The Cumberland Throw

The Spotlight – Dedication Goes AWOL in 2018

I’ve got a lot of respect for NRL players.

They put their body on the line in arguably the toughest collision sport in the world.

For many years I’ve watched the Eels team both train and play. Year round. Like other teams, it’s a gruelling pre-season regime, followed by the weekly demands of professional sport. Individuals have to be tough, talented and dedicated to succeed.

These players dedicate their lives to preparing to wear the jersey that supporters cheer for. It doesn’t come easy. Anybody who thinks that it’s easy doesn’t understand football.

Out of the countless thousands that played footy as kids, it’s a minute percentage who go on to be professional footballers in the NRL. And they deserve the success and the pay packet that comes their way.

With that acknowledgement made, there’s some truths that need to be said about the Parramatta team tonight.

I’ve deliberately used the word “dedicated” a number of times in my preamble. That’s because something made perfect sense as I wallowed in the agony of defeat.

There was a distinct lack of dedication on the field tonight.

It’s all very well to give everything you’ve got on the training paddock, to give lip service about the need to turn up on match days and perform. But if you haven’t got 17 players all dedicating themselves to doing what needs to be done in every moment of every game then you won’t win football matches.

Sadly this is Parramatta, 2018 version.

In past weeks, Brad Arthur has talked about the big moments that we’ve lost in some of the close defeats this year. He’s specifically mentioned periods of games that let the team down. Against the Knights, it wasn’t just big moments. It was many, many little moments too. And the period that the team let themselves (and supporters) down for was bang on 80 minutes long.

On countless occasions against the Knights, players stared at a ball on the ground, waiting for someone to pick it up or fall on it. There was zero desperation to stop Knights players from grounding the football over the line and yet this is something other teams do so well against the Eels. Certain forwards pushed through the defence line with an arm free, only to find nobody there or the person in support with their head turned away because they’d given up on the play.

Adding to all of that, the frustration of seeing players taking wrong options is now a weekly ritual.

A big run, a big hit, means nothing if you’re not prepared to do the effort on effort plays or the one percent moments that are so crucial in every game. Surely staying alive in the play until the referee calls held is one of the basics to an NRL footballer.

Where is the commitment, the dedication to playing for the blue and gold colours that many supporters have loved for a lifetime? Those of us who braved the cold conditions at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night did not deserve to sit through that uninspired performance.

As I typed up this post, I questioned whether expressing my opinion like this was appropriate. Shouldn’t I be supporting the team when they are down?

It was then that I had an epiphany.

I show my support every week. I’m dedicated in my support – and I’m sure the rest of the roughly seven thousand people in attendance tonight are just as dedicated.

The supporters who turned up deserved to have every Parra player turn up too. It’s not a matter of whether the team wins or loses, it’s whether the team digs in and leaves nothing in the tank.

It was not so in this clash. The supporters had to witness a lack lustre effort against a team with the worst defensive record in the competition. As horrible as the score was, it flattered the Eels.

Walking out of the ground tonight, I started to compile a list of players whose effort was above criticism. After considering the merits of five or six players, I realised how ridiculous it was to consider such a question. Simply posing the question to myself was evidence enough of how little the players were dedicated to their roles in this match.

In the press conference, BA and Gutho described this game as embarrassing. I hope that all of the team feels that way, because there are no excuses – absolutely none! It was not the performance of a team that cares about who they are representing.

I’m not going to single out individuals for praise or criticism. The fact is that too few deserved praise. And yes, the fans also felt the embarrassment.

The feedback from the supporters tonight needs to be that blunt.

I’ll keep turning up. It’s about time that the whole team did too!

 

Eels forever!

 

Sixties

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75 thoughts on “The Spotlight – Dedication Goes AWOL in 2018

  1. Anonymous

    G’day Sixties, fellow supporter and disillusioned fan.
    I took my oldest grandson to tonight’s game, hoping to re-ignite his fervor for our team. I picked the wrong night as it turned out, but we did have a good night just enjoying one another’s company. We ate a couple of really nice Villis pies and shared a twin Crunchie bar.
    When he decided we’d had enough with about 10 mins to go? I didn’t offer any argument and I got the opportunity to explain to him that following a footy team means learning how to win and to lose graciously. I told him how when I was his age (12 years) in the early Sixties, no pun intended, but noted! I used to catch trains every weekend to every suburban ground to watch my team play. I told him it was the same sort of result as we’ve experienced this year at Parra. Only it went on year after year, but here we are mate doing it again. I wanted to tell him it builds character to remain faithful during times of famine, but I didn’t. I think I’ll wait until the next time I take him to a winning game, it might mean more to him when he has something to measure it against?

    1. sixties Post author

      I stayed till the last player left the field – mainly because that last person was Gowie and I wanted to show respect to him. I know what you mean anon. I’ve had plenty of times where I’ve learnt about the manner of losing. I actually had the thought of leaving at half time last night, but realised I’d just want to listen to the radio call going home. Sad eh!

      1. Anonymous

        Hey Sixties, I do the same thing and even when I leave early I race to the car to listen to the rest of the call or the broadcast team.
        By the way mate mate it’s Rowdy above and below somehow I’ve been relegated to anon?

