Dead last: The Parramatta Eels are destined for the 2012 NRL wooden spoon. Source: The Sunday Telegraph
HERE it is. The final embarrassment for a proud club and their inspirational leader Nathan Hindmarsh.
A season from hell looks certain to end with the ultimate booby prize as Parramatta will claim their first wooden spoon since 1972.
With a nightmare run home, including games against top-eight sides Manly, Canterbury, Melbourne, Brisbane, Wests Tigers and South Sydney, the Eels are firm favourites with TAB Sportsbet to finish stone motherless last.
Stephen Kearney's team are at $1.45 to finish the season with most losses. Their western neighbours Penrith are at $2.75 and Canberra come in next at $11.
To add injury to this insult, they will face premiers Manly today at Brookvale Oval without their best player Jarryd Hayne, who picked up a foot injury in the State of Origin decider on Wednesday night.
Hayne is expected to miss the next four weeks with ligament damage to his right foot. It spells trouble for the Eels who face Manly (away), Bulldogs (away), Melbourne (home), Broncos (away), Wests Tigers (away), Roosters (home), Titans (away), Rabbitohs (away) and Dragons (home).
The best we can figure is the Eels producing possibly two upset victories against the Roosters and Dragons.
Eels chairman Roy Spagnolo said the next month would define the club's season as he backed Kearney to lead them out of the mess.
"Like all Parramatta fans, I'd be gutted if we got the spoon," Spagnolo said. "Hindy and Luke Burt, they've given everything for this club, so hopefully over this next month we can turn the corner. It's a tough draw but if they aim up then anything's possible."
Eels legend Peter Wynn has backed the club to reverse the rot by following the lead of Hindmarsh, who will play his 322nd game for the club today.
"If the rest of the players come up to Hindy's level and follow his lead, there's no way the Eels can end up with the wooden spoon," Wynn said.
"I reckon they can string a few wins together with enough dedication and willpower to make sure they don't get it."
However, if he does lead the club to their first wooden spoon in 40 years, it would be a sad way for Hindmarsh to bow out.
The Eels' only hope seems to be passing the spoon to the Panthers, but they will receive a boost with Luke Lewis, Michael Jennings and Tim Grant returning from Origin.
Things haven't been much better at Penrith, but there's still a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel. You can see where Ivan Cleary is heading and he has a proven track record, piloting the Warriors to last year's grand final.
They also have the luxury of a bye this weekend and winnable games against the Raiders, Titans and Roosters to come.
The prospect of finishing last is guaranteed to continue the pressure on Eels coach Kearney, who has won nine of a possible 39 games in two seasons at the helm. And they only avoided the wooden spoon last season with a Round 26 victory over the Gold Coast.
But this year the forecast appears even more dire with the Eels almost odds-on favourites to run last for the first time since 1972.
Replies
We are morals for the spoon, another great feather for SK to put in hes hat of failure , god help us all, and while im at it, what have all of our god bothering players gods done for them and our club, big fat doughnut.....
the spoon hey, what at total disgrace and outrage
Bookies paid out on Eels winning spoon months ago as they knew the only way Eels could avoid it was to sack Kearney & they knew the board was too stupid & gutless to do that.
Agree the board are gutless hope this costs them the up coming elections
We were favourites for the spoon a long time ago i rekon.
2013 favorites already no doubt