The Cumberland Throw

From The Stands – Disappointment, Leadership, Gratitude

For so many 2020 has been a hard year.

Bushfires, floods and Covid have wreaked havoc on Australia and have also directly impacted our family. But at a time that was anything but normal and at times very worrying, we had the footy to bring us together. Sometimes we came together virtually to discuss the game and as the season progressed we met up at the games.

I was so disappointed for the team against the Rabbitohs. As BA said it was a lost opportunity, we can’t and won’t hide from that. This team should be aiming towards a premiership and if they don’t get that they need to look at why and set about improving.

My support for the team will always be there. I supported them in 2018 when they came last and I will certainly support them after our defeat against the Rabbitohs.  The team trained all year to get that opportunity. I know they will be disappointed when they watch the tape but that game is gone. Learn from it, become better and bring on 2021.

People will throw stones and point fingers. Unfortunately our society has evolved to be able to scream and shout in a text message. I don’t need to repeat the criticism, so I won’t.

When I looked at our 2017 finals team there were only 4 players from that team who played against the Rabbitohs. I was a little surprised but in my mind it reinforced my view that this club is not standing still and doing nothing. After the disaster of the 2018 season we took our medicine, owned our mistakes and moved forward.

In 2019 the difference between our best and worst from week to week was miles apart. This year we were in all but one game. Apart from the Souths shut out, our losses still saw us lead early, but have a 10-15 minute period that killed us.

Again against the Rabbitohs our 15 minutes after halftime hurt us. It is easy to point to the missed goal kick but from the stands it looked like we lost that game in the 15 minutes after half time. We gave Damien Cook momentum and he is deadly if you do that. He got on a roll we could not stop. I am sure the players do not need me or any commentator to point this out.

When our starting forwards go off there is too much drop in our team. It is something we need to learn how to manage, because you cannot solve it by playing your starting forwards big minutes every game. Next year we need to learn to concentrate for every minute in every game. We need to learn to put a team like the Dogs away when we lead 18-0. Champion teams practise good standards every game so that when they get under pressure they do what they know. They practice them until they simply become what you do. That is why players come into the Storm team and slip into the role.

After the game we stayed and waited for our Eels to finish the huddle to applaud them. It was really hard to listen to the Bunnies song belt out over the loud speaker, but good luck to them. Their supporter base is as loyal and dedicated as ours. I don’t think they will win the competition but as both the Knights and we found out give them the opportunity and they will make you pay.

The King

There will be knockers but that will always be the case. We sat in one of the Eels supporter bays, bay 119 and those seats gave me the opportunity to see something, the best moment from our game. I don’t think the TV picked it up but I saw it. It was the action I saw from our captain Clint Gutherson. Others will point out his ability to score points, to get our team into the fight, but I saw a better moment. I saw a moment that will help this team next year.

When Dylan Brown threw the intercept pass and the Rabbitohs ran away to score I saw Dylan put his head down. He was so upset. He was so disappointed. He  has so much talent, and he gives his all every game but he is really a kid when it comes to first grade.

Gutho had used every bit of energy he had in the game. He could have dropped his shoulders and walked back but instead he stood up, ran immediately over to Dylan, put his arm around his shoulders, tapped  Dylan on the head and walked with Dylan all the way back to the goal line.

Every champion team has a few leaders. The players other players play for,  the ones they follow, the ones they trust, the ones they listen to because they don’t want to let them down.  Lockyer and Petro at Brisbane, Johns and Ben Kennedy at the Knights, Ricky and Mal at the Raiders, Alexander and Simmons at Penrith, Thurston and Scott at the Cowboys. You get the point.

Junior

This team improved this year because our leaders emerged. They developed a presence on the field not simply as individual talented players but leaders. Gutho, Junior and Nathan Brown are our leaders. They are players others follow. They are the ones who need to drive our improvement over the off season. They will need to get our attention focussed onto the little things in games that we control, so that we develop good habits that hold up well in high intensity, winner take all games.

If you don’t believe me check Gutho’s photo on his Instagram feed post match. He put up a photo Mitch Moses. He said, without words, that he had Moses’ back. Blaming that loss on Mitch Moses only demonstrates the most elementary understanding of league. Having people’s back in tough times is what leaders do. This team needs Dylan and Moses to go to the next level next year. Knowing the other players have their back is an incredibly important part of their combined development.

I genuinely feel that for the first time in a long time we have on field leaders in this team that can take us to the next step. They are not just respected, as we have had incredibly well respected leaders in our recent past, but these three are integral to just about all our attacking and defensive powers.

Some will say we failed again. While I can’t ignore the areas needed for improvement and I know the team won’t ignore it, the development of a strong, determined, highly inspirational and young leadership group that has the desire to improve and the love and respect of the fans means that 2020 is not at all a lost year.

Our favourite Cyborg, Nathan Brown

Last year when Gutho’s contract drama played out in the media I wrote our team does not function without him. He has proven that to be correct and now he has too very influential and talented sidekicks in Brown and Junior with him.

So in my last From the Stands for this season I finish with those simple words. Thank you to our players and staff. You made sacrifices so our game could go on. You made sacrifices so that families could have something to take their minds off the worries or the isolation that Covid brought to many people.

Thank you and have a great break. To those players  leaving, thank you and good health. I am going to miss seeing Taka in the Blue and Gold.

As every Parra fan knows, there is always next year. I am sure all Parra players and fans will be reminded about 1000 times that 2021 will be 35 years since our last premiership.

Bring it on.

 

Shelley

If you liked this article, you might consider supporting The Cumberland Throw.

78 thoughts on “From The Stands – Disappointment, Leadership, Gratitude

  1. Offside

    I’m still disappointed I don’t accept this as a good season because in the end we are out in week 2 again.
    I hope adjustments are made I firmly believe that our coaching staff needs changes it doesn’t matter if Murphy and Kidwell are good blokes you need to rejig the coaching staff BA and the players need new voices.

    For every positive we have added negatives I had a coach tell me once “ignore the positives you know what’s good, you learn from the negative”
    I hope we work on fixing the problem issues
    Effort and just making the finals is no longer a accaptaptable benchmark.

    1. Shelley

      I cannot disagree in terms of fixing the issues needed. I guess what is disappointing is the click bait rubbish being written and the illogical thinking of supporters. See my other reply, so
      I only had to write it once.