  2. Trouser Eel

    Jenko hasn’t had a good run in recent weeks, but to say he has been a bad selection from day one is simply wrong. There have been many good games from him and hopefully many more to come.
    His recent efforts deserve to be called out, but it gets tiring when I hear people call for heads to fall over periodic form slumps. If we had someone better in the ranks, if expect BA would select them.
    So, who should be playing in his position?

  3. Trapped in the 1970's

    I’m a contractor and I regularly go to the Blue Mountains to work. I was up there again last Friday and the greater proportion of staff where I go are panthers fans. Early in the season there was some light banter but in recent visits there has been none of that, just pity. They shake their heads and ask what’s wrong, the eels were in my top 4 for this year, they’ve got a good roster and coach, played so well last year. Not to worry they’ll come good I’ve tipped this week (vs. Knights) they told me. I told them if they could change their tips if they should.

    I mention the panthers because look at the talent that that club has moved on. Only this year it was Moylan and Cartwright. Apart from that Peachey signs with a new club for 2019 and rewards them by playing in career best form to be rewarded with SOO selection.

    He is a professional, then look at our guys, many of who are uncontracted for 2019. Chalk and cheese. We have basically the same roster as 2017 and they play like they’ve met each other for the first time in the dressing sheds. Or is it that the loss of Semi, Palmer and Gentle was enough to derail them.

    I know there’s been injuries and some poor decisions in games from the refs but that shouldn’t dilute their professionalism or effort. Week after week there is no improvement and instead they collectively drop their heads with the slightest setback.

    BA looked and sounded beaten in his presser from last night. There was nothing positive to take from it. No encouraging talk about any aspect of the game, nothing. When quizzed on who would be back for next week he spoke like he was reading from the death notices. I don’t envy his task at all.

    I’ve not previously bought into the talk that BA’s lost the dressing room and I still not sure on that, but its obvious that this group aren’t playing for him, their own pride or the team and either he, a good number of the squad or a combination of both need to change.

  4. Realistic Eel

    Nothing personal against Brad Arthur but surely his time is up? In European football club owners & bosses acknowledge that a coach has 2yrs max at each club, possibly more if winning trophies. They realise that players have an extra spring in their step once a new voice is in charge, this may last for one season but then usually goes pear shaped in season two. Hence bring a new coach in and the process starts again. Not easy in the nrl due to the salary cap but first step for Parra is to hire a head of football to ensure our cap is in order and that we are not losing our best juniors. It saddened me during the week when I thought back that since Jarryd Hayne we have not produced one Origin player through our junior system apart from Tim Mannah’s cameo when the coach didn’t even want him. Aren’t we meant to be the 2nd best junior nursery in Sydney? Pathetic!
    Time for Brad to do the honourable thing and step down. Zidane just stepped down as Real Madrid coach after winning 3 Champions Leagues in a row. Why? Because he recognises the players need a new voice…..just like Gibson in 83.
    Brad it all went to crap as soon as we beat the Knights in the trial & everyone said we’d win the comp, then out of character you did a long interview on nrl360 with a grin on your face you declared to the world, “my team play exactly how I want them to play every single week”. And then at 14-0 in rd1 at Penrith our players walked back to receive a kick off with the same grin saying “how easy is this”. Soft mentality from a bunch of players led by a coach who indulges them but now they’re burnt out & the fuel of passion from 2016 is empty. Five years as a coach, one finals finish, no finals wins, no rep players, wooden spoon on the way. It’s all over Brad. Put us out of our misery…..PLEASE!

      1. Gazzamatta

        I remain of the opinion I’ve had for over two seasons that Brad Arthur will eventually become an outstanding Head of Football Manager.

      2. The Captain

        A dedicated football manager is a great strategy going forward, but it’s not going to change anything in the short term.

        I will forever be impressed with BAs passion for the club and the grit he showed through the past few years, but at this point I’m not sure his current role as head coach is tenable. It pains me to say it because I had such high hopes, but our coaching really doesn’t seem to be functioning. It’s hard to know where to from here. A football manager is absolutely one thing, but I don’t see us being able to stick with BA for the next 3 years to see how the football manager pans out.

        It hurts to say, but I think this loss was the final paper cut for BA.

      3. MAX

        Not according to Bernie Gurr, we have similar numbers to other Clubs. Correct I think we do if you count Big D and Touks, the gear stewards! What we do not have is the structure! Bernie that is what we need.

    1. Avenger

      Couldn’t have said it better myself. Agree 100%. He needs to be sacked and a new coach to instil a new approach and recruit new players. There are plenty of players coming off contract for 2019 and the time to plan is NOW.

      1. Colin Hussey

        Its quite interesting to read where the aspect of there being plenty of players off contract end of the year is going to alter a lot. Should we sign 10 from elsewhere, we get the critics again in regard to ignoring our jnr players which means they sign elsewhere and if they come back we have to pay overs for them.

