Casper The Ghost
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Stats show Eels are worst team in NRL
By Dean Richie
3rd May 2011
PARRAMATTA are officially the worst team in the NRL.
If you disagree, take a look at these damning statistics.
The Parramatta Eels are 16th and last for points scored this season, last for tries scored, last for line breaks, last for tackle busts, last for off-loads, last for metres conceded, second last for run metres, second last for points conceded and second last for line breaks conceded.
And it gets worse.
TAB Sportsbet yesterday pushed Parramatta out to a whopping 100/1 to win the Telstra Premiership.
This from a team that just 20 months ago ran out in front 82,000 fans at ANZ Stadium - as the pride of NSW - to confront Melbourne in the NRL grand final.
"They have promised their fans the world and delivered them an atlas," said TAB Sportsbet spokesman Glenn Munsie.
It seems the wheels are completely off at Parramatta after a 30-0 drubbing by St George Illawarra last Sunday at WIN Jubilee.
The Eels were out-played, out-classed and out-smarted.
With coach Steve Kearney in camp with New Zealand, Eels chief executive Paul Osborne was yesterday left to answer questions about his club's demise.
"St George Illawarra are the benchmark and that's where we want to get to," Osborne said.
"There is still some work to be done but I am confident we have the right bloke in charge.
"We will get there."
As some fans demand to know why the Eels sacked Daniel Anderson - who took the team to the 2009 grand final - for Kearney, Osborne said: "I am not going into the past. Steve was brought to the club for specific reasons and to do a specific job.
"The results aren't coming on the field but I am seeing a lot of positives off the field.
"Success won't come overnight but it will come. We are building a solid foundation."
Anderson had a solid if unspectacular record at Parramatta, winning 25 from 52 games for a success percentage of 48 percent.
Kearney's side is now paying $101 for the title alongside Cronulla and Penrith.
Showing how savagely they have drifted in betting, Parramatta were paying $15 after round one this year.
The Eels are also third favourite (paying $6) to sustain the most losses this season behind Cronulla ($2.25) and Penrith ($4.50).
"Parramatta have been a major disappointment right across the board," Munsie said. "There isn't one player in their side who you could say has been going OK.
"Jarryd Hayne has done slightly less than zero this season."
The Eels are aware they need to urgently bolster their playing roster - hence their desire to sign Chris Sandow (Souths), Tom Symonds (Roosters), Will Hopoate (Manly) and Adam Blair (Storm).
However, Sandow, Symonds and Blair will all reject Parramatta's interest.
Eels star Jarryd Hayne conceded this week: "We have the potential and shouldn't be in the position we are in."
Coach Kearney refuses to be downcast. After the heavy loss on Sunday, he was more than happy to answer media questions and did not look a coach under pressure.
"There is a difference [in the quality of teams] and if we want to be a competitive football team, we've got to be able to compete for the 80 minutes," Kearney said.
Link: http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...rst-team-in-comp/story-e6frexnr-1226048678241
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And this being the first year i ponied up to be a member, slapped that sticker on my car and that big stupid gold thing on my keyring. Not saying I regret it but sheesh... Its only May and there isn't much to cheer about.
