Like many I turned on to watch last week not really sure what to expect. I was a little nervous and really wanted the boys to play well.
Like many I thought about what could go wrong and in that moment I experienced an epiphany – focussing on what might go wrong could just be the Eels main problem.
While football on one level is a big business it should always remain first and foremost a form of entertainment and joy for everyone including our players and coaches.
So if I’m saying that football should always remain a form of entertainment and joy for everyone, then I need to put that into practice myself.
Therefore I have decided to sit back and simply look forward to the games. Having negative thoughts about footy won’t do me any good, and it certainly won’t help the team.
The Eels are still sitting fourth and destiny is still very much in their own hands. The players are talented, they care and they want to do well. I’ve said this many times before, but I for one am going to give them my complete and utter support.
There’s joy here!
This week we face Manly. Would it have been possible to script a better opponent for such a crucial game?
Our old arch rival entered the Premiership alongside us all the way back in 1947, and the battles since then are always important for the fans.
I’m not alone in the joy I feel when the Eels beat Manly, and the hatred for losing to them is palpable.
This week I want nothing more than to see our boys turn up and have a red hot go. As a fan I will know if they do this, not because of the scoreboard but because of the actions I see.
There are telltale signs from core players that all of us witness when the team is putting in a maximum effort.
Nathan Brown
Junior Paulo and Nathan Brown will be relentless in getting our team moving forward and getting over the advantage line. They will be forwards first and ball players second.
Mitch Moses will be kicking long and there’ll be a straight line in defence that turns Manly around.
Here’s a critical one – Gutho will spend as much time backing up in the middle of the field waiting for the offloads as he does being a part of a sweeping backline move.
Finally our bench players will play a significant role in either maintaining or taking back momentum.
Victory remains important and to achieve that, our core players need to be performing at their best.
The brief notes above summarise what we’ve seen those players do before, many, many times. It’s not like they are suddenly incapable of producing what are essentially their strengths, but they do need to find it once again.
There is a lot of pressure on our team and I will not add to it. Does it benefit our team for any of us to do so?
All I want to see is for our team to play with passion, intelligence, dedication and effort because I firmly believe that is entirely under their control. No match official or opposition team has control over what lies inside each of the players.
The team may just find that if they remember what they do best, then the joy and confidence that they have lost may suddenly reappear.
Shelley
You hit the nail on the head. If brown and paulo start acting like forwards first, before being the link men, gutho and our wingers get close to 200m yardage, D.Brown gets involved in the game, and our bench makes an impact…we will be close in being competitive.
We have gone away from what worked at the start of the year. Not sure if its our style of play..but after 22 rounds, our style has left us flat, fatigued and lethargic…We need a massive turnaround thish week to silence some doubters..
Surely thats enough motivation.
I’ve looked forward to Shelley’s post this week, and she has not disappointed. This post should be read by all Parra fans. Stay positive, be upbeat, enjoy. Now we await to see our players on Saturday night do what they do best, win with being positive, being upbeat, and enjoying. Go the mighty Eels!
Your post reflects exactly my thoughts. Just enjoy it !! So many supporters have lost their shit. We have done enough to play finals and we are in a position to improve. I’m still confident we can get to the prelim! Go Parra.
Well said! 💙💛
The power of 10000 butterfly sneezes. I agree Shelley. If our fan base go into games with negative thoughts it impacts on the team.
It’s the hope that kills you but without hope we are lost. Well said Shelley.
I say all the time while we are there we are in with a chance in any game including the finals, nice one Shelley
Go the eels
Sorry Shelley you basically offered a wing and a prayer and nothing else.
Not one thing that needs to be addressed from the point of attitude and effort or the tactical malfunctions of the game plan.
Maybe something more positive is to say all the things you have addressed by wanting to win and love beating Manly.
Why not ask why Will Smith came on as an edge forward last week and Bryce Cartwright was brought on when the game was already lost, why isn’t Nikore in the centres, why was Haze Dunster left out on the wing when player’s could have supported him. Why didn’t we have 5 players coming across in cover like Penrith and Roosters do.
If you remain blind to all the circumstances that put us in this mess, then you basically have your head in the sand.
Is that the way you want to support your team? I reckon I am every bit as passionate as you are and the others on here as you patronise each other. BUT please look at the Elephant in the room.
The coaches tactics have been deplorable……you know you are still allowed to critique and still be classed as a supporter, dont you?
Actually we need to positively critique or we are going into next season with BA as coach and losing what we have left of a good roster. Its time for someone else to have a go. BA has done a great job getting us this far……but even Moses(no pun) did not get to step on the promised land.
Did you hear the “whoosh” as Shelley’s point sailed over your head Poppa?
What point actually are you referring to Wilhelmina, I have to admit my hearing is not great these days.
You should understand that i have been one of the staunchest Unicorns for ever because I believe much of the criticism of BA has been unfounded and unjust.
Now I am at a point of really standing up for my team, hence viewing most of the comments in Shelley’s blog as head in the sand.
I am so fearful that no obvious succession plan has been put in place and that none of BA’s assistants are capable of taking over. This fear is driven by the fact that BA has shown such poor tactical planning in so many ways that he is blinded to the damage he is doing.
His match plans and selections have been poor for a long time when crunches happen. We/I have made excuses and reasoning in defending that, many on here have as well and of course he is embedded in people’s minds in long term gratefulness of him digging us out of the mire’s of 2014 etc.
Unfortunately we are now on a downhill path from his achievements and he has to realise for his and the teams integrity he has to step aside. The succession is so dangerous to the longevity of this roster if he doesn’t.
Now whoosh, I might have missed Shelley’s points, but all whooshes aside, I hope you haven’t missed mine.
You are on fire poppa
You have hit the nail on the head right there Poppa.
Great post poppa