        I watched a young player yesterday for the chooks played in the 11 jersey first game in the top and he went well. He did not look huge but tall and lanky, like Twal is. We have good young players in ISP and underneath they need to be also looked at and given their chances. We have another 26 days to fill the NRL roster for this year, to me I believe we need to elevate 3 players from within to give them a shot at the spots. But, if that happens I hope that they are not just going to be training with the top squad and being named on the extended bench, rather they should be given the chance to play in the run on team or off the bench with decent game time.

        Our season is all but shot but with the two byes and players showing determination we can make a run for the finals or at the worst make it hard for those above us on the ladder.

        1. MAX

          Colin, we have nothing coming through the system. Ray Stone is a maybe, but he is small, Murata perhaps, with some decent game time, that Brad wont give him.

          1. Colin Hussey

            Max, this is the problem if true and why when we are losing some of the good jnrs to other clubs without any alternatives. What I see is other clubs bringing in unknowns from their lower grades and systems, or brought in from other nurseries and they do more than ok, but we do not seem to give any the chance to show if they have what it takes to be NRL standard.

            Its been good that Marata has been given a chance, initially short minutes and increasing, we have nothing to lose in playing the likes of Mahoney, Salmon and Stone in the top side as it should give them some confidence going forward.

            Same thing with Twal, sure the maggies upped the price for him but he’s a regular in their 17, and should be with the eels. You do not know how they will perform if they are not given the chance.

    2. Rowdy

      Snake, most people agree that this is you. Having said that I must say this is the most respectful and professional post you have created to advance your opinion and it has given much more weight to your argument.

      The points you’ve made, supported by facts that can be seen as relative to your argument give me reason to expect a similarly respectful and professional reply from whomever would attempt to refute your supposition.

      It also makes me question if it is really you snake? Yeah, nah! too well mannered to be you.

      1. The rev aka Snedden

        Brother rowdy I always thought the naturalist was snake. He always talk about being a naturalist … Welcome to TCT this site is all class n respectful eels web site n no thinking but footy which is good.
        I keep hearing Michael Mcquires name getting talked about. Not sure if its to coach or being a assistant to brad.
        I know 1 thing I’ve had a good chat to god n I have been to harsh on brad Arthur I will give him until the end of the yr to judge his performance

  5. Poppa

    WE need to sign a football manager! BUT

    Signing a football manager now is only useful if you have one available and one that meets the desired standards.
    That appointment by its very nature would be a minimum of say 5 years.

    Whilst the rhetorical response from fans in general is understandable……. can anybody tell me what was learnt last night that we didn’t already know.

    BA has any reasonable fan’s respect, but it is maybe time to limit his involvement to purely coaching, we need someone in charge of the whole shooting match….yes Gus Gould type position. The coach works for him and in some tactical and selection ways he can be a guide to the coach. Necessity say’s that the Manager picks the coach because their working together is paramount.

    BA has and is shouldering the lot, we thought he could handle it given his results till the end of last season. It is now proving that nobody/ human being can handle the sort of pressure he is now under…..I strongly believe the only thing that can save him and his sanity……is for the senior executive Gurr and Donnelly to come out and aknowledge same and make some announcements as to what is happening given and accepting the disasters of this season with a view to a plan and how it will be achieved.

    I will leave it to any discussion as to who the right person is to be the football manager.

    1. Colin Hussey

      Pops, I agree and perhaps a bit overdue. Thing is who, and blowed if I know, thing is that I doubt very much any of the more recent out of work coaches would be in the best interests in the club, and question is do we want/need someone from the home turf, to me, I would say no to the idea of someone from within as they might just want to set their own agenda up.

      I can think of some names on that score but to have someone over the head coach that was under him would be a great big slap in the face to BA and something that would not really work.

      In respect to that we do need someone respected from within the RL community and I would suggest not from the eels, need someone from a view from the outside and to then to see from the inside what the issues are.

      For me, a good start might be to look at Tim Sheens. Has been a good coach and still plying that trade in SL. He’s 67 so could be someone to bring in for say 3 years and then extend if it works out. I look at him as a senior person who would be respected and as I said, someone from outside the club.

      1. Poppa

        Unquestionably mate, I do not pretend to have the right person as the ideal is that he has to have our junior development at heart as well as all the other facets of recruitment, cap management and strategic direction.
        An example of the type of person would be a coach that has retired or about with the overall smarts to be an executive manager.

        Lets use Bennett as an example of style and class and assuming all the logistical levels. That said he is not a Parra man?

        The one that really comes to me, because he is an eel and has the total respect of the community is Peter Sterling….given he seems to have quietened a bit with his media work it is the sort of role that Gould has taken and of course he was always a Panther.
        He would also have the respect of the players who he may be able to bring to the club.
        I don’t think you can poach Gould until he meets his charter of at least one premiership.
        The secondary styles like a Peter Parr would not give us the power image the club needs.
        The other thing I said in the discussion which received no comment is the need for Bernie or Max and come out with some intentions, if not a plan as yet.
        This is important IMO as we are losing people in droves for the rest of this season.

