Fox League’s James Hooper and Braith Anasta have questioned the Parramatta Eels’ preparation leading into their grand final loss to the Penrith Panthers.
The Eels opted to scrap a team bus and instead travel to the team individually or with their partners as coach Brad Arthur attempted to drive home the message that it was simply another game of football.
As good as Penrith were I think that Parramatta weren’t at the races last night,” Hooper said on NRL360 on Monday.
“You watch them run out and they looked as though they were really in the moment, especially their big name players Mitchell Moses, Clint Gutherson, they looked like they were up for the occasion, but after the opening set it became very clear that Penrith were on another level.
“Look I don’t know if it was the emotion of the week, the fact that rather than get a team bus together and all go to the game together.”
“What happened there?” Anasta questioned. “Did they not all go to the game together?”
No they all drove individually or with their partners or however they decided,” Hooper replied.
“That’s unusual for a grand final,” Anasta added.
It wasn’t the only preparation decision that caught the attention of the NRL360 panel. The Eels also rejected an offer to train at Accor Stadium, instead sticking to their regular training ground in Kellyville.
Hooper believed it reminded him of a similar plan the club had in leading into their 2001 grand final loss.
“You’d know you’ve been there, for me it sounded strange but they wanted to try and just stick to the process and treat it like any other game,” Hooper said.
Look last time we heard that was back in 2001 when one of the all time great Parramatta sides got rolled in a grand final that was dubbed the un-losable grand final by the Newcastle Knights.
“I think it was a stuff up during the week, the fact that they didn’t want to train at Accor Stadium either they knocked that back, just wanted to stick to their processes at Kellyville.
“I reckon they’ve dropped the ball there.”
Replies
LOL, yes Hoops, that was it - the team bus was definitely the issue.
We were beaten by a team who has been superior for years and simply a level above everyone else in the competition. BA was right to keep doing what worked, to get the team into a rhythm of just playing football and not focusing on them playing in a GF given that basically none of the team had any experience and could easily get overawed.
For us to win the GF it would have taken the Panthers to be slightly off (they were near perfect), would have taken the Refs giving us the rub of the green (every bounce and every challenge went against us), would have taken our perfect squad (Panthers had zero injuries, we had Opa out) - there was a reason we were massive, massive underdogs and it wasn't the team bus. It would've taken all stars to align for anyone to beat Penrith...and they didn't.
Right now there are 15 teams incapable of beating Penrith. Of all those teams, we've been the only team to trouble them over the last 2 years.
Brillant reply Captain. As much as it hurts me to admit it - they were never going to get beaten. Everything you said is true. WE needed the rub of the green, some bounce of the ball fortune and possession and lots of it. We didnt achieve any of those things.
If there is something that really gets to me is how disrespectful and arrogant these players are. YES we all all ackowledge they are the best team by a mile, they have a great club, great pathways and a system that will produce for years and years. Be a bit humble.. It is called class. I have learnt enough lessons in life that if you shit on the people on the way up dont expect them to be nice to you on the ride back down.
Parra should be proud to be in the GF. All those other teams with greater star quality wished that the case with them.
Well said Paul and I agree. No need to be arrogant in victory. It's a sure sign of a quick demise
They're acting like a couple of kids from Mt Druitt? Who would have thought...
Also worth mentioning they are inspired by the African American style of arrogance. This ain't the NBA kids
This is the only response necessary, good summary Captain.
The bush coach game plan was pathetic. Where was the mongrel? Where was the plan to slow the ruck down? Where was the plan to get quick play the balls instead of fcking post contact metres. Our forwards need to change their style of run because they are being turned in their backs like a fcking turtle which gives the defensive line more time to smash the next ball runner. I'm glad Mahoney is leaving because I'm sick and tired of his 20 metre passes. Learn from Cameron Smith to pass off the hips to a charging forward. This team needs a half decent defensive coach and some mongrel in the forwards!
We didn't get much help from the refs, luck of the bounce etc but fuck we rolled over and let the Panthers do with us as they pleased.
I'm not going to blame BA this time, I just think that game vs the cowboys took more out of our legs than many are willing to acknowledge.
Gus Gould predicted that and he has been proven spot on. If we had played in Sydney the previous week, I think we would've seen a different Eels on GF day. It is what it is I guess so let's just all wait for next again....
Well said
I'm sure Brian Smith in 2001 said it was something he would change if ever they made the GF again.
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