  2. Salty Pete

    Shelley, this is the best article I have read. What a wise, positive, yet practical insight you have shown. We all know additional work needs to happen, but I always struggle to make it not sound negative. You have an uncanny knack to be able to do this. Thanks for all your work on the CT and have a great off season.

    1. Shelley

      Thank you, same to your family.

      In our bay on Saturday we sat next to people we did not know. The lady proceeded to give my son lollies and home made brownies she made. The Parra family is unique.

  3. Parra Pete

    First of all, I congratulate the team at The Cumberland Throw for yet another great coverage of “All things Eels” in 2020. Training reports, match reports, inside information, NOTHING LIKE IT ANYWHERE ON THE WEB. You people are AMAZING, and I thank you all for your time and efforts.
    Secondly, I can cop a loss when the players HAVE A GO..and they did on Saturday against the Rabbits.
    The full-time score of 38-24 could have been the other way around. Souths were gifted AT LEAST 18 points…through ‘fate’
    IF Moses had landed the goal instead of hitting the post..
    IF Gutho had grounded the ball off Cook kick…
    If Dylan brown had hit Brad Takarangi with the intercepted pass, the Eels winger would have had a clear run to the try line.
    IF Moses hadn’t tripped over the ref with the chip and chase at the end, he would have regathered.
    Sure they went down on the scoreboard…nothing wrong with the effort though, given the withdrawals and the circumstances
    Dems the breaks….Ob la di, ob la dah.
    Mitch Moses was never the same player as he was before he injured his calf..and the night he slipped over attempting to convert a try seemed to sap his confidence.
    He will regain his ability to direct the team around the paddock. I’m sure of that..At the start of the season he was being spoken about as the Blues half back – ahead of Nathan Cleary. Form is temporary, class permanent.
    Another few sessions with Andrew Johns, and he will get his mojo back.
    I am waiting to see how the big forwards Hollis and Hughes adapt to the NRL…they seem to have big wraps on them
    I reckon it will be a Panthers – Raiders Grand Final….but, the day after, who cares..Just another couple of months until it starts again….and everyone forgets about what happened this year
    It’s the 2021 season, everyone is on even footing….
    THIRDLY – just want to add that I am in awe of King Gutho. What a player, what a heart. He represents all the GOOD THINGS in sport. ….He truly is a KING.

    1. BDon

      PP, Moses got ankled tapped by Cody Walker’s leg which caused him to half stumble into Sutton then fall. It looked soft but Walker had no eyes for the ball on the ground 3 mtrs ahead of Moses. Technically, something in that, but bunker went with refs call to play on. We went flat footed, Cook scored. And that’s me being PP, pathologically pedantic, because we needed an 8 point miracle try with 2 minutes left.

  4. Poppa

    Nice stuff Shelley and well written.

    All that aside some difficult decisions need to be made.
    First and most immediate, I hope Michael Cronin has a chat to Mitchel Moses over how he felt when he missed a goal in the 77 grand final and how MM needs to react…..I am worried about the potential emotional damage and the baggage that can bring. Some say Ben Hunt was never the same after he dropped that kick in the closing minutes of his grand final. In Mitchell’s case it won’t leave him alone and I hope we don’t just put an arm around him and console him, as nice as that is, he will probably need professional help and should not be ashamed for doing so.

    Finally the “Elephant in the room” is BA’s tenure.
    I have been advocating we manage him out to save face for him and also thanking him for the wonderful efforts he has put in on behalf of the club through what I call the renaissance period.
    I would like to see him called aside and explain this will be his last year coming and with the “selected” assistant to be with him through the upcoming season and then taking over. This to enable the continuance of his culture and relationship with the players. The coach taking over then has an understanding of BA’s achievements and style and whilst he obviously will put his own style on things, at least he is not taking over cold with a cleanout. BA’s work will not be forgotten.

    Finally if BA wanted to stay with his beloved Parra then a position be found in talent identification within our junior structure with the specific goal of identifying and bring forward young player’s to play NRL. This would require him to report to the GM Football but have no official role in the FG side. If this doesn’t suit BA then we wish him well and pay him (severance) accordingly to pursue a career elsewhere as a senior coach.

    He just maybe a hell of a pick up for the appropriate club.

    My apologies to the people I upset with this blog, but its time!

    1. Shelley

      Poppa, I respect everyone’s right to an opinion and never take offence to people who disagree with me.
      I think you know I have a different view on BA and would be against mass changes. See my
      added comment I explain why we must be more like the Roosters and avoid becoming like the Tigers and Bulldogs.

      1. poppa

        I am not disagreeing with you Shelley and at no stage did I advocate mass changes, my whole concept was to keep stability within the structure, the mass changes will be happening this year, 11 outgoing!
        BA will have a big role to play in this process, the advocacy of a new coach is a natural occurring event…..tactically BA is now not showing the next level he needs to go to…..again not an insult but understood by most people thinking objectively.

  5. Anonymous

    Great article Shelley and as always you make a disappointed Parra supporter feel good again. I have hope that the boys will deliver in 2021. Blue and Gold forever 💛💙

  6. Mr pessimist

    There’s a huge difference between a supporter and a follower , most on this sight are the former with you being one of the best Shelley , sixties pipped you 😇, anyway it’s history now so my biggest concern now is the announcement of 11 departures and no landings , given this is now the stingiest club and recruitment department I shudder to think who we will sign , obviously no one that can play because they are to expensive , so to all clubs bring out your cheap rubbish ,we’re in the market for them , doesn’t matter if they are any good just so long as they are CHEAP . !!!

    1. Milo

      Pessimist why do you stingy? PLs explain? we tied up Gutho, RCG, Junior, DB and MM on decent coin. We do not have DCE on huge coin, but I respect your view.

      1. Mr pessimist

        The call at the moment is “to much money “ you buy cheap you get cheap , The clubs policy now is running the footy Team on the cheap , they won’t pay the money the successful clubs will , we are a business now the footy team comes second !!!!!!

        1. B&G

          Might add , not really a pessimist , opposite actually combined with realist , just not liking some rumours circulating from credible places .

          1. poppa

            The call you are taking about is fan forum thing, and has no basis of fact,if you look at the history of the past 4/5 years the answers to all your questions are there with sound reasoning. Sorry Pessimist but your heart is not really with Parra.
            Go follow Roosters, caps and budgets don’t worry them!

