Expectations.
When they are let down it’s natural that there will be a reaction. We expected so much more from our Eels last weekend, so the fallout was always going to be widespread.
There has been no shortage of discussion about our club and team. With such a large fan base watching from the stands or on our screens, we are bound to see things differently. This is because we have different players that we like and we also have different ways that we think our team should play.
Like many supporters, I have my view on who should or should not be in our team and that is perfectly okay. We should never expect there to be a consensus and in many ways the diversity of opinions in our fan base is a good thing.
I want to echo the thoughts expressed by many. Discussion and debate stops being productive and acceptable when it crosses from discussion about what is happening on the field and focuses on the personal including the player’s character or even their family.
With that point clear, it’s also important that genuine opinions that might be critical aren’t lumped in with the vile personal attacks, because there is a clear distinction.
It’s possible to voice a critical opinion about how the team plays, the structure it uses and the players selected without launching into a character assassination. Thousands of supporters have done so and it’s their right.
You cannot ask fans to become invested in the club, both in terms of time and money, and expect them to not voice concern about how the team is playing or being selected.
Our club has hundreds of thousands of supporters who have stuck solid through some years that have been extremely difficult and at times bordering on embarrassing. If they feel that something can be done better, on field or off, then it’s logical to expect that they will express their opinion.
For the record I believe that we should not be moving Dylan Brown from 6 under any circumstance. I understand the issues with injuries but I think that it has taken a while for Dylan to start to own that position and take more ownership on the field. That development could be undone by sticking him away from the ball in the centres.
That said, the decisions are made in the sheds, by the coaches and the players. Players get paid to perform and coaches get paid to guide them and to make decisions.
BA will be judged by the results on the field and he will have to deal with any short or long term repercussions that come from selection decisions he makes. If I disagree with him, I’ll say so, if I agree, I’ll say so. Regardless, I will remain a supporter of this club and that means that I will support whoever wears our jersey and whoever leads them.
The expectations for this week?
My family and I will venture to Penrith and take our place on the hill.
To be totally honest, I don’t know what to expect. I know our boys can match the Panthers but the reality of the season to date has caused me to have less certainty about the boys turning up with the willingness to play to our strengths.
What I want to see is the fierce forwards battle that should take place.
At their best, both teams have extremely talented and tough forward packs and its likely the game will be determined by the forward pack that takes control.
The moment that the Cowboys made 50+ metres in their first couple of sets against the Eels, I knew it was going to be a long night. So the challenge is there for our forwards to lift this week.
Reed
While the Eels backs are undermanned because of injuries, our dominant and experienced forwards are all available.
They really need to step up and give us a chance to get good field position. That includes the contest between the two number 9s. I often think how different the result could have been last year in our finals game if Reed had played.
Of course, the dummy half gets the best platform when their pack gets ascendancy. That aside, I believe that the team with the better performing number nine will come up trumps.
As for the fans, we’ve been debating selections, tactics, recruitment and retention. That’s our right. But come the whistle on Friday night, our selected team will need our support.
Celebrate their successes. Drive them to lift back up if they are falling. It’s what we do best from the stands.
Shelley
Yet another excellent narration Shelley.
Again, another thoughtful piece. I have coached at a reasonably high level in another team sport, First grade, as well a club coaching supervisor, and the first rule is: do not weaken one position to try to fix the short comings in another. Moving Dylan weakened two positions. A slight change in defensive tactics could have covered any shortcomings in the centres. I feel sorry for young Jake. He is a good player in the making. He did not deserve the crap that was dished out.
For me I want to see a strong defensive effort. I don’t want easy metres in tackle 4, because the markers couldn’t get up in time, or because someone throws a lazy arm and is ineffective in the tackle. I want to see them try and grind the Panthers down. Ultimately I can’t see us winning, but we shouldn’t make it easy for them. You don’t need superstars to put in strong defensive efforts.
I know we are down on troops, but the more I think about it, the more despondent I am of our prospects this season. It’s a long competition and to some degree anything can happen in September, but we aren’t currently earning the right to be in the mix, and that feels pretty hollow.
On Dylan, agree put him back to 6. But people should remember that it was only about 9 games ago where some fans were calling for a change of guard in the halves. Dylan was solid defensively but was not potent in attack and that seemed heap pressure on Moses. JA probably has a promising career ahead of him, and in no way deserved to cop the flak he did last week. Sure his attack was slow, predictable and looked like someone who didn’t have the mandate to play “heads up footy” (sorry for using that awful phrase). But his defence was very good. Sound familiar?
I am happy to see Dylan back at 6. It is where he belongs. We have experimented now move on.
I would be much happier if Marata were playing in the forwards. I believe that we are missing his aggression.
He was good against the Tigers in the centres but we get the best out of him in the forwards. Particularly on the edge