Like 18 000 other fans I was so happy to be back in the stands to watch our team play.

While there are things that I liked and disliked about our team’s performance, my overriding emotion was one of happiness.

I was happy that I could sit with my family surrounded by some familiar and unfamiliar faces simply cheering on our team, or I really should say both teams as our NRLW team did us proud.

One of the highlights for me was hearing my son comment about how hard the NRLW players hit as he watched our women’s team play.

I attend almost every home game, and I want to emphasise that sitting at home and watching on TV is not the same.

The Titans, being interstate, bring very few supporters with them so it felt like it was almost entirely Eels supporters cheering at the stadium. There was a strange silence when the Titans scored, mostly because we were a little confused about what we saw on the field.

However, no matter the noise, no matter the play from our team, both the good and the bad, it was simply good to be back.

This week, I also want to focus on my positivity about the strength of our squad going forward. We should be proud, and we should have confidence when speaking about or debating unwarranted criticism about our club’s retention. 

It’s easy, even lazy, to compile a historical list of all the players that Parra has let go, regardless of the occasional validity of retention criticism.

During the most recent off season, journalists focussed on the Eels inability to keep all of their players, despite the fact that this is a common problem for many teams who are consistent finalists.

In Parra’s not too distant past, they were one of the clubs guilty of paying overs for players from successful clubs. The desperation to bolster the team and improve performance drove big spending for little return.

And dare I even raise our salary cap dramas!

If we examine who took to the field for us last Sunday, it’s easy to find evidence as to why we should have faith in our coaches and players. Not just faith that they’ll address some of the lapses we all saw on Sunday, but also faith that this season is not the ‘end of our premiership window’ – a phrase I am already sick of hearing.

On Sunday, 12 of our 17 players either came through Parra’s junior ranks or only played a handful of games in first grade at their previous club. This does not include players like Maika, Marata or Haze who are out injured, or even Nathan Brown who despite having more experience, really established himself as a first grader at the Eels.

Parra’s coaches and Pathway systems have proven that they have the capacity and skill to bring through young players and/or take players that other clubs have discarded or given up on and help them develop at a minimum into regular, reliable and skilful first graders.

There is much upside to this. It develops a healthy competition within the squad whilst providing greater depth, something that may be even more important this season with the prevalence of Covid in our communities.

Marata, Dylan, Reed, Oregon, Stoney, Will Penisini, Haze, Wiremu, Ky Rodwell, and Makahesi have debuted at NRL level as Parramatta Eels and when they entered first grade, they were ready. 

The flip side is that these players become valuable targets for other clubs, but such is the consequence of successful systems and coaching.

I don’t possess the familiarity of Parra’s emerging players that others on TCT have. Prior last season, I had little knowledge of Sean Russell. However, before his injury on Sunday he showed glimpses of a talent that could take him to great heights. Along with Jake Arthur and Sam Loizou he represents the next group of Parra produced or refined players ready to become mainstays in the NRL.

Sean Russell

The things I didn’t like about the Eels play last Sunday can be fixed. Solutions to Parra’s defensive issues were found last year, as evidenced in the luckless 8-6 finals defeat to Penrith.

Round One showed much promise, and the good guys got the points along with some valuable lessons. As always I’ll back the players and coaches to learn from those lessons because the proof is there, our players care, our players want success and our coaches know how to develop processes and systems to help our players reach their potential.

Does that mean Parra will finally break their premiership drought?

Who knows, a lot needs to go right for that to happen, much of which is out of their control.

Our team can only focus on what they can control and that is something they will do. They will need to be disciplined, set high standards both on and off the field, and be accountable.

Nothing about this team or Brad Arthur over the past few years has given me anything but a surety that they will do just that. They will not look for excuses or easy outs by blaming referees, even when called on by passionate supporters like myself or the media to do so.

And as we wrap up this first round, let’s all hope that supporters can remain in the stands for the entire season.

Shelley

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