    2. Rowdy

      The scriptures say not to call people names, so I won’t be disrespectful to Almighty God. So you’re safe Mr pessimist at least from this post. What I don’t understand though, is your reference to CHEAP? BA brought Junior back from Canberra $650K, Mitchell Moses was on similar $$$ now on about $800K, Gutho came for peanuts from Manly and now on ~ $700K and in the SOO squad. He brought that madman from Souffs and Wests Nathan Brown for pocket change, he’s on about $$600K and in SOO squad with his Cabra juniors teammate Junz. We got RCG at about 1/2 of his $750K contract value also back in SOO when he couldn’t get a start at Penrith. Michael Jennings came for $650K about 4 years ago and recently re-signed for about $350K and with the hrelp of some minor additives was playing his best footy. Fergy came from the premiers as a SOO player for $450K, not bad $’s for a winger? All these blokes came before we had got Mark O’Neill. If you are not eligible to called names? Then at least read a dictionary for the definition of Cheap. I call ignorance.

      1. Anonymous

        All true you said but Read your 2nd last line mate , all before as you said someone came , it’s CHANGED .

        1. poppa

          Yes Mark O’Neill is a big part of those signings and it should be corrected ……all these blokes came before him is not quite true and the renegotiation of those contracts were heavily in his lap..

  7. Moffat

    To the Cumberland Throw team, simply great stuff again this year, I love to read your varying opinions, and Shelley an awesome contribution.

    I hate to say it, but I think we got what we all knew we were going to get, based on the fact that our team simply folds under pressure, we need a tougher space between the ears, they are all good footy players in their own right, but simply not mentally tough.

    I am not sure that BA is the one to bring this out in them!

    I will continue to BLEED blue and gold forever, as disappointed as I am.

    Moffat!

  8. Shelley

    High everyone different people are commenting on changes etc so I wrote this reply in a comment so I only had to write it once.

    My comment on fixing issues-
    Look at the Roosters. First and foremost they keep things in house. If someone in house did genuinely leak that information to Mr Chammas, they need to be told to pack their bags. Even people who want change should realise that leaks to the media is self destructive. We will become the Tigers/ Bulldogs if not careful. We have been there, it is a death spiral.

    Second, the Roosters know what they are doing and are smart with planning. The years 2014- 2017 the were minor premiers twice and in 14, 15 and 17 they got knocked out before the grad final. In 16 they had a terrible year and did not finish in the 8.

    However, they did not get rid of Trent Robinson. They are run professionally buy people who know how to create long term success both in business and football. They could see that a bad coach cannot consistently get a team to the finals. They waited for the opportunity and kept building. They did not get rid of Mitchel Pearce when no one better was available. They did not let the media narrative dictate their moves. They kept working, improving the squad. When they got the chance with Cronk and Tedesco on the market they got them. The only reason they got Cronk was because he wanted to come to Sydney. He wasn’t leaving Melbourne otherwise. The Roosters were appealing for Cronk in part because of the stability, the strength of the roster and the lack internal fighting. What they did and did not do in 14-17 made the decision for Cronk an easy one.

    Those that want change need to answer who is replacing BA?

    Not a wish list because Bellamy is not moving to Western Sydney and Bennet left his last two clubs Knights and Brisbane in a terrible position squad and salary cap wise. He was after his own short term praise not the long term interest of the club.

    What about Michael McGuire? Yes he is a premiership coach but he has not been able to attract elite players and therefore he cannot get his team into the 8 let alone Elite players run away from clubs who leak information, who chop and change all the time even if they are coached by a premiership winner.

    Who is replacing Moses ( PS – I don’t think he needs replacing) Are we going to ask the Roosters to give us Keary, I am sure Politis will agree. Those that say simply give a star player an offer they can’t refuse must want to end up like Manly. An unbalanced team that goes terribly with one- two injuries.

    If BA etc say our squad is fine, no changes are needed then he is not the right person for us. I and I doubt no one on this site, any journalist or any fans site can answer that question. But if you look at our changes to our roster since 2017 I would suggest that BA and the other staff know exactly what needs to change.

    Jack Gibson said winning starts in the front office. Supporters can argue for change but leaking information, creating headline for click bait journalists like Hooper to write dribble on is not the front office a champion team/ club has. Look at the Roosters, they get it. I hope our club does as well.

    1. Brett Allen

      Firstly, the Roosters didn’t sack Trent Robinson when they missed the 8 because he had already coached them to a premiership, BA hasn’t, and isn’t getting any closer to doing so.
      Secondly, the Michael Chammas article was balanced and well written, and it highlighted what most fans already know, that the team has reached its ceiling under BA.
      Thirdly, the idea that we have to have a replacement coach ready to go before we sack BA is just nonsense. With the roster we’ve got we wouldn’t even have to advertise, we’d have quality coaches knocking down the door wanting to coach this team. But we have to make the decision first.

      The reality is that the time to change is now whilst our roster is still on the way up, not when it starts to get older. We’ve got another three years I reckon of internal improvement in our key guys, ie Gutho, Moses, N.Brown, Paulo, RCG, Lane, Matto, Niukore, after that they just get a year older rather than a year better.

      It’s time.

      1. poppa

        Brutal but you hit it on the head Brett.

        Lets acknowledge the good things that have been done and lets look at the realities of what needs to be done.
        I am every bit a Parra supporter as you Shelly and I would love BA to stay forever but the realist in me says its time…..sad but true.

        1. Colin Hussey

          I agree with on this Pops up to a point or 2. they being if BA remains as coach for next season, 1: He has to have the team at least in a higher position than this year. 2: he has to have new assistant coaches working with him in order to achieve the first point.

  9. DDay

    Good analytical write up Shelley. We are all disappointed with the “missed opportunity” that was season 2020. I think 34 years of recurring false dawns compounds the sense of disappointment.

    There were some great highs (wins against Raiders, Knights and the only team to beat the Riff) and the monkeys off our back (beating Cronulla and the Storm) great wins. We also have 4 players in the NSW squad – it’s been many years (back to Brian Smith I suspect) since we had so many.

    And good point about only 4 players from the 2017 playing this year – just highlights how much the squad has evolved. And there is no reason to think we won’t be better again into 2021 with smart recruits and the development players coming through. And also agree that the leadership of the team is much improved with Gutho, Junior, Fergo and NBrown.

