Eels in the media

[Avenger]

Brian Smith would be close (10 years).
BA and Stuart are both in their 7th year without one.

EDIT: John Lang did 8 years at the Sharks without winning one and Royce Simmons did 7 years + 6 games at the Panthers.

BA deserves his extension. He has improved the team and the recruitment and retainment have been exceptional. He has matured as a coach and now has a great opportunity with this squad to jag our long-awaited 5th premiership.

Well done to him.

 

[Gronk]

BA deserves his extension. He has improved the team and the recruitment and retainment have been exceptional. He has matured as a coach and now has a great opportunity with this squad to jag our long-awaited 5th premiership.

Well done to him.

I think our success coincides with Max’s front office reforms and the employment of Mark O’Neill as GM of footy. BA seems to have the support that he needed and it shows on the paddock.

Hopefully there are a few more juniors coming through for 2021.

Agree however, well done BA. The stability it brings will also add to our success.

 

[Twizzle]

BA deserves his extension. He has improved the team and the recruitment and retainment have been exceptional. He has matured as a coach and now has a great opportunity with this squad to jag our long-awaited 5th premiership.

Well done to him.

I think our success coincides with Max’s front office reforms and the employment of Mark O’Neill as GM of footy. BA seems to have the support that he needed and it shows on the paddock.

Hopefully there are a few more juniors coming through for 2021.

Agree however, well done BA. The stability it brings will also add to our success.

ditto

 

[strider]

don't be f**kin stupid ... its all cos we got rid of the AFL merkin ffs

 

[Gronk]

don't be f**kin stupid ... its all cos we got rid of the AFL merkin ffs

Actually props to @Avenger who rooted for Trent Elkin. He has us f**king fit.

 

[strider]

Actually props to @Avenger who rooted for Trent Elkin. He has us f**king fit.

damnit, no sex until after we win a premiership

 

[Incorrect]

damnit, no sex until after we win a premiership

Fine by me, I'm not getting any anyway....

 

[84 Baby]

BA deserves his extension. He has improved the team and the recruitment and retainment have been exceptional. He has matured as a coach and now has a great opportunity with this squad to jag our long-awaited 5th premiership.

Well done to him.

David Attenborough - “Here we see the Southern Flip-Flopper in his natural environment. The male is seen here flipping in an attempt to seduce a mate. If that fails, he’ll begin flopping instead in aggressive pursuit of his base needs.”

 

[Gronk]

Part of our success is that we told our halves to find new clubs. Thankfully the right one stayed.

 

[Poupou Escobar]

I would say Corey Norman is a star quality player. For talent he is Origin class. But a player who is a poor influence off the field will have a negative influence on it. And it's possible to pay too much for anyone, no matter how good he is.

 

[Avenger]

David Attenborough - “Here we see the Southern Flip-Flopper in his natural environment. The male is seen here flipping in an attempt to seduce a mate. If that fails, he’ll begin flopping instead in aggressive pursuit of his base needs.”

Hahahahah

 

[Avenger]

The 2018 Norman/Hayne off the field show is the stuff of Legend. Both extremely talented but with brains the size of a squirrel.

 

[Noise]

The 2018 Norman/Hayne off the field show is the stuff of Legend. Both extremely talented but with brains the size of a squirrel.

I have good word that you could add Kenny Edwards and Vave to that list (in terms of brain size).

 

[hineyrulz]

I have good word that you could add Kenny Edwards and Vave to that list (in terms of brain size).

Vae FFS!!

 

[parra pete]

Gutho, one of the best players imported to the Club in my 60 years of support.

 

[strider]

The 2018 Norman/Hayne off the field show is the stuff of Legend. Both extremely talented but with brains the size of a squirrel.

Thats harsh

Squirrels arent that dumb

 

[Gronk]

BLAST FROM THE PAST
BEN SMITH

152 top-grade games for Parramatta between 2004-14

Ben Smith isn’t sure how he came to be on Parramatta’s radar. What he does remember is the key role played by former Eels utility Daniel Wagon.

Wagon played with Smith’s older brother Brad at the Dragons, where Brad was coached by Brian Smith.

“I had the opportunity to go to St George or the Eels when I was in Year 12,” Smith said. “I hadn’t played much rep footy growing up but I played in the under-18 country championships.

“I’m not sure if Daniel said something to Parramatta before or after the championships but it was a culmination of both. My brother also said if I wanted to learn to be a better footballer, go play under Brian.”

Ben Smith.
A year later, Smith made a whirlwind debut for the Eels against Melbourne as a 19-year-old. He was asked to train with the NRL side on the Wednesday before being told he would play the following day.

“We flew down on the Friday,” Smith said. “I only had a couple of sleeps to stress about it. I remember walking into the dressing room and seeing my jersey with the NRL logo on it. It was surreal.”

Smith cemented himself as a mainstay during the next few seasons before being plagued by a torn ACL he picked up in Parramatta’s 2007 qualifying final win against the Warriors. He also had a cyst and bursa in his other knee which required two arthroscopes the next year and restricted him to just two games.

A year later, Smith had a front-row seat on the Jarryd Hayne plane as the Eels made the grand final.

“Jarryd and I were housemates,” Smith said. “When you’re in that moment you don’t realise the magnitude of what is happening. The impact he had was amazing.”

Smith, who works in property development in Newcastle and for the National Disability Insurance Scheme, retired in 2014 after battling shoulder and knee injuries.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...s/news-story/e17fc3cff7137b0ce46e1c9d9af2b4ae

 

[Incorrect]

Had a lot of ticker did Ben Smith. Liked him as a player but my god he would infuriate me at times with ill discipline and penalties... Always being pinged for stripping in the play the ball. I think he probably got unfairly targeted by refs on occasion to be honest

 

[hineyrulz]

He looked like he was going to be a superstar when he had that huge year in 05, injuries weren’t kind to him but he did well to get 150 games as a hard working backrower. Refs used to pick on him for fun.

 

[T.S Quint]

He looked like he was going to be a superstar when he had that huge year in 05, injuries weren’t kind to him but he did well to get 150 games as a hard working backrower. Refs used to pick on him for fun.

Yeah he looked like a future rep star when he started out. Big and strong with enough speed to get him through. Very good defender as well. Completely f**ked by injuries unfortunately, but he did have a pretty decent career by anyone’s standards.

Didn’t he run for the Eels board at one stage?