No we weren't, but what we were a chance of doing was play consistently well enough to actually win plenty of games even against the better teams and finish somewhere in the semis and actually excite us the fans that support the club.
Especially in a season that we have the privilege of playing at the best new stadium in the country and if we showed some promise could actually consistently draw over 25k crowds for the entire season and regain some lost support and respect before the hype of the new stadium pitters out. Which would make this coming season very memorable for all of us long time suffering Eels supporters, even if we aren't a snow chance in hell of winning it.
We at least had the potential of a good to great halves pairing if they both pulled their fingers out since they were both unsigned for 2020 and needed to impress to maintain their contract value and a much improved forward roster that could actually dominate the play the ball.
All we have now is one petulant whiner that if he doesn't get his way chucks a tizzy fit and loses his whole game. We now have a unsettled fullback, dummy half and half that will be the least experienced and probably the youngest in the NRL to partner the premadonna.
Our performances I believe will be all over the place. The only thing that may prevent the boys from totally chucking in the towel once the season is lost is that many of them are still unsigned. But our season has effectively been hobbled by in my opinion the dumbest coach in the NRL.
Another woeful season coming up. I can't believe that he has crippled this team again. Halves are the life of the team, forwards the power and backs the wings. This guy has taken 5 years to recognize the power part, now he is about to learn the hard way about the life part. His only chance is if pretty boy Moses comes out in full switched on mode and the rookie finds his feet real fast to at least be a foil for pretty boy, otherwise the opposition teams will quickly know shutdown pretty boy is the way you shutdown Parra.
Like I said before, I get that both Moses and Norman were on the nose, but to offload either at this stage without a ready made experienced half replacement would be lunacy. Well the coach has just shown me how out there he is. Look at the Dragons for example at the whiff of losing one of their halves, they immediately seized the moment to nab an experienced half replacement with a brilliant short kicking game.
What have we done to ourselves in return, created the most unsettled spine in the NRL with no certain option in any of the positions and that includes pretty boy Moses who could also be gash he can't get it together.
People say our halves where the problem. Once we had a reasonably fit side we where not that far off most teams. We are talking a try perhaps.
2018 was a disaster but there was a few disadvantages from the get go.Forget the last few games. That shit happens when nothing to play for and we had most our pack missing. Brown,Alvaro,Terepo,Manu.
1- No home stadium. Sure 2017 was same. But having a home stadium means you generally get some ref calls go your way and players are more pumped.
2 - Injuries. Brown,Gutherson,Hayne,Manu all missed a lot of game time
3 - Unlucky. Id say we bombed games against Saints,Knights,Dogs,Rabbits. And very unlucky against Panthers 2nd time, Brisbane & Warriors.
And with some luck I would argue the Sharks 2nd time and Pa thers 1st time around.
So now we must ask ourself these questions.
1. What players are on a sharp decline due to age? NONE. MJ and Mannah will be 31 and prob the oldest two in our top 17. MJ will be fine. One bad year doesnt turn someone into a bad player. And at 31 his body would not be that deteriorated .
2. What players most likey will improve due to age and experience ?
Gutherson,Bevan,Alvaro,Moses,G.Jennings,Salmon,Tepai,Niaukore,Kaysa
3. What Juniors or debutants are just about ready for NRL that where not in 2018.
Brown,Stefano,Kafusi,Mahoney,Parry,Dunster,Stone, Sivo
4. Who have we gained?
Junior, Ferguson, Lane
5 Who have we lost
Hayne , Norman
Who was gash and may add something
KE
For mine its now what is perhaps deadwood. Taka and Hoffman are the two I wonder about. Along with perhaps Bevan. I just unsure any are in the top 17 when all fit and there is close to 1 million right there.