“If you can believe it, the mind can achieve it.” – Ronnie Lott (American football Hall of Famer)

Belief. This is where the journey to success in any endeavour begins. Without this foundation, there is little to build from.

Let me assure fellow Eels supporters that belief is there in abundance in this Parramatta team.

It was there back in November 2016 as the team assembled for pre-season training. The sins of past administration had denied a resilient Eels team the right to play in the finals series two months earlier, but the squad knew they belonged there.

TCT was there on Day 1 of pre-season, and it earned a thumbs-up from Smith and Vave.

Belief was still there earlier this year when a string of four successive losses saw those of little faith applying the war paint for their predictable keyboard warrior attacks.

It was evident on a cold June night when less than 10k people turned up to watch Parra scrap their way to a victory over an out-of-sorts Warriors team. It was a result that earned few plaudits, yet it was the second win in a sequence of matches which saw the blue and golds take the points in 11 out of 13 rounds.

And finally, the belief was on display for the entire rugby league world as the Eels took the Storm to their limits in Melbourne in spite of a lop-sided penalty count that would have seen other teams wilt under the pressure.

This has been no easy season.

Significant injuries to DeGois, Pritchard, Gutherson and French have impacted the spine. Long term absences of Terepo and Pritchard took size from the pack. Beau Scott’s bicep damage came close to prematurely ending his season.

Gutho is already working on 2018.

But the team, the coaches, never faltered. Players stepped up, just as the football department believed that they would. Will Smith, Cameron King, Kirisome Auva’a, Danny Alvaro – these players haven’t just filled a role, they’ve been instrumental in taking the Eels into the Top 4.

No game has been a gift. No clash lacking edge of the seat moments for fans. Few 50/50 calls have fallen the Eels way in a season which has seen them lose the penalty count in over 2/3 of their matches.

What a performance against the Storm, almost overcoming a 6 – 1 second half penalty count.

But this self-belief has remained a constant. An outstanding record against other top 8 teams has been proof-positive of a team that lifts because they know they can.

At the beginning of this season I dared to dream, just as I do every year. Maybe this year I did so with more conviction.

A season spent watching the team prepare on a weekly basis fuelled the conviction.

Now, as the Eels prepare to take on the 2015 Premiers in a home elimination final, I believe.

Fellow believers, Mitch and I were joined by fellow Eels tragics, Matt, Peter and Tim on the flight to Melbourne (photo by Yoko)

I believe that Parramatta have the team, the talent, the coaches to give this Premiership an almighty shake.

The future is certainly great, and it is here, right now.

Our time to get behind the team is now.

See you at ANZ Stadium this Saturday.

Believe!

Eels forever!

Sixties

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