The 2019 Parramatta Eels are not the Melbourne Storm. They are not the Sydney Roosters and they are not the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
They aren’t even the Canberra Raiders.
Perhaps I deluded myself into thinking they were something more than what they are at the beginning of the season, particularly heading into Round 9, when the Eels were sitting comfortably in the top eight after a come-from-behind win against the St George Illawarra Dragons.
But after two straight losses – first to the Storm 64-10 and then to the North Queensland Cowboys 17-10 – Parramatta find themselves sitting just outside the top eight with a big clash coming up against the bottom-placed Penrith Panthers this Thursday night.
There have been some worrying signs over the last couple of weeks, including some disappointing defence in the middle third, errors compounded by giving the opposition penalties and some brain snaps which have been exceptionally costly.
Our current spot on the ladder, though, is fairly aligned with where most fans saw us finishing at the end of the season. In fact many had the Eels battling it out for the wooden spoon come the back end of the year.
Fortunately the likes of Blake Ferguson, Reed Mahoney, Marata Niukore and Clint Gutherson have meant that we should not be in that position come September.
Where we are sitting on the ladder right now reflects where we are as a footy team and the quality of talent within our ranks.
But for the first time in a long time I look to this team and I genuinely feel positive about what the future holds, particularly after the news we have had this week.
If you take away the game on Saturday night, it was a pleasing week to be an Eels fan.
On Monday came the announcement of a new $40 million high-performance facility at Kellyville. This development will include a minimum of four rugby league fields, an elite standard match venue and an art community facility, which will be home to the high-performance centre. Fortunately this proposal had bipartisan support, so the election result on Saturday night had no impact.
Then the good news continued. On Tuesday Brad Arthur re-signed for an additional two seasons, meaning he will remain at the club until 2021.
Brad Arthur has led the Eels to just one finals series since he became Parramatta’s coach in 2014. (AAP Image/Brendan Esposito)
For some, this decision may have been frustrating given that in the time Brad has coached the Eels we have made the finals only once.
But the reality is this: Brad has been at the helm during a deeply difficult time for our club. He stuck with us through a salary cap saga, which has led to significant change and reform off the field.
Last year the football department also underwent a significant review, which painted an extremely damning picture of Parramatta’s on-field success over the last decade, including a lack of premierships, a lack of finals footy and a lack of State of Origin and Australian representatives.
In response to this review a number of changes have been made at the club, including the appointment of a head of football.
Given it is only this year that Brad has enjoyed the appropriate support around him, he should have more time to show the club what he can do.
Then came the final piece of news and by far the most exciting. It was announced on Thursday that Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson had re-signed for another three years.
Whilst Clint is a talented footballer, his contribution to the vibe of our side is far more important. He is the lovable larrikin who is adored by fans and brings energy to the team.
Although I was thrilled that Clint had re-signed, what was even more pleasing was the way the club stuck to its guns throughout the negotiation process, refusing to bow down to demands from Clint’s manager and refusing to be influenced by the ongoing media circus around the re-signing.
Far too often in the past Parramatta have paid overs for players that were not worth it. This is a trap underperforming teams often fall into given high-profile players in most cases do not want to come to underperforming teams unless they are appropriately compensated.
This tells me that we are in a new era of leadership for the club, where decisions need to make commercial sense rather than be based on desperation to win a competition.
The next few weeks will be crucial for the club going forward.
Of course the football is important. Over the next month the Eels will face the Penrith Panthers at home, the South Sydney Rabbitohs at home, the Cronulla Sharks away and the Brisbane Broncos at home. To remain in touch with the top eight the Eels would hope to win at least two of these games.
But additionally there is a raft of players off contract at the end of this season. Now that the coach and captain are locked in, focus will naturally move to the remainder of the group, which includes the likes of Mitch Moses.
It also includes a number of players who may be let go at the end of the year, freeing up some additional cap space that the Eels could use on the open market.
While the club has played finals football only once in the last decade, with stability off the field and the best stadium in New South Wales to call home, why wouldn’t players want to come to the Eels?
This season may not be the one where Parramatta breaks its premiership drought, but I’m hopeful that is what we’re building towards.
Rob
Guest
Mary how can u say u were happy about Brad Arthur being resigned that's the saddest thing that's happened to the eels Arthur is no where near a first grade coach. The man is useless...
