ParraMatt
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Just an article i wrote for Forum Sevens
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Stick by Smith
Brian Smith coached cellar dwellers Illawarra in the first year of his lustrous coaching career.
20 years, several semi final matches, a super league premiership and an NRL grand final down the track and Smith was back where he started. After smashing almost every record in the book in 2001, and doing just about everything bar win the comp, the fall of the Eels has been remarkable. In 2003 they couldnt make the finals and this year people have dubbed them as the worst Parramatta side ever. Brian Smith has carried the burden of such poor form.
Smith has been widely criticised for being too technical, many citing his constant strategy and squad changes as the key stone reason for Parramattas downfall. However, the coach can only do so much; ultimately the players are professionals and a coach can only get a first grade team so far. To their credit, in the last 4 weeks Parramatta has turned poor form around and by the medias logic, this is mainly thanks to Smith.
It has been suggested that international centre Jamie Lyon departed due to a fall out with Smith, but sources close to Lyon reveal that Noel Cleals exit, a mentor of Lyon, played a major part. Never the less this should not be attributed to Smith at all. Lyon is a professional and a disagreement with a coach should be no reason for a player to suddenly want to run off home.
Several key players have been released by the eels in the last few seasons due to salary cap constraints. While this obviously coincides with the coaches wishes, the board and ceo are the ones creating contracts. Players such as Schifcofske, Hodgson and Ryan were not playing as brilliantly in the latter stages of their Parramatta careers, so these losses would have seemed like logical sacrifices as a means of retaining internationals Nathan Hindmarsh and Nathan Cayless. In 2005 the Eels have began recruiting smarter. The robust and energetic Mark Riddell can provide the Eels with the passion and impact they have lacked. It will also answer the five-eighth problem, Current hooker John Morris has proved more then capable of filling the pivot role with Eels Adam Dykes looking like a sure signing for his former team the sharks.
When the Eels were struggling for form and had lost several winnable games on the trot the fans and media were calling for Smiths head. To the boards credit they stayed solid and the Eels were able to turn around their season, posting impressive wins against Newcastle and Manly and taking contenders Brisbane and Penrith right to the line. Fickle fans have seemed to jump back on the Parramatta band wagon, highlighting the importance of loyalty to a coach through thick and thin. You never know when things can turn around.
The best coach in the world wouldnt have been able to win a game for Parra a month ago. They lacked passion and pride in their jersey, and as the only cliché says you cant coach hunger. To their credit the Eels were able to rediscover this passion, and obviously this can by attributed to Smiths persistence. A half time heart to heart with his players in the game against Newcastle proved to be a turning point.
Hopefully, the last few weeks are a sign that Smith can get back to the days where he enjoyed his coaching. The rise and fall of Parramatta has been extraordinary, but as the Panthers proved in 2003 things can turn around just as quickly. One thing is certain, turning your back on the club during a bad trot doesnt help anyones cause. Any player in the world will tell you that a big crowd can lift you.
7th and 8th spot are up for grabs. Several teams lingering around mid table have shown enough consistency to warrant a guaranteed finals finish. The eels are just as capable of sneaking into the play offs as many others, and as history highlights, anything can happen in the finals.
Eels Fans, Get out to the Games, Cheer your Rugby League Team on no matter what the score line is. Let's show this competition that no matter how good or bad of a team we are, we still love seeing those blokes run onto the field with that blue and gold jersey on. Good Luck Brian Smith, and Good Luck to my Eels for the remainder of the season.
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Stick by Smith
Brian Smith coached cellar dwellers Illawarra in the first year of his lustrous coaching career.
20 years, several semi final matches, a super league premiership and an NRL grand final down the track and Smith was back where he started. After smashing almost every record in the book in 2001, and doing just about everything bar win the comp, the fall of the Eels has been remarkable. In 2003 they couldnt make the finals and this year people have dubbed them as the worst Parramatta side ever. Brian Smith has carried the burden of such poor form.
Smith has been widely criticised for being too technical, many citing his constant strategy and squad changes as the key stone reason for Parramattas downfall. However, the coach can only do so much; ultimately the players are professionals and a coach can only get a first grade team so far. To their credit, in the last 4 weeks Parramatta has turned poor form around and by the medias logic, this is mainly thanks to Smith.
It has been suggested that international centre Jamie Lyon departed due to a fall out with Smith, but sources close to Lyon reveal that Noel Cleals exit, a mentor of Lyon, played a major part. Never the less this should not be attributed to Smith at all. Lyon is a professional and a disagreement with a coach should be no reason for a player to suddenly want to run off home.
Several key players have been released by the eels in the last few seasons due to salary cap constraints. While this obviously coincides with the coaches wishes, the board and ceo are the ones creating contracts. Players such as Schifcofske, Hodgson and Ryan were not playing as brilliantly in the latter stages of their Parramatta careers, so these losses would have seemed like logical sacrifices as a means of retaining internationals Nathan Hindmarsh and Nathan Cayless. In 2005 the Eels have began recruiting smarter. The robust and energetic Mark Riddell can provide the Eels with the passion and impact they have lacked. It will also answer the five-eighth problem, Current hooker John Morris has proved more then capable of filling the pivot role with Eels Adam Dykes looking like a sure signing for his former team the sharks.
When the Eels were struggling for form and had lost several winnable games on the trot the fans and media were calling for Smiths head. To the boards credit they stayed solid and the Eels were able to turn around their season, posting impressive wins against Newcastle and Manly and taking contenders Brisbane and Penrith right to the line. Fickle fans have seemed to jump back on the Parramatta band wagon, highlighting the importance of loyalty to a coach through thick and thin. You never know when things can turn around.
The best coach in the world wouldnt have been able to win a game for Parra a month ago. They lacked passion and pride in their jersey, and as the only cliché says you cant coach hunger. To their credit the Eels were able to rediscover this passion, and obviously this can by attributed to Smiths persistence. A half time heart to heart with his players in the game against Newcastle proved to be a turning point.
Hopefully, the last few weeks are a sign that Smith can get back to the days where he enjoyed his coaching. The rise and fall of Parramatta has been extraordinary, but as the Panthers proved in 2003 things can turn around just as quickly. One thing is certain, turning your back on the club during a bad trot doesnt help anyones cause. Any player in the world will tell you that a big crowd can lift you.
7th and 8th spot are up for grabs. Several teams lingering around mid table have shown enough consistency to warrant a guaranteed finals finish. The eels are just as capable of sneaking into the play offs as many others, and as history highlights, anything can happen in the finals.
Eels Fans, Get out to the Games, Cheer your Rugby League Team on no matter what the score line is. Let's show this competition that no matter how good or bad of a team we are, we still love seeing those blokes run onto the field with that blue and gold jersey on. Good Luck Brian Smith, and Good Luck to my Eels for the remainder of the season.
It would be like preaching to the choir 
