I love my club and have had so many hours of enjoyment watching our team play. Therefore, what I am about to write was not easy.
It is also not final. We all have the ability to right our wrongs, but from my perspective there have been some things done over the last couple of weeks that have been very disappointing and must be addressed.
The last couple of weeks have been incredibly difficult to sit and watch for any Parramatta supporter. While I acknowledge and accept that there are many different views amongst the supporter base as to what has gone wrong and what the potential solutions may be, I very much believe that despite those differences the vast majority of supporters want one thing and that is a successful team.
No doubt our players and coaches want exactly the same thing, we simply have a different opinion as to how we get there.
Not a scene we like to see
I still very much believe in our team but I doubt whether they genuinely believe in themselves.
They no longer play as a team, having the appearance of a bunch of individuals trying to solve the problems themselves. Even worse, some appear to have given up any hope of achieving their team goals this year.
One very important element of any successful organisation, sporting team or business is the skill of its leaders to maintain a common and trusted way forward, both when things are going well and especially when they are not.
The most disappointing aspect over the past view weeks has not necessarily been the results on the field, although that is important, but the annoying and ridiculous discussion about contracts – contracts that are not even relevant for next season.
My family is probably no different to many others in Sydney and now across much of NSW. I have brothers whose businesses have been shut down for over seven weeks with no real understanding as to when they will generate their next income to pay their mortgage and help support their family. Like me they are generational Parra supporters and for them to watch our team play poorly and then hear about the contract demands for a season that is 18 months away is insulting.
While our players and team officials cannot control what the media print, and I am very much aware that much of what appears in the media is nothing more than gossip and rumours, our leaders in the club must read the room.
This is not 2019. In 2019 people lived normally, they went to work, they could pay their bills, they could meet up with family and friends and therefore any contracts discussions was thrust upon supporters.
Gutho’s contract will now be negotiated post season
In 2021 no player can simply dismiss the talk as being ‘handled by my manager’ especially when that talk is dominating almost every player interview, media article and or TV segment.
It’s easy to be a leader when things are going well. True and important leadership happens when things are hard.
If our players, especially our leaders, want our support, then they must also step up and lead the way.
My perspective “from the stands” is that I cannot support nor respect anyone who allows their contract negotiations to be done in such an unprofessional or disrespectful way during such times of financial hardship.
Leaders have an important role on and off the field, and at the moment, I think we are not stepping up in either.
Shelley
Gutherson would be doing himself a favor in sitting down and watching Jerry Maguire. Contract negotiations should never take place during the season, even worse at critical championship times. He played this out last time and his form suffered. Now not only his form but, his leadership has faltered.
Why are we discussing a contract that doesn’t expire until the end of 2022. We really plays a fools game when the NRL allows these things to happen. It tells me player managers are vicariously want the players salary and will do anything to get their extra cut.
The easy answer for Gutherson – remember when no one wanted you and Parra gave you a go. Sure it was tough at first but, now you have made yourself king. But, that crown has slipped somewhat and it’s all because of money.
This is not the sole reason Parra has fallen into a hole. The players are failing themselves at the moment and therefore their fans. They have lost confidence in themselves and the team mates.
There have been a number of on field and off decisions that has contributed to this downward spiral.
Reed Mahoney original injury could have been avoided but for poor captaincy.
Team selections over the past four games are inexplicable selecting players illequipped or lacking match form over players who were unnecessarily rested. And that sits with the Coach. Brad Arthur must share the greater blame for this mess. His team selections and bench rotation would best described as pathetically poor.
The number of times he has left Cartwright out of the team is inexcusable particularly when selecting Jacob Arthur who clearly is not ready for championship games. Not only that but he runs Cartwright out either late in the second half or when the game is finished from a scoreline perspective. This puts Cartwright in the position of overpaying his natural game to make up the difference.
Cartwright is not a bench player. BA has now flogged Papilini to death. He is an impact bench player. Shane Lane is an impact bench player.
Arthur’s bench rotation is a serious cause for concern. He seems to have no understanding of when to change things around. He does not pick out the forwards who are fatigued and give them a rest. Nathan Brown dropped the ball three times – I thought Penni T was back. Arthur should have immediately hooked Brown the second time he dropped the ball.
And whose brainwave was it to pick Oldfield. He hasn’t played for months – Dunster could not have done any worse. That was another terrible terrible selection. Do our coaches have any clear thinking faculties?
Sivo should be dropped for his laziness.
