I've always said that the reason Parramatta has less luck than it should, transitioning our juniors into NRL players is that the run through for them is too easy.
They generally play in winning junior teams, they get the next big thing ticket put on them, get pandered through our very professional junior development system and hit NYC - or if they're really good an early start in NRL - without having ever had to really put up a fight.
When things get tough they're not good at dealing with it. Invariably, they underperform for us, we get rid of them and that serves as their kick up the bum to let them know that things don't just get handed to you on a silver platter. And so they go off to their next club, with better attitudes and a fresh reality that they're the outsider who is going to need to fight like hell to work their way in.
However, you look at this year's Parramatta and imagine you're a boom youngster coming up. In the NRL side, you have the likes of Manu Ma'u and Kenny Edwards - two guys who have come back from nearly throwing away all their potential and who are have been there, done that and come out the other side as mature guys who realise they have the next five years to set themselves up for the rest of their life. You can tell these guys are hungry. Real hungry.
You have the likes of Willie Tonga, who is also another guy who has probably been through the "I did all the dumb things" routine and wants to finish off his career with a bang. Ben Smith - another senior guy fighting for every year his career has left. And then you have the likes of Tim Mannah and Will Hopoate - who from all accounts are two of the most dedicated, hardest training footballers you can imagine.
I can't imagine there is any room for big, young egos within that context. I can imagine some of those blokes letting the younger guys know the realities of what it takes to become a successful, professional football and how easy it is to blow it. They may be unlikely mentors but I think we have some blokes in this squad, who will keep our young blokes heads screwed on straight and who will force them to step up as players and men.
I look at a player like Jacob Loko and suddenly what he has ahead of him, to force his way back into the NRL side. Not being a walk-up start to the NRL squad, is probably not something he's really had to deal with before. I've talked of him being a potential rep player and that's the type of form he's going to have to bring to the party if he wants to be a part of this side. He's going to have to want it. Badly.
You can see too, that it's part of the culture Brad Arthur is creating at Parramatta. I don't think I've ever seen a coach who is so reluctant to throw a public compliment his player's way. He gets asked about a player and invariably his response is "Yeh, he went ok, but he wouldn't have been able to do that unless the rest of the blokes did their part as well".
For me, that's been what has been so pleasing about this start to the year. Not necessarily the result, although that's great too, but I see a cultural foundation being laid that is as healthy as I've ever seen. In that context, the fact that we won all five grades last week is significant, because it reflects that what we're seeing is not just talk, but that it's actually make a difference right across the club.
And that's something to get all unicorn about.
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Good Assessment 1EE, i think that is pretty close to the money. I have heard it many times said that the Parramatta Juniors are soft by the time they get to NRL level and need a boot up the backside but in the last few years since Brian Smith no coach has given them that boot. A wake up call seems to be the only thing that works but it's normally another club.
I think Fuifui is a big factor as well. He's a hero in Polynesian circles, Ma'u has spoken of how Fuifui took him under his wing when he came to the club. He doesn't say much but he's experienced and had to work his way into his career the hard way. I've said it before and I still maintain we are working on our own version of money ball. We have a couple of marquee players, some journeymen who could've thrown their careers away, club players who have been there in the good times and the bad and young guys who are eager to impress.
Is it just a coincidence that these younger players like Ma'u etc. are reaching their potential since BA arrived or has it been just a matta of time?
i think Ma'u it was just a matter of time as he was stuffed around getting a visa for nearly a year and played only about half a season wenty i believe. But BA seems to instill confidence in these players and has rewarded hardwork in the pre-season with spots in the top side. Confidence is infectious.
Mate, I reckon it takes a lot of things to come together to effect the kind of change we're seeing. Some good recruitment. Ma'u was obviously talent-spotted and I know Peter Nolan has a thing about making sure you have a few blokes with a bit of mongrel in the side. You've got to give a lot of credit to BA and his coaching staff and I think the fact that we've got DA in that upper role lets everyone focus on what they should be doing and you've got to co-ordinate things. But I think if you even now start at the chairman, through to the coaches, DA and our senior players you've got a lot of real no-nonsense footy people running the club now and that's got to come out at the other end.
Of course, all this said, it has to keep rolling on. It's all very easy to be united and happy families when things are going well, but we'll not really know if things are different until we start to struggle with injuries and cop a few losses and see how the club and players respond to adversity. As a club, responding to the tough times, is not something we've ever been noted for.
I really think Sharpie pulled a rabbit out of his hat when he pushed hard and got his way with BA, he is a career coach for sure but you can tell he loves the place to bits and wouldn't want to be anywhere else in the world. I think that sort of thing is rubbing of on a players and it seems a great place to be again.
The Total opposite when Spags pulled a hare out of his arse and we got a coach who was only here for the money and selfish reasons who couldn't wait to bail on the club. I know it's only one game and we will probably still struggle at times this season but i think Arthur is the man to make us a force again.
I'm not sure we're seeing an adjustment to the 'pampered junior' culture as such. I think what we are seeing is Parra finding its soul again.
From the Chairman down we have thoroughbred Parra people in senior positions. People who are proven winners at the Eels and don't want to be anywhere else. Arthur's no nonsense approach is also, as you say, having a very positive effect on any wannabe egos in the club.
Can we finally all agree that bringing in an outside 'saviour' hasn't worked at our club and should be abandoned as a strategy for the foreseeable future? We have all the talent we need as a club to be successful...on our own terms.
One of the reasons I wanted DA OR BA to get the job, they both bleed blue and gold.
Then we got both!
Regardless of how things go this season, the club certainly seems a far better place to be and the players are having a ball exemplified by Edwards' quote today in the Edwards blog.
Fantastic stuff that the players want to play for the coach AND their spot. Depth is a wonderful thing.
I think obviously too early for that level of change. What I was getting at more so was that the foundation is there for that change to eventually work its way through the club. Cultural change always has to start at the top. If you see your superior/boss/mentor whoever, acting one way, you're certainly not going to be any different. So if maybe the likes of Manu Ma'u adjust the attitutude of a Jacob Loko, which in turn sees a SG Ball kid take a lead from Loko and so on, over-time that pampered junior culture might become something different.
My take on the "Parra person" idea is that if you come down to two people, and one is a Parra person and there is not a clear distinction between the too, you always go for the one who will bleed for your club. Because you're right, that seeps into your culture. Ultimately footy isn't just a job. It's more often than not the most passionate, driven, committed people that get the results on and off the field.
Good read this post. I also like it that Arthur is playing hard ball with Sandow. Basically telling him to get his game and head in order or theres no room in the team for him. Hopefully this will spur Sandow on to reach his full potential. If and when he returns i expect to see him really perform like eels fans want and expect of him. Future is looking better.
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