    Wrt to BA – we don’t have any clue about the conversations going on behind closed doors but I’m sure with the football smarts we now have at the the Eels there will be a plan and it will be professionally handled behind closed doors. I suspect Chammas just joined the dots – I’m not convinced there’s any real “inside” information to his SMH article, just click bait.

    And a huge thank you to TCT – great source of information.

  10. Jpe Briffa

    Thanks Shelley i enjoyed reading your articles every week hope to do same next season take care and stay safe

  11. Anonymous

    Pretty obvious aerobic fitness levels are not were they should be with all these fade outs in 2nd half.

  12. Michael Malouf

    It’s a good point about Gutho’s leadership skills consoling Dylan Brown, but I think when people make a mistake, they know it and know what not to do next time.

    When I didn’t or don’t want to disappoint people, especially on the field, silence from leaders in those situations resounds the most with me.

    Certainly ripping in to someone doesn’t help, but consoling them also doesn’t always help because there’s no repercussions for them making the same mistake again. Plus you know what went wrong, so no need for someone reinforcing that.

    1. Rowdy

      Michael, welcome to the TCT, I can see where you’re coming from mate, but Dylan is only a 19/20 year old kid in the biggest game of his life behind by too many points and he sees an opportunity to get us back into striking distance and attempts a pass to put us there. When it was intercepted not only did his head go down it broke the hearts of about 8,ooo fans in the stands. I wonder how it must feel to have 16.000 eyes crawling all over your back? I reckon Gutho’s gesture was exactly what he needed.

  13. BDon

    Thank you Shelley for a year of opinion with substance. Always a fresh thought, an angle for digestion good, bad or ugly, educative, and great support for the team, club and the game.
    Late in the first half, Cook was bringing his forwards on to the ball and denting the ruck, and after the break, with fresh legs they continued. I thought if we could defend it, deny them early points, we’ll make a big statement about the second half, and pick up our rhythm again. Geez, I got that wrong,the seeds were sown then for a bizarre script. Agree with your when the game turned theory.

  14. Colin Hussey

    Shelley, first of all, thank you for your wonderful posts during the season, all of which add a lot to this site, which is in the main a pleasure to be part of, I trust you and family have a great Christmas and then into training for next season.

    After the end of WW2 my late dad was declared basically no longer needed and put out of the RAAF after only 12 months in, but tried to join earlier but being at the Lithgow small arms factory in maintenance he was deemed essential to the war effort and could not be released from there, after his debrief he went back to the small arms factory for work but also became very active in the work to get the eels into the Sydney comp, which happened as we all know in 1947, the year also marked my birth.

    From around the age of 10 I would accompany my dad to Cumberland oval walking there weekly from Northmead, travel by train to various other grounds as well. Leaving school in 1962 I still supported the eels as did my family, godparents also supported them, god dad was a POW in Changi Hilton, and he never missed a game except for health lotta good yarns and the like made for enjoyable get togethers, at Cumberland or around the radio listening to the games.

    My dad passed away never to see the eels win a comp, except IIRC 3rd grade or reserves once to which he was very happy. Now in 2021, & having watched the eels win their first comp was grand, never thought I would see the day, but would have loved dad to have at least been able to listen to the match.

    Being an eels supporter for something like 60 or there about years, I have followed and supported them, win lose or draw, and I always will whilst ever I have breath left in me. Sadly not really at grounds owing to health issues now at 73.

    As a family we left Sydney in 1978 to live at Werri Beach and work from Pt Kembla. Leaving there in 82 to head to Werris Creek, where I ended up being medically retired end of 88, then Bible college until 1993 and then Taree pastoring a small church there. Then back to the Western Suburbs in 2000, in all those years I retained my Leagues and football club membership, and getting to games were great when able.

    As I reflect on those years and the amount of games I watched, both at the grounds and TV, I watched many a defeat and forget the numbers of coaches that passed through the turnstiles as well. I rejoiced with the wins, often downcast with the losses but that often depended on by how big the defeats were. But that did not matter really as I was always supporting the eels and I cannot remember ever walking out early even when we got walloped. Yet it was great to jump for joy when we won even by a point and saw draws as good as a win.

    Thing was to me, family many friends that we were there for the eels and support them, there was times when the team got booed off the ground, but that often lifted them when it was going on at half time, but the refs copped a lot of that as well.

    Since returning, my general support has never wavered as such, even when wanting to toss a brick at the box, which was worth too much to destroy when we had terrible losses. On more than one occassion I have switched the box off when the team is getting beaten but I still watched and supported.

    This past decade in many ways has been the worst that I can remember, primarily as a result of social media and the abject disloyalty and putting down the team during this period of time. Watching the change at the club after 2009 Football club change of administration and what I saw on the newspapers regarding the eels had me wondering “what on earth” Where have we fallen to both as a club, teams and even said supporters.

    Not so many weeks back I posted after watching the abysmal performances of a couple of certain refs, I swore off watching RL unless it was the eels on the box. Sadly for me the game as it is now in 2020 has all but lost me, but I have a feeling that will change next year.

    The thing that really puts a burr under my saddle is the almost total amount of negativity and basically hatred that is seen on some of the social media sites, I am only on this site and the other eels one, I have nothing to do with the other areas such as FB, as I cannot see me wasting days on end trying to read the garbage there.

    Fast forward to last Saturday night. At half time I was punching the air in excitement up to half time, the game play that newbie Haze and the others was great, I could smell a win, until some loose defence, and missed goal. I was in shock but was accepting that we were going to lose with 13 minutes to go I turned the box off and since then have mulled over but accepted the loss. We were simply out played in that 2nd half yet in what I saw, it was simple areas that caused our loss, of note to me was the slow response & timing of some of the players, mostly leaving open gaps for the fast running bunnies.

    Today it was announced by the club that 11 players were leaving, including 2 development players. Since Saturday night the calls to sack the coach and staff some players etc, chase this one or that one has been incredible, worst though was reading the personal attacks against players, club and our Coach. The personal attacks and those directed against our coach is unwarranted in my view, he has tried to lift this club, and to me he has done it especially after the 2018 season. He was the glue that held this team and club together during the brown paper bag scandal, the loss of points took us out of any chance of playing finals football, what other coach could have carried that burden which BA had carried for us?

    The loss of 11 players today would likely mean none of the pre 2018 teams would be left in the squad, 11 gone leaves 10 forwards from this year left, and 10 backs, 11 if MJ plays again. That means we have 9 spots to fill. We will no doubt bring in a couple of experienced players, some from the development squad, and for me our coach stays, but I am one who would like to see the coach having more specialised or quality assistants.