    2. The Captain

      The issue is Poppa, BAs had 5 years to figure out how to manage and balance his role. If the lack of support or being spread too thin has been an issue for Brad then it’s well within his paypacket and position to call it our – to the CEO, the board, heck the fans if he gets no traction from the two former groups.

      As it is BA is head coach, and the primary metric for a head coach is success of the first grade side. Sure there are a heap of other metrics, but fail the first and no one cares about the rest.

      Brad has my absolute respect as a proud Eel and as someone who never gave up. But compared to the other newer coaches on the scene, his results are below par. It’s unfortunately become impossible to ignore this fact.

      I agree we need a football manager ASAP, I’m just not sure that BA can realistically survive as coach through this season regardless of the outcome of a football manager position.

      1. Colin Hussey

        BA’s biggest non attribute but also a big attribute is his loyalty to the players. He likely needs a dummy spit himself and sack the non performers and bring in fresh new blood from below somehow its what is needed.

  6. Colin Hussey

    I could not find a streaming site that I could watch the game on, I guess that was a blessing in disguise and in the end. Best I could do was to sit in front of the computer screen and watch the updates, got up a lot as I felt nothing as the score increased for the knights. Errors, penalties, sin binning and potential suspensions, all came up as the score increased against the eels zero. Then we get 4 points at the end of the match, say goodnite Dick, goodnite Rowan.

    Having been an eels supporter now since, well I cannot remember the exact years but I was v young at Northmead Primary School, then a first yearer when the high school opened in 1959, I have sat and watched many years of wood and cheers, first premiership trophy and others, never did the word give up seem to enter the mind, I witnessed many defeated eels players heads looking down at the ground, and an international pom Dave Bolton come as coach and first session say to the players take up your normal position and they all trotted over and stood behind the goal posts, good start to a forgettable season.

    Fast forward to June 3nd 2018, and that same position behind the goal posts is where the team are at now, history repeating itself in a very very sad way.

    Pesonally, I will never give up on the eels, and hope that I can see the team lift the premiership trophy again, before I kark it, but as each loss comes and goes, one must as an eels supporter start to wonder whether that’s going to happen. & for me I have to ask questions but blowed if I really know what questions are needed, certainly many answers are needed for the rotten performances of this year. To misquote in a sort of way another pommy in 1940

    ‘Never on the field of eels team plays is so much owed to so many by so few trying players.

    Its no longer a matter of simple blame games for the club, we had two wins this year after the players got tough in training and had a barney at training. To me that is something that needs to be seriously done again, but as they recover, stick the whole eels contracted players, coaching staff and all in a non air conditioned room and locked from the outside and they are all not allowed out until whatever is going on is resolved.

    The first thing to be resolved is that of the coaching staff. If they are seen to be the problem then its a good start but, I still do not blame BA except perhaps for his loyalty being a bit clouded, the 17 who take the field have to be the primary ones that have to take the ownership along with the others at each level.

    Any person at every level needs to open up and if not verbalise the issue then they write it down, on paper, don’t have to put their names to it but put down home truths and air them, any player who wants out, then say go, if its the coach and tactics then he has to either commit to change or go. Every person from top to bottom has to take ownership of this season straight from Hell.

    2017 and this years great start at Maitland are nothing more than vanishing mists of a morning, even heavy fogs usually clear into a bright and sunny day, and for me the mist and more importantly the heavy fog that is blanketing the eels needs to be lifted and lifted now, and before the players even touch the field for training.

    Players with season ending injuries such as Beau Scott, should also give an indication if they want to play on and the club make a call on that. Same with the whole 16 still off contract and not signed for 2019. Maybe those with contracts ending 2019. Time for a complete rebuild so this year is not totally wasted.

      1. Colin Hussey

        Mate I decided to put the post over on the other site, and see what reactions came of it, so far nothing and one could expect that I guess.

        Overall I also feel in many respects of having my heart ripped out. If I have just one hope and plea is that we do not witness another game as poor as that performance last night.

        I think its up to the club to get some exemptions and allow some of the younger players to be listed in the 30man squad. I read where the club is going to wait on Beau’s recovery before making a call on him, does than mean the request by the club to the NRL to seek a medical clearance for him to retire, has been knocked back? If so, could he not choose to retire and have the club pay him out, but whats the good of the so called insurance for career ending injuries.

        1. sixties Post author

          Medical retirement and insurance issues are complicated. There’s a process that the NRL and the club’s must go through. Expect the process to play out, where all boxes need to be ticked.

