Now, I’ll admit you could find a bloke passed out with boat shoes on after one too many white wine spritzers and get a better breakdown on rugby than me. But surely, if John O’Neill reckons he needs to earn his stripes in rugby before getting the sort of money he is after, then the same must apply in League.
To pay a bloke top dollar before one game is the sort of stunt that league has moaned about for years and has actually probably won the moral argument on when other codes have splashed the cash on marketing initiatives.
Finally, when the bloke is far from a marketers dream thanks to off field antics, well, that tells me someone has spent too long in the front bar of Parramatta Leagues.
Of course, nothing surprises when it comes from Parramatta, the ADHD problem child of the NRL. There are toddlers on Christmas morning with more patience than Parramatta and it shows they lurch from one failed season to another.
While they cut coaches faster than mums cut school lunches, their recruitment strategy is in need of serious medication.
This year started with Kevin Kingston being shown the door and he has gone on to blitz it at the Panthers, while the Eels have scratched around for a hooker and now are looking at bringing Mark Riddell back from the UK.
Then it was all about their young halves and some chest beating as they held off the Bulldogs to keep Daniel Mortimer and team him up with Jeff Robson.
Soon that wasn’t so hot and they started trawling around for an experienced halfback for next year – Brett Kimmorley, Trent Barrett. I even left my mobile on in case they got far enough down the list to dial Steve Kaless.
Eventually they just give Mortimer a breather and Kris Keating swoops in and plays a blinder. Of course, he’s off to the Bulldogs next year while another form player, Feleti Mateo, is also heading to the Warriors.
The good news is they have Justin Poore on a long term deal.
But all this is typical of Parramatta. It’s all about the big signing, the big headline, the big talk, you just wait until we have … Well, we’ll keep waiting because all that the club produces is piss and wind.
Yeah, so they got beat by the Storm team that was over the cap last year in the big one. Big deal. They would have found a way to stumble at the final hurdle. They always do.
And then it would have been more talk about this sleeping giant being ready to awaken from its slumber.
That next year the Eels will really be ready to do something. Well, here’s a tip: why not give a coach some sort of support and let him ride out a trough and bring some discipline into the place.
Every coach comes into Parramatta being told he is going to straighten the place out, and every coach gets knifed by the board after some whispering campaign and some player having a sook.
If the board of the Parramatta wants answers to why to the club has underperformed again, they need do nothing but look in the mirror.
The answer will be staring at them.
Ronnie the Eel
Guest
Oh, poor old Poore then...... couldn't he just be 95% sarcastic?
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
In regards to Poore I think Steve is being 100% sarcastic.
Ronnie the Eel
Guest
A little bit rough on the poor old Eels, Stevo. But I agree with a few of your points. For a coach to get them to the grand final one year, and, fingers crossed, can still make it into the eight this year, why would you sack the man? Other clubs let their first grade coach have four or five wooden spoons before even looking at sacking them! Parra may be doing the tit-for-tat thing on behalf of the NRL - if AFL steal some of our big guns, we will go and steal some from the ARU. Not sure what you are excited about Justin Poore for Steve, he has failed to impress this season and mostly comes off the bench. As a long-suffering fan though, they do always seem to stumble at the final hurdle. But show me many sides that have made the top eight as consistently as the Eels have in the past decade or so. There are other choker sides playing that are more notorious than the Eels for stumbling...... but yes, on paper, I think they have a better team than last year, just that some of them are underperforming this year and are held up by the warhorse consistent performers like Hindy, Luke Burt and Cayless. Ignore Quade Cooper (and Mathew Cooper) and focus on beating the Tigers this weekend, Eels!
Andrew Sutherland
Roar Guru
Oikee, you're right they do look overweight. Perhaps its the 'gold' (ie canary yellow) jersey.
AndyRoo
Roar Guru
Steve Nailed it with the first paragraph. And a great post by GM. The current admin had a pretty solid first season it seemed but I guess it was just too short a time to ruin the club. Their doing a horrible job on retention/recruitment. I don't think they wil get Cooper but the fact it's believable that they would use up such a huge slab of the salary cap on a union player is depressing. After making the grandfinal it should have been all about keeping the club at that level by holding onto the future prospects and core of the team. Instead we are going to have a bunch of top heavy slaaries and who leaves will be based on when their contract runs out rather than how important they are.
