To every single Parramatta Eels fan out there, I urge you to take one big breath and remember that season 2022 is far from over yet.
It can be tough being an Eels fan. We are constantly reminded our last premiership was in 1986 – in my case, before I was born – and the fact we have bowed out of the finals race in Week 2 in our last three appearances seems to make us cannon fodder for other supporter bases.
Because it has been so long since Parramatta last won a premiership it has also created a certain restlessness among the fan base. This has created expectations. Leading into the 2022 season, the Eels lost a number of key players for 2023, including Reed Mahoney and Marata Niukore. This seemed to lead to a conclusion for so many that the Eels would win the premiership this year because it was their last shot.
Fairly or not, the current administration and playing group are under tremendous pressure to succeed and bring home that premiership. In a way, this is unfair because it is not the current administration or playing group’s fault that the fan base has been starved of success for so long, but they unfortunately happen to be the custodians of that legacy.
It’s fair to say Parramatta’s season has been up and down so far, a trait that many have been critical of.
There have been some important successes, including the 28-24 victory over the Melbourne Storm in Round 3 and the 22-20 victory over the reigning premiers, the Penrith Panthers, in Round 9.
But there have been some horrible losses too, including to the North Queensland Cowboys in Darwin, a thumping by the Canterbury Bulldogs and an embarrassing Easter Monday loss to the Wests Tigers on a day the club was celebrating its 75th anniversary.
What is concerning me at this point of the season though is that after every loss and even after a win, when the Eels have not played their best footy, there seems to be this emerging theme of criticism of Brad Arthur. There are suggestions that Arthur has lost the dressing room, that he is unable to galvanise the dressing room for important games and more concerning that there is a poor attitude among the playing group.
To this I say: rubbish, particularly given that Arthur and his game plan seem to have no problem in succeeding against the toughest teams in the competition.
(Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
It is far too early in the season to be making such rash judgements, and I would have thought that Eels fans would have learnt that the hard way in 2021.
In a six-week period leading into finals last year, the Parramatta Eels lost five out of six games. It wasn’t just that they lost the games, it was that they were comprehensively beaten. A 28-0 loss to the Sydney Roosters was followed by a 40-12 loss to the South Sydney Rabbitohs, a 56-10 loss to the Manly Sea Eagles and then, later, a 40-6 thumping at the hands of the Panthers.
But in among that, the Eels were able to beat the Storm 22-10 and beat the Knights in Round 1 of the finals before they suffered the narrowest of losses to the Panthers to end their 2021 campaign.
Who is to say that the same thing cannot happen again this year?
I might be wrong and Parramatta may stumble in the finals once again, but I would rather give Arthur the benefit of the doubt and give him the opportunity to take our team there once again.
At the moment all we have are what-ifs.
Would I rather play smart footy in the finals and lose some games along the way during the season? Absolutely.
Would I rather be inconsistent at this point in the season before making a surge towards the finals? Absolutely.
At this point in the season, with Parramatta sitting outside the top four by just two points, there is no reason to panic and there is certainly no reason to make any rash decisions about our coach or our players.
As fans we are so invested in the success of our teams. When the season is over we sit patiently through another off-season, counting the days until our teams start playing again.
Given where Parramatta sit on the ladder right now, I think there is much to look forward to this season still without claiming that the sky is falling.
While it is true that Parramatta have bowed out of the finals in the same spot the last three times, this is far too simplistic.
In Week 2, 2019, the Storm beat Parramatta comprehensively 32-0.
In Week 2, 2020, the Bunnies beat the Eels 38-24. Parramatta were in this game for most of it until a missed Mitchell Moses conversion bounced off the upright and led directly to a South Sydney try.
In Week 2, 2021, the Eels left it all out on the field and could not have given any more, falling just short of the reigning premiers.
In each year there has been improvement. I’m banking that there’s still more improvement to come in 2022.
Shinboner 1971
Roar Rookie
I said, season over. We got a little further than I expected, but halfway through the first half I was resigned to another failed season. Oh well, bring on season 37.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
Yes
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
Still of this view?
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
You were saying....
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Mine are all worn out.
