On any number of occasions this year, Parramatta players and coaching staff have stated that they've not thought about the last couple of years, that's its behind them and their only concern is the present and the future.
Of course, it's difficult to keep moving forward when you're carrying around some of the baggage that Parramatta has loaded on its back.
Like not having won an away match for close to two years. Like not having won a match in the wet for I think even longer than that.
It's pretty likely that Parramatta will have to face both those bogeys tomorrow night. They will be away and the rain is supposed to roll into Brisbane tomorrow around 3pm. There looks a decent chance it will clear up by game-time, but it's pretty likely we'll have to make-do with pretty slippery conditions.
If you're basing odds on form, we're 100-1. The form-guide would say. "Struggles to win away from home track and no good in the mud. Avoid."
A win then tomorrow night won't just represent two points. For me, it will effectively signal that we can truly start to put behind us the horrors of the past three seasons. We will have shaken off the bogeys and I can start looking forward to games, even when we're not playing at home or without looking at the weather forecast.
Those two losing runs have said a lot about past Parramatta teams. It says that when the going go tough, Parramatta failed to get going. It said that without a vocal home crowd behind them, we had a side that failed to self-motivate. It said that when the conditions were tough, we had a side that wasn't prepared to roll-up the sleeves and get dirty to win a game.
Parramatta come into this match without a heap of pressure. They're not at the bottom of the table, they're coming off a win and they're the underdogs playing interstate. It's not inherently a BIG game that is going to be easy to get up for. If our boys can do so, we'll see that there is some real hunger in this side to win, week-in, week-out.
And if it is wet and they can get away with a win, we'll see that this is a team that can play it tough and disciplined and doesn't just fall back into the trap of giving it to one of their marquee players and hoping something might happen. They will have need to play smart and hard - neither attributed have been overflowing with abundance in past seasons.
So for me this really is a very big game. I'm sucking back the Unicorn juice big time, right now, because I want to believe. I want to believe that I can leave behind me the agony of recent seasons and not think, 'well here we go again'. I want to believe that Brad Arthur has instilled in this side real believe, commitment and hunger.
If we can win this game, I will officially declare this 0 BA. It will for me, mark the start of reasonable optimism.
And if we still want to be superstitious it is worth noting the last away game we won was at Suncorp back in June of 2012. I was there. It was beautiful. C'arn Eels - help us poor Parra fans leave behind the pain and start afresh with renewed hope.
Replies
"Like not having won an away match for close to two years. Like not having won a match in the wet for I think even longer than that. It's pretty likely that Parramatta will have to face both those bogeys tomorrow night."
The weather's pretty good up here at the moment. This'll cheer you up about our mud form.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eJxnTmpJ4lU
Agree Bernie unless we get rain tomorrow will be great conditions.Been real warm up here last couple of days with no rain. Predicting a high scoring match
Parra 25-18
I think the Broncs are vulnerable on both edges with Vidot and Copely. Kicks or overlaps could do it. Surprisingly Maranta has been their safest winger and they dropped him.
Pick the score anyone? Why didn't I put a lazy $20 on this
Spot on Craig
Phils gone full unicorn, happens every time we get a new coach.
Can anyone tell me what DA's role is & what he oversees? - Since the interview when he signed on, he's been decidedly quiet. - Anyone close to the club that can shed some light?? - I am sure he has had some positive input into this "whole of club" turnaround we are happily witnessing; not just in 1st grade, but right throughout the club, tells me there is major, beneficial re-structure happening. - We won all 5 grades in 1 round this year & 4 out of 5 in two of the others. - To me, it's not just what I'm seeing on the field, it's what I see is permeating throughout the club again. - Belief, passion & enjoyment!
Another interesting fact..... As well as being the last time Parra won an away game in 2012 against the Broncos at Suncorp in BA's first appearance at the helm it was also the last time Parra won 2 games in a row ..... Could it be fate? Could it be that the beginning of the end will now be replayed and mark the end of the end and a new beginning?
Eels 13+
fingers crossed
These next 2 games are going to be huge for us and if we can get a win in 1 of them I will be over the moon
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