We’re just four rounds into the 2012 NRL premiership, yet already there are numerous rugby league identities feeling the heat. Or in the hot seat. Or under the blowtorch.
Use whatever overly dramatic analogy you want, but there is no question that some individuals are feeling the pressure.
And when talking about pressure, all conversations start and finish with Parramatta.
The Eels are all alone at the bottom of the ladder, having failed to register a win so far this year. Their season went from bad to worse on Friday night when Penrith, a team no one is expecting to win the premiership, gave them an absolute hiding, 39-6. The Panthers actually dropped off in intensity in the last 20 minutes, or the score could have been even more horrific.
Parramatta has now scored just 38 points at an average of 9.5 points per game, whilst conceding 135 points at 33.8 points per game. Both statistics are the worst in the competition.
When a club starts the season so poorly, everyone is under the microscope, but none more so than the coach.
Last week, Parramatta Eels Chairman Roy Spagnolo publicly stated that Stephen Kearney’s job is safe. If I’ve learnt anything in sport, it’s that when a club official publicly backs a coach, the coach is usually sacked within weeks. It’s one of sport’s great little quirks.
Kearney’s winning percentage is a terrible 21 percent, and he has won just 2 of his last 18 games.
Considering Daniel Anderson was sacked for a lack of wins, and he won at a 48 percent clip and took the club to a grand final, Kearney must surely be on the thinnest of thin ice.
It seems the playing group isn’t 100 percent behind Kearney either, particularly some senior players. Shane Shackleton was forced to apologise to Kearney when, after being asked why he wasn’t part of the first grade side, he posted on Facebook: “Kearney is f**cked”.
Fans are so frustrated with the club that the team was booed off the park on Friday night.
Whilst you could argue that fans should never boo their own team, one can also understand their disappointment and anger. Parramatta fans are some of the most passionate in the competition, and that emotion works both ways.
But no level of emotion can excuse the reports that some Parramatta fans threw coins at players. That is disgraceful and totally unacceptable.
News Limited reported on Sunday that the Eels are looking to tap club legend and captain Nathan Hindmarsh on the shoulder and tell him that his services are not required for next year. Considering all that Hindmarsh has done for the club in a glittering NRL career that has spanned over 300 first grade games, it would be a shocking move to tell the all-time great that he is no longer wanted.
Whilst there has been talk of Hindmarsh retiring at the end of the year anyway, the decision should be his and his alone. He’s earned that right. For the club to even discuss telling Hindmarsh he’s not wanted is disgraceful.
Furthermore, considering that the club is under fire from its own fans, dumping the Eels most popular player would not seem the most astute move.
It’s not like Hindmarsh is deadwood or a liability on the field either. Whilst his career peaked a few years ago, he’s still been one of the Eels best this season. And the news that he called an ‘honesty session’ yesterday with his players highlights his exceptional leadership qualities, something the club desperately needs at present.
Most importantly, he always gives 100 percent. That’s a lot more than you could say about some of his teammates.
The club is even under fire from ex-players, with former Parramatta hooker Mark Riddell launching a tirade on Twitter at besieged Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo, saying he should be punted, with Dennis Fitzgerald re-instated.
To make matters worse for the embattled club, Penrith coach Ivan Cleary branded Parramatta Stadium’s sandy surface “disgraceful”. There is even a suggestion that the injury to the Panthers Nathan Smith was sustained due to the poor quality of the ground.
Danny Weilder reported on the weekend that there is a division at the club over star Jarryd Hayne. Apparently some players have complained that he appears disinterested, and that he’s exaggerating the extent of his injury.
To me, that sounds like pure speculation, and reeks of a journalist printing a story/theory that is only newsworthy when a club is struggling. I’m sure not every player at the club gets along with Jarryd Hayne, but you could level the same accusation against the star player at every club.
However, the simple truth is that if the club was winning, all the negative talk and innuendo would disappear. Yet with the Eels facing the defending premiers Manly this week, a win still seems a long way off.
Winless in 2012. Last in points scored. Last in points against. A coach with a 21 percent success rate. Fans booing and throwing coins at players. Disgruntled players. Talks of sacking a club legend. Honesty sessions. Officials under attack from ex-players. A sub-standard playing surface. Rumours of a rift concerning the team’s best player.
Parramatta are currently a disgraceful shambles.
