those final ten minutes – he wasn’t about to leave the battle when the job hadn’t been done. His fellow centre, Brad Takairangi had himself required treatment following the match warm-up.
Eighty minute efforts were required from both Tepai Moeroa and Manu Mau’u, with the latter having to shift from back row to centre as part of the re-shuffle following Hoffman’s injury. Then we have Will Smith, a lightweight utility back who was on the bench to provide Kaysa Pritchard with a breather, having to play 70 minutes in the middle of the field and rack up an amazing 41 tackles.
Every player would have a story of tenacity to tell. Their elation as Gutherson (fittingly) crossed for that final try would be the exclamation point.
How sweet it is! – The winning moment.
My lesson? I was reminded that even though I doubted that this Parramatta team could overcome the odds to find that win, the coaches and the players had that self belief. When you support a football team, whether they win or lose, you can’t ask for more.
Eels forever!
Sixties
A week in sackcloth with ashes and three Hail Marys should be sufficient penance.
What about forcing myself to watch manly vs Raiders?
You’ll have to curb these masochistic tendencies of yours. That stuff is reserved for genocide and apostasy.
I think BA may be on to something, we’ve turned the corner.
Hi Sixties. Nice article. This is my first time on TCT. I miss your contributions on the other site and thought I’d check out this one.
What a gutsy win. I too thought it was all over when RTS went in. The boys really dig deep and showed pride that we haven’t seen for quite some time. I love the team and the culture BA is creating.
Great days ahead!
Thanks Camo, and I hope you have a dig into our archives. Forty has been on fire lately. You’re correct in talking about the culture being created by BA. We saw it in spades last year during the most challenging season in Eels history. It will stand us in great stead.
Sixties …. I forgive you n plz never give up on our boys again.
Like I said to Mitch in the other post …the boys played tough n good. Yes they were broken n busted but they played tough n for the coach n each other. Eels for life.
I don’t feel too proud thinking that way. Confessional was good for the soul.
Sixties while your here what are you hearing on John thurston next week. Is he playing or he still struggling with his injury.
I’m hearing he will struggle to make SOO 2 even SOO 3.
I’m not hearing anything definite. I’ll be interested in seeing whether they bother adding him to an extended bench or not.
Good read Sixties. Like you at that 24/22 mark, I was looking at another heart stopping loss. thankfully my pacemaker has enough battery power to keep it working though. The only thing though was I sort of reckoned we would win but, the 24 -20 scoreline would be it.
Rather than sitting on the lounge I was standing up in front of the box, and then when next try was scored i was able to sit down and take in Guthos wonderful celebration.
During that time the TV crews were focusing on BA on the bench, he was intently intense, up and getting instructions to the runners to take on to the field. Matagi came off and BA talking to him both standing and back on he went. Smith was left but in what condition.
Post match media meet showed him and Scott in a good frame, and for the first time I think this year he looked less stressed. Bit more grey stubble above the ears though.
Colin – Certainly being on the sideline allowed BA to make that direct communication with the players, both verbal and non-verbal. I like it!
Sixties, this is the second time I have seen him the side line, this year, it may have been more but only what I see on the box.
I notice that Stuart is always on the sidelines for the raiders, and makes me think the players may very well like to see their coach on the paddock as it perhaps makes them sense that he is more part of the team. and very much sharing in with them.
I enjoy watching a game on the box as I can focus on plays/players more than I can at a game, where I am trying to take in the whole field plays, combining that with the atmosphere its the best, but I admit to seeing more especially of players on the box as the camera’s show the game much closer.
Colin, I just don’t read the game well off the tv. There is so much off the ball work that you don’t see at home. Furthermore, on the tv you have no idea about offside defences, how well the team’s number up, even the momentum shifts. Wherever possible, I try to get to the game live.
Shame on you sixties, I had faith. You think BA went to the sideline to eyeball the players but I reckon it was because I was making too much noise for him to concentrate.
