Alan Jones tells Parramatta Eels players that to win the NRL Premiership it takes hard work
* By David Riccio
* From: The Daily Telegraph
* March 07, 2010 12:00AM
TIMANA Tahu walked into the old Ray Price Lounge under the Parramatta grandstand with questions.
"And I reckon 45-minutes later we all walked out with answers,'' the Eels star said.
Tahu, a dual international, remembers sneaking a look at his team-mates scattered around the famous room.
Cult-figure Fuifui Moimoi lay staring from the floor, young hooker Matt Keating sat locked in focus, veteran skipper Nathan Cayless was totally absorbed.
"Sometimes with footballers, if someone comes in for a chat, the players can just brush it off,'' Tahu explained.
"Because they (footballers) think they already know better.
"Like, they don't need help.
"I questioned if some of the boys would take it in. But this time, everyone sat there and just listened to every word.
"We all walked out pumped and full of advice on what needs to be done this year. ''
Radio personality and former grand slam-winning Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been called many things.
But on this day, Jones was just honest.
"I did say to them it was a lot easier last year to come from nowhere to somewhere ... that's easy,'' Jones said.
"But now when that expectation is there then you've got to shut all that out and play minute by minute.
"I could feel it was a very serious and comitted outfit, but at the same time I was mindful that were dealing with the profound disappointment.
"My comments were directed to how you with that and how you go about turning it around.''
The 68-year-old had been invited by club chief executive Paul Osborne, who alongside coach Daniel Anderson, felt his players needed a reminder about the little things that build success.
In just five days time the Eels will run out against St George Illawarra as favourites to win this year's premiership.
The last time they were favourites for an NRL premiership was in ??? and they finished??
Tahu believes Jones' speech, that silenced the entire playing group, will provide the backbone to Parramatta's season.
A sermon, Tahu believes, that come September the Eels will look back on.
"Everyone is backslapping us, talking about us being in the grand final again,'' Tahu told The Sunday Telegraph last week.
"But Alan came in and spoke to us about keeping level headed.
"Basically telling us this is a new season, we can't be expected to win just because of what we did last year.
"He talked about his previous days when he was coaching just about staying positive both on and off the field.
"The things he was talking about was just to check ourselves and to remind us that this going to be a hard season.
"He spoke about luck doesn't just fall in your lap - its all about hard work.
"To be successful, you have to do the hard work. Nobody is going to put it on your lap."
