I usually love this time of the year. It’s the run down to finals footy which means that virtually every result becomes important and accordingly, the games find a new level of intensity.
Last Friday, the match had ramifications for the opposite ends of the competition ladder. For the Panthers, a win would keep their minor premiership hopes alive. For the Eels, victory moved them further away from the dreaded wooden spoon.
As I entered CommBank Stadium, I was looking forward to the game as much as I was fearing it.
A winning result offered a reward for the Panthers, for the Eels it meant a chance at avoiding further disappointment.
Would pride in the jumper and themselves be further motivation for Parra to defeat the threepeat Panthers?
Ultimately it wasn’t quite enough, but despite the loss, a loss that I am hoping we can learn from going forward, the players need to take some pride.
While far from perfect and even with some costly errors, our team put in a huge effort and took it to the Panthers. It was an exciting game to watch live and validated the decision for the big crowd to turn up.
While the usual players stood out I want to focus on a few of our players who have had more difficult times this year.
Matto
It was pleasing to Sean Russell make some really good metres with his courageous yardage runs. Furthermore, Will Penisini exhibited greater decisiveness in defence. Finally, after breaking his ribs, the much maligned Ryan Matterson defied the pain barrier to play well in both attack and defence.
While I am not in denial about what has gone wrong this year, the progression of players such as Penisini and Russell might be something that determines our fate in 2025.
But for Eels supporters to have any hope that we’ll be watching a team in finals contention at this time next year, the players need to not just find individual improvement, they need to improve and play well as a collective.
The Eels did just that last Friday and showed us there was something still to be played for this season. Maybe, just maybe, it was pointer towards better times to be found in 2025.
Gutho scores
On another note, watching the curtain raiser NSW Cup match was both entertaining and a little sad. With some departing players in action, I could not help be concerned about whether more young players are headed for the exit door.
This is not a matter of throwing stones and it feels like a somber note to add. Nonetheless, the club needs to understand that this remains a concern for many supporters and one that we hope is addressed.
The next two weeks are away from home and then we can look forward to returning to CommBank Stadium to watch both our men’s and women’s teams take on the Dragons. That could be a good news double-header.
We’re in the home stretch of one of the most challenging seasons for Parra supporters, but sitting in the stands with over 18000 fans last Friday told me that while ever the team is giving their all, we’ll continue to front up to cheer them on.
Shelley
Interesting that sixties wrote a blog a few weeks ago alluding to an exodus of juniors and now Shelley alludes to same. Wonder when the other fans might be informed by the club that they’ve stuffed up junior pathways royally for the 5th year in a row
Agreed Ron, there appears to be a huhe disconnect here with juniors staying on / player managers and our HOF / CEO appearing to be on the front foot. We did so well in jnr reps last season and ok this year; and even our Flegg are going well, yet we seem to be losing kids that should be the key to the next few years…..little DNA it seems and do these kids want to play for us? and why not??
Yea and what’s especially annoying (from my perspective at least) is everyone knows our junior pathways are a mess but most fans have no clarity on just how bad it is re good juniors being poached or otherwise leaving. And when others, including 60s and Shelley, are alluding that it is worse than we might expect it’s just frustrating for all.
It’s cheaper to bring in a good junior than buy over the hill reserve graders that block pathways but that’s what this team and this administration has done for years. And they have the nerve to talk about development club and “give us more time”. We appointed a new coach so we need time etc. it’s piss weak
And this continual pathways problem speaks of the main issue with this administration – they have been unable to create a club structure that is conducive of consistent success. You don’t need a head coach to work out your pathways. Sure the head coach might provide some guidance re: profiles of players he wants but you employ other people in junior pathways for a reason. Nonetheless this admin expect (ie hope) that ryles will transform everything when, in reality, he should be solely focusing on nrl while other competent people focus on juniors (of course I can’t make the assumption we have competent people in these roles so that’s the main problem i come back to)