  7. Anonymous

    Mate, I’ve been a season ticket holder since Parra Stadium was built back in ’86. I reckon i’m up around 500 games and I have lifetime mates that go to the footy with me. Last night I opted out – the boys went but I chose to stay home with my family. I’ve never chosen not to go before. I was quite sure the team would produce another inept performance and, to be honest, I wasn’t up to wasting another night sitting through it and, frankly, I have no regrets.
    Well, I was right, although their “effort” last night was even worse than I imagined. It’s up there with the worst I’ve seen in my 500-odd games.
    Kudos to you and the 7k others who went – you don’t deserve what that team dished up for you.
    Great article as usual mate. Cheers, Kramerica 🙂

  8. Big Derek

    Here we go.
    Talking to a number of supporters walking out, then to a junior coach and finally driving home and sleeping on it.
    1. Loyalty should be a good thing, but the game evolves and just keeping the same team and adding 3 new pieces but keeping the same playing style is a coaching issue, what is the phrase ” doing the same thing and expecting a different outcome is the definition of insanity
    2.. Where is our attacking structure. There is no threat and little cohesion when the team gets in red zone, the sweep plays and unders runs are so obvious and easy to defend.
    3. Even in midfield the opposition just runs a shooter against our first receiver and we haven’t changed our style to combat it.
    4. The gamble in employing a running fitness coach on the thought that both refereeing style and opposition defences would allow it to continue was very poor, even to the point we lack muscle power and physical presence.
    5. Coaches need to evolve , we are running the exact same plays for 3 years, rescued by Semi at times who changed complete momentum. Where’s the offloads from forwards, where is support play- that is on the coaching systems we have
    6. Playing a compressed defence against an opposition scrum feed in our 30, they just run tip ons and get outside, how friggin obvious.

    There are so many more glaring problems, but so many come back to coaching and as a fan of BA but he needs to understand his style needs to change and recruitment intensified. Like many I was there through the 90s and saw more from a lack lustre roster than this year, when you could look at the line ups and think individually we were capable of winning. The club needs a complete change from the training regime to coaching staff, possibly an experienced head of football and let BA concentrate on coaching. I can see BA saying I will just work harder, no – just work smarter .

    Oh, and replace the GM Junior League who has put the junior league in free fall

    #Eels4life

    1. BDon

      I think Bernie Gurr needs to catch the train out to Penrith and have a look at what Gus has been doing out there. Our junior development, for starters,would not be the model used at the Riff.

    2. Poppa

      Always listen to you Derek as you are hands on, where is most of us aren’t /can’t be.
      Who is responsible for the appointment of the GM Junior League and what can be done? what process creates this situation and how subjective is it?

    3. Tad

      I agree with most you are saying Big Derek seems obvious to most that banging your head against a brick wall without a result suggests you start looking for something different. BA has been slow to adapt. I suspect He has a lot of input from other assistants around him and even players themselves.It makes you wonder why they are so stuck in that mindset and expect things to work out differently

      1. mitch

        I just want to offer an alternative point of view, and I’m not even saying I particularly subscribe to it; but what if the players themselves aren’t executing the game plan/strategy/tactics/plays in game? What if the plan is still appropriate but the execution is off? Do you throw it all out and start again, or do you persist?

        Again, not claiming I know what’s happening, or even saying that is what’s occurring, just offering an alternative. If you’re BA and that’s happening (knowing that it did lead to some success last year), what do you do?

        1. Anonymous

          Mitch Nice to consider different things. To be honest I think all the players basically know they are on notice with a high risk of their careers and handsome incomes maybe becoming extinct at the end of this year. I think they are trying to the best of their abilities but are simply lost. Emotionally drained and not knowing what else they can do. Confidence basically destroyed and little power.I saw the Australian soccer coach have players do things in a very small confined space. Really puts the pressure on working in tight spaces so that when you get into a bigger space you are much more finely tuned. I wonder if the same approach would be useful in league. Eg concentrate On 2nd phase play in a small confined place eg training on half the field with very limited space. When you get onto a full field you feel like you have a lot of space and time to offload. Lots is mentioned on bending the line with big boppas.I think we need to look at all sorts of other ways of going around the line. Offloads, kicks etc.what is almost non existent is backing up with support and chases

  9. Shelley

    I know what I saw last night. I am not blind.

    I saw some players who tried their guts out and I saw some who simply don’t give two rats. You can’t serioisly say your trying and care about and respect the fans, BA and the club then stand still on your try line and let the Knights forwards, not the Sharks or Panthers but the Knights forwards run over the top of you. Not once or twice but on multiple times. You can’t be trying if you simply refuse to even chase a grubber kick, support even once your team mate or even try to get on a bouncing ball. It is clear that during last nights game some players were either sulking or trying to make a statement to the club and or coach. Harsh but it is what I know I saw. Sure the club needs to look at why those players made those decisions to sulk or make a statement BUT no matter the reason in my eyes some players last night should never be allowed to put on my clubs jersey again. A few players crossed the line of no return for me as a supporter.

    With 20 minutes to go we started to pack up to leave. My son was upset and asked to go. I can genuinely say I have never even thought of leaving a game early. But we ended up staying last night. Why? because of the reaction from Gutho and Nathan Brown to another easy Knights try in which their teammates played touch once again on their try line. We were sitting behind that goal line so we could see it easily. Gutho and Brown both immediately put hands on hips and without speaking eyeballed a select few teammates for a good 2-3 minutes. The look on Gutho and Browns face said it all. If looks could kill Brown would have been charged with murder. They saw what I saw, another non attempt and like me they were filthy with it. So we stayed to cheer on Gutho, Brown, Gower, Taka and a few others. BA needs to protect them, protect this club and respect the fans. He needs to call these players publically on it by not selecting them next week. Forget injury put the 17 most determined players on the field next week, even if out of position they will do much better then what I witnessed last night. Sadly if BA will not do this he will loose my support.

