Parramatta Eels learning lessons from America’s finest to become the NRL’s best-run club

WHEN Parramatta chief executive Scott Seward met with the PR department of Superbowl champions Seattle Seahawks on Wednesday, he wanted to know about their crisis management for when and if one of their players fell foul on social media.When Seward visits the head office of Microsoft next week, he wants to know if his coaching staff can acquire the technology to access key player statistics and data, on a tablet, on the sideline of Pirtek Stadium.When Seward visited the factory of Boeing in Everitt, 20km outside of Seattle last Tuesday to chat with executives, he wanted to know about altitude.“What is the right kind of plane and altitude setting for our players to travel at?’’ Seward wanted to know.“We don’t travel a lot, but if you’re getting on a plane to Darwin or Auckland, I want to know if they can tell us anything that gives us an advantage.’’LESSONS FROM US TOUR SHOW EELS THE FUTURESeward, 39, is the second youngest chief executive in the NRL.Yet, along with Eels chairman Steve Sharp and head coach Brad Arthur, Seward is responsible for one of rugby league’s most significant overseas excursions.The Eels arrived in Seattle last Monday, for an eight-day training and learning experience.In total, a party of 55 including players, coaching staff, management and board members have all contributed $1200 each to the estimated $250,000 travel cost for the opportunity to become the NRL’s best run club.While previously, select coaches and players of rival NRL clubs have travelled to the US and Europe in a bid to pick the brains of the biggest and best sporting organisations, not one have attempted a trip of this magnitude.NRL SUPERCOACH STUDY GUIDE: EELSWhile the Eels football operations have been exposed to the five-star training facilities of the Seahawks and college football leaders, the Washington Huskies, Seward and his team have immersed themselves with daily meetings in the head offices of the world’s most powerful organisations.From Seattle, the football department will return to Sydney on Monday. But the executive team, including Seward and Sharp, will continue onto Los Angeles where they will tour the facilities of Major League Soccer team, LA Galaxy and Major League Baseball’s LA Dodgers while also arranging appointments with the NFL, Google, Amazon and the Disney Institute.Why? To become the benchmark club in the NRL on the field — and off it.“My original thought process was that there is 55 people on this trip,’’ Seward said.“So for me, if we literally came out with 55 ideas or change, it would be money well spent.’’Seward is a realist.Rugby league is loaded with critics who will happily take a shot at the Eels. Not that he seems all too concerned. Instead, he questions why it’s taken an NRL club so long?“I honestly think it’s a no-brainer,’’ Seward said.“For the guys to be able to train in the facilities that they’re seeing, it’s also about these professional athletes dress, eat, carry themselves.“My gut feel is, I don't know why its taken so long for this to happen. We as a society, follow Americans. AFL clubs have been doing this for years.“We picked Seattle for a few reasons, obviously the Seahawks being successful and having great fan engagement tools.“But also when you’re here you see the other businesses like the Microsofts, the Starbucks, Boeing, Nintendos, the ability to learn and observe is obvious.“You throw in the mix, in the next six days, LA where eight of our staff will go to the Disney Institute, which known around the world as having the very best in customer service.“As a game we should be sending them down to clubs, not us coming here. I’ll be surprised if this doesn’t become the norm.’’David Riccio travelled as a guest of the Parramatta Eels.

"Thanks for the update.
Aside from the analytics learnings you mentioned, is there any high-level data you could share on where most site visitors are logging in from? Nothing too intrusive. Just broad insights like whether the majority are coming…"

"Pezet had 3 runs, 5 kicks, 2 errors, and 3 try assists. Let's be frank, two of his try assists were fluke kick/regather efforts by others and his try a fluke kick/regather by himself. Ryles played possum about what he has to work on in the press…"

Replies

Peter Ganderton November 7, 2014 at 11:48pm

Dam good story.
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown November 7, 2014 at 11:53pm

Pete, welcome to the site mate, great to have you onboard.
T-REX November 8, 2014 at 1:49am

3 in a row Ham...? You gotta learn to spread that shit out in the rest of the drivel.
Waterboy November 8, 2014 at 1:16pm

This is the best one yet. love the initiative of the club.
- RIDER > Waterboy November 8, 2014 at 1:18pm
  
  Must agree 100% Waterboy.
  
  Shit!! That's twice now. Lol
Waterboy November 9, 2014 at 12:08pm

Haha, cheers for the heads up earlier too. I did check, but missed it.
Kerry George November 10, 2014 at 1:18pm

Do the great NFL sides give away 2 home games each year or do they try to keep every advantage by playing ALL their home games in front of their home fans?

This reply was deleted.

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Parramatta Eels learning lessons from America’s finest to become the NRL’s best-run club

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