Round 23 and Parramatta have really good chance to move into the top 4, and continue there run of good form just prior to the Finals. But for some reason the Eels players turned up with the wrong attitude, thinking they could win by simply going through the motions. What i'm really interested in is, how does this happen? I can understand if a player in a 1 on 1 sport such as tennis or boxing goes into a match or a fight thinking this will be a easy win and they get beat, but how do 17 players all turn up with the wrong attitude and complete lack of commitment and lose a game that they should be winning? I don't believe it's the fault of the coach. Surely in todays world a head coach and his coaching staff would understand that if there team takes any game lightly the will get beat. The difference between the top and bottom teams is very little and attitude and commitment will be the difference most weeks. It must come down to the leadership group in the team. It never gets old hearing how players like Smith and Cronk put so much into preparation and these players never seem to allow there team mates to have bad attitudes or lack of commitment. Some people may say it's the coach that is responsible for this, but I disagree. I've heard players say that, they can tell in the warm up or in the sheds if there team mates are switched on or if there minds aren't on the job. Sure, the great leaders like Smith and Cronk can have a off or bad game, but it's there attitude and commitment the get them the win. Sometimes when a team losses a game people say, it's the loss they needed, but can someone tell my why they needed the loss? I can only come up with, the players needed a reality check, the needed to understand that they need to work harder and all the time, they needed an attitude adjustment and 100% commitment. So what makes the great leaders like Smith and Cronk understand that if they don't have the right attitude and commitment that they will fail and players around them will follow there lead and also fail?
In the Eels vs Knights game anybody that watches sport closely could see after just 5 minutes that the Eels didn't turn up to play. They had a lack of intensity and enthusiasm. The players didn't run as hard and they didn't hit as hard in defence as they have been in past weeks. The Eels got totally out played in every aspect of the game by a team that lacks experience. Obviously, the Eels have a far more balanced, experienced and all round better team than the Knights, but once again the result was determined by attitude and commitment.
So, to fix this problem what is needed? Is it better, stronger leaders? Do you believe it's the coaches fault? Is it a combination of both? If someone has the answer, bottle it and sell it to the many sporting teams that have suffered these types of losses ever since day 1.
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The Eels just needed a reality check about what it takes to be a real premiership contender. They got that reality check from the likely wooden spooners/Knights. I wouldn't read to much into it.
If they play like they did last night for the last three remaining games of the regular season then we should be looking into it but if it's the wake up call they need to really get them motivated for the rest of the season then it will have been worth it.
Time will tell.
A lot of the top 8 teams have lost a game, or two, recently to teams they shouldn't have but they are still top 8 teams because of how they have played for the rest of the season.
Remain calm Eels supporters, it's called a season because its made up of 26 rounds, not one.
This is my prediction and I'm absolutely willing to stick my neck out for it.
We will be beaten easily and convincingly by the Titans next week.
We will push the broncos early but be blown away by them at the end of the game.
We will play Souths to make the 8. whom we will just beat.
At the end of the day we have some really average players especially in the forwards. We don't have a top line prop forward.
Normy for all his potential is half asleep most of the time. Semi is a shadow of the player he was last year and Somi isn't a winger.
You just can't expect a team like this to win the premiership no matter what the press says.
This is perhaps the bet summation I have read so far. Last night exposed all the problems we have.
Its a combination of both coach and players imo
Parramatta Eels win 6 games in a row going into last nights game. Our last 3 consecutive wins were in the space of 14 days, topped off by the bulldogs game in torrential rain.
This week, we finally had at least 7 days to prepare against Newcastle who won 2 in a row but had 1 day less than us to prepare.
Parramatta - 6 consecutive wins, as well as winning our last 7 games at Homebush VERSUS Newcastle winning their last 2 games BUT LOSING 23 CONSECUTIVE AWAY GAMES hence the $6 to win dividend.
TAKE YOUR PICK - Parra were due for a loss after 3 wins in 14 days took it's toll.
OR -
TAKE YOUR PICK.
The $6 odds were too good to refuse and some players collaborated with Knights players to make even more money - hence the field goal to make it a 19 point margin to gain the absolute largest payout at 19+ winning margin bets.
More betting;
"First try scorer" of the match favorites would've been Parra. Instead, Knights scored the first 2 tries.
"First point scorer" of the match favorites would've been Parra. Instead, it was Knights.
"Half-time leaders" of the match favorites would've been Parra. Instead, Knights lead 12-10 at half time.
"Full-time winners" favorites would've been Parra. Instead, Knights win by the most unlikely margin 19+ which paid the absolute most money for a "winning margin" type bet.
For those who don't know much about betting, a "winning margin"bet is where you have to choose either team to win by either 1-6 points, or 7-12 points, or 13-18 points, or 19+ points, or a draw.
"Last try scorer' of the match. Again, Knights.
As you can see, those who collaborated, made the absolute maximum amount of $ that was possible.
Do you think it's hard to arrange all of the above?
What if YOU had the opportunity to make money that easily and had the excuse of playing 3 games in just 14 days to hide behind ? Then would you do it?