Many have criticised Ricky Stuart for the way he informed 12 players that they wouldn’t be welcome next season or that they had the rest of the season to earn a contract.
As a Parramatta supporter I have seen too many coaches go through the club since Jack Gibson left. John Monie ruled in the house that Jack built. Then, with the legends retiring was replaced by Michael Cronin who in turn was replaced by Ron Hilditch. Brian Smith then threw his hat in the ring and brought relative consistency and some success to the club.
Since Smith has left the club has been a basket case. He left mid-way through 2006 and Jason Taylor took over in a caretaker role. For some reason he was released and was replaced by Michael Hagan.
Hagan lasted two seasons and then was replaced by Daniel Anderson who also only saw out two seasons before copping the sack. Stephen Kearney was also here for just two seasons.
The club has now paid the price for those changes. No coach can set up a club for continued success in two seasons. Admittedly Kearney needed to go, he was sending the team backwards.
But for the past 6-7 seasons it has been the coaches who have born the brunt of the criticism, not the players. Yet the team has under-performed practically every season since 2006.
At some point the players have to be held responsible and this is what Stuart has done. He’s drawn a line in the sand and shown the players that they are either here to give 100% or they’re out the door.
Stuart’s also been criticised for the way he broke the news. People said he should’ve told each player individually. Stuart wrote in his column in the Sun Herald that he decided a statement needed to be made after their capitulation in Mudgee.
Telling each player quietly wouldn’t have made the statement Stuart was looking for. When I see Stuart I see a man who is passionate and driven. If he could he’d probably be running out on that field with them. Unfortunately some of those players don’t have that passion or desire.
I implore the Eels Board to stick with Stuart until the end of his contract at the very least. The club can’t afford another coach to fall by the way-side. He has a plan and unlike those before him he’s prepared to make the hard decisions.
It is up to the players now to perform and show some pride in the jersey. Stuart put a value on the Blues jersey in 2011 and 2012. It seems that he is now doing that at Parramatta. If those players want to wear the blue and gold then they have to prove that they want it.
Playing for Parramatta is not a right, it’s a privilege.
Frank
Guest
Scott do you think the cowboys will still win the comp you are a very poor judge in most facets of rugby league.
ScottWoodward.me
Roar Guru
Corey Marldon is 100% correct. Ricky has a 25% win rate at his last 2 years at both roosters and Sharks and he left the Sharks in tatters. He also left Aust with a shocking loss and he has butchered the Origin over the last couple of years with some of his selections and the way he used his bench. His effort at the Eels this year is keeping with his record and ability. He was one of the best thinking 7s I have ever seen and a wonderful tactical kick but as a coach he could not get a vine over a trellis.
solly
Guest
True, they did well under Smith. Professional consistency is the key.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
There was a culture under Brian Smith. It ended when Michael Hagan took over. Hagan's not a coach. He left the discipline of the squad up to the senior players. There was a very strong culture of toughness and hard work under Brian Smith.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Toxic? Ha. If the club continued on the way they were with player recruitment and retention we'd be going even further into the mire.
fishes
Guest
Keep telling yourself that SuperEel, coaching a club is much harder than getting the Australian team over the line. The Sharks are glad they have seen the back of him. Zero success, too much ego. Good luck with Sticky Stuart he has already created a toxic culture in only 6 months
Corey
Guest
What credentials do you judge coaches on Marldon? So Wayne Bennett who has won the most grand finals as a coach is only just 'good'. Don't believe the hype, believe the statistics. Which coaches do you rate then? (Serious Question) Is Jack Gibson only just a 'good' coach because his record is very similar to Wayne's. Like I said, they can only do so much and work with the cattle they have along with the help of their support staff. Expecting miracles from coaches has become a reality these days. I suppose that's where the saying comes from 'Who'd want to be a first grade coach?'