It’s not hyperbole. It’s not sensationalism. It’s just fact.
Well well well
Guest
Still no better...
Bearfax
Guest
George Rose doesnt like Hungry Jacks. He LOVES Hungry Jacks. That's why he's not in first grade at the moment.
Snitz
Guest
LOL @ Lote... you guys did better last year when he was injured. He likes money more than George Rose likes Hungry Jacks.
Lost Earthling
Guest
Based on last weeks game against the Mighty Panthers, Parra couldn't even come forward in a straight line defensively. Questions need to be raised about why that is happening. Do the players not trust each other? Is the coach teaching them fancy tricks instead of basic moves (believing they should all know the basic stuff)? Have they been watching Sandow's shoulder charges too much and they are trying to emulate him? Are they just too focused on themselves as individuals they forget about the players beside them? Hindmarsh may no longer be at his peak but who is going to replace him in the Eels pack? No one is going to be able to make 50 tackles a game to cover him. Sure he misses 6 out of every 50 but compare that to the other players missing 3 out of the 20 tackles they are making. He would be a walk up starter for at least 10 other teams in the comp on his current form, and with other teams he would probably have some backup so he doesn't have to play his guts out for 80 minutes only to be blamed for his teams poor performance.
celtic bandaid
Guest
SK as a coach was a bad idea. He's limited. He's been involved in coaching 2 sides previously . NZ Test side with Wayne Bennett and Melbourne with Craig Bellamy. Bellamys record of success is zero . No premierships,no SOOs, just a legacy of slowing tackles down by wrestling ( which would subside and not be needed if interchange was limited and scrums were contested) and together with Waynie, a history of complaining to have refs intimidated subconciously into reffing the game you want. SK doesn't have the persona to imtidate the refs and he doesn't have the players like Cronk Slater Widdop or Smith and yet he thinks Sandow and the others should play to this pattern. The bloke is a dill. If the wingers and fullback were a problem don't drop the only one ( ie Burt)out of the 3 who can catch a high ball or collect a grubber kick safely. The other 2 are big, white or black but like a lot of new young blokes in the side lack heart when the going gets tough. I don't think its just polynesians but an overall youth work ethic that comforts itself that there is a guitar sing and clap along when the games over (and we can put the next horror game behind us). Get some ticker boys and get some venom SK or you'll continue to receive that in spades..A premiership then 2 wooden spoons is a whole lot better than Bellamys record of no premierships and legacy of swearing complaints. By the way if Bellamy says he didn't know about the cap breaches he's either lying or financially retarded.
PLANKO
Guest
Second string nobodies would beat a few clubs walking around at the moment. If a club got promoted they would get more than 10 people to the game and unlike alot of the current clubs these grounds are owned by there club. These teams make more money from gate takings than the roosters do right now. Some clubs running around at the moment getting reasonable crowd actually loose money on game day due to rent and fees charged for them to stage a game.
Johnno
Guest
Waste of money down the drain disgraceful waste of money signings blown slammed against the wall. Jarryd Hayne especially massive deal Daniel mortimer Hopoate junior Justin poore Sandow All money wasted and good money too, they should of bought much better instead of wasting money on Hyane they should of bought some seasoned players like luke Bailey , paul gallen, or Weyman.
Chop
Guest
Part of the roster problems are his own making Lowdown. Sacking Mortimer and Mitchell last year was ridiculous, yet SK kept playing Robson and Matt Keating (in my opinion and as a Parra supporter, the worst dummy half in the NRL). SK isn't rebuilding the Eels by wanting to get rid of players like Hindmarsh, Horo, Shakelton and Burt. It's obviously causing issues within the club that specifically relate to the senior players not being happy about being dropped.
81paling
Roar Rookie
Gibson said choose your best 13 players to take the field regardless of position, loyalty, colour or creed (words echoed by Lombardi) therefore regardless of who Parramatta can get for next season, Hindmarsh stays. If you disagree with this then please post your thought in Tasmania's most popular local paper. As for Kearney he will be there for longer than most anticipate with the boards support. He has a clause in his contract that says if he is dismissed then Parramatta must pay him a $450,000 early contract release clause. Therefore those speculating Jason Taylor's return just hand on that bit longer and lets see what we can afford.
