I’m a Parra fan, so I’m used to being disappointed.
It’s been such a long time since 1986. Since then what do we have? Runners up in 2001, fifteen years since our previous grand final.
Minor premiers in ’05 but we failed to make the grand final. Then there was the incredible run from eighth and the grand final loss of ‘09.
Those are the positives. Two grand finals appearances in twenty-eight years, a minor premiership and six other seasons where we played in the finals.
Just nine positives and I’m counting playing in the finals, not winning the competition.
What about negatives? Other than nineteen years of not playing in the finals? There’s back-to-back wooden spoons, management in-fighting, coaches given just a couple of seasons or less, management coups, a coach who upped and left, contracts offered to a swag of past-their-peak players who managed a handful of games before breaking down, a superstar who left the code and a promising player who left amid questions about his contract.
Those are the negatives. Oh and nineteen years of not playing in the finals.
So, it’s fair to say that I’m familiar with disappointment.
And then there’s this season.
This season started so positively. A respected coach and a set of new players still in their peak. A win at the sevens.
A superstar half who joined despite Parra management attempts to re-write his contract. Wins against the Cowboys, the Raiders (we love beating Ricky), Manly (we love beating Manly), twice against the Dogs (we remember the ‘80s), comfortably in the eight. But now disappointment comes crashing back down. We’re over the cap and not just this season.
Loss of the sevens title, loss of all points, be back under the cap before we play for points, all fair measures. Forcing the five officials to step down?
I’d think there’s probably a legal process that has to be run through there. But, personally, I agree. It seems clear that there has been an ongoing, covert process to beat the system. What’s really disappointing is that the five are refusing to go.
Do we want them? It’s time for new management.
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