Parramatta co-captain Jarryd Hayne has conceded morale is low at the struggling NRL club after a dozen players were told they’re not wanted next season.
Hours before State of Origin I in Sydney on Wednesday night, Eels forwards Ben Smith, Matt Keating and co-captain Reni Maitua were amongst those told to look for a new club.
Hayne was blunt when asked on Thursday for his reaction to coach Ricky Stuart’s clean-out when he fronted a club media conference a day after playing a lead role in NSW’s game one victory over Queensland.
“Yeah, the highest high and the lowest low,” said Hayne.
“To hear what happened yesterday and how it happened was very disappointing and something I was taken aback by when I got told the way it went down.
“To have mates and teammates put on show like that was disappointing.”
Hayne was glum when asked whether morale was low on the eve of Friday’s clash at Parramatta Stadium with the high-flying Sydney Roosters, who trounced the Eels 50-0 in round four.
“Oh definitely,” said the fullback.
“You know, the way it happened yesterday and expecting to play on Friday night. It’ll be tougher for them than it is for me.”
Hayne agreed that the public stance by Eels management, who issued a strongly worded statement about player accountability, was humiliating for the players affected though the club did not name them.
Stuart’s decision on his playing roster came with the club second-last on the ladder after 11 rounds, having been on the end of some hidings in 2013 a season after collecting the wooden spoon.
“I understand changes need to be made and not getting results comes consequences,” he said.
“I understand where Ricky is coming from.
“It’s not a normal job … there’s a lot of emotion. (But) especially for the boys that have been around here for a while, to see them get told the way they did, from what I’m hearing from the boys I’m disappointed.”
fishes
Guest
Ricky is egotistical and is yet to prove he is a good coach. I would be very worried if I was an Eels fan. Although I suppose it can't get much worse.
terrykidd
Roar Pro
I would not blame Ricky Stuart for any of this. This squad of players with a ouple of exceptions have not performed for 3 coaches so surely they must have seen, or sensed, that the axe had to fall. Two things need to change at the Eels .... the playing squad neds to radically change and the squad management, recruitment and retention, needed to change. I applaud the Eels for doing this and telling their fans straght up what is happening. A couple of years ago I voiced my opinion that letting Kevin Kingston go, and keeping te younger Keating, was a bad move because I believed that Kingston was exactly the type of hard nosed professional player that every sqaud needs a few of. Look at Kingston now .... captaining a youthful Panthers sqaud and helping to build a professional culture among them.
oikee
Guest
I honestly believe that parra are looking good for next year. At the very least you can see they have bought well, (2 poms) and they snagged Corey Norman, who is a talent. Even if they got Blair, i think he wont be alone, and i rate Mannah highly, always have, i just think he needs abit more help. The backline is young and full of talent. Lussick needed a season. What more could you want, then you look at the Broncos, losing players left right centre, a complete shambles. I am already looking to next year, the Eels look good, the Broncos. ? well, we have chitlings.
Tom Gibson
Guest
Ha ha. Completely agree with everything you've said. I suppose last off-season they went after Folau, Tamou, Scott and Papalii and got none of them so this year they're thinking, let's just start at the bottom and save ourselves time. Adam Blair is not first grade material, let alone a big off-season signing.
Gareth
Roar Pro
That's what I find absolutely staggering about the Eels. Most people seemed clued in enough to predict that Adam Blair's move to the Tigers would not be a good thing, let alone $500k-a-season well spent. Anyone taking a "wait and see" approach now has the proof, and surely anyone who was optimistic about the signing must be bitterly disappointed. Yet somehow, someway, the Eels look at the Tigers languishing on the bottom of the table, clearing out coaches and administrators, with a completely demoralised playing group, a massive injury list and no depth to cover any of it and think - "I'll have what they're having." A casual observer would look at the Tigers/Adam Blair situation and make a reasonable assessment that they paid too much for him, at the cost of a quality young talent, a couple of likeable larrikins and a perpetual workhorse. You would think that a club that had made the same mistake with Darcy Lussick, Chris Sandow, the Tonga brothers, Carl Webb, Ben Roberts, Timana Tahu, Jordan Atkins, and god knows who else, might be a bit more in tune with that sort of error after making it themselves so many times. Do they have a wooden spoon fetish? Do they think they'll get better draft picks? Is it a money laundering operation? Are they headed up by ex-golfers who look at year after year of sub par performances at all levels of the club and think "What's better than a Condor? We're so awesomely under par I don't think they even have a name for it." It's just astounding.
Tom Gibson
Guest
Getting rid of players is one thing but they are reportedly chasing Adam Blair. Are they serious? How upset would you be as a Parra player to be let go for one of the biggest frauds in the history of the NRL? Eels fans, book yourselves in for another ten years of pain.
Matthew Skellett
Guest
Well its kinda natural to be depressed when you have been bottom of the table for the best part of 10-12 years at least and just because Ricky and the nrw board take concrete steps to do somthing about it they get criticism from people who are quite comfortable with the status quo
turbodewd
Guest
Ricky Stuart has no people skills. The performance of the Eels is proof. Admittedly Sandow's awful defence is also part of this, but Stuart's appointment is a joke. The Parra board are the worst in the NRL - boofheads.