In 2013 - we were the laughing stock of the NRL and sport in general in Sydney. We represented all things that were bad in our sport - a largely average & very much ill disciplined playing squad, dysfunctional board & management, no integrity with the media and a supporter base that would not accept another year of mediocrity. In 2014 - we started with a few new faces, new rookie coach, a chairman under seige but remaining strong and loyal to the brand. The supporters as always rolled up the sleeves and prepared to support this wonderful club again in the hope of one very important word RESPECT.
RESPECT is the cornerstone of everything in society. A feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements. But respect is not just given away - it must be earnt. It is not a one off achievement in my view but one that is earnt over time by meeting the acceptable standard time and time again. Has this team earnt their right to be respected ? I say yes.
- The team has overcome adversity on a number of occasions and bounced back. Multiple huge losses followed by a strong performance next game.
- The ability to share the load and not be a one man ' wolf pack '.
- The ability to buy into something that is new or foreign to them.
- The emergence of new guns such as MANU, SEMI, EDWARDS, PAULO.
- To stop the leaks in the media - the negative press.
- To have a HONEST assessment by the coach each week.
- To reward their supporters with a brand of football that is PARRAMATTA and not replicated from another club or team. Our unique style and suited to the players we have.
- To stretch the top teams all the way and make their star players pull out all stops for victory.
- making Pirtek stadium a fortress to be feared.
I want Parramatta to be the team every other team hates to play. I want us to be the team that doesnt clock watch, the team that plays for the win at all times, the team that accepts adversity and strives to overcome it. Ray PRICE never ever gave up. He never let the other team know his pain. STERLO always looked again for the next play, the vision, the competitiveness. KENNY seizing the opportunity or the weakness in the opposition. Good teams play the entire 80 minutes and they make the other team beat them. We have beaten ourselves far too many times in the past ( soft underbelly crap ). You want to beat Parramatta - go ahead play to your very best or you wont get there.
As supporters - we have a football team that we can be proud of. They are certainly not the best team, nor the most talented team. But they are our team, playing our BRAND of football and earning the most important thing a football team can achieve : RESPECT.
Thank you Brad ARTHUR. You have not sold yourself out at any stage in your rookie year. You have been true to yourself, to your players and to your club. This approach has created a culture that will grow and grow and the scenes like we saw when big SEMI ran 90metres last week will be the NORM not a special event.
WE ARE PARRAMATTA - and we have woken up !
Replies
Great blog Paul.
BA has earnt my respect, as too has Steve Sharp.
Certain players have earnt my respect, and im a firm believer that new recruits and players must earn respect on the park, just because they come in to the eels family means nothing to me, they must earn it.
Next year will be real year to judge the team and how far we have come, we need to keep moving forward as we have been.
But yes i believe we have turned the corner.
Totally agree, and glad you mentioned Steve Sharp, he's had a hard road but stayed strong. Gee he and BA are good for the club.
Great blog dude!!
Inspirational stuff - we have a great team that is developing a fantastic culture. We all talk about what player we need to buy and how much they cost. What sort of price do you put on the turn-around of a clubs spirit? The future is bright brother!
I hope you mean Junior not Joseph .If you do mean Joseph,he must have the greatest PR person working for him.Articles are written about him being "in form",and fielding huge offers from rival clubs.What must they be offering? Monopoly money?He plays a few good minutes thru the whole season ,instead of his crabbing,f**k ups he usally offers and he's a gun player?
That rant aside,our team is now a force,not a farce.Next year I hope to see a return to the glory days of the 80s.Judas Priest is touring at least,so we are partly there.
We are still known as a one man team, ask any non parra fan. Respect will come soon no doubt.
Even Tepai is already being pinned as the "next Hindy". No, he's the first Tepai Moeroa. The minute that this squad fully realises it's own identity is the day they become a Premiership force.
Super, i dont want to move past the 80s, it had the best fashion, music, sport, im stuck in a time warp baby.
You missed out young whipper snapper.
Hi Super,
I disagree with you mate. When your last premiership was in 1986 ( maybe before you were even born ) it is hard not to acknowledge what this club was built on. YES - different eras, different rules, different players. But that is the basis to which a club is founded. Culture, history and tradition. Every player who plays the game has a former idol that they have modelled themselves on.
One thing I have learnt in life is that old is good. They earnt that right. The glory days of the 80's is what our great club is built around. Embrace it and then beat it.....I will say one last thing - if South Sydney make the grand final and i believe they will - every story will be on their golden years and that was way back in the 60's and 70's. Tell a South Sydney supporter to move on and I know what answer you will get.
Respect.....
Bite your tongue son,the 70s and 80s were brilliant.No political correctness,women still had bush (and unless you were a stripper,no tattoos),the music ruled,the Windies touring was looked on as a challenge,not a laughing stock.Smokes were $1.50 ,and smokers were not pariahs.People were happy to let everyone do their own thing without whingeing eg.dickheads were able to buy cheap houses under the flight path,now they want the flightpath moved.
Most importantly the game of League was hard and fantastic.Why shouldn't us old farts hanker for those days again?
Parra has done f**k all since then.
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