    The footy club and GM have along with our coach a need to carefully look for replacements where they are most needed, in order to take the eels forward, finishing 3rd on the ladder is a big lift for the team, & club, but to be a success going forward we need to be higher next year and forward from there.

    1. Parra Pete

      I too cannot understand the attacks on Brad Arthur, Mitchell Moses…With an ounce of luck last week, the Eels would be playing Penrith for a Grand Final spot.
      Shaun Lane error in opening minutes gifted Souths first penalty goal.
      Haze Dunster, on debut, made a simple handling error..Souths score from the ensuing scrum.
      Gutho launches an amazing raid and results in three tries all converted from sideline by Mitchell…Parra lead 18-8 at the break.
      Souths score good tries to Liam Knight, Cameron Murray after half time to give them the lead 20-18.
      Moses hits the posts with a gimme penalty, Cook avoids being sin binned for a professional foul, and backs up a break by Paulo (SS), puts a wobbly kick in..which Gutho lost , and flukey try takes SS to 26-18..when really, it should have been 20 all..
      Paulo intercepts a Dylan Brown pass to Takarangi and score 32-18. If the pass had reached Takarangi he had a winger outside him with an open try line ahead….Twelve point turnaround.
      Gennings scores his second – Moses again converts wide out 32-24.
      Right on full time, Moses, playing catch up, kicks ahead, is tripped by the ref, Cook scoops up and races away to seal the game.
      Fergo, Siva, Jenko and Marata were missing..
      The effort was there…Bounce of the ball did not go Eels way….
      I thought they done good, played fine..Disappointing result, but a proud proud effort..

      1. Brett Allen

        It had very little to do with luck. It was a lack of attention to detail that cost us, as it always does.

        Mitch had no business missing that kick. It’s a huge moment in the game and he simply had to make it. He’s our highest paid player, and he’s paid to make the big plays.

        However, the rest of the team HAVE to assume he was going to miss, just in case. Yet another little detail they inconveniently ignored.

        The rest was just pure and utter capitulation, not bad luck, it was entirely of our own creation. We had them on toast, and we let it go through a lack of attention to detail.

        If BA can’t hold them accountable for these continued lapses in mental application, and given that it has not improved in 7 years under his coaching it’s pretty obvious he can’t, then he simply must go.

        It’s time.

        1. Parra Pete

          He landed four conversions from touch…I don’t think he should be the whipping boy, for a loss that could have been a sensational win if the ball had bounced the other way..I agree with you re the assumption that a goal is going to be kicked, and players have already retreated to half way, or gather in a group alongside the posts. I have always had concerns about that practice…
          Regarding what he is getting paid….reminds me of the story of when coach said to a player “You’re getting $500,000 to score those tries”, to which the player replied “Yeah, but my opponent is getting $600,000 to stop me”…
          Considering the pre-match upheavals, I thought the team gave the match 120 percent effort…and were denied a result by ‘errors’ from three of its best players – Gutherson, Moses, Dylan Brown at inopportune times. They were mistakes made by ‘trying to win”…

          1. Brett Allen

            But again, there is still this “well we tried hard” mentality. 100% effort is not something to be congratulated on, it is an expectation, if you’re not trying 100% on every play then you need to find another career. Do you think the Bulldogs players stopped trying all year ? Of course not, they left nothing in the shed this year, and it wasn’t even close to being enough.
            We have the talent, we put in the effort, but we don’t have the execution, which is a result of the lack of attention to the little details. Everyone else in the world can see it other than the coaches, players & the writers on TCT. Literally everyone else can see it, hell even the club’s board can see it !!!
            The problem is that it hasn’t improved in BA’s time at the club. If it was improving, then that would be different, but the fact is that it’s not.

            It’s time.

          2. Parra Pete

            If the other side is TOO GOOD, not much you can do about it if you have a go,
            There is nothing to do about it IF the bounce of the ball and luck of the game go against you.
            The Eels gave the match EVERYTHING they had. Wasn’t ‘well we tried hard”..it was a physical effort where they gave all they had….and didn’t get the ‘rub of the green.
            The players were entitled to come off the field, look in the mirror and say “I gave it everything I had”.
            The biggest disappointment for me, is that it is gonna be a few more months until the new season gets under way again.
            2020 is like Tuckers Daughter – just a memory..Had plenty of great moments…went better than 13 other Clubs in the home and away season, and blokes like The King had me in awe of their amazing skills. Glad I am alive to see it….
            “Will have more fun in 21”

        2. Rowdy

          I was trying not to respond to any of your often unjustified and error laden criticism Brett. But when you refuse to get back into your kennel because you still haven’t bitten enough passers by and revert to blatant disingenuous and deceptive recollections. ie and given that it has not improved in 7 years under BA’s coaching? What crap ’14 was annus horribilis but we improved in 15′ and under great stress off field would have made the top 8 in ’16. Are you seeing a trend here yet Brett? 2017 we made top 4 2018 with the return of the prodigal and his terrible negative influence on the team among other things saw us pick up another spoon. At least BA was keeping Parramatta tradition alive. ’19 the semi’s again 2020 we just went out backwards from an outstanding effort to reach a 3rd place at the end of the regular season??? Are you kidding or what Brett? you sound like a Trump hating Democrat who’s venomous words of bile are filled with lies and deceit. The facts speak for themselves.

          1. Brett Allen

            Rowdy, you’ve misrepresented my words. I said our “attention to detail” has not improved in years, and it hasn’t. Yes we have improved as a team, but that has been purely as a result of upgrade in talent. We can’t upgrade our roster appreciably and BA has shown he can’t improve us in the areas we desperately need improvement.

          2. Milo

            Brett I agree about the attention to detail was missed on the weekend, and the ability to hold off teams when we made an error, that is my primary beef, the ability to withstand pressure and we did not do that; I do not blame MM for the kick, it happens but the i hold the team accountable for the collective lack of execution and attention to detail to dropped balls etc and the missed kick debacle and defence that allowed tries. The coaching staff also are under the pump. And I would keep BA for next season and see how we bounce back. The assistants? well that may need to be looked at, the defence out wide was shoddy in some games.