    I love my club so this is my decision. A few players chucked BA and this club under the bus last night. I won’t watch those players any more. I won’t travel 5 hours, pay for petrol and parking to sit in the cold and watch some of my team either not try or give up. I will go to my next game when these players are not playing. When my team has 17 players who will try their guts out, I will cheer, support and defend them no matter the result.

    My message to the club is simple. If you take the easy option and sack BA you will loose my families support, our membership and loyalty. Last night is on the players, or should I say some players head, not BA. Don’t reward that non effort by taking the easy path. It will lead this club back into the abyss and I won’t go there again. My family will walk away.

    1. Big Derek

      Shelley, spoken from the heart as a true fan. Even with his faults BA bleeds for the club, my familyhave had season tickets since 1982, keep BA and provide what’s needed in players and support to repay the fans. Like many I would find it hard to dig as deep as usual if they didn’t see what happened last night. I feel numb this morning, how I feel,for Gower, Alvaro, Brown and Gutho – they must be devastated at what happened around them 😁

      1. Colin Hussey

        BD, I disagree with you on one very important point. Shelley is not a FAN, she is a true EELS SUPPORTER, nothing less. I admire her passion and feel for the whole of the eels team except I would suggest the bludgers that hide behind those who are putting in

        I totally agree that and for me those who are having a go and putting in should say to the coach and CEO we as a group can no longer play with them unless they dramatically change their attitudes. If they don’t want to play here those in that bargain basement of zero worth should do the right thing and resign from the club and not get anymore money for nothing.

        We need more supporters like Shelley able to stand up and prepared to put it. I would love to be at every match, but age, health and distance makes it ultra hard, cold nights are killers also for me to sit under the stars at this time of the year.

        Please lets stop using the term fans rather start using the real term of supporters for those who are support the team and all aspects associated with it, including the off field staff.

      2. Milo

        I can agree wit your comment Big D; we have too many lazy guys who do not play consistent; its a cultural thing with me. The guys you mentioned above all have one thing in common. Consistency.
        Players can make and also break coaches…..
        I am beyond devastated tbh. Its easy for some to blame coach when some of these guys fail to show up.

    2. sixties Post author

      I’m on board with pretty much most of what you said Shelley.
      I love this club. I spend a ridiculous amount of my time in that support. There are players who didn’t turn up last night.
      It’s not up to them to turn it around. They have that opportunity every time they’ve been selected, every time BA has shown loyalty.
      It makes no sense from a rugby league perspective but I’d also advocate a selection decision based on players who care, who have pride.

      1. Colin Hussey

        Cannot disagree sixties. Maybe BA should ask Gutho and Brown along with those who showed guts last night who they wanted in the team going forward.

    3. The Captain

      Totally agree Shelley. I don’t make all the games but I was hoping for a really special effort last night so I headed on in. I didn’t leave early but I was very close. The cold chill of the night and the cold lifeless body of the Eels season that could’ve been were both freezing me to the core.

      Can I ask which players in particular you were filthy with? I agree I think it’s high time we started calling out lack of effort, and I think that goes for us as fans too.

      Which players would you need to see dropped next week to hold faith with BA?

    4. Avenger

      I’m so sorry Shelley that you feel like this but the buck stops with Arthur. He is the coach and we need to start fresh. He has broken all records and this is the worst performance by an Eels team since I have supported them.

      When was the last time the season was finished prior to Origin?

    5. Realistic Eel

      Join the discussion…Don’t be delusional Shelley! Brad Arthur is not bigger than the club! So if we sack Arthur & he gets a job at the Storm will you become a Storm supporter? PLEASE! It’s a results based business….yes lots of players need to be shown the door but the coach is ultimately responsible. If he’s lost the dressing room it’s down to him. The players might like Brad but possibly they don’t ‘respect’ him.

      1. Shelley

        I respect your right to disagree with me, I really do but I am also entitled to an opinion.

        BA is not above criticism at all. If things don’t improve and he does not make some changes with player selections I will not defend that. I really dislike our attacking structures and BA needs to adapt. If not then he will probably deserve to be sacked. My view is simple on Saturday. It was bad, really bad. If there are players who are sulking and you reward that by sacking the coach we end up like the Titans in 2018. Last year those players sulked, not just Hayne but others like Taylor etc, and got the coach sacked plus got upgraded contracts. Are they any better this year? just as inconsistent and ill disciplined etc.

        I respect the way Sths did it last year. Players continued to try so it was obviously Maguire and a change was needed. What happens if the players get off side with a new coach next year. Sack them to. I want a good honest review not a knee jerk reaction to media reports otherwise we will make the mistakes like we have in the past.

        I will never support any other club. If BA goes and that is the only change and players are not made accountable then yes I will not renew my membership.