Parra season is done and dusted. And we can only really blame the coaching staff because they triggered this slide with dumb decisions.
They have been my favorite team for sixty plus years and will always remain my team. My loyality will not overlook stupid decisions from management that affect the team.
The end result – the coaching staff should ALL resign.
Brad Arthur has done some wonderful things for Parra – that we cannot deny. But, I see the same similarities with BA and Brian Smith. They both could only get them so far. BA can be liken to putting a bookkeeper in to run a large corporation. In other words he can only do so much. He does not have the skills to take them further.
As much as it hurts Brad must finish up at this season’s end.
The club opened negotiations because as of Nov 1 he can negotiate with other clubs for 2023. Don’t blame the player, blame the system. Gutho is exactly what he is perfectly entitled to do, and that is secure his future, especially in this time of uncertainty.
Spot on Brett, but I think some fans do not want to see another round of media issues being played out again.
It did not look good back then in 2019, and now is even worse IMO for timing wise.
So the player has no say with contract negotiations. Gutherson is equally responsible for this and don’t tell me it’s not affecting the team.
Manipulation by the press bears the marks of both player and manager.
I would let Gutherson go and spend the extra on Joey Manu.
Some players just don’t remember how they got their start. The self crowned king has abadicated in fleeing to the treasury.
And another thing. Money is everything!
I think players – most players – have long forgotten “the love of the game”.
Guthos leadership qualities have been questionable the past few weeks. He should have told his manager to shut tfu. He is in charge of his manager. To have the same thing happen again is beyond disappointing.
Guthos is a pale version of his former self. And the players around him are looking ordinary. Yes BA has a lot to answer for. Silo should have been hooked weeks ago. He is disinterested and lethargic and has been for most of the year. I felt really sorry for Jake when BA stubbornly picked him when there were much superior options. BA meanwhile has chopped and changed middle and edge forwards much to the detriment of the team. There is a lot of evidence that BA has lost his way and the team with him.
The issue is not just the system, it’s having an agent who tries to manipulate via the media. That falls on Gutho.
I agree with the overall sentiment here Shelley, its called leadership and to me it comes from the top and also the coaches.
We have seen issues or rumoured issues leaked to the media. Who by and for what reason?
The players on the field have looked slow and disinterested and to me this is the coaching teams job and leadership team of players to address.
They need to go back and look at the intensity that we played in the first half of the year with our defence for a start. Our attack has plateaued again and we seem to rely on the same plays and a bomb at the end of the set.
I do not like to say it but a win is hard to see at the moment.
Unfortunately M Moses is not fit, and RCG and Mahoney being injured has not helped but this is no excuse.
We have bombed out towards the end again. It is v concerning and I feel like I am saying the same thing each week.
Good points Shelly,
A great season quickly became a very difficult one for everyone. A close loss to Panthers and Raiders has seen us slide. If Moses nailed a kick, Sivo went low because Rapana was illegally high…But It’s not over and we need the coaches and players to get the season back on track. Good clubs have slumps, great clubs have the resilience to fight their way out…We can lose every game now (it’s killing us supporters) and still be 6th… Let’s take the shackles off the team have an honesty session and have fun… But when it comes to the finals we need to treat as a new competition. This is possible!!
The Gutho conundrum;
I like Gutho so don’t get me wrong. He’s been
in poor from since missing out on Origin and bickering on-field with Moses and Opacic. You can only do that if your game is perfect… Gutho is in poor form. He’s about the 6th or 7th choice Fullback in the comp…He’d be lucky to get $700k the way he’s playing. We should have signed Nicho Hynes or Manu instead if we’re considering more than $700k. Gutho in reality won’t get more than $700 elsewhere.. Maybe Tigers or Bulldogs only place that needs a Fullback now… Bulldogs have already paid Addo Carr etc… Gutho won’t get more than what we offer and if he wants more he should not pay manager Sam so much…The walking away tactic is very poor negotiation. You don’t get a payrise when your results and team results are going backwards..Finishing 6th??
Gutho would be right centre if we signed Manu. We then need; Welch and Takihaho – kicks goals..
Go Eels
Spot on Pete about those two losses, there is a case in point. Did we drop our heads after those games? both close losses, and could have cemented top 4 spot. Is this leadership on the field? and off it?
To me it looked as though after those games we failed to compete against Easts and Souths and dropped the bundle last weekend.
It is easy to say it but the body language showed this.
Raiders game we did not deserve the win, but we almost got it! Penrith too, if we nailed that kick game won.