          3. Brett Allen

            Look, he had to make that kick, he’s paid the big bucks to make those big plays, there’s no hiding from that, BUT, his teammates had to assume he was going to miss, because if we recovered possession we might have scored a try from the broken play, who knows what could have happened.
            Gus said it best on 100% Footy, the Eels can have periods of inspired footy when we can lay on 2 or 3 tries in minutes, we did against the Bunnies, we did it against the Panthers earlier in the season, we did it against the Broncos, and probably on other occasions that I can recall ATM, but you can’t rely on inspiration only. As Gus, we scored 3 tries in 7 minutes, but we were incapable of waiting 35 minutes for the next try if that’s what it took. Even when we were down 26-18, we still 15 minutes to go, plenty of time, but we tried to close the gap straight away. It’s this lack of mental fortitude, the willingness to look our opposition in the eye and say, “We ain’t giving it away”, prepared to grind out at least the next 10 minutes to get us closer.
            It’s the mental aspects of the game that has simply not improved under BA, and the fact that senior club figures are now privately leaking an acknowledgment of this problem only confirms it.

            There’s only three ways this goes from here …

            1) The club does nothing, stands pat, and we get the same results next year.
            2) The club sacks BA now, hires a new coaching staff to address these issues OR
            3) The club gives BA an ultimatum that he works with a new staff that the club appoints, that will address these issues, and he can stay on for at least one more year.

          4. Milo

            I get it that he had to make the kick, but he didn’t. Its simple. It hit the posts etc. that is what annoyed me, we allowed as a team this to occur and the ensuing try. Yes you are right about the possession, a hungry team would have got the ball back. I do not disagree about the mental side of it, we needed to be better and show it for 80, I have mentioned playing for 80 all yr.

          5. Colin Hussey

            The missed goal was very much a missed opportunity, I cannot reccolect him missing a goal in that position previously, no wind to work against as I understand it was a wind free match & on home soil.

            Those who walked back rather than waiting for the kick were real dumb, sure it may have looked as if they had 200%confidence of the kick being taken, but for me it showed arrogance from them, as a result the defence at both ends of the field was like a shotgun have been used with ratshot in it, does not hit any target and sprays out everywhere and no damage. That gave Souths the perfect shot in the arm they needed.

            As for the 3 options, I pick the 3rd but the club has to do their part in it by getting new assistants in to replace those who are in reality under performing.

            The other aspect regarding the whole team in that kick was they likely had a cockiness in them that had them believing they had to game in the bag, especially those who walked back. Those who can remember Ray Price, and his positioning when the opposition or our own team was kicking for a goal Ray stood upright hands and arms outstretched totally concentrating on the posts, in case a rebound occured, he would never walk away and allow the prospect of what took place against Souths, the game was still being in play at the souths end not the eels end, I hope its a big lesson learnt regarding cockiness and smugness.

            Games not won until the siren goes off, and ref blows his whistle.

          6. Rowdy

            I don’t believe that to be the case Brett. From my perspective BA has overseen massive improvement in MM, Gutho, Nathan Brown and Dylan Brown to name a few.

          7. Brett Allen

            It’s not about the individuals, it’s about the team collective mentality. We were only down by 8 with 15 to go, 15 minutes is an eternity in footy. What did we do as a team, we went mad trying to play catch up footy straight away, with short kick offs & restarts, pushed passes, etc.

            As Gus said, we needed to get back into the grind for at least another 8-10 minutes, then year OK if you have to start pushing things, then fair enough.

            But we were still right in that game and we panicked, and that’s on Mitch, it’s on Gutho, it’s on Reed and it’s on Dylan, they are our spine, our highest paid players, our key decision makers. They aren’t paid for the 10th minute or the 29th minute or the 52nd minute, they’re paid for 65th minute when you’re down 8. That’s their time, and all 4 failed the test, including Gutho, and that’s on BA, because they are talented enough, and they are working their arses off, but they aren’t executing. What’s worse is that it’s a test they continue to fail at.
            That’s down to poor coaching.

            It’s time.

          8. BDon

            I think if you look at the period after we scored the third try in first half, similar applies. I know momentum comes and goes in games, even with the bench rotation we still had it, but in the space of 3 or 4 sets, handed it to the Bunnies, who got the sniff and grabbed the game between the 35 and 55 minute mark.

    2. Rowdy

      G’day Col, one of the things I like about post season even before we get into next pre-season is the opportunity to hear and tell a few story’s. Thanks for sharing yours Colin. It was enjoyable to read and reminisce as I’m not far behind you being born in 1952 in Merrylands. My Dad was a returned serviceman and a die-hard Parramatta man from ’47 too. I just had the opportunity to prepare one of my grandsons who is and 11 year old Parrafanatic for the possibility of a good game with an inevitable loss when the fat lady sings. I told him how important it was to be a good loser as he will face many losses in life and not to take things to much to heart. Well after the game he started crying and his aunty said she prayed for him to be consoled and to have some peace about the result. After about 10 minutes he was quiet in the back seat and said thanks aunty Aim, it’s funny but I don’t feel as bad as I thought I would about the loss. People cry about all sorts of things, we are sensitive individuals. Pray often works wonders in the hearts of those who grieve, but it needs a prayer who cares.

  15. Clive

    Nice post Shelley
    It’s certainly going to be an important couple of months for the Eels with so many guys leaving.

    I am a big BA fan but he needs to make some hard decisions on his coaching and playing staff. Kidwell has to go. The disastrous right side defence should have been fixed months ago and to concede 74 points in two finals games is totally unacceptable.

    The playing roster needs work but only in a few positions. We need two good bench props, a starting backrower to replace Lane and obviously the Centres need an overhaul with the Jennings disaster. Some depth in the halves and hooker is important to.

    1. Brett Allen

      I’m not worried about the points conceded in the finals, everyone is conceding points in this years finals, even the Storm.

      To me our area of needs are, in order of priority, left centre, middle forward, backup hooker, backup edge forward, right wing, left wing, backup halfback.

      Left centre is our biggest concern. Look for the club to target someone like James Roberts, although he is better suited to the right side. I’m disappointed that Jaemon Salmon is being flicked. What did he do wrong ? He was being groomed as a centre last we heard, now would be the time to see if he can make a fist of it. Tom Opacic has been mentioned as a recruit. Yawn !!!

