As I always do on my channel, I review Parramatta's season which is something I have done since 2020. This year was probably the toughest season I have experienced supporting this club. The link to the video is down below. Will things get better in 2025? I'm not so sure.
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Great as always mate, keep it up.
Cheers LB
Well said Coryn. It's not just the football department that doesn't know how to win, it's the front office. We're lacking winners at the top. There are CEOs and boards that can get things done and those that just keep the lights on.The best are able to move from industry to industry. They focus on bringing in people who are also winners, success attracts success. These people are relentless and when they set out to get something done they get it over the line.
As I said in the video the great Jack Gibson said "winning starts at the front office".
Good morning Steel, well glad to tune into your review mate. I couldnt help but laugh at your expletives champ, more so the North England accent. Where are you originally from mate? Love the honesty and openess here, and you were right about the bloody spoon bowl game; this is all media driven and just dribble for TV.
The club must stand for something right through the ranks and this is where it starts and ends for me. No mediocrity.
As others have said we need smart operators in the club at the top and we do not have them. Its that simple, and your comments about Bennett highlght this.
Steel, it is just a game mate and I know it draws passion from us all, but just take it easy bud. I used to take the game more seriously yrs ago but time mellowed me I think and while I get pissed with a loss etc. i try and put it all into perspective.
As long as you have your health, and a roof over your head and something to look forward to then we are going ok. Keep your chin up mate and St Helens are a good team nd keep both as your teams....and enjoy a pint!!
Thanks for watching the review. I am originally from Sydney. The spoon bowl game for me showed in a lot of ways that the club and the fanbase (Not everyone but some fans) thought being in the Spoon Bowl was cool and they were bringing wooden spoons to the game etc. It's not something to be proud of, or something that anyone should want to be involved in. Supporting St Helens and Parramatta is like chalk and cheese, even though this is probably the worst I have experienced as a St Helens fan as well (Yet they still made the playoffs). I've seen them win everything multiple times over, I just hope one day it happens for Parramatta.
Great content, Steel. Love the accent too as a few have commented. I'm glad you didn't abandon us. I wish all the success for your channel.
It's hard to know about 2025.
What Ryles does for our defence - our attitude and between the ears - will be crucial.
Brandon Smith told Sterlo and James Graham recently that he worked under Ryles' defensive systems for 4 of 8 years in his career - and rates him highly. Let's see. Fingers crossed.
But Ryles is changing the chemistry and makeup of the team, trying to bring the team together, as well as change old Athurian habits & structures. It should take longer than one off-season.
So, I'm expecting inconsistency even if we improve.
Refer Flanagan at the Dragons under a more experienced tough task master who got them mentally and physically fitter but they weren't consistent.
Ryles has an intriguing team of assistants that is outside the square a bit. Interesting.
He also spoke quite well (far better than his assistant days) and has ambitious hope for unity across the board - from pathways, to culture and even with the community and old boys. He also did quite a bit at the Storm with player development and their juniors.
I suspect that could be a double edged sword, if he gets too fixated on the bigger picture. Others need to do that. And support this top-down. As an NRL rookie head coach he'll have enough on his plate trying to get wins on the board let alone try to change long-term culture top-to-toe.
Brian McDermott, in part 3 of Coaching the Coaches warns that coaches needed to decide whether they leaned towards culture or winning. Think Bennett as an example. He focuses on winning at NRL level not changing the entire culture and pathways. And look what happens when he leaves clubs.
Tbh, I'm not sure a modern day NRL coach can ride both horses both well - one short term, the other long term and filled with ideologies and assumptions. He's just got to be careful not to get diluted and juggling too many ideological balls.
Just my view. Could be dead wrong.
Shane Flanagan is actually who I wanted as Parramatta head coach going back at least 2/3 year ago. He's got a lot of experience as a head coach, he turned Cronulla around and got them their first ever premiership. He took over St. George who I thought had the weakest roster in the league before the season began and within a year they have improved majorly, plus you look at some of the players they have managed to sign already for next year. At the time a lot of people didn't want Flanagan on here, they said he were a "druggie" but I thought he would have done well at Parramatta.
Wow even after I braced myself that was tough. Laughed at the bit about finding new ways to lose. Ryles is dead on with the players he wants gone.
Yeah only Parramatta could be winning 44-10 and finish up with the final score being 44-40.
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