        1. Tad

          Shelly the season is basically gone now– I think things will become much clearer in the next 6 weeks or so hopefully when our injured players return and see if BA has been able to make something out of the rest of the season. I think if he can,t make effective changes to our style of play he will probably decide to go himself. The pressure on him will be too great

        2. Realistic Eel

          Shelley……let me paint this picture for you: Brad Arthur gets the sack & you don’t renew your membership. Then in October 2019 we are playing in the Grand final after a season of wonderful performances. I’m sure you’ll be back & Brad Arthur will be a distant memory. Yes the players need to be accountable but very hard to sack players en mass without destroying your salary cap. As Phil Gould once said, if players get a sense that the coach is under pressure their natural instinct is to throw him under the bus with poor performances to take the spotlight off themselves. Sad but true it’s called professional sport. This thing happens weekly in European football as I mentioned in a previous post. If you are looking at the Titans as an example the fact is Neil Henry is an ordinary coach. He had a star studded Cowboys rosters for years yet couldn’t win them the comp. He signed Robert Lui as 7 & moved Thurston to 6. That says it all. Sometimes teams just need a new voice….look at Souths this year compared to their last 3 seasons. If Brad Arthur loses his job it will be sad because he’s a great man who kept the club on it’s feet in 2016. That doesn’t entitle him to special treatment though & don’t feel sorry for him because he earns more $ in a month than most of us do in a year.

  10. Avenger

    There is no sporting organisation anywhere in the world with a profile similar to ours that would put up with this mess.

    1. Cappy

      Spot on Avenger, Arthur still having a job surprises me this is not the worse roster in the nrl but we are wooden spoon bound.
      Bernie is quiet as a mouse in the bad times also.
      This team didn’t actually show up in the 2018 season until round 7.
      The culture is rotten to the core.

    2. Poppa

      I think the jersey comment showed your colours, any one that wants to talk about the jersey in the same context as the seriousness of sacking the coach tells me that your name should be vengeful.

    3. Colin Hussey

      So, another one joins here and blames the jersey for all our ills. How many years since the last premiership win, and all of those years we have played with how many different variations of basically the same design? and dare I suggest they are just if not more cursed than the old ones.

      What makes people think that in this modern age of the me generation that every decision that affects the club one way or another cannot be done by the club management, rather than going to some sort of time consuming public appeal as to what the players should wear. Don’t forget to include the underpants in the list either.

      In times when the eels won the premierships, as a football and PLC member we never had any such opportunity to vote on what the players will wear. The first change of Jersey design was done during the old mid week competition back when? There was a club announcement that the team would be wearing a new design, that was the only notice given. AND guess what???? No one made any adverse comments because we lived in age where we could accept change whether we liked or agreed with the specific items.

      Maybe people today could be a bit more considerate in accepting change even when they don’t like it as many others have the opposite view.

      Get Real!!

      1. Anonymous

        Colin The reason we lost is that the stars were not in alignment mate.Every Unicorn knows that

          1. Milo

            Classic movie Col; Oddball was superb and Clint always a legend. Great old flick that one….

      2. Avenger

        I’m not blaming the jerseys mate. I’m just including it in my frustrations. If we did a poll on what jersey we should permanently have I’m confident that this “wooden spoon” design would not come out on top.

        I’m guessing this years heritage jersey (1986) would come out on top.

          1. Colin Hussey

            Tad, I did not raise the issue, just commenting on it in reply,

            Avenger. Let me say this, I like the original and the predominate blue and what is supposed to be the home strip, I do not like the predominately yellow/gold away strip though.

            If the new heritage jersey (which really is not heritage as such) was to be our away jersey, then I would have no issues with that at all. Lets have home and away playing outfit that depicts our heritage based on the originals, but not the current one, get rid of the blue down the sides of the jersey and have the B&G stripes all the way around as they were.

            Have the heritage outfit as the away playing style. It remembers and celebrates our GF wins which is what many want to remember and more for the newer generation, but at least hold on to our history as well. Too many good players and supporters who worked hard for the club in its infancy are cut off by tossing our heritage and pride in the early years.
            So lets celebrate our teams over the years and honour them with what we play in and also how to play, its not for just one side or group over the other but its for all eels supporters from day one through the years and not ending.

          2. Tad

            Hi Colin I have written heaps about the jersey on the other site mate when the subject originally came up. Got confused a bit with expressing myself but over it now. Not a fan of the predominate yellow jersey at all. I would like to see a higher portion of blue in the home jersey —overall 75 % blue or so as the dominant colour. I am all for holding onto tradition as a concept for the jersey as well– can be modernised I suppose without losing the heritage.

          3. Colin Hussey

            Tad I had an early supporters t shirt in the 70’s that had wide alternating blue and gold strips, they were around 30mm wide and alternating, I liked it and wore it everywhere until it finally fell apart.

            In Newcastle there is a RL team that plays with wide alternating B&G bands to me they are too big and would be better with narrower bands. Our oldest Grandson plays Ra Rah in NCLE as well, his team has a similar design whereby the shoulders are all blue and then alternated from the armpits down with a narrower design than the RL team uses. I thought that looked quite good.

            Also I have one of the retro design jerseys in the bands but it looks better that the existing one. Maybe because it has the white full collars and in cotton as the old styles were.

    4. Anonymous

      Dear vengeful, don’t we have bigger problems than our footy jumper. I bet you’ve got a long neck too!

