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Smith settles some scores
By Paul Kent
March 22, 2004
AFTER the week that was it was a sure bet that Parramatta coach Brian Smith was going to walk into yesterday's press conference, after the Eels had won, looking to even some scores.
It was a troubled week for the club, arguably the most heavily supported team in the NRL.
The Eels had been baked in the press after wilting to the Bulldogs in round one, Jamie Lyon had fled and so had prompted all sorts of comment, and finally Smith's own coaching system was called into question as it was revealed how vulnerable the Eels' defence is in certain parts of the field, and doubts were cast about the club's off-season planning.
So Smith walked in yesterday with small cheer. Wary of the written word, he sat down and tried to impart his feelings with his eyes, drawn tight and hard, and for at least one onlooker there was the feeling that while there was plenty of Hollywood, it was no Clint Eastwood either.
Then came his comments, terse and deliberate.
How was that Brian?
"It was good."
What was the best part?
"The scoreline."
How was that against last week?
"I can't remember last week. I can only remember today."
The eyes were saying so much more, or at least trying hard to.
On last week there was this:
Did you feel pressure?
"Yep. I always feel it."
Last week you said you were going to re-assess a number of things, how many things were assessed or changed?
"Everything. Or everything was re-assessed."
What about changes. Much to be made or just adjustments?
"Mainly adjustments."
Was the week difficult Brian?
"It was a tough week, yeah."
Smith was emotional.
The season is only two rounds old and already his future and ability has been called into question.
Every year, the game gets tougher for everybody.
After losses in round one premiers Penrith and St George Illawarra came up with terrific performances over the weekend to hold off the pressure that was lurking underneath.
Cronulla dug deep and Souths broke through for their first win.
But nobody was under more pressure than Smith, whose players did much to ease the load yesterday.
It started when he revealed that he had received a text message from Lyon on Saturday night wishing the team all the best and that another arrived straight after fulltime congratulating the Eels on the win.
He couldn't help himself, and took another dig at last week's coverage of the Lyon affair.
"Jamie has got some things he has got to get sorted at the moment," Smith said.
"I just hope all the people who are frustrated fairytale writers and gossip mongerers that have had their lash this week, they can have a little look at themselves in the mirror at some stage today or tomorrow and ask themselves are they printing stuff and repeating stuff that they actually know or are they printing stuff that somebody has fed them and are making fools of themselves by doing so?
"From our point of view all that's adding pressure to Jamie."
Quoted in full.
But while the Eels left Suncorp Stadium yesterday justifiably satisfied with the win, and while Smith still objects to questions about his coaching of the team, there are still answers to be provided.
The Eels toughed it out and for that the players should be proud.
But Brisbane failed to put the right questions to their defence.
When the Broncos scored their first try it was down Parramatta's right-hand side, attacking their goal-line defence, which is where the Eels are said to be the worst in the league and is Exhibit A in the prosecution of their slide defence.
The few times Brisbane did shift the ball their plays were made well before the Parramatta defensive line, giving the Eels plenty of time to cover for any mis-reads.
After their opening game the Eels said poor ball handling led to their downfall, in effect dismissing any problems about their defensive system.
Yet yesterday they completed only 23 of 40 sets, a dismal rate that limps just over 50 per cent.
The Daily Telegraph
[/b]
By Paul Kent
March 22, 2004
AFTER the week that was it was a sure bet that Parramatta coach Brian Smith was going to walk into yesterday's press conference, after the Eels had won, looking to even some scores.
It was a troubled week for the club, arguably the most heavily supported team in the NRL.
The Eels had been baked in the press after wilting to the Bulldogs in round one, Jamie Lyon had fled and so had prompted all sorts of comment, and finally Smith's own coaching system was called into question as it was revealed how vulnerable the Eels' defence is in certain parts of the field, and doubts were cast about the club's off-season planning.
So Smith walked in yesterday with small cheer. Wary of the written word, he sat down and tried to impart his feelings with his eyes, drawn tight and hard, and for at least one onlooker there was the feeling that while there was plenty of Hollywood, it was no Clint Eastwood either.
Then came his comments, terse and deliberate.
How was that Brian?
"It was good."
What was the best part?
"The scoreline."
How was that against last week?
"I can't remember last week. I can only remember today."
The eyes were saying so much more, or at least trying hard to.
On last week there was this:
Did you feel pressure?
"Yep. I always feel it."
Last week you said you were going to re-assess a number of things, how many things were assessed or changed?
"Everything. Or everything was re-assessed."
What about changes. Much to be made or just adjustments?
"Mainly adjustments."
Was the week difficult Brian?
"It was a tough week, yeah."
Smith was emotional.
The season is only two rounds old and already his future and ability has been called into question.
Every year, the game gets tougher for everybody.
After losses in round one premiers Penrith and St George Illawarra came up with terrific performances over the weekend to hold off the pressure that was lurking underneath.
Cronulla dug deep and Souths broke through for their first win.
But nobody was under more pressure than Smith, whose players did much to ease the load yesterday.
It started when he revealed that he had received a text message from Lyon on Saturday night wishing the team all the best and that another arrived straight after fulltime congratulating the Eels on the win.
He couldn't help himself, and took another dig at last week's coverage of the Lyon affair.
"Jamie has got some things he has got to get sorted at the moment," Smith said.
"I just hope all the people who are frustrated fairytale writers and gossip mongerers that have had their lash this week, they can have a little look at themselves in the mirror at some stage today or tomorrow and ask themselves are they printing stuff and repeating stuff that they actually know or are they printing stuff that somebody has fed them and are making fools of themselves by doing so?
"From our point of view all that's adding pressure to Jamie."
Quoted in full.
But while the Eels left Suncorp Stadium yesterday justifiably satisfied with the win, and while Smith still objects to questions about his coaching of the team, there are still answers to be provided.
The Eels toughed it out and for that the players should be proud.
But Brisbane failed to put the right questions to their defence.
When the Broncos scored their first try it was down Parramatta's right-hand side, attacking their goal-line defence, which is where the Eels are said to be the worst in the league and is Exhibit A in the prosecution of their slide defence.
The few times Brisbane did shift the ball their plays were made well before the Parramatta defensive line, giving the Eels plenty of time to cover for any mis-reads.
After their opening game the Eels said poor ball handling led to their downfall, in effect dismissing any problems about their defensive system.
Yet yesterday they completed only 23 of 40 sets, a dismal rate that limps just over 50 per cent.
The Daily Telegraph
[/b]
