Eels commit to big finish

On the week of his 250th first grade appearance, Nathan Cayless has pulled his team together at a special players meeting with the team resolving to reproduce their miraculous finals surge of 2009.

1Eyed Eel understands that Cayless convened a players meeting yesterday aimed at bringing his side together as they come into the business end of the season.

With so many players off-contract and non-stop contract wrangling, this season has hardly been a smooth one for the Eels. However, the majority of players would now know if they're staying at the club or moving on, presenting the side with no excuses but to concentrate on their football going forward.

This, of course, will be Nathan Cayless' last opportunity to win a Premiership after going so close in 2001 and then again last year. It will also be the final chance for a lot of Eels juniors who have come up through the ranks in the same squads to win a Premiership together.

My understanding is that the players made a commitment to each other to give everything they had for the rest of the season. They will go into the match against New Zealand as underdogs but expect to see a re-invigorated side that won't go down for lack of effort and passion.

In more ways than one, a year like 2010 will never come around again.

Funny, yet so sad at the same time because it is so true... Why does it feel like GroundHog Day every year when you're an Eels fan. Always seems to go something like this;

Before season starts - Eels have talented roster and are aiming to improve on previous seasons finish
6 weeks in to season - 1 or 2 wins from first 6 games. Early panic starts to creep in.
Next 8 weeks - win 5 from their next 8 to get back to mid table, signs encouraging.
Rounds 15-18 - 3 losses on the trot, papers say Eels in Crisis, players on their way elsewhere at seasons end, no signings
Before Round 19 - Players hold meeting off their own bat and promise to put in for each other
Rounds 19-26 - Win just about all their games to make Finals.
Finals - put major scare through all other clubs but perenially fall short of anything significant.
Post-Season - Coach and players vow to go one better than season just finished and promise to train harder in the off season so that they can "hit the ground running next year and not get ourselves in to the same position with so much pressure to make the Finals"....

Sound familiar??? Name any year of the last decade and I reckon the above could be a commentary of that year....

"Smith is already better than Reed in my eyes. He's a much better passer of the ball and a better defender. Reed was like a pinball in defence at times and couldn't make it through a full season. Problem was BA didn't try any other hookers on the…"

"If we miss out I'm not too fussed.
We want players who want to play for us not a last resort option.
If we have to go after someone else id go for Sanden Smith. They guys improved out of sight."

Replies

Chris Johnstone June 30, 2010 at 1:20pm

Cayless is a legend........
Slaytanic June 30, 2010 at 2:36pm

Would be good if they could have this discussion before the season starts rather than leaving it to crisis meetings every year. Hindy and Cayless can't afford the pizza.
- EelLectric > Slaytanic June 30, 2010 at 2:51pm
  
  Funny, yet so sad at the same time because it is so true... Why does it feel like GroundHog Day every year when you're an Eels fan. Always seems to go something like this;
  
  Before season starts - Eels have talented roster and are aiming to improve on previous seasons finish
  6 weeks in to season - 1 or 2 wins from first 6 games. Early panic starts to creep in.
  Next 8 weeks - win 5 from their next 8 to get back to mid table, signs encouraging.
  Rounds 15-18 - 3 losses on the trot, papers say Eels in Crisis, players on their way elsewhere at seasons end, no signings
  Before Round 19 - Players hold meeting off their own bat and promise to put in for each other
  Rounds 19-26 - Win just about all their games to make Finals.
  Finals - put major scare through all other clubs but perenially fall short of anything significant.
  Post-Season - Coach and players vow to go one better than season just finished and promise to train harder in the off season so that they can "hit the ground running next year and not get ourselves in to the same position with so much pressure to make the Finals"....
  
  Sound familiar??? Name any year of the last decade and I reckon the above could be a commentary of that year....
Ham Sammich June 30, 2010 at 2:49pm

Why don't they just put in 100% at the start of the year so the players and fans can relax at this time of the year before the finals. But looking over the last decade or so we don't usually get off to great starts.
Tinkerbell June 30, 2010 at 2:53pm

As long as the boys play as a team I can't ask for anymore.

I will be thinking and cheering for them from Cyprus!
Kracker13 June 30, 2010 at 3:31pm

Maybe this is the reasoning behind the cleanout which seems to be occurring atm, being from Newcastle I saw first hand the emotion that the supporters were expressing towards Brian Smith when he did the same, basically they wanted his blood, but looking back now the tough decisions he made seemed to be the right ones. I have confidence in DA & Ozzy and believe that whatever plans they have will result in us having a stronger roster both physically and mentally.
Jim June 30, 2010 at 3:48pm

That is absolutely spot on- it may be even longer than ten years bar 2001
Sir Col "THE NODDY MUSHROOM" June 30, 2010 at 4:14pm

Now that's a real Captain.

They need to do it as a TEAM and not on individual effort tho
waldo June 30, 2010 at 11:36pm

Phil, I love ya but that would require Jarryd to shut his mouth and Tahu to grow a brain, overnight. And a 5/8th to miraculously discover skills that blokes used to take years to learn. It ain't gonna happen. I love Hindly and Nathan too, but no premiership for them, so sad.
Nah, like Labor voters, we're rooting for a lost cause.
MaxZ/3iaGGiZ July 1, 2010 at 2:06am

It's going to be a big finish alright.... with The Chosen One walking out on our beloved club. what a MESS!!!!

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