  11. Tad

    I think the last few loses where they put a lot of effort in and lost the games through bad luck and some poor ref calls has had a big effect on last nights game. Emotionally with the injuries early in the game and poor possession took its toll. They appeared to have nothing left in their emotional resources to fight on. The biggest concern was that BA has not adjusted his game plan in attack for far too long. One up very predictable hit ups with no attempt to offload and create a second phase play can stifle your enthusiasm. Like continually running one out into a brick wall and not getting anywhere. I can,t understand why we still stick to same style of play when it has clearly failed us all year. Our kicking game is very poor this year. was one of our strengths last year.BA is under heaps of pressure and seems to be going into a very conservative risk free pattern of play. We need changes in some player person ell to change the mindset we are in. BA desperately needs to refocus on a more creative style of play with much more ball movement. I thought Gutherson at half would have done the job. It hasn,t.

    1. Lady Eel

      Must admit we left before the game ended, the comical replacement of Will Smith/Matagui scénario was enough for us – you will know what I mean if you were at the game.

      Don’t know how many heard the discussion today on ABC radio when Matthew Elliott, former coach was asked what he would do if he was coaching Parramatta. He replied that he thinks Parra’s issues are mental or psychological. They were widely tipped to be top 4 finishers, and probably the team believed the hype also.

      Hé went on to say that winning releases certain chemicals in the body and there are physical reasons that players feel better abôut themselves when they are on a winning run. When the roll is downhill like we are at the moment then it is a difficult hole to get out of. He suggested concentrating on making players feel good or happy, improving their moral before trying to do anything about addressing technical issues.

      Talking about the science behind winning I know is a long way from the way most supporters think, eg naming players you don’t think “earnt their pay” this week and also makes it hard to understand how some teams can be flogged one week and turn up the next, like Newcastle, or why the same team can play better for a new coach, all I can say is I’m glad I don’t have to solve this dilemma.

      1. BDon

        Geez, i’m trying to think how you make the players feel good or happy in a way that’s not forced, contrived or shallow. Big challenge there, as the ship tilts. From what I’ve read, BA works hard at this as part of his method, many think he works too hard at it. Is it team based, individual based, continuous, integrated, stand alone,one-shot tricks?? The truth session around the 18 gallon doesn’t seem to fly these days. What would Jack do? I’m not sure Matthew Elliott is 100% right. The top 4 teams have big packs, solid spine and good kicking games, and this is what makes them feel good.

        1. BDon

          A few years back when Gould had his SMH column, he was pushing a strong case for western Sydney to get its act together and take a longer term, organised view to NRL development. He saw Panthers and Eels as central in this, but basically saw that we couldn’t manage ourselves let alone a broader strategy. He wisely preferred to not comment on us, with his only words to the effect ‘until Parramatta get their off field act in order, they’ll struggle…’ and Brad Arthur has had to run a football team under this cloud.

      2. Anonymous

        Yes Lady Eel you probably heard about a therapy based around laughter. You start to laugh with other people and can lift others around you who may be on a downer to laugh as well. It becomes contagious.I believe it releases endorphins which can lift your mood.I think we do need some in Sports or mindfulness training to help out. It can help in many areas of football with things like personal disciplines around impulse control and focusing on putting power into the physical

        1. Poppa

          One final point on this as we seem to have gone to jersey’s to therapy sessions…..what next?
          The reality is we have a football team whose roster does not make us competitive enough to be the force we want and need to be.
          Lets gets some leadership happening and discuss the potential of what ever plan is implemented. This team in its current format is simply not good enough.
          Once that is accepted/happens we can dwell on the future, currently we are locked into the past and gazing deeply into our naval.
          Stop the naval gazing and lets go forward, respect the people that have tried and failed and ask them to move on (the players who for whatever reason have not put in).
          A management plan for the future needs to be aknowledged, even if it is not ready for delivery.

  12. Longfin Eel

    One thing I have noticed all year, and you touched on this Sixties, is that our support play is non existent. Too often someone makes a break, but there is nobody around to accept the pass on offer. I would have thought this is one of the first things you teach kids when they are learning some attacking play. It’s basic stuff like this that we are not doing, and this is killing our attack. I think if the players felt more comfortable in attack and their abilities to score, the defence would also fix itself. Forget trying to sure up defensive structures first – we need to be able to score points and we need to have confidence in our ability to do so.

  13. MAX

    How well stated is that little segment from Sixties, and thank you for imparting what we as dedicated fans are thinking, hopefully someone from the club who may listen to how we feel. My point is, and I will leave it at this, I don’t care if we lose as long as we have left nothing on the field, and each player can sit in his designated chair after the game, orphaned of remaining energy and think I did my best. As a dedicated fan that is all I ask of you. Sadly none of you as players gave that type of respect to Our Club, Our Jersey or to us as your fans.
    I too will turn up next game and hope to see a competitive outfit!

  14. Poppa

    If I was a fair wether follower, I would not be here………that said I am over there as well and like to come here for the civility when I can.
    No problems, there is room on my horse for two!

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