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Lane was great at Manly, our top try scorer last year. Sironen is another one who was plucked from reserve grade and is starting to hit form after coming back from a knee injury.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Potential and ability have never been his problem though Joe. From what I hear it is Lane's attitude and work ethic off the field that has held his career back. That's why Des gave him the flick after 14 games at the Dogs, despite his good form, and why he only got one game at the Warriors. Hopefully his success this year on the field is a reflection of a change of attitude and discipline off field. If so, I don't doubt his ability to excel in the NRL.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"I still think it is a better team than last year" The Eels are 100% a better team than last year when they just shaved the Sea Eagles for the wooden spoon. That "honour" won't be coming either team's way this year. Blake Ferguson, Reed Mahoney and Junior Paulo have made a BIG difference to the Eels go forward and self-belief. Shaun Lane has also been strong attacking on the Eels left edge and Clint Gutherson has had a big year already even with contract talks distracting him. Mitchell Moses has also looked better (when he is ON) without having to fight Corey Norman for the ball when he wants it and Maika Sivo is an exciting find. As always, it's your coach who I feel is holding the Eels back. He has had long enough to turn the Eels into a top 4 team and it still seems a bridge too far for him for the foreseeable future. I would recommend Jason Demetriou as a replacement but he is the Rabbitohs "coach in waiting" and "heir apparent" to "Bunny Bennett" so hands off! ;-)
eels47
Roar Rookie
100% agree. Which is why I think bottom of the 8 was about as good as we could have hoped for this year. I still think it is a better team than last year, barring the game against the Storm of course. The Dragons game would have went the same way last year, but they held on and fought back. But, as you say, it is no good doing it sometimes, it needs to be all the time. The middle third has a lot to answer for in that regard, as does the game management (or lack thereof) of Moses. As you know, I have been calling for the Eels to get a specialist halves coach on the books for years for that very reason. One of the Johns brothers, or Kimmorley or someone like that, to help guide our halves on how to close out games, on the important decision making on the last etc.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately eels47, the difference between the Eels' best and their worse this season is like a pendulum swinging back and forth and never resting on consistency somewhere in the middle. Souths have had moments of brilliance but have mostly been closer to the middle of that spectrum and consistent in most games they have played. At the end of the day success comes down to attitude, commitment and discipline. Looking like the best attacking team in the comp one week and then getting flogged by 40 points the next 2 weeks straight just doesn't cut it for a top 4 side that is a genuine premiership contender.
Joe
Roar Rookie
How good has Lane been...One of their best this season. Great buy for Parra, big, strong and got some pace. I think he actually has a few gears to go to and this is just the start for him. Showed a lot of promise early in his career but kind of died down once he started so looks like he might finally reach his potential at Parra.
Paul
Roar Guru
you're right..... if they get there.
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Not a Parra fan so can’t speak for them but spoon to finals you’d think offers a little ray of sunshine.
Tom G
Guest
Bingo!!
eels47
Roar Rookie
Most of what you have said is spot on BA Sports. The most disappointing thing for me on Saturday was the lack of intent from the kick off, especially given what happened last week. On Fergo though, he looks to me like he is still carrying an injury, and I can live with a mistake here or there from Sivo, he is still very green (Semi made some horrendous mistakes early in his career). One telling aspect is that they are missing a foil for Moses. Salmon and Smith are providing no alternative for end of set plays, or any creativity in general. On top of that, Moses seems to be too focused on putting the ball in the air, regardless of field position, and too often catches the opposing fullback/winger on the full, with little pressure from the chasers. There is no patience or game management at the moment. Alvaro needs a trip to Wentworthville, he is lazy around the ruck and gives away penalties because of it. And you point around Reed is true, however he is not alone there, the amount of times our markers have been caught on the ground or not in position when the ball is played is embarrassing. The team will be better when the Browns return, but in reality, the bottom of the 8 was a best case scenario for this season I think.
Paul
Roar Guru
fair enough Souvalis, but is that reason enough to keep a coach who has a losing record? I just can't see Arthur guiding this team through a finals campaign year after year, which is what I'd be hoping for, from a bloke who's been there 5 years and will be there for 2 more. Parra fans are long suffering but at what point do they stop accepting borderline finals as a benchmark and expect top 6 minimum? Fair enough, give Arthur this year to see how he goes but if they're borderline to make the finals next year, what then?
souvalis
Roar Rookie
Gutho's been quoted saying that coach Arthur has had a massive influence on his career and greatly influenced his decision to re-sign the day after Arthur did.. They look border 8 to me roster wise if we fling the Storm game as an anomaly..Sivo's been a revelation, Lane was a good buy and Manu Mau'u is getting stronger and scarier by the game. Tepai has also been enjoying his football more than he has for the past few seasons..the sooner the Browns get back the better..
Adam
Roar Guru
The Thursday night game is shaping up as pure dross.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
It's the coach and his "I'm your mate not your coach" method that is responsible for the soft underbelly and the "fold like a house of cards under pressure" mentality of the Eels IMO. Look at Bennett, Bellamy, Robinson, Hasler and Madge and you'll get my point.
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
"The 2019 Parramatta Eels are not the Melbourne Storm. They are not the Sydney Roosters and they are not the South Sydney Rabbitohs." If you can't remember the rest I'd be happy to help fill in the blanks for the remaining 12 teams in the NRL that the Eels are not, Mary? ;-)
Papi Smurf
Roar Rookie
But you DO share MY knack for verbosity and my love of word salad "toaster"! Bahahahahahaha
Paul
Roar Guru
Mary, I love your optimism about your team and that clearly comes through in this piece. My only question is about the support you have for a coach with a 46% winning percentage? This is his 5th year at the Club and I'm yet to see significant improvement in the playing group. Maybe he's helped develop Gutherson, but I suspect Gutho would have done this anyway, if injuries hadn't cruelled him. Maybe Parra needs to take a lead from the Panthers; the best Eels teams were those with a high proportion of quality juniors. Get Gus over to develop the junior program, throw in the high performance academy, a better coach and Parra could once again reach the glory days of the 80s.
ferret
Guest
I wouldn't be in a rush to sign Moses.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
In theory the Eels should be a great club to go to , they have plenty going for them. If a brilliant stadium is a big draw card for players then they'll go there every time over the rampant dilapidation near Manly beach. Most players who go to the Eels seem to quietly slip out of contention for the rep teams and it's been happening for decades but it has to turn around sometime.