Cayless in leader mode
BRAD EARL
12apr06
NATHAN Cayless doesn't know if he will get the Parramatta Eels captaincy back but he is committed to continuing to help lift the team he's led for so long.
"I still see myself as a leader in the club and I'll be doing everything I can, everything in my power, to get us playing as a team and get us playing well," Cayless said.
The Advertiser spoke to the front-rower on Monday after the side had held what has been dubbed in some quarters as a crisis meeting.
The Eels lost 44-18 to the Penrith Panthers at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday and have now won only once in five matches this season.
They have the bye this week.
"Everyone's got their feelings and we expressed a lot of our opinions yesterday after the game and again today," Cayless said.
"Obviously people are going to start criticising us.
"When you're winning everyone loves you but if you're losing, everyone wants to ask why it's not happening. We're all doing that ourselves at the moment.
"It's just a matter of sticking together and working hard and hopefully a win's just around the corner."
This was Cayless's seventh year as Eels skipper but he lasted only three rounds before coach Brian Smith put him on interchange and installed Nathan Hindmarsh in the role.
``Brian sort of said, give it to Hindy and take a bit of pressure off me, and try and get some form back,'' Cayless explained.
Asked if he expected to get the job back, he said: ``I'm not sure.
``Only my form will allow me to do that, if I'm playing well enough and get back into the starting team. You can't be captain from the bench.''
When Cayless was in the run-on side and had his interchange breaks, other players, especially long-time deputy Daniel Wagon, would handle the duty of talking with the referee when required.
Cayless thought he'd ``done all right'' against the Panthers.
``I'm not doing anything different, just a few little things that Brian wants me to work on.''
He believes his form will be fine for the game against Wests Tigers at home, on Friday week.
The form of Paul Stringer, the starting prop who has held his place since Cayless's switch, has also been down, and some would argue more so.
BRAD EARL
12apr06
NATHAN Cayless doesn't know if he will get the Parramatta Eels captaincy back but he is committed to continuing to help lift the team he's led for so long.
"I still see myself as a leader in the club and I'll be doing everything I can, everything in my power, to get us playing as a team and get us playing well," Cayless said.
The Advertiser spoke to the front-rower on Monday after the side had held what has been dubbed in some quarters as a crisis meeting.
The Eels lost 44-18 to the Penrith Panthers at Parramatta Stadium on Sunday and have now won only once in five matches this season.
They have the bye this week.
"Everyone's got their feelings and we expressed a lot of our opinions yesterday after the game and again today," Cayless said.
"Obviously people are going to start criticising us.
"When you're winning everyone loves you but if you're losing, everyone wants to ask why it's not happening. We're all doing that ourselves at the moment.
"It's just a matter of sticking together and working hard and hopefully a win's just around the corner."
This was Cayless's seventh year as Eels skipper but he lasted only three rounds before coach Brian Smith put him on interchange and installed Nathan Hindmarsh in the role.
``Brian sort of said, give it to Hindy and take a bit of pressure off me, and try and get some form back,'' Cayless explained.
Asked if he expected to get the job back, he said: ``I'm not sure.
``Only my form will allow me to do that, if I'm playing well enough and get back into the starting team. You can't be captain from the bench.''
When Cayless was in the run-on side and had his interchange breaks, other players, especially long-time deputy Daniel Wagon, would handle the duty of talking with the referee when required.
Cayless thought he'd ``done all right'' against the Panthers.
``I'm not doing anything different, just a few little things that Brian wants me to work on.''
He believes his form will be fine for the game against Wests Tigers at home, on Friday week.
The form of Paul Stringer, the starting prop who has held his place since Cayless's switch, has also been down, and some would argue more so.
