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http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...-parramatta-eels/story-e6frexnr-1226345208485
THE last time Parramatta were in this much strife Elvis Presley's It's Now Or Never was on top of the charts.
Fast forward to 2012 and it's the same story - win tomorrow against the Bulldogs or the Eels will be consigned to their worst start to a season in 52 years.
The drama engulfing the embattled club continued yesterday with Matt Keating and Tim Mannah revealing a free-spirited attacking edict had been declared a month ago - a different story from that put forward by Jarryd Hayne earlier in the week.
Blog with Dog: Can the Eels beat the Bulldogs this weekend? Have your say from 12:30pm Thursday.
The front-row duo yesterday refuted suggestions the cellar-dwellers were hamstrung by paranoia about committing errors, as suggested by Hayne after last weekend's bizarre loss to Wests Tigers.
Asked to reason how Parramatta rattled off five tries in just 13 minutes after trailing 31-0, Hayne replied: "It was like the fear left all of us, and when the fear left all of us, that's what we can do.
"That's what we need to play. Whether or not we play like that, it's up to the coach."
When made aware of Hayne's comments, Keating and Mannah stopped well short of agreeing and claimed coach Steve Kearney had adopted a new offensive mindset since their 39-6 loss to Penrith in late March.
The Eels responded with their lone win over premiers Manly a week later and comparative statistics show they've since improved markedly across all attacking categories.
Over the opening four rounds, Parramatta ranked outright last in tries, off-loads and linebreaks.
But in the second month they rate in the top half of all categories - despite slumping to a three-game losing streak ahead of tomorrow night's traditional grudge match against Canterbury.
"I sort of know where he (Hayne) is coming from, but at the same time I don't quite see it like that," Keating said. "Before the Manly game we were coming off a few losses. Steve (Kearney) just told us to go out and play footy and support your mate.
"There's still also a bit of structure for when we get lost in a game.
"A lot of those tries we scored (against the Tigers) came off things we work on at training during the week.
"It wasn't a matter of us just chucking the ball around."
Mannah confirmed Kearney had tweaked the team's style before their victory over Manly, and blamed poor completion rates for their inability to build on that immediate success.
"That Manly game was a strong performance from our side and it showed the ability we have as a team," the NSW Origin prop said.
"Steve has been saying that for a few weeks ... he's been encouraging us to play football.
"It's about us backing ourselves."
In a two-horse race with Mannah to succeed Nathan Hindmarsh as Eels captain next season, Keating admitted the growing pressure and scrutiny around Parramatta was difficult to ignore: "It's hard and it does affect you a little bit," the hooker said.
"We're everywhere - in every newspaper and all over the TV.
"I'm just trying really hard to focus on my own job.
"There are probably too many players worrying about this person or that person.
"We just need to catch the ball and run hard."
The situation could not be more dire for the Eels, who have notched just one win this season and sit in last-place on the premiership table.
A loss against the Bulldogs would seal their worst start to a season since 1960 - the same year JFK was elected US president, Ben-Hur won the Oscar for best film, Cassius Clay won an Olympic gold medal for boxing and Eels great Peter Sterling was born in Toowoomba.
THE last time Parramatta were in this much strife Elvis Presley's It's Now Or Never was on top of the charts.
Fast forward to 2012 and it's the same story - win tomorrow against the Bulldogs or the Eels will be consigned to their worst start to a season in 52 years.
The drama engulfing the embattled club continued yesterday with Matt Keating and Tim Mannah revealing a free-spirited attacking edict had been declared a month ago - a different story from that put forward by Jarryd Hayne earlier in the week.
Blog with Dog: Can the Eels beat the Bulldogs this weekend? Have your say from 12:30pm Thursday.
The front-row duo yesterday refuted suggestions the cellar-dwellers were hamstrung by paranoia about committing errors, as suggested by Hayne after last weekend's bizarre loss to Wests Tigers.
Asked to reason how Parramatta rattled off five tries in just 13 minutes after trailing 31-0, Hayne replied: "It was like the fear left all of us, and when the fear left all of us, that's what we can do.
"That's what we need to play. Whether or not we play like that, it's up to the coach."
When made aware of Hayne's comments, Keating and Mannah stopped well short of agreeing and claimed coach Steve Kearney had adopted a new offensive mindset since their 39-6 loss to Penrith in late March.
The Eels responded with their lone win over premiers Manly a week later and comparative statistics show they've since improved markedly across all attacking categories.
Over the opening four rounds, Parramatta ranked outright last in tries, off-loads and linebreaks.
But in the second month they rate in the top half of all categories - despite slumping to a three-game losing streak ahead of tomorrow night's traditional grudge match against Canterbury.
"I sort of know where he (Hayne) is coming from, but at the same time I don't quite see it like that," Keating said. "Before the Manly game we were coming off a few losses. Steve (Kearney) just told us to go out and play footy and support your mate.
"There's still also a bit of structure for when we get lost in a game.
"A lot of those tries we scored (against the Tigers) came off things we work on at training during the week.
"It wasn't a matter of us just chucking the ball around."
Mannah confirmed Kearney had tweaked the team's style before their victory over Manly, and blamed poor completion rates for their inability to build on that immediate success.
"That Manly game was a strong performance from our side and it showed the ability we have as a team," the NSW Origin prop said.
"Steve has been saying that for a few weeks ... he's been encouraging us to play football.
"It's about us backing ourselves."
In a two-horse race with Mannah to succeed Nathan Hindmarsh as Eels captain next season, Keating admitted the growing pressure and scrutiny around Parramatta was difficult to ignore: "It's hard and it does affect you a little bit," the hooker said.
"We're everywhere - in every newspaper and all over the TV.
"I'm just trying really hard to focus on my own job.
"There are probably too many players worrying about this person or that person.
"We just need to catch the ball and run hard."
The situation could not be more dire for the Eels, who have notched just one win this season and sit in last-place on the premiership table.
A loss against the Bulldogs would seal their worst start to a season since 1960 - the same year JFK was elected US president, Ben-Hur won the Oscar for best film, Cassius Clay won an Olympic gold medal for boxing and Eels great Peter Sterling was born in Toowoomba.
