If you’re a Parramatta fan, yesterday was one of those days where you probably didn’t want to go to work. In fact, you probably gazed into your Weet-Bix wondering if it was even worth getting out of your blue and gold pyjamas.
You’re entitled to be angry and embarrassed by your team’s woeful performance against South Sydney on Monday night.
The diehards will always make the turnstiles tick over, but I’m banking there’ll be a few of you who’ll take the kids to the movies next Saturday night instead of the football.
The only positive for Eels chief executive Paul Osborne is that Manly travel west this weekend. It’s a blockbuster fixture despite the huge gap between the sides on the ladder.
Those of you fed up with what you’ve seen may just give them one last chance in the hope that a miracle occurs – and judging by Monday night’s performance – it will need to be one almighty miracle.
You could tell that even coach Stephen Kearney was stunned while he did his best to answer questions from reporters in the post-match news conference.
It was one of those performances that makes the men with the clipboards toss and turn at night while they pick over every single second of every training session.
What went wrong? Why did it go wrong? What can I do to fix it in just six days? They’re all questions without obvious answers it seems at the moment.
The 50-point loss would’ve been even harder to swallow given his side’s narrow defeat to Melbourne seven days earlier.
Now people are questioning the decision to sack Daniel Anderson and appoint Kearney. They point to the fact the Eels finished 12th on 24 points last season.
Even if they win all of their remaining four games they’ll fall one point shy of that mark this season.
It’s not time for the former Melbourne Storm assistant to be nervous just yet, but if the trend continues, the pressure mounts.
Unfortunately in sport it’s far easier to sack the coach than the players who either don’t listen or are unable to carry out the instructions.
Thankfully for Kearney the off-season will give him time to chuck the floaties on the sinking ship and drag it back to the dock.
The Eels, with the exception of the Gold Coast Titans, have recruited better than their rivals for 2012.
On Monday night, they took to the field with two second rowers in Justin Horo and Ben Smith in the centres and a halves combination of Jarryd Hayne and Casey McGuire who barely know each other.
Yes, the clubs terrible talent retention track record is partly to blame, but Kearney can’t be held responsible for that.
Next season, Chris Sandow and Ben Roberts will more than likely start at halfback and five-eighth and Wille Tonga is expected to be in the centres.
The forward pack of Tim Mannah, Fui Fui Moi Moi, Nathan Hindmarsh, Smith and Reni Maitua should also provide the grunt required.
There’s no reason why 2012 should be as bad as this season. If Kearney can get everyone pulling together then the Eels should be a force.
It’s hard to look past one of the worst performances in the club’s history, but if you’re searching for some positives in a season that has given you little to cheer about, they are there.
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