Paul Crawley Files: Are Parramatta Eels the real deal or overrated pretenders?
No one argues the Eels aren’t a good squad but can they win a premiership? One rival coach gave his assessment of Brad Arthur’s men — and it wasn’t positive, writes PAUL CRAWLEY.
A rival coach gave his assessment of Parramatta this week.
Without giving anyone up, it wasn’t exactly positive. In a nutshell, he said Brad Arthur’s team were overrated pretenders.
And like it or lump it, this coach is not alone in that view because you hear it in conversations with many around the game.
When people are speaking candidly and not for the cameras.
No one argues the Eels aren’t a good squad which, on its day, has shown it can match it with the best. But, unless you are a Parramatta diehard, would you want the Eels playing for your life come the first Sunday in October?
The Eels are yet to make it past week two of the finals under Brad Arthur.
When teams like the Panthers, Storm and Roosters are in top gear and there are no second chances.
Remember, the Eels are yet to make it past week two of the finals under Arthur.
Which brings us to Parramatta’s clash against the Storm on Saturday in Melbourne, where the Eels haven’t won outside the Origin period since round six, 2005 (when Brian Smith was coaching)
While it isn’t make or break for either side, what will it reveal about the Eels if they go down to AAMI Park against a storm side missing Harry Grant, Christian Welch, Tui Kamikamica and potentially Brandon Smith and come home without the two points?
THE STORM FRONT
Parramatta record v Melbourne
Overall: Played 40, won, 16, lost 24
Average score: 18-23
In Victoria: Played 18, won 6, lost 12
Average score 16-24
- Last win in Melbourne, 2017 R18 22-6
- Last two wins in Melbourne both came in Origin rounds (other was 2015)
- Haven’t won in Melbourne outside Origin since 2005 r6 26-14 at Olympic Park
- Overall, the Eels have won three of past four against the Storm, including both last year at Parramatta and in Brisbane.
Will you still see them as genuine contenders, or will it raise concerns that we are looking at another false dawn?
Since Parramatta’s last premiership in 1986, the Eels have used 380 players in their quest to break the longest current title drought.
They have had 10 different coaches in that time. From the last premiership winner John Monie (1984-89) to Mick Cronin (1990-93), Ron Hilditch (1994-96), Brian Smith (1997-2006), Jason Taylor (2006), Michael Hagan (2007-08), Daniel Anderson (2009-10), Stephen Kearney (2011-12), Arthur (2012), Ricky Stuart (2013) and Arthur (2014-current).
Eels coach Brad Arthur needs a big performance from his team against Melbourne this weekend.
All gave their best, some went awfully close — Monie, of course, went all the way in 1986.
Yet, since then, there has only been two more grand final appearances, two minor premierships, 14 finals appearances and three wooden spoons … but zero titles.
Fast forward to this weekend.
Everyone knows the Eels’ premiership window could easily slam shut this year when Reed Mahoney, Isaiah Papali’i and Marata Nuikore all move on.
But for a team that went into the season with many suggesting it was this particular Parramatta squad’s now-or-never moment, they have been more than a little underwhelming in the opening rounds.
LEAGUE’S LONGEST CURRENT PREMIERSHIP DROUGHT
Since winning the comp in 1986, Parramatta have had:
- 380 players play for the club
- 10 coaches holding the clipboard (Brad Arthur twice)
- 2 grand final appearances (2001, 2009)
- 2 minor premierships (2001, 2005)
- 14 final appearances (1997-2002, 2005-2007, 2009, 2017, 2019-2021)
- 3 wooden spoons (2012, 2013, 2018)
After lapping Penrith 36-0 in their final trial (which came on the back of that gutsy loss to the Panthers in week two of the finals last year), the Eels scraped home in round one against the Titans, before going down to the Sharks in another cliffhanger.
Now they head south — without Ryan Matterson, Marata Niukore, Maika Sivo, Haze Dunster, Sean Russell and Jake Arthur — to take on an understrength Storm, who will be motivated to show what they can do when they have their backs to the wall.
Over the years Parramatta have played the Storm 40 times, with the Eels winning just 16.
While in Victoria, the Storm have won 12 of 18, with Parra’s last win down there in 2017 during Origin. Before that it was 2015, also during Origin.
Eels halfback Mitchell Moses and Brad Arthur will be hoping to snare a win in Melbourne this weekend.
And even though Parra has won three of last four, including both last year in games played at Parramatta and in Brisbane, what surprises me is the betting odds for this match.
Even though the Storm is missing three key players in Grant, Smith and Welsh, the TAB still has Melbourne $1.50 favourite in head-to-head betting with the Eels paying $2.60.
Replies
Sadly, most of this is spot on.
How much of the above is a genuine Crawley File and how much is ablibbed by Mr Analyst or attributed to a ghost coach that dosnt exist.
I smell a rat. When was this piece of crap published.
Crawley is the rat you smell.
Pull ur head in you fool
Sigh the inconsistency is always there and the effort is always lacking.. Best teams perform consistently home or away.
I agree with all of this I never understood why people gave us a chance.
Because our finals performance last year while disrupted by injury and beating the benchmark team of recent times in melb twice during the season. Remember they had a huge undefeated streak with losses to the eels at the start and end of it. Our team had minimal changes compared to others so despite a poor start there is no reason to discard them as genuine chance yet.
I often see minimal changes as a bad thing security leads to complacency on paper I don't see us as much better than other teams.
Top 8 yes premiership contenders nah
Unless this was Bellamy, Robinson or Cleary, or Bennett (who isn't currently coaching) I don't think it means much. We have out performed the other side's on consistent basis the last few years with rosters not as strong as our current roster which has experience playing together and more mature players.
Also looking at the stats against melb ours isn't as bad as many sides. Souths have never won in Melbourne and are 5 from 30 overall. Melbourne have been a juggernaut for many years so have presented as a bogey team to most of the competition with similar or worse stats then the eels.
As long as Paul Crawley is consistent with a weekly update how Melbourne dominate everyone it is just another bash Parra cause I hate them story.
Also I'm sure there are coaches everywhere willing to play down other teams by ignoring their strengths and focusing on the negatives every week. I assume as the story is about Melbourne it was Bellamy who said the comments so fair enough they have had our measure in the past except this same team coached by the same person beat his team twice last year.
Yep, and Moses. Only another 3 years to wait.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 11 Next