I think leadership is a potential point for the team to be sorted as again I think at this time of yr we need strong leadership on the field to lead us around with calm heads,
I think you are right. Good clubs can have a slump but a great club fights against that and they do that through leadership. Our team is lacking true leadership and accountability. An honesty session will allow players to clear the air and put everything out there so hopefully can change it and improve.
I really think our recruitment stinks…we can’t handle our negotiations and we’re missing out on the good players that come off contact…Isaha Papalii was a great signing this year…. well probably blow it by paying him $600k to stay. Players get fat when they are overpaid and form drops after a big payday… No disrespect to the players but we sign Cartwright and Stone for next year… But missed out on Finucane, Staggs, Gagai, Hynes, Addo-Carr, Burton, Naden, Watson… We still haven’t replaced MJ? What happened to development? We lost Keppie, Aloia, Stefano, Twal…half of Blacktown is playing for Manly and beating us in our last lower grade Grand Final… Something isn’t working? Let’s find out and fix it…
You raise some valid points Pete.
I agree about increased pay for guys like Papa and yes he deserves it but i think Lane has been somewhat guilty of second / third yr being a little flat.
For me coaching review with look to amend areas / fix the bloody defence and have it set; centre to be signed; move on an expensive fwd and one of the expensive backs / wingers.
I do not know who we get and we need a strike player. We also need to make a call on D Brown in my view in terms of 5/8, yes he is young but he may command too much $$ and we don’t have a back up, and we need a solid hooker for Mahoney.
Some regular guys for me would be moved on.
Milo I think your thoughts on critical recruitment are spot on.
Thanks John, and its easy being a fan mate….we don’t get paid for our comments!!
I still think we need sort the defence firstly, and make some calls here, and also look at our plays in attack, as this to me looks slow and predictable. Not many bodies in motion…..
I don’t believe that is Gutho’s fault at all, everyone knows that the Managers are the scum of the earth & Gutho said he had no idea that his manager had opened those discussions & I for one believe him
I agree. I think the million per year deal was a stupid rumour that has taken a life of its own and it is unfairly following him. Of course, it lead to those peripheral to the club (who would love to see the club fail to get their way) and the media to use it for their own agendas.
And who pays the manager and therefore calls the shots? Gutho should be telling the manager to shut his trap and stop feeding crap to the media, as it’s only making him look stupid and frankly hurting his value, as well as the team. That would be the action of a leader.
Managers speak for the players they represent. It is up to players to make their managers accountable
The team performances have been on the slide long before any contract negotiations emerged. It hasn’t helped rebuild the team dynamic. The worst thing about the slide is that
this is not a new phenomenon – it has happened every season.The coaching staff should have been aware and had plans in place. The lockdown situation forcing a camp style campaign provided the perfect opportunity for the coaching staff and the leadership group to reinvigorate our team for their run to the finals. Our coach was exasperated and bereft of ideas after our last loss. This seemed to be a shock despite some knowledgeable football brains tipping this result.
Tks Shelley. Yep, I’ve always had a chuckle at the way players conveniently don’t know what their Manager is saying/doing. Maybe they don’t, but it’s an agent relationship, legally and prudently you should. It was pretty ordinary form by at least one of them, although both are invoking the Sargeant Schultz defence.
A great read ….. in short the skipper is missing the question is will he stand up and or is he the right person for the job . Whilst to some the every changing hair styles are not relevant but psychologically believe it shows a lack of focus …. If you look like you mean business you mean business
Totally agree Shelley. Forgave him last time, as he was young and naive. We all make mistakes and we let him know. This time around, he is old and stupid, in my opinion. He has not learnt anything in the years that have elapsed. A captain leads by example and puts the team first, the example Gutho is showing is that its all about him (I dont begrudge him getting more money or what he thinks he is worth, it should be behind closed doors and if we cannot give him what he wants and he gets it somewhere else, then so be it). its showing on the field as well, the way he spoke to Tom is unacceptable. I am not saying Gutho has done anything to deserve a hanging, just that he is not the leader we need, not even a player we need to win a comp, I always thought Moses was too erratic and the root of most of our issues (and still do to a degree), but I now realise its all Gutho, he is just all over the place. I believe we should go with RCG as our leader. Gutho can stay, sure and he can keep leading our training, but he is not the right leader as all he keeps doing is making leadership mistakes.
I also wanted to add, last time Guthos manager said Manly were after him, and Dezzie came straight out and said, nope, we have no interest. I believe Dez would not take a player that is so blatant and immature in his approach to certain things.