What a difference a year makes in the life of an NRL club. This time last year the Parramatta Eels were staring down the barrel of a second wooden spoon in as many years.
More than 10 players were told that they were not part of the club’s future and were told to move on and the club and its management were in the headlines for all the wrong reasons.
Flash forward one year and the Eels as a club are almost unrecognisable. No matter where Parramatta finish this year, whether they just scrape in or whether they just miss out on the top eight, it is undeniable that there has been a tremendous turnaround in the last 12 months.
The stats don’t lie. The Eels have posted 12 wins for this year, which is more victories than their 2012 and 2013 seasons combined. The smiles on the field don’t lie either… or perhaps that’s just Chris Sandow normally.
However, as an Eels fan, the most positive thing about the 2014 season is the change in perception about our club. Parramatta is no longer seen as a club where players come to die (or where players come and then plateau).
For the last couple of years, Parramatta has been stuck at the bottom of the table. Combined with issues at a management level, having very few representative players and constant instability when it came to coaching staff, Parramatta was seen as a side that killed careers.
To lure any sort of talent to the club, they had to pay massive overs, which had an influence on squad depth and resulted in players being signed to deals which saw them overstay their welcome.
Neither Stephen Kearney or Ricky Stuart had much success on the recruitment front and Stuart will be remembered for letting players go rather than attracting them.
Now, Parramatta are seen as a club on the rise. While you have to be very careful about rumours, the fact that players like Anthony Watmough have expressed an interest in the club is a big step forward.
The Eels have recently announced the signing of Beau Champion and, while he may not be considered to be at the peak of his career, he meets the Eels’ needs and will be a valuable signing. Beau will also be looking to make a comeback following some difficulties with injury and it’s very positive that he has chosen Parramatta as the club to do this.
It is positive that Parramatta no longer have to beg players to come to the team and for the club to be seen as one.
Clubs like Parramatta need to be successful for the NRL to be successful. Clubs like the Eels, Bulldogs, Tigers and Dragons are crowd pleasers and crowd drawers. Because they are traditional clubs with large followings, clashes between them are often steeped in both tradition and rivalry.
You only need to look at Pirtek Stadium on Friday night – a full house to watch the Parramatta Eels take on the Manly Sea Eagles – to see what happens when Parramatta are doing well. If the Eels make the finals this year, expect the fans to turn out in droves to watch their team compete for the first time since 2009, particularly if they make it far enough to play a team like the Bulldogs.
The turnaround at the Eels has been dramatic, and for the first time in a long time, I can genuinely get excited about the years ahead.
@Ladieswholeague
Ranga
Guest
Parramatta hit 20k memberships two weeks ago.
bearfax
Guest
oooo Clark. Now you're really getting nasty
Clark
Guest
Is this Phil Rothfield?
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
All I could think about was Nate Myles, so I thought best not to comment! :P
Clark
Guest
I mean they haven't made the 8 just yet, but good on then.
Muzz
Guest
Jay C's comment at 912am http://www.theroar.com.au/2014/08/08/josh-reynolds-hot-water-following-trip-kick-broncos/
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Sheesh, tough crowd. "Pooping a party" - I thought it was some of my best work.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
So let’s see if all that improved if he lost 5 kilos. If not, I would gladly be stood corrected. (Hopefully the grammar is correct there).
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
What's this bizzo about the toaster? I missed it.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
More like the wombat walk, but still very good. No JT's definitely a great. My argument is that others like Cronk are just as deserving as JT in terms of wraps, and have been for e very long time. To make this argument you have to focus on the areas Cronk is superior to JT in, which therefore comes across like you're actually knocking Thurston. Although I do think sometimes a lot of MOTM judges don't really know who to give awards to, so they just go "hey Thurston wasn't bad, and he'll possibly be an Immortal one day, let's give it to him". I think a few of those Kangaroos games at the end of last year were a bit how you're going on that. The point is basically to highlight how someone like Cronk is underrated by demonstrating how Cronk's superiority over Thurston in certain areas goes missing in the vast majority of analysis out there. What I find a bit bemusing is that Cronk's game hasn't changed all that much in the past 7-8 years...but it's only now he's getting the recognition. And I still wouldn't quite call JT the best HB - and at this level, it's as much about personal preferences than anything, so fair enough. I will say the the Cronk case was made very clear in the Origin series this year. Fascinating subject regardless.
Andrew
Guest
I replied to Wabbit about his comment & that was 90 minutes about. It's cool down about a league game. OK..cheers!
NRL the worldwide joke
Guest
Speak....
Muzz
Guest
JH -Hey mate interestingly enough someone was throwing an imaginary toaster at J Reynolds face the other week, must be something in the air. imo - Arthur will be good for Sandow. With time, he should have him ready for the cat walk and playing career best footy. Was thinking about you the other night when the Cows gave it to the Bunnies.Is JT, currently, the best halfback in the world? The guy literally had that game on a string.
Andrew
Guest
Cheers Parrafan....also, I like the blog that Roachy was sacked by 2GB. I know Roach and he's not a pleasant guy at the best of times. That's for sure.
Jackson Henry
Roar Guru
Afternoon Mzz. If you're talking about his melon, then fair enough, but if you're talking about his waistline, I don't think it's a good representation of the lengths he's going to to do all he can to improve his own game and help out the team. Not a great look in regards to his professionalism. There's that story about Cronk, as a kid, kicking ten a row after training and not going home until he'd done so. I'd like to see Sandow have some of this in him. He owes it to himself, his teammates and the fans that pay to come watch him play to do all he can to fulfil his potential. His guts and love handles would suggest he isn't. But as PF says, and he's right now that I think about it, he's in much better shape now than he was so, relatively speaking, its a good thing I suppose. A few years ago he looked like he'd deadset swallowed a sheep. I borrowed the line about "throwing the cat at the TV out of frustration" from another poster on another thread. Even used it at work today. Both (!) my friends pretended I was funny..
James Perry
Roar Rookie
In Relation to Chris Sandow's Fitness. He can run around a paddock for 80 minutes and plays some great footy. I cannot see how he is not fit,he may be able to build more stamina and strength,but I do not think that will take away from his physical appearance. We can only work with what we have been born with Chers Jimbob
Muzz
Guest
2 Pizza shops on same Road. 1 sells 1000 pizza's -a-week and the other 100.Its not the toppings or the sauce that is the major difference.It's the mindset of the operators.Men like Arthur will have success in whatever they endeavour to do because they have the right mind-set.
Andrew
Guest
Wabbit, when was the last time the bunnies had the premiership??? I think my Mother was thinking about having a child! it took 2 years like a elephant...hahahahahahaha
Parrafan
Guest
Compared to the last couple of years Sandow has looked pretty trim this season I would argue.
Wascally Wabbit
Guest
The main reason the Eels have come good is all the ex- Souths players there. Moi Moi, Sandow, Peats, Hunt, Hayne's dad was a Rabbitoh (it's in the genes) and now Beau Champion is on his way.