PARRA MATTERS AND SHATTERS
by Smithy
Having spent nearly a decade at Parramatta it really hurts to see the great club as it has been on its current path. Since 2006 the huge number of personnel who have left the Eels means there are nearly no players or staff left from those tremendous days we all enjoyed together and who shared the disappointments too. I have no contact with anyone involved at the club currently so I have no inside knowledge or hot news for all those people who would love to know what is happening or is going to happen.
But I do have some thoughts about what we as fans or just interested observers are witnessing; a once great footy club has hit the very toughest of times, appears to have hit rock bottom as true blue and gold fans shrieked last Saturday after being ZEROED by the Raiders only for a new rock bottom after last night’s thrashing by the arch-rival Bulldogs.
I think I have probably had as much experience as any coach ever has at dealing with what Ricky Stuart and his staff are facing at present. From the beginning of my head coaching career at Illawarra Steelers I have almost always started my time with a club that is in some sort of turmoil. The Steelers weren’t sure if they needed a head coach or a head receiver such was the financial situation. But somehow, with all of those people within that tough little club it fought its way through. Coaching there was exciting and pressured every day. I wish I knew then what I know now but you can only do your best and it was great to be a part of a place where everyone knew we all had to do that for survival.
Likewise at Hull FC, Saints and Bradford Bulls, the situations were tough where historically proud clubs were in various states of disrepair and disappointment. Rebuilding them is the way others describe those situations, and it is also used as a taunt by some smart-arsed critics to infer it’s a built-in excuse for not winning early, made by the organisation if someone from within uses the rebuild word.
I think every head coach is building every day if he is attending to his duties in total. As a head coach that’s the most challenging thing, not wasting a day by dreaming of the future, getting it done now to make short term achievements and yet also having a plan about where the team and club are headed so that improvements are made by sticking to the planned pathway to success of the long term kind.
Having a crack at the head coach position at Parra was incredibly exciting in 1997. So many resources – an enormous junior league and junior representative teams chock full of talent to underpin an NRL roster recently boosted by big name purchases Pay, Smith, Dymock and McCracken. The previous decade of failure to make the playoffs was not my focus or anyone else’s as we took off in the direction of SUCCESS together. That we didn’t win a premiership in that time is personally very disappointing but way more so, from my point of view, for all the hundreds of players and staff and executives as well as the hundreds of thousands of rabid Parra fans. Destination Success managed to elude us; we got into the suburbs almost every season but never to the heart of that difficult to locate city.
So I do know what it’s like to face the challenge that coach Stuart, and other coaches too, are faced with.
In recent times when people call or catch up it’s the first topic of conversation; a Parra question of some kind. What did you think of this or what would you do then? “Not my problem any more” or “I don’t have all the info mate and nor do you so let’s give it some time” are my favourite get outs.
These questions are not new just more frequent. Parra has been in trouble for some years. I think we all know that Ricky Stuart did not cause or create the problems. When Jason Taylor took over mid-season and then guided the Eels to the 2006 playoff series the club appeared in pretty good shape. So there have been SIX seasons of coaching by Michael Hagan, Daniel Anderson and Steve Kearney before the reins were handed to coach Stuart.
Now that seems to suggest that coaching has been the issue leading to Parra’s poor position in the footy world. I don’t believe that is the only important factor by a long, long way. There is much more to it than that. But no one would deny the head coach is at the helm. Ricky is at the helm of everything he touches!
What I will say to you, my favourite reader, is that I am finding this a tremendous case study.Here is a former superstar player who became a premiership winning coach very early in his second footy career, coached the national team and State of Origin as well, now faced with a mega-challenge - resurrect what appears to be a basket case club, facing its second consecutive wooden spoon, despite its powerhouse potential and achievement in its not-so-recent history.
Can the new club chairman and board with its yet-to-be-appointed new CEO and head coach navigate those two key points I noted at the front of this piece?
Make those daily short term achievements while sticking to the long term plan.
Stay tuned for more thoughts on Ricky and the Resurrection
Replies
I don't know Smithy - your article sure sounded like a disguised job application - to me at least. Based on our current mess - including the coaching revolving door - the board and senior management upheaval(s) and a playing roster that is sadly lacking talent (compared to OTHER first grade squads) - well "Smithy" - so you want the JOB ? IMO you are certainly welcome to it - sure can't see too many other applicants lining up
I really think Stuart is out of his depth............NEXT !!!!
Lets hope RS can get this rebuilding job done of course.
Smith would definitely be my choice if RS left. He is the best club rebuilder in the business.
i agree 100%
Smithy as coaching director? Defensive coach?. New idea. Have Smith sign a 3 year contract with Stuart his deputy. Smithy builds team to Grand Final ability and Stuart takes over for that season. Smith is yet to win a major trophy and I think Stuart's intensity and passion may just be what could get the Eels over the line.
Of course everything is above is just pure fantasy though.
Ah, how I dream of a Premiership campaign that falls just short of winning a trophy....running 2nd 3rd or 4th and being a contender year in and year out........yes - even that - is all such fantasy right now - but one I would gladly take - compared to the living hell we are in right now
Best club rebuilder in the business. Name another coach who so regularly goes to a club in turmoil and makes them competitive again? Steelers, Eels, Knights, Roosters. All those clubs were a rabble when Smith got there and were in a much better place after he left.
He is the best club rebuilder in the business.
Why can't you read Moray ??????
R E B U I L D E R - yes Smith is the best or at least one of the best R E B U I L D E R S in the business
Are you kidding me - You would prejeduce your decision on R E B U I L D I N G based on Premiership success, all whist Parra has won 2 wooden spoons and finished 2nd last (by only 1pt) in 2011,2012.2013 - that could have been 3 Spoons in a row BTW
Premierships, you gotta be kidding me ? How about just getting off LAST, or even being a middle of the table club, or even JUST making the semi's - sure a Grand Final would be nice - but that is so far away it is pure fantasy right now
What does Parra really need - The answer is a R E B U I L D E R
Mr B Smith is a fully qualified R E B U I L D E R with a track record to prove it
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