      We’ll need a replacement for Kane Evans, no doubt Oregon Kaufusi is going to be called on to do a lot more next year. Sam Hughes & Dave Hollis will be both in the 30 I believe, but it does leave us slightly inexperienced in the middle. We’ll rely heavily on the quartet of Junior, RCG, Brown & Niukore in the big games. BA will have to trust Kaufusi & the young blokes a lot more than he usually does. The other guy who BA needs to find a consistent role for is Ray Stone. He doesn’t really have a natural position in the NRL at this stage, but he’s got heart.

      The releasing of Schneider is curious, clearly BA is going all in on Reed Mahoney, which is fine, but he is going to need some veteran backup, with the rumours of a Nathan Peats homecoming refusing to go away.

      Given that we’ve released 11 players this summer, I’m disappointed we didn’t pay Andrew Davey. If we were planning to only tinker around the edges of the roster then it makes sense, but given the cleanout there had to be cap space available for a decent offer to get him to stay. In any event, we need to replace him, Lane & Matterson are our clear starters, but we need a young guy to develop & a veteran who can do a job under pressure the way Davey did for us.

      Finally, Haze Dunster is a talent for the future, probably a centre but at this stage a winger. BA could try him as Jenko’s replacement of course, but that does mean our left side is going to be vulnerable. The club is also going to have to have a long think about Fergo & Sivo. Both are under contract for another year, but Fergo started to look old at the back end of the season & Sivo’s limitations were exposed. Unless he’s one on one in the last 10 he’s not really contributing a whole lot. George Jennings looks like he’s staying, maybe he might see more playing time.

      Big summer for BA & Mark O’Neill me thinks, albeit for different reasons.

      1. BDon

        Any thoughts on Niukore being a starter? He seems to have brought his game right up to a standard that time on park/experience hones it to another level. If I can see that, so will other clubs.

      2. Colin Hussey

        Brett, possibly your most sensible post for a while, congratulations! Most of it I agree with so the points I make are on those areas from top down.

        Jimmy the jet. On his day he’s certainly one of the top centres, his speed is excellent as is the aspect that he has a reasonably strong body but also somewhat injury prone but what is his best position, wing or centre? Worth looking at I guess and as Souths are wanting to unload him they could pay part of what he’s on, depending on how much but I would rather sign him with a club option past 2021 only if he doesn’t go missing like he tends to do.

        There has been talk of the eels interest in Asiata as I have not seen much of him there are good reports as to his abilities in the ball play abilities, if that’s the case then he makes a fair bench player to come on when Jnr has a spell. Marata, & Kafusi are solid options on the bench with Oregon needing to check his hands more but I sense that is a result of being too enthused in his initial runs when he comes on. I am very much a fan of Stone, but would like to see him bulk up a bit and learn some better off load skills. Hughes should add a lot to the team going forward.

        I was sorry to see Schneider go, but I had heard his injury issues were still there, and he has suffered as a result. Not sure on Peats though unless its on short odds probably a fill in and past his best

        Fergo & Sivo for mine need to pick up their games next year early in the season, Blake worked better with Dunster on his outside.

        For me I am watching out for new signings among a couple of other areas of need.

      3. Anonymous

        Heard at least 10 juniors will be doing the pre season with high hopes for a large portion of them , Centre , half and wingers predominant .

      4. Rowdy

        You are a classic paradox Mr Brett. I cannot fault most of your observations here. They are clearly extracted from their onfield performances and I commend your ability to dissect some things astutely while putting aside your vexatious hatred of our coach.

        1. Brett Allen

          I don’t hate BA, I’m an unabashed fan as a matter of fact, I just don’t think he can take us any further.

          1. Milo

            Brett good comments and I cannot disagree, I am also disappointed we let Salmon go and Schneider; pls Peats cannot come back – tough boy but injuries are a huge concern. I would have gone for Hetherington but heard he is going elsewhere. We need some strong and tough boys; I agree about Stone in that he needs to find a spot, tough as nails.
            Well said Brett. I have no idea who we will get but we have let some younger ones and need some experience incoming particularly the bench, and outside backs.

          2. Brett Allen

            I’m also disappointed we let Salmon go, especially in light of Jenko’s likely suspension. As for Schneider, the word I’ve heard is the club is concerned about his injury issues and that he really doesn’t fit with Mahoney’s timeline. Nathan Peats on the other hand does. He would be purely as a back up, someone BA could throw in there and know he could do the job for a game or two if required.
            Jack Hetherington was at the top of most people’s wishlist, but the best we could offer was a bench spot, the Dogs are offering a starting spot.
            The new rules have seen the mid sized player come back to the game a bit, guys like Victor Radley, Cam Murray, Brandon Smith etc, so there’s hope for Ray Stone yet, but he has to find his niche, his something that makes him unique. For Radley he’s an absolute hitman, Cam Murray’s quick PTB’s, Brandon Smith’s madman style, Ray has to find his identity as a player, then he’ll find his position.

          3. Glenn

            So we’re likely to replace 1 injury prone player (Schneider) with another (Peats) and probably pay more. Makes complete sense???

          4. Milo

            Glenn I agree and that is my concern, and I would prefer a young guy any day and someone who knows our club and was earmarked for NRL. Look at Easts if you the believe media (Huh) are thinking about moving on Flanagan to C’bury (may not occur) but they are thinking about the 18 / 19 yr old to come into the nrl squad. My thinking is also that someone like Schneider could (I said could) have been training as a back up half for MM or DB if injured. Sorry but Peats is tough / good but injuries….I have also heard some issues with Junior development and more cost cutting….and I know some disagree but we need to get the best kids when they 13-14 and keep in system before they get poached. Hope Brett did not read that….

          5. Colin Hussey

            Glenn, Schneider for mine probably needs a full season not playing again as he has been pretty well injured most of the last 3 odd years, there was one year where he came back and was injured again, a couple of games afterwards.

            I have not seen him play and his name has pretty much gone off the radar the no reserves also would not have helped him.

            I agree with Brett regarding Peats, when not injured or trying to protect himself the last time I saw anything of him, he was capable but also less than he was before heading north. A handy backup for maybe 12 months & club option for another 12 if he earns it.

          6. Colin Hussey

            Agree especially regarding Stone. I mentioned above that I watched the Bega fire appeal trial game against the riff last night. Salmon & Parry were both playing in the centres, & from what I saw Salmon was out of his depth, very close I thought to Waqa, as on more than a couple of occasions he simply stood and allowed the opposition attacker to run past him, and not just once. Parry though tried much more and did some good things, he was much better then Salmon..

