The Stairway to Heaven?

[parra pete]

The Eels are poised to continue the climb up the ladder. Could be in sixth spot after tomorrow's game if Bronco's defeat Raiders, and Bulldogs beat Knights. Not bad for a team apparantly struggling. Wins over Sharks and Cowboys would have had the team sitting prettier though.
Really we are not going as bad as everyone seems to think. Hang in there and give positive support. Negativity never achieves ANYTHING.
You don't hear Melbourne fans, Newcastle fans, Warriors fans or West Tigers fans calling for the head of their coaches.

 

[Suitman]

The Eels are poised to continue the climb up the ladder. Could be in sixth spot after tomorrow's game if Bronco's defeat Raiders, and Bulldogs beat Knights. Not bad for a team apparantly struggling. Wins over Sharks and Cowboys would have had the team sitting prettier though.
Really we are not going as bad as everyone seems to think. Hang in there and give positive support. Negativity never achieves ANYTHING.
You don't hear Melbourne fans, Newcastle fans, Warriors fans or West Tigers fans calling for the head of their coaches.

Keet,

Its a strange scenario that we could CLIMB the ladder after having not played. So be it. I'll take it.

Wins over Sharks and Cowboys definitely would have had us sitting prettier. They didn't happen and are history. More's the pity.
We are certainly going better than I thought we would after the draw we had at the beginning of the season. I'm happy to be on 10 points after 8 rounds.
The thing about Melbourne and Knights fans though is that they have both recently won Premierships. Their desire isn't as great as ours.

Food for thought re everyone's opinion's maybe????

Suity

 

[parra pete]

I consider the Storm the Dark horse in this years premiership.

 

[Suitman]

After tonight.........(and next week) ................I'm not so sure????

Suity

 

[Ron Jeremy]

Parra won't make the 8....if we finish 10th i'll be happy considering our talent.

 

[Hurriflatch]

Storm have been struggling in the last couple of weeks losses to the Warriors and Sharks.

Hoping that poor form continues for at least one more week.

 

[Hurriflatch]

You make some good points Jake, but I hate to harp on it however there was ZERO at best desire shown in the 1st 40 v Cowboys at least from the players anyway.

 

[Stagger eel]

Someone mentioned recently that opposition teams use Parra as a tool to get back on track!! the Cowboys and Sharks recently did that. I fear the Storm might be next.

 

[Eelectrica]

I don't care how fired up the Storm are next week, playing at home and well rested from a week off we should be more fired up than they are. When was the last time someone said of Parra: "No one would have beaten the Eels that game." Broncos game after origin 2 at ANZ in 2002 maybe?
Take a look at Souths, right now I doubt most of their first grade team would make our Premier league team, yet every week they give it all they've got and least give themsleves a chance of causing an upset. If Parra showed that level of committment we'd be in every game and win more often than not.

 

[Twizzle]

Perhaps credit should be given to the teams that beat us.

The Cowboys and Sharks both won again last night.

 

[Misty Bee]

Good call Twizzle. Lets give credit to everyboy bar poor old Souths.

Melbourne, Wests and Newcasle have relatively new coaches (hagan delivered a premiership). Smith has been here for ages, and no banana. We have a reason to call for new blood, they don't.

Sitting 8th is not good enough. It's below average. We were lucky to strike Newy and Brisbane at their worst. Brisbane would smack us at the mo.

There are lessons to learn, and the coach isn't learning them. CEntres are a big problem. Attack comes from Dykes or Morris or not at all. The obvious answer: Wagon to 3 and Thorman to 6: isn't happening. Twice this year we have seen very ecperienced playes dp very impulsive and stupid things: 1) Lyon leaving, and 2) Cayless v Cowpats.

To find a positive we have to look at the ladder. There is little positive about the way we play, apart from the odd strong performance. We have talent to burn. And we are burning it - in reserves, or out of position.

Tim Smith - he has been touted as the next big thing for a few seasons now. On the U18s UK tour a while back, a UK based mate reckoned he was the next Sterling - he was that good. Well, if Saints can give Firman and Head a look in, why not us? Smith is only on player in many. We can't even get Witt - a shining light in 2003, a run in 2004. He asked for a release earlier - I'll bet HJ's collection of crutchless undies that Witt will not play first grade in 2004.

These are some of the reasons why I think Smith should go.

 

[Eelectrica]

I think the biggest reason for Smiths lack of success is that he has never had a half/5/8 play together for more than a year. Every year he has gone for the quick fix.

In Witt and Tim Smith we should have a good halves combination there for the next 10 years. Something we haven't had since Sterlo and Kenny.
I'm not saying that Tim Smith should be rushed straight into first grade next week though.

My strategy would be to have Witt and Dykes together for the rest of this year, and next year. This would allow Witt to develop with an experienced player. At some point this year, and the next I would elevate Tim Smith into top grade for one or two matches, give him a taste and an indication of what it's like - even if it was off the bench for the last 20 minutes of a game.
From 2006 - as long as possible have Witt and Tim Smith as our half and 5/8.
We have a rare opportunity, just hope we don't screw it up.

 

[Misty Bee]

The halves have been our achilles heel, and Smith's in particular. I still shake my head at the treatment of the Pieman.

Dykes is shaping as the best prospect we have had there for years. Give him a good 5/8 and a lot of our probs are solved. Smith might be before his time, but I don't want to se another potential star wated in the reggies for ever.

 

[1eyedeel]

Reference my post to another thread. I will just about guarantee that come the end of the season Parra will have 6. Witt. 7. Dykes and 14. Thorman. If Parra had been playing this formation since day one this year, we would not have won a game - witness how badly Witt and Thorman went in premmies in early days.

The idea is to have your best players in their right positions by the end of the year AND to be in the finals. That's pretty much all that matters and I think Smith has being pulling the right strings so far. We're in equal sixth place, having played a one-dimensional game. He's not stupid enough to think this style of play is going to be able to beat the likes of the Roosters and Panthers come September.

 

[MarkInTheStands]

So Misty,

What are you willing to put on the line that Witt doesn't gets a run in the top grade this year ? Apart from what you said because
1) I don't know or care if they exisit
2) if the do I don't think you own them.

 

[theykilledbrettkenny]

Misty, I'll give you even money and I'll let you on for as much as you want...

I've had a good few weeks on the punt and I'm loaded up, lets go!!