Pay: Parramatta have gone soft
By Neil Cadigan | April 18, 2008
http://www.news.com.au/dailytelegraph/sport/nrl/story/0,26799,23557199-5006066,00.html
DEAN Pay, the man who re-introduced toughness into the Parramatta pack a decade ago, claims the Eels have gone "soft" in the forwards and have to "aim up" against arch-rivals Manly tonight. "They've gone soft on themselves for some reason," Pay said.
"They have to get some mongrel back into their make-up and they have to do it this week or they'll be in danger of being left behind.
"Some of the tackles Parramatta dropped off the last few games were too soft, not what you expect from them."
And forward leader Nathan Hindmarsh, a tough self-analyst, admits the way opposing forwards have "strolled" through the Eels' defence close to the line in recent weeks shows they need an attitude reality check.
"I missed a couple of tackles against the Titans that led directly to tries. I usually pride myself on not doing that," Hindmarsh said.
"Against the Cowboys Carl Webb strolled through us for a try, then Aaron Canings did it to us last week.
"We had a lot of dropped ball, forward passes from dummy half, gave away dumb penalties at crucial times, and that puts pressure on our defence.
"It's not good enough. If we want to be a tough, consistent side we need to start doing something about it this week."
Pay, a member of the Eels' legends greatest ever side - who played 76 games for the club from 1996-1999 - is not one to dump on his former side and still maintains enormous respect in the club.
So his views are not to be taken lightly when he claims the Eels have to put some "mongrel" into their make-up against a Manly side missing Anthony Watmough but equally desperate to get their season on track.
Pay said he has noticed a drop off in intensity "in the engine room" compared to Parramatta's efforts of last year, when he claimed the Eels were premier Melbourne's biggest threat.
"Nothing's changed in rugby league. You have to mix it in the middle," Pay said.
"It's down to attitude. Their forwards have to make a statement."
The Heritage Round clash between the two sides that joined the competition in 1947 will have plenty of feeling tonight.
A second wave of rivalry between the clubs developed from ex-Eel Jamie Lyon's appearance at Manly last year and two exceptional clashes won by the Sea Eagles, in which Lyon scored three tries.
Hindmarsh said he has long been reminded by Eels fans of the deep-seated hatred of Manly, which relates as much to the close football rivalry of the '70s and '80s as it does to the "westies v coasties" cultural contrast.
"There's extra rivalry, that's for sure," he said.
"Both clubs are used to being near the top of the ladder and the pressure is always there, that creates rivalry.
"Last year we had two really tough games and then they got to the grand final and we missed out.
"I never grew up in Parramatta so I wasn't aware of the history but our older supporters talk about it all the time, how they hate Manly and to make sure 'you beat those bastards'."