            Going back some years & IIRC it was under Smiths coaching that he lost a season and he blamed the aspect of not having big forwards, and went about signing several of them, thing was in that year that he brought in the big players most other clubs especially those at the top of the comp had actually downsized their forwards size wise as the big ones were not mobile/agile enough.

            Maybe a similar pattern is starting to emerge again, the mobility and agility we are seeing from bigger forwards these days is incredible, especially when we look to Jnr, Papali & Taumalolo. I have noticed also Solomona this year has been able to be controlled more by many teams, despite his dimensions.

            The need for speed- endurance seems to becoming the real need.

  16. Greg Okladnikov

    Thanks Shelley for your articles, and also to the whole team at TCT. Each week as a fan has been more enjoyable with your insights, and podcasts. My observations of the season overall – I think at the start of the year if anyone said we would finish 3rd, we would all be happy. The loss to Souths was disappointing as it felt like we lost the game, rather than they won the game.

    We have the talent….just need to develop that instinct to finish teams off / manage a game to the end/ and when a game is there to be won to push for the win. I would have loved to have seen Junior, RCG and Nathan Brown all start the 2nd half of the the semi final. It Would have shocked Souths and sent a message to the opposition that we are here to win, and if you are going to win you have to beast our best team.

    And show that we have the intent and mindset to win. Thats the one area that we need to improve, and maybe BA could roll the dice more and see how the game is evolving rand rotate on that basis rather than stick to the rotation policy.

    Instead, that first 10mins gave them opportunity for momentum and we never recovered

    Starting the top 13 again in 2nd half would have maintained and got control of that momentum that we had ( especially after the last 8 mins of the first half that were scrappy)

    With that mental intent, “killer instinct”……combined with our talent….we should be a threat again next year

    In any case, Go Parra for 2021

  17. Glenn

    Thanks Shelley for your contributions during the year and your unabashed support of the team. Clearly the other TCT boys are shattered, as their silence after the loss has been deafening, but I want to congratulate them for their continuing excellence throughout the year also.

    Now to the team, from my point of view they played tired for the last half of the year and all that is on BA. BA has to have a complete change in mindset and become more ruthless like Bellamy and Robinson. They make changes when needed to improve the team and don’t pick and stick like BA does. Also look at his attack and defence coaches, particularly the latter as our RHS defence was diabolical at times and never fixed. Not sure if Andrew Johns had a positive effect on Moses as his try assists dropped markedly – really believe Matthew Johns is the better coach if he still does coaching. However BA is now under intense scrutiny, unless we can start winning finals games he has to go. Next year will be his make or break!

    There is also a distinct lack of speed in the team and I’d be going after Addo-Carr. We can offer something W-T can’t, a finals berth. Structure his wage to compensate him if he becomes a fullback, otherwise pay him as a winger if he doesn’t. If he becomes a fb move Gutho to centre where he is able to roam around in attack like he does now. We also need forwards that can maintain the intensity once our starters go off and forwards with a bit more agro. At least one fast winger to replace Sivo and would he make a better centre than winger as he is not particularly fast? Just some thoughts to improve the team that I’d make.

    1. Milo

      Yes Glenn it is all about making the squad stronger and tougher, and the coaching side of it too. I still go back to the defence guy we had years ago (forget his name) he seemed to be good but let him go to Penrith? think he was from Melbourne. Maybe we were trained too hard at times, I do not know, I was not there but the mental side is what got us I feel.
      Our bench dropped at times and again we to look at this. I am not sure about A Carr, as I think BA will be reluctant to move Gutho, and yes I can see both sides to it.
      You said ruthless and that has to be the mantra on and off the field.
      Its a long and hollow offseason! I cannot watch anymore games.

  18. Billy

    I am all for Brad as coach,he has revitalised our club,however the bench he went with was a total disaster.Evans has had maybe 6 good games since he landed.Davey is a fill in at best.Ray Stone makes half a dozen tackles gives away Penalties & six agains wouldn’t run 20 metres a game.poor Will is a trier but again is a fill in at best.the disastrous bench cost us big time & this must be rectified.

    1. Rowdy

      I have a philosophy about a strong starting middle, needing a strong bench middle rotation that comes on and keeps on! Until Peni Terepo was sidelined Peni and Kane came on almost simultaneously. They had the opposition going “Oh no, look at this, is there no respite”? Peni’s last game was Round 6 I believe and at that point we were leading the comp outright. Although Marata was also coming off the bench and playing well, it was not having the same impact of the one two punch that Peni and Kane had developed back to back.

      1. Colin Hussey

        Unfortunately Peni never went & got his needed hand surgery, & Evens too often was looking at what he had done last match and if he had to do the same.

        Problem both had so much hidden potential that there was no chance of it coming out of hiding.

        I watched Stone in early games and especially in the Bega trial he was much more aggro in that game and has slipped somewhat, he can become a player like Peni if he chooses to do so and work on it, he’s 6cm shorter than Peni and 10 Kg lighter, somehow he needs to bulk out a bit without losing his mobility, and will be a player to be reckoned with. I tend to also believe that Lane would be better coming off the bench as well.

        1. Glenn

          Ray Stone has not impressed me since playing NRL and as Billy says always gives away a penalty, 6 again and always good for a dropped ball as well. He came on for a 10 minute cameo in ine game and gave away all 3. Needs to go imo.

  19. The rev aka snedden

    Thanks for all you have done Shelley. It’s been a wild ride in 2020.

    Still finishing 3rd is a great achievement.

    Maybe next year is the year we can all talk about as being our year.

    Still proud of the way we played this year when no one gave us a chance. Hopefully new recruits will make us a better team.

  20. The rev aka Snedden

    There’s one question that will be asked over the offseason.

    Is Brad Arthur the right person to lead us to the title 🏆 that all us Eel fan’s crave.
    Personally I Think not. I Think we need Flannagan in control to take us to the 🏆.

    Look everyone will say Brad is the right person but his never taken us past week 2 of the semi’s.

    I Think the player’s have had enough of hearing his voice time for fresh idea’s.
    Unless we want to wait another year then pay out Brad’s last year n go after Wayne Bennett.

    Yes Brad’s a nice Guy but nice Guys don’t win you grand finals.

    On player signings I hope we don’t go after Bevan French. We need to move on n up to improve not move backwards with players we have let Go.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

%d bloggers like this: