Alas, Smith and groans at Eels
By Brad Walter, Steve Mascord and James MacSmith
May 31, 2004
Parramatta coach Brian Smith last night admitted he was feeling "pretty low" and described the task of turning the Eels back into a competitive force as one of the greatest challenges of his 21-year career.
With Parramatta crashing to their fifth successive loss when thrashed 33-6 by Wests Tigers yesterday, Smith is bracing himself for a further round of heavy criticism and renewed calls for his sacking more than two years before his contract expires.
Eels officials continue to stand behind him, but unless the club's fortunes turn around, Smith's tenure beyond this season is becoming increasingly doubtful.
"This is very tough," Smith said. "I started my career as a first-grade coach in Sydney in 1984. I've worked hard. This is just a reminder that you don't get any credit points for the fact that you have done 20 years service in this game - you've got to keep doing it. I fought my way through it before and I'll be trying to do the same."
Asked whether he had faced a greater challenge since starting his career at the Illawarra Steelers, Smith said: "It's right up there, that's for sure. They were tough times for me at Illawarra when I first started, these times are tough as well.
"I'm not enjoying this. I've been through it before and you try to remind yourself that things pass but when teams are down, as we are at the moment, you sometimes wonder if it's ever going to end."
Smith also admitted he at times doubted himself but said he had not given up hope that the Eels could kick-start their season before it was too late.
"I know what I've got to do and I'll just stick at it the best I can," he said. "You feel pressured all the time in this job. I have no control over anything other than what I do as a coach, which is what I like to do and I will continue to do to the best of my ability. If others decide that's not good enough . . . that's the prerogative of being in professional sport.
"A lot of great coaches, and far better coaches than me, have the same experiences as me. Things just don't seem to run for you when you're in a certain passage of a season or career or whatever it might be. All I can say is that I'll keep working hard at it, and we've got a lot of good people in our organisation who won't back off. We'll keep trying hard."
Since losing the 2001 grand final after finishing the regular season as runaway minor premiers, the Eels have been on the slide and last year failed to make the play-offs for the first time in Smith's seven-year reign.
Senior players Nathan Hindmarsh and Daniel Wagon said the team was struggling for confidence amid a string of injuries and loss of form.
"We're missing a bit of confidence at the moment," said Hindmarsh. "Heads are down because we know we're a much better team than we're going.
"We've got Nathan Cayless and Aaron Cannings to come back from injury, Adam Peek is suspended and Adam Dykes and John Morris are in reserve grade, so it's not like we haven't got the team to do it. We've just got to get them on the paddock. I wish we could wait it out but it's up to the players - we've got to do something about it."
Wagon said: "I think most of the pressure is on Smithy, most of the blame seems to go on him, but when it comes down to it, we are the ones dropping the ball and missing the tackles."
