The disconnect between team and club is holding Parramatta back

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By Michael Chammas

There has long been a belief within the Parramatta organisation that there is a disconnect between the football team and the club.

No one will publicly admit it, but privately, for whatever reason, head office and the football team don’t sing from the same hymn sheet.

Play video 2:08

Legends split on Eels' performance: Andrew Johns, Cameron Smith and Paul Gallen dissect Parramatta's 34-10 win over the Panthers.

Perhaps years of being based out of different facilities has exacerbated the problem, but reuniting under one roof in Kellyville is yet to fix it.

There is no better on-field leader than Clint Gutherson, but there’s a reason Junior Paulo was handed the co-captaincy, and it’s not all to do with football.

The good teams - like Melbourne, Penrith, South Sydney and the Roosters - are the ones that play for the club, not just themselves.

They use that to their advantage in the pressure-cooker moments of finals football.

There’s no doubt, especially judging by their two wins against Penrith this year, the Eels care deeply about the result. But who are they playing for?

Most of the Eels players couldn’t get off the CommBank Stadium turf quick enough despite pulling off a potentially season-defining thrashing of Penrith.

The Parramatta fan base is, by extension, part of the club.

The difference between the Parramatta and Penrith playing groups was noted after Friday night’s game. A large contingent of Penrith’s team stayed on the field after full time to take photos and thank their fans.

Brian To’o was the last player in the sheds. The same can’t be said for the winning team.

It’s not the first time, either. Most of the players, barring Paulo, Ryan Matterson, Reed Mahoney and Dylan Brown, usually can’t get to the sheds any quicker.

Parramatta is a club with a proud history and the most passionate fans starving for success after four decades without a premiership. It’s the longest drought in the NRL.

The Eels could do worse than embracing that, rather than running from it.

Source: SMH

I feel the same, but @frankie has a point, the Eels don't have a top echelon performance history. The juniorless Melbourne Lightning Rods have won more in a significantly shorter timeframe.

Although I hate the Rods as much as the next man, their approach to managing the club as a corporate entity is superior to Parramatta.

To the board: when was your last organisational risk assessment? RCSA? Does anyone manage risk? If answered truthfully there is a "red" culture risk, which needs to be mitigated as a matter of urgency.

Consider the extreme example where another Sydney team ends up like the Bears, Balmain Tigers, Wests Magpies etc. Who are they going to choose? Who has the most viable organisation? Don't just assume the huge Leagues club is going to keep the Eels afloat.

The Eels mist aim for, and achieve, excellence. There is clearly no accountability at the club - who has been sacked for the ongoing performance of the team?

"Is there a chance of Bamblett coming through at Centre for time being? He won't be Fullback anytime soon but could move into 6 eventually even though you say he's not much good there."

"I do think eventually Lomax will end up in Melbourne, but to the eels credit they are making it as painful and as long as possible to get to that point. As long as we can drag it out and pull storm through the mud our job is done. "

"V'Landys initially made two claims about NRL players leaving for R360. First was a very general threat: he said if they negotiate with R360 they get a 10 year ban. The second was a specific, legally-vetted threat: if they sign they get a 10 year…"

Replies

Anubis July 31, 2022 at 10:04pm

Cheers NoS and Coryn for posting and adding the link in another blog - I don't see the disconnect Chammas drawing a long bow
Snakey - Sack Dylan Brown July 31, 2022 at 10:04pm

We lack the spirit of many other teams, this article backs that up.
LB July 31, 2022 at 10:14pm

It seems what Hadley mentioned about some in the club are arrogant might be true.
Thatguy July 31, 2022 at 10:39pm

This article doesn't say anything.

Clickbait eels article.
This reply was deleted.
- xxRustyxx_69 August 1, 2022 at 1:31am
  
  Why exactly is it that you pretend to be an eels fan? Or are you one of those flops that constantly change teams? And yet you give Brissy crap for the same thing.
  - Archie > xxRustyxx_69 August 1, 2022 at 2:23am
    
    It does become tiring doesn't it Rusty.
    
    I'm guessing Frankie is an old mate of Fitzgerald the way he constantly moans about admin and players.
    - Parra_Greg > Archie August 1, 2022 at 11:23am
      
      I totally agree Rusty and Archie. Who exactly does this Frankie Bong support. I have been a long time supporter of this fan site and this Frankie guy uses the forum to rubbish the team at EVERY opportunity.
      
      JUST LEAVE
- Brett Allen August 1, 2022 at 7:43am
  
  I'm proud of our history Frankie, winning or losing. It's our history
  - Grinder > Brett Allen August 1, 2022 at 9:20am
    
    I feel the same, but @frankie has a point, the Eels don't have a top echelon performance history. The juniorless Melbourne Lightning Rods have won more in a significantly shorter timeframe.
    
    Although I hate the Rods as much as the next man, their approach to managing the club as a corporate entity is superior to Parramatta.
    
    To the board: when was your last organisational risk assessment? RCSA? Does anyone manage risk? If answered truthfully there is a "red" culture risk, which needs to be mitigated as a matter of urgency.
    
    Consider the extreme example where another Sydney team ends up like the Bears, Balmain Tigers, Wests Magpies etc. Who are they going to choose? Who has the most viable organisation? Don't just assume the huge Leagues club is going to keep the Eels afloat.
    
    The Eels mist aim for, and achieve, excellence. There is clearly no accountability at the club - who has been sacked for the ongoing performance of the team?
- Muttman August 1, 2022 at 8:21am
  
  I know you love to criticise the club but I thought you were a fan still. This statement gives the impression you actually hate the club.

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This reply was deleted.

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