Marldon
Guest
Before we get carried away, a few lessons in statistics. A coaching record of 50% is average and has you at 8th or 9th on the table flipping a coin for inclusion in the finals series. Personally, I have never believed all the hype around Wayne. I think he is good but not as good as people make him out to be and I think his tenure at the knights is proving that. Sticky is useless as an NRL coach, he is destructive over the longer term though he has some limited ability in short term positions such as Origin or internationals and where he has plenty of good support. The Eels will prove this to be correct at their own cost.
Marldon
Guest
I seriously doubt that the Eels will ever become a powerhouse under sticky. He is a destroyer of football teams. He undermines confidence and crates conflicts. I have nothing against the Eels but sticky is the worst coach in the comp IMHO.
Marldon
Guest
Hock is a great player that is sure but he is also a problem. Poor attitude off the field (ask Wigan) and a penalty machine on it. He is something of a double edged sword and may be more trouble than he is worth if he ever does arrive in this country. He has yet to get an Australian work visa and that might get hampered by his prior drugs conviction.
Marldon
Guest
Might be my memory but when did he win an Origin series as a coach ? Not in the last 7 years he hasn't.
solly
Guest
Parramatta don't have a culture. Whatever flaws Ricky Stuart has or doesn't have as a coach, I think he is doing the right thing by trying to introduce a sense of culture and tradition into the club. Whether he fails at it or not, it just makes you wonder what the previous 20+ years of management at the Eels were thinking.
Gaz
Guest
So Stuart is 25%...........much better!
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Gareth Hock is one of those backrowers who doesn't take any prisoners. If he isn't suspended too much he'll be a terrific buy. Kingston must be top of the list for Parramatta. He's unwanted at Penrith and the only reason he left Parramatta was due to the second-tier salary cap. Jacob Loko will be shifting to the back-row next season which will open up a centre position for Will Hopoate. Parra's issue is definitely the forwards. Parra's backline next season will be quite formidable with: 1. Hayne 2. Sio 3. Morgan 4. Hopoate 5. Toutai/Williame/Radradra 6. Norman 7. Sandow
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
The front office just got changed. The elections were held a month ago with a new board voted in. There is a new CEO, new coach and with half the squad now gone the Eels can start with a clean slate next season. Parramatta fans weren't expecting miracles this season. We know how much damage SK did to our club. Kearney had a winning record of 24%. Stuart needs to see out his current contract and possibly be offered a second contract if the club is serious about becoming a competitive powerhouse once again.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
He's the last coach to win a series with NSW and has won numerous trophies as Australian coach. The reason he had troubles at Cronulla was due to the inept board they had, it was even worse than Parramatta's. They were on the verge of financial collapse when he was there.
SuperEel22
Roar Guru
Hock will be coming, Edwards and Stuart have both said he will honour his agreement.
Corey
Guest
To all those that are knocking Sticky's coaching record, I believe it currently sits at around about 53%. Wayne Bennett (Who most would regard as one of the all time great coach's) is approximately at 63%. Now obviously Ricky isn't as experienced as Wayne but he is experienced enough to be called a first grade standard coach. If you have a personal problem with Ricky Stuart that's fine but I believe he is quite a competent coach. I'm sure if you asked the other 15 coaches in the NRL they would also agree. He coached NSW to their last series win and has also coached the Australian team. People are quick to want to sack coaches but at the end of the day. They don't play the game, the players do.
Marldon
Guest
Ricky is the best coach ever at producing excuses. We is world class and it is never his fault.When he took over in Origin and before he had even played a game he said that he wasn't expecting to win that he was laying down the foundations for a future Blues dynasty. That mean't that he could claim any glory that came along and simply point to this statement when he failed. When he took over at the Eels, one of his first statements was that fans shouldn't expect miracles and that he was building for the future. Well that excuse worked last time didn't it. This is a new ploy for sticky and one that should buy him at least 18 months so in that it is a good one but watch for some other stroke about this time next year if he isn't getting success.
Marldon
Guest
Well said. People talk about this guy as if he is a great coach well I certainly wouldn't want him at my club.