Tony
Roar Guru
I reckon if they don't win it this year, they might be waiting till the 2030s for a chance at a premiership
Tony
Roar Guru
If they've run out I'll borrow one if yours
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Don't write off the Knights. They are lurking without menace
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Available at any good resigned button retailer, such as Kogarah Oval, Saints Leagues Club or online at www.oustdoust.com.au
Redcap
Roar Guru
Parra's a slightly above average team with a lot of slightly above average players, and some others (Blake, Pennisini, Lane, Simonsson) who are pretty bog-average. If they can, get Dylan Brown signed long-term and build from there.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
Some good points there, around their depth and their defence. Simmonson and Penasini are still not on the same page far too often. The Eels are the best team to live bet on. You just know after 5 minutes if they have turned up or not. Even though they were down by 12 to the Tigers, you still felt good about them winning because you could see they were on from an effort perspective and that talent wise they would gobble the tigers up with greater effort than their opponent. Moses (and Gutherson) are the temperature gauges for that. If Moses runs the ball in the first set or two, you feel good that he is on. If he stands back and passes and kicks and nothing more, that is when his game (including his kicking game) declines. With Gutherson, you just have to watch him lead the team out. He is either jumping around shouting and clapping (a good side), or he jogs straight out and goes stands behind the posts - and you can almost guarantee they will lose in that instance. The form of Dylan Brown is the other key. In the first half of the season he was great. He has tapered off the last few weeks though. They need him playing the way he did at the start of the season.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
There is one theme that has bothered me over the last couple of years and that is of the late season form of Mitchell Moses. I couldn't put my finger on it until last year. Mitchell Moses is one of the top half backs in the competition....... in the first half of the season. One major change Arther had on him following some terrible defensive displays in his first half a season after a switch from the Tigers, was his defence. While he still misses a bit, it's rarely because he's refusing to put his head in a dangerous situation and put the effort in defence. I think this has lead to him carrying more bumps and bruises by half way through the season of being targeted by 2nd rowers. As a result his form drops away in the back half of a season. The other concern is the spine. Mahoney, Moses, D Brown and Gutherson are one of the best in the comp. That is a spine, behind a pack consisting of Paulo, RCG, Matterson, Lane, Niukore and N Brown, that can win a comp. But all of the back up options for any of the spine are honestly second rate. Parra lose a single one of those 4 this year and they are shot. We saw that when Mahoney got injured last year. The Eels immediately went backwards. Arther Jnr is not a first grade half that can cut it in most club games, let alone going up against the halves that Penrith, Melbourne, South's or even Manly will run out with. Another concern is the edge defence. Especially on what ever side Waqa plays on. Too often Sivo/Simmonson are coming in on the edge when the inside man has it covered. There is no trust out wide. Though one positive is that Waqa has passed the ball a few times in the last month. On the upside is that D-Bags is doing his half of the play maker duties this year which means defences can't rely on 100% targeting of Moses. With Brown's renewed form it also means Gutho is chiming in where the halves direct him, as opposed to demanding the ball and overplaying his hand as he has been guilty of over the past two years..... I think he's playing busted though.. I still have hope, but a long term injury to any of the spine this year and I'll put a line through them immediately.
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
As a five decade long suffering Eels fan I see a team of overpaid deadbeats that only have a crack when it suits them. Sack everyone from CEO to ball boy and start again. These pay chq tourists are a disgrace and don't deserve to be mentioned in the same breath as the champions that've gone before them who worked multiple jobs whilst delivering premierships.
Tony
Roar Guru
Where can I get one?
Toa Joe
Roar Rookie
That was a fluke against the Mighty Panthers.
Joe
Roar Rookie
Since Parramatta is the only team to beat the Panthers this year they have probably the best chance of the rest of winning the title. The Storm are pretty much done as the injuries have pretty much removed their chances. I like the Roosters chances and the way they've been playing lately but they need to make it to the 4. The Sharks are the other team I'm really thinking can beat the Panthers but they need to be full strength. Anyway I'll put something on Parra as I feel this year might just be the year things fall into place for them.
Andrew01
Roar Rookie
I think the only way for an Eels fan to look at it optimistically is this: The Eels have acknowledged prior to the start of the season that they maybe go too hard too early and by crunch time they are out of gas mentally and physically. So has Brad Arthur, looked at the draw before the start of the season and thought " I need to nurse us through the first 19 rounds and we have the talent (and much of the rest of the competition lacks the talent/consistency) to be safely in the top 8 at that stage. Then we will need to ramp it up in the run to the Finals and we will have big games in that run that we need to win (before the season playing Melbourne/Penrith/Souths/Manly in the the final 6 weeks would, and still does, look tough). So maybe, we see a ramp up of form and consistency coming from Parra that they can maintain through the play offs. ...or maybe the players on the roster simply aren't capable of playing at their best week in and week out. Its just who they are..
Terry Polious
Roar Rookie
as a supporter it is so frusturating seeing them go down to bottom four teams though, I really think that, that is cause for concern.
Shinboner 1971
Roar Rookie
I haven’t hit the panic button, I’ve hit the resigned button. Season over. Again. :unhappy:
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
I sort of agree and disagree at the same time. I have no doubt Parra can beat Melbourne with equal luck. I think they can also run Penrith close. So if they make top 4 they are certainly a show. BUT do they make top 4??? If they want that ( and let’s face it you need a top 4 finish to be considered a GF threat) they are going to have to be consistently good starting this weekend. Losing to lesser teams will mean they finish 5th or 6th and while that’s nice it won’t get the chocolates.