Good on you Nonna. Don’t stop cheering!
Not while there is breath in this old body Sixties.
✔️🙂👍
Was I sitting next to you Skippy Nonna? Well, one row in front after you kicked me out of the seat I so kindly warmed?
Good read 60’s, post match on Channel 9 BA made a point of saying hopefully the team take this win as a defining moment in season and so they should. Week by week we will also start getting some troups back as well.
Always proud of this team and after Friday’s gutsy win even more so. Parra teams of a few years ago just didn’t win games like that given the circumstances, this team is starting to prove all the doubters wrong.
After last season, we all deserve a finals appearance – players, coaches, fans alike.
PS: forgot to ask how did Hoffmans scans up on the knee injury?.
Haven’t heard yet.
I doubted too.
I won’t again.
What BA has achieved in the last 2 years is amazing and makes you feel proud supporting this team and this group of players. My seats are not far from the bench and seeing the expression on his face right near the end of the game when BA asked Matagi to get up and go back on again was priceless. I am convinced he believed that he had done enough for the night.
The feeling of everyone in our area was that the Warriors were going to come home over the top but our boys never gave up. what a great night.
Only disappointment was the size of the crowd. Very few Warriors supporters either
It’s really important for Eels fans to make more of an effort to get to ANZ and support the team. Friday was really a poor turnout. Yes the traffic was a pain. It’s a different venue. It’s cold at night. But it’s our team. There’s plenty of seats and few excuses.
Good example of humility Sixties. Confession is prosperity to the soul. I believe it was the Apostle John (the revelator) who said. “Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers”.
And so my friend, the wisdom you have shared with the Eels faithful here is as profound (BA’s assertive response) as it is subtle (your confession). Faith is the substance of things hoped for. It is the evidence of things not yet seen! Hebrews 11:1
Cheers mate, wonderful post.
I too was at the game and whilst I will admit to being anxious, I don’t think I had actually conceded defeat.
But the heroics shown on Friday night by the team, in particular by Browny, Beau, Ma’u and Tep. However “The King” really stood up and IF BA can get Normy, Moses AND “The King” on the paddock at the same time I suspect that there will be limited reasons for you to return to the confessional.
Go you Eels!
“When you have a bloke like BA eyeballing you from the sideline or exhorting you to find another level as you take that solitary interchange chair for the briefest respite, you know that he’s coming from a place of faith. And you wouldn’t want to let him down. You wouldn’t want to let your team mates down either.”
Superb comment. He was only about 20 m away from us and i saw him speak with Matagi and Alvaro late in the game, and am sure they were looking for extra efforts in the last 10. I am still shaking my head about the Taka penalty and also the ‘prof foul’ by the warriors when Kenny took a tap and one of them blatantly interfered.
Can’t agree more about needing Parra supporters to turn up to games. It’s easy on a cold Friday night to think twice about going, we are two and a half hours away and on the way home there is a compulsory stop at Maccas at Wyong, where we are always blown away by the number of Parra supporters on their way home to places a lot further north.
What you miss out on watching the Tele is best described as the theatre of the game. Whether it be the Warrior supporters who somehow ended up in seats in the members area near us and really stir, maybe it’s the tension on Brad’s face or maybe it’s what goes on off the play the ball, we came away saying wow that was a great game!
We just wish we could go to all the away games as well.
Lady, I live on the central coast, and in years gone by when still in Sydney I didn’t miss a game, today though I hardly get to one, and unfortunately I’m not really up to going to night games, primarily for the coldness owing to back issues that means I am looking at another level of surgery to fit plates in it, add the coldness of the night air and walking from the Train at Olympic Park really is something I cannot do.
I was privileged to go down with John eel a few weeks ago to a Saturday arvo game, and had to knock back another trip last Friday, owing to other reasons, but in the past few days, I am now having problems walking more than 100metres.
Keep up the cheering.