Parramatta Eels CEO Paul Osborne concerned over ageing list of 2011 recruits
Source: The Daily Telegraph
PARRAMATTA CEO Paul Osborne has admitted to harbouring private concerns over the club's ageing list of 2011 recruits, which yesterday fell victim to a third mid-season retirement in veteran prop Carl Webb.
And Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo revealed the club would soon launch a Brisbane Broncos-style youth academy to help remedy a disappointing season that plunged to new depths after Monday night's 50-point thrashing by South Sydney.
The record flogging has Parramatta firmly in contention for their first wooden spoon in four decades, and exposed club bosses to scrutiny over their recruitment policy and sacking of previous coach Daniel Anderson.
One of four off-season buys on the wrong side of 30, Webb yesterday followed veterans Chris Walker, 31, and Paul Whatuira, 30, into premature retirement after just a handful of NRL appearances with their new club.
It is understood Walker was the only player purchased by new coach Stephen Kearney, who was caught short out wide after the departures of Timana Tahu and Eric Grothe, on top of Joel Reddy's long-term shoulder injury.
With a weakened roster at his disposal, Kearney has been spared pressure that is usually applied to coaches who have won just five games. But after a string of spirited defeats, Monday night's debacle turned up the heat on Osborne and Spagnolo to speak out.
Both expressed unequivocal support for Kearney, and declared the older players were purchased out of necessity after suffering so many unexpected backline losses.
Asked if he was concerned by the number of older players being recruited, Osborne replied: "Of course I was. But they were as good as we could get at the time. The biggest thing for us was Timana walking out, Eric retiring and Joel's shoulder injury.
"Three quarters of our starting backline was gone before the season started and we had to get what was available.
"Whether it be Daniel (Anderson) or Steve (Kearney), the coach gets the players they want."
Anderson was sacked after the Eels finished 13th last year, although they were in finals contention at this stage 12 months ago. Osborne and Spagnolo, however, have no regrets over punting Anderson a year early and installing rookie Kearney.
"We needed a major overhaul, right from the juniors up," Osborne said.
"We needed a complete overhaul in the way we did things. For too long we've made a grand final one year then finished 13th the next. There has been an inconsistency. It was never going to be a quick or easy to fix.
"But I've seen enough behind closed doors to be 110 per cent behind Steve Kearney."
Spagnolo added: "I think at the end of the day psychologically it (the run of close losses) got to them ... it was an unusual performance. The coach is building a good culture and with our recruits next year (Chris Sandow, Ben Roberts and Willie Tonga), we're on the right track.
"Everyone has to be patient."
Parramatta's long-term overhaul will begin in November, when the Eels Junior Academy is launched. As part of a major football department restructure that has already claimed assistant coach Peter Sharp and recruitment manager Rod Reddy, Toyota Cup coach Matt Cameron will be placed in charge of the club's best young recruits.
The retirement of Webb, who was contracted for a further season, clears space under the Eels' 2012 salary cap to sign Tonga on a three-year deal expected to be announced this week.