Steve Kaless
Roar Guru
No, I'm no Eels fans I just get very tired of their constant headline grabbing bluff and bluster. I agree that Cooper won't be going, I must admit its been refreshing to see comments from both sides of the rugby split saying he isn't worth the cash on offer. I wonder if someone will have the heart to tell Quade.
Steve Kaless
Roar Guru
Certainly is, that's why I left my mobile on..I figured I'd be at the sort of number you reach at about 3am.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Steve, you wouldn't happen to be an Eels fan would you !. You are right in your comments. With there talent they should be challenging the Dragons for the Minor Premiership but alas another late season scramble to make the semi's. Quade Cooper will not be switching to League.
oikee
Guest
I have been telling the NRL to get the Johns boys off t/v for a year now. You could also take Freddie with them. He adds nothing to commentary fruitfulness. If we lose channel nine, hopefully we get rid of deadwood commentators. I dont mind the muppets(Gould and Rabs), and Sterlo is the only non biased out of the lot of them.
oikee
Guest
Not sure when it is going to be on over here, i have been taping 2 superleague games each week, replayed at midnite. I just watched the Wigan/ Giants game. That Tomkins is a winner. I seen piggy playing,(Ridell the wigan hooker)) Mate, come-on, Challenge cup final, Leeds playing Warrington, would not miss it for quids. Pharlap got flogged in the movie called the same. He was a horse, our cattle at Parra need a flogging to get their weight down. I heard mention that Mateo would be good carrying 8 less kilo's.
Jay
Guest
For a the reported $850,000 a year, im not sure he's worth it? But if you want a ball-player, that's apparently what you have to pay these days with the halfback crisis in the NRL. (someone tell the league to get matty and andrew johns to start a halfback academy!) If you are going to look elsewhere - Danny Ciprani signed for the rebels for a reported $350k. Im sure that if you wanted to spend $850 - you might as well get two rugby halfs - - how about morne steyn and ciprani or barnes and brock james?
Hutchoman
Roar Pro
"I even left my mobile on in case they got far enough down the list to dial Steve Kaless" ... that's a long list!
Marcel Proust
Guest
Oikee, you're always a good read. I've no idea what you just said, but I like it all the same. By the way, will any Australians be watching the English Challenge Cup Final in a week or two ?!?!?!?!?
The Link
Guest
Parra has leaked like a sieve this year, first the so called feud between Hayne and Coach, then Anderson's job's on the line and now the Quade affair. I'd say someone has an agenda coupled with a few friends in the media. What about Quade having to play League in QLD under a false name!! Its like the french resistance in modern day Brisbane. Geez his manager is doing a good job.....
M1tch
Roar Guru
Cooper is the playmaker Parra need, going to Hayne all the time isnt going to get Parra to a grand final again, they need a half, whether its a halfback or 5/8 they need a half to help Mortimer
Jay
Guest
Yup.. even Lawerence from the tigers is a better five eighth.
Willy
Guest
Daniel Mortimer's agent is a genius. He is an ordinary player and his value will never be higher than it was at the end of last season - to play off the Eels and Bulldogs like he did to get top dollar... genius.
Brett McKay
Guest
"There are toddlers on Christmas morning with more patience than Parramatta..." :lol: :lol: Great stuff Steve, that's one of the best lines this year. The new board rolled Fitzgerald for living in the past and not delivering results, and now, not 12 months after making an unlikely Grand Final, they want a coach like Gibson and a halfback like Sterling. You've very correct about the answers being in the mirror - let's hope it's big enough....
GM
Guest
Great article Steve. I am a Parra tragic and I cringe every time the board and ex players start making statements. After finally getting rid of the emperor, i thought we could finally move on in a united front. But it has taken us 12 months for the white ants to start. My points: 1. Back Daniel Anderson. he is the right man for the job. Revisit when his contract is up, but until then give him full support. 2. Quade Cooper rubbish. I hope it is only paper talk. The guy can't defend in rugby. Why pay top $? 3. Back the current squad, they got us to a GF last year, all we need is consistency. As Jack Gibson states this comes from the top.
oikee
Guest
Why do so many Parra players look overweight, why cant they keep Hindmarshes pants up, why are they so inconsistant. Yes, lots of why's but not alot of answers. Bring back piggy, that will help keep the weight issues up. Buy Hindy a belt. Flog the players like they did with Pharlap. That might help consistancy.