One game only, same old story. 40 years of this rubbish. Every pre-season, big talk, everyone says this is our year. Sometimes we start okay, sometimes we get smashed like last night, 52-4 by Storm. Then the losses start, we lose all momentum, and by August we’re just trying not to get embarrassed in finals – if we even make it. Why does this always happen to us?
But this issue goes beyond what happens on the field. The club seems to have settled for mediocrity.
- We seem to be stuck in a cycle. No premiership since 1986. Longest drought in the NRL. We get close – 2001, 2009, 2022 grand finals – but nothing. Arthur got us to finals sometimes, but when it matters, we fall apart. Even the NRLW team does the same. Some fans say we’re competitive. I think we’re just used to losing now. Look at Penrith, they changed everything. Storm rebuild and still win. Us? Every year is just effort, struggle, and nothing to show for it. What are we missing? keep memberships strong, and share opinions on socials – but maintaining pressure for change is challenging. Petitions, strong reactions, and the 2024 rebel ticket at the Leagues Club (supported by legends like Brett Kenny, Ray Price, Eric Grothe Snr/Jnr) did not lead to changes. Other clubs’ supporters sometimes succeed in board shake-ups or resignations. We voice concerns, express frustration, and may quiet down over time. It can be difficult for fans to sustain momentum, and the board often waits for the next cycle.
- The way we treat our legends is a joke. Price, Kenny, Sterling, Grothe, Hindmarsh, Cayless – they made this club in the 80s. They tried to help, spoke up, but the club ignored them. No real roles, no say in culture, nothing. Penrith uses its legends everywhere. Us? Just old photos and nostalgia. No wonder Parra has no heart anymore.
- The board is a joke and has been for years. Sacked by the authorities, salary cap mess, Hayne and Watmough payout, directors quitting, legal dramas, and fan revolts that go nowhere. They just react, protect their mates, chase quick fixes. No vision. Culture is rotten, good players leave, no real push for a premiership. They don’t care about the drought. They just want to keep their jobs.
We have the players. Moses, Paulo, Addo-Carr, some good young ones. The biggest league club in the game. Now Ryles comes in, won at Storm and Roosters. But if the board and culture stay the same, it won’t matter. We’ll just go through more coaches who win everywhere else but fail here. Hagan, Anderson, Stuart – all winners before Parra, nothing with us.
Enough is enough. Parra fans, if you want real change – board held to account, legends respected, real investment in culture like the top clubs – do something. Contact the board, go to meetings, make noise. If not, get ready for another 40 years of pain.
What does a good year even look like for us? Not talking about some fantasy, just being real here.
- Top 8 has to be the bare minimum. All the so-called experts had us around 6th to 10th before the season started. If we just scrape into 7th or 8th, that’s nothing to celebrate, just more of the same. 5th or 6th would actually mean something for once. Miss the 8? That’s just another failure.
- We need to win at least 13 or 14 games, not just go on some late run and hope for miracles. Last year, we went 5 -2 in the last 7, but where was that all season? Just be consistent for once, not this up and down rubbish.
- Stop getting smashed in big games. No more 50-point embarrassments, especially at home. Show some fight from Round 1, not just when the season is already gone. Fix the basics – discipline, defence, completions – how hard is it? Build some momentum for once instead of waiting until it’s too late.
- A real finals run? That would be a miracle. Just getting past the first week would be huge for Ryles in his second year. We’ve been stuck in this top 8 and our rubbish for 40 years.
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I agree our NRL board is less than knowledgeable from a football experience point of view.
Bunch of business peeps, insurance yaks and council workers.