The Cumberland Throw

From The Stands – Finding A Way Forward

Another week, and another loss for the Eels. It’s easy to be nothing but critical, and though I have my own criticisms, there are acknowledgements to be made. To find a way forward, you need to acknowledge what you already have, as well as what you need.

With that in mind, From The Stands will examine my thoughts moving forward and will be presented in three parts.

1. The Criticism

In professional sport winning must be the aim – if you aren’t winning you aren’t successful.

From the stands I cannot help but think my team was missing a little bit of passion and fire against the Knights.  This is not a criticism of the effort, even if misdirected, or the desire to win. I know our players genuinely tried and care.

Here’s the problem. What we needed last week was just not there. A number of times during the game I thought about how badly we needed some Kenny Edwards niggle or a Kaysa Pritchard hit or quick dart from dummy half. Sadly, with one gone, and the other on the sidelines, it was never going to happen.

From the stands, for a large part of the match, the team looked like most teams out of the running for the eight – they looked like they were going through the motions. It is easy to start a game well but getting into the grind and being inspired and or motivated to do the one percenters when your season is over is difficult. Yet, that’s what winning matches requires.

Kaysa – his passion is a must for the 17.

Most weeks Brown contributes to that passion and fire via something that our other forwards can’t deliver – the big hit, and the uncompromising aggression in both attack and defence. So if, as I see it, he is the lone enforcer, to expect him to do it every week by himself is ridiculous. Unfortunately, Friday was not his best performance.

I hope to see a little more fire and passion from my team in the remaining seven rounds and that means some changes need to happen. Personally, I believe the team needs Kaysa Pritchard’s variety, aggression and passion for the Eels.

There is little doubt that he genuinely loves this club. He needs to be in the 17, as he has something that we are missing and badly need in the remaining seven games. Besides what he will bring in attack and defence, his example will definitely inspire and demand that those one percenters are done by his team mates.

2. The Confession

I was wrong about Jarryd Hayne.

Hayne – showing the way.

I disagreed with his recruitment as I genuinely saw no reason to bring him back to the club. I saw his motivations as being all about himself, with little care or passion about the club. My disappointment with the way he went to the Titans clouded my judgement.

Ultimately, I decided to trust the coaches and management and give him a go.

This season he’s dealt with being shifted between positions and having extended periods on the sideline. People may have expected petulance but instead Jarryd has had a real dig, especially when the team needed it the most.

On Friday, and in other recent rounds, I saw a man who did everything he could do to inspire his team mates. He showed me that while his return was undoubtedly what he needed, it was also something that this club needs.

He is still an elite athlete and he needs to be retained by the Eels.

3. The Demand

From the stands, I believe that this team needs more players who are dedicated to the Parramatta club, especially if the Eels are going to rebound next year.

The likes of Hayne and Pritchard possess the sheer will and passion to motivate others because they are and always have been Parra kids. And though we have the likes of another passionate Parra man in Tim Mannah getting closer to the end of his career, there’s a new generation of players graduating from Jersey Flegg that must be a part of the future – and sooner rather than later!

As always, my family and I will stick strong as we look forward to the clash against the Bulldogs. We know no other way. I hope to see Kaysa play and will be disappointed if I don’t.

Regardless, supporting the players and the club remains vital for all Eels fans.

Shelley

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2 thoughts on “From The Stands – Finding A Way Forward

  1. Colin Hussey

    Shelley, Good blog and totally agree with you.

    I am of the firm belief that Kaysa has to be the run on 9 against the dogs, also he along with Mahoney should be the two 9’s next year, Mahoney is the future if he keeps going and gets the silly little things out of his game which he showed in his two matches, which had him in the bin each game and then a 3 match suspension, things like that do not help the teams, nor his own cause.

    You, & and I along with not many others see what Kaysa offers and its best shown up in the way the teams going whilst he has not been there, he was the 9 in our last two wins so that says something as well.

    Regarding Hayne, I had mixed feelings as to whether he was a good signing, I based that a lot on how he was at the Titans and his last match for Fiji, very very poor walking around the ground directing traffic was about it.

    Scepticism is still there as he has only 7 or something games to run, so is he just trying for the contract and pay boost or really is enjoying the game again and injury free, if that’s the case then he’s worth another year at least.

  2. BDon

    Kaysa’s NRL career is like a highlights reel, you just get the grabs, good and bad but I’ve always thought his heart and mind are unquestionably positive and selfless. He’s never had the continuity to mould his game or be moulded towards his best. Agree 100% Shelley that his passion is a great asset. Pritchard/Brown is a bit like Peats/Mau, 2 blokes with an edge that rubs off on others. Hilditch/Price anyone??

    Post 2009, Hayne increasingly saw a sieve in front of him. Opponents breaking into the backfield like an unopposed training gallop. Our on-field mirrored our front office. No wonder he loved Origin but got sick of club football. In many ways this guy is now looking to redeem himself, I reckon give him the rope, we won’t do much better for experience and leadership if a genuine re-build emerges over next 12 months. He has a lot to gain as a person by leveraging the lessons of his past decade.

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