Pete75
Guest
PLANKO, So. What you want us to believe is that a bunch of second string nobodies will succeed where professionals can't. Sounds plausible. I can just see the fans pouring through the gates at Wentworthville oval top ee them take on the Rabbitohs. All ten of them packing out a ground that holds 3000. I'm sure it would be a ratings hit too. There is no promotion and relegation because it's a flat out stupid idea that won't work. Those seriously advocating it don't have their brains in gear. Lets move on.
Bearfax
Guest
Interesting comment The Barry. In fact my mail is that there is a minister from the Hillsong and the Mormon Churchs operating out of Parramatta leagues and that was one of the reasons the Hopoate family shifted. Now I have no issues about a persons personal beliefs but if they are becoming institutionalised in the club, it is then a major problem and one the League should seek to stanp out. A persons personal beliefs are their own business, but like in politics they should never be a fundamental of a publicly or even privately run institution except where it is clearly a relgious based operation. One of the big dangers world wide is allowing religions to control public authorities. Theocracies for example are prone to exclusiveness and bigotry. And it has no place in the running of a football club either.
A1
Guest
Tigers have no injuries? Lote, Ellis, Farrah, Galloway. Only 4 of their best.
Kev
Guest
People are entitled to their opinion. Except in the case of you. Your suggestion is the dumbest I have ever heard. It is Round Four. Even if you followed a competition like the English Premier league and had a relegation system, teams don't get relegated after four rounds.. All of the ridiculous, over the top reporting and commenting over Parramatta is getting out of hand. Souths have been through perioed like this for months at a time in recent history. Parra made the grand final a couple of years ago. The only way is up for them and if after 13 rounds they are sitting 0-13, I would say there should be large scale criticism, But if they are 6-7 or something at that stage , it will have been forgotten. The Tigers have only won 1 game and that was when the Sharks were robbed...and they have no injuries. Take benji out of the side and see how they go. Hayne has been out all year, Ben Smith, Jacob Loko have been out and Hindmarsh is playing with injury. And lastly to highlight Hindy getting pushde off by Lkuke alsh and say he should retire is dumb. Watch every game, every try this weekend and then question whether each player should retire as a result. Notice as well that he kept chasing, and no he isn't as quick as a halfback. Lots of players who miss those tackles put their heads down or fall to the ground. Hindy has a heart the size of Parra.
gleeso
Guest
Jason, thats not right. Coaches sack players all the time when results are not going their way. Just today Burt was again sacked. The coach has to answer to these pressures because on what other basis could you justify paying coaches the sort of money they receive? Dont feel sorry for coaches, if they cannot handle the pressure they should just get out of the business.
Dan
Guest
B.A sports I agree with you 100% The Nrl can't be ready for expansion if blokes like lasalo are starting players , not to mention the rest of their team, at the moment parra and the titans couldn't score with a ball each! -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Ryan O'Connell
Expert
Easier to sack one person, I guess.
Muzz
Guest
Totally agree. It all comes down to recrutment.
Jason Cave
Guest
It never ceases to amaze me that whenever a team has major problems and is going through a losing streak, the obvious soloution is simple: sack the coach. It's not dismiss the administrators or show the door to the players, the coach is the first guy they look for when the supporters look for who to blame for the team's poor form.
Numbers Man
Guest
Sadly I think you are right the NRL is more concerned about TV. Or should I say News Ltd is more concerned abotu TV viewing. I have been hearing that the ticket prices is really starting to keep people away. I have compare the AFL, Rugby and Football and they are a lagging behind on growth. I would like to think that they NRL would try to help but I think its cheaper to promote the TV audience.
B.A Sports
lol Like Lasalo, Sio, and Paulo.. There great! Where has Moi Moi been? They have all stunk (Caucasian, polynesian, indigenous). Hindmarsh though has been there best player in the first month, which isn't saying much but he has. Your kidding Patrick on that break that Walsh made. Ok Hindmarsh usually makes that tackle, but count them up, that is Lasalo's man and he is wandering around in the Panthers back line 10 m across field! He got dragged about 5 minutes later (about the only thing Kearney has done right). Hindmarsh is doing his job, he isn't Hindmarsh circuit 2001, but no one expects him to be. There are plenty on that field though who are not doing their job and shirking on responsibility. And then there are those who flat out shouldn't be on a first grade rugby league field and are cases A through J on why the NRL isn't ready for expansion.