I’m done pretending this is just a bad game. This is who we truly are — and it’s been the same story for years.
Every season repeats the same cycle. We beat average teams, everyone says “we’re so close,” and then when it counts, we get exposed by the top sides. Nothing changes. Absolutely nothing.
This isn’t about Penrith — they’re doing what elite teams do. It’s about Parramatta being stuck in mediocrity and calling it progress.
How much longer are we going to accept this?
We’ve had the same management, the same approach, the same excuses for over a decade. “We’re building,” “we’re improving,” “we’re close” — we’ve heard it all before. At some point, it just rings hollow.
Where is the accountability?
From the outside, it looks like there isn’t any. No urgency. No real pressure. Just the same people making the same decisions and expecting different results.
Let’s be honest — we’re not a serious premiership threat. We’re a team that needs everything to go perfectly just to compete. The moment momentum shifts, we crumble. That’s not bad luck — that’s poor structure.
Good teams don’t rely on emotion. Great teams operate with systems. We lack both when it matters most.
Fans keep turning up, keep believing, keep waiting — but for what? More of the same?
I’ll always support the club. But I won’t keep buying into the myth that we’re “almost there.”
We’re not.
And until real, fundamental change happens — not just small tweaks — we’ll keep witnessing the same story year after year.
Replies
Hahaha Pops & LB, it's good to question, I hear you.
I'm not attacking you NOS, sorry if it seemed that way. I could just see that score coming from a mile away, so i'm surprised at some of the comments on here. If we lose to the Tigers on Monday, then I will be side by side venting with you. But, Tigers are improving and playing well, they beat the Warriors at home so it won't be an easy game.
Speaking about R&R, Shande Richardson actually done a good job recruiting recently with that team (Luai, May, Taruva, KPP). He shit the bed with the Galvin situation, but I wonder if Richo could be a better option than Mark O'Neill?
Fair enough, Clint. Perhaps a breakdown in communication from us both, it's hard with written words - apologies if I misunderstood your post.
I do get it, the negativity can be draining, and I'm definitely more pessimistic so far than I like to be.
The result would be great, but, if we go 2-3 with a hard fought loss, where we started strong, matched their middle, and play for close to 80mins, I can live with that as a positive step?
If we are demolished through the middle & lose field position, possession, and the scoreboard early again, the concerns just grow.
Richo is very interesting, does the timing create an opportunity we otherwise wouldn’t have?
Because agree, the Tigers have recruited well. I criticised the Luai buy tbh at that price, but we see ‘why’ they did it now & why its necessary sometimes, for some clubs, to spend overs on certain players / positions to get that talent-ball rolling.
The Dogs did similar with Kikau, Crighton etc.
I just really hope we are at least looking into an opportunity like Richo, or another, and are open to those conversations?!
Clint, when I read your post, I was ready to reply differently, then I saw it was you and I realised you had a tough time recently......but you did what I could never do, i.e not watch them....I have to watch them to understand what I critique.....NOS is right, its hard for you to be too "precious" if you didn't watch the game.
Take the first 25/30 minutes away, you may have been encouraged somewhat. The momentum that Penrith created in that time was totally impossible to stop....it could of happened to any team....the non peculier thing is it has ALREADY.
Finally I want to say something about Shane Richardson and yes really think about what I am going to say!!!!
He is a wily old guy who could be everything you want him to be to get R&R moving in a direction that would make Parra fans HAPPY.
BUT do you really think he would come to Parra when he finds out the HANDCUFFS that will be placed on him by our board and its Chairman.
What's this you say....well think illegal TPA's, backroom corporate deals, paid intermediaries to set it up.
THINK ABOUT IT Parra as a club is too naive and honest at this point in time. I have been thinking this since I wrote yesterdays blog and realising its that obvious, why cannot we get players across, surely it cannot be the communication skills of MON or the lack of influence from the coach. We have the centre of excellence, the best club ground, a wealthy Leagues Club and a very financial football club..........MMM'm makes you think, I suspect it is an evolutionary process of the strict demands that were placed on us 2014 etc....but those board members are well qualified and I am sure they would all make fine police officers as well, but they not from a world of private commercial enterprises where most of the hard heads have dealt with the "grey world".
Putting this to another level do you think that PVL hasn't dealt with this "grey world" when he revolutionised horse racing within Australia, bumped heads when making rugby league the first sport of the rank when Covid was closing everything....its commercial and it can be grey....take my word on it! .....he is now negotiating the largest TV contracts in Australian Sporting History.
BTW....most of you blokes don't like him.....looks like a gangster! LOL
Well put and i agree
Good response NOS that makes me understand the point of view.
I was literally thinking about this in the morning lol. I would have 100% taken 2-2 record to start the year given the draw we had. In isolation it is very good. But then I am like, I think I would have prefered 1-3 record if it meant our defence and start to games were much better.
Agree. Would've taken 1-3 if we'd played more in line with the end of 2025. Easy to say now though I know.
Question - has our defence diminished off the back of mental lapses, combinations, confidence, as Ryles alluded too, or has it diminished due to being completely dominated through the middle, losing field position, possession, and in turn giving our goal line defence no chance due to that fatigue? Both?
One feels far easier to fix, than the other.
seriously. A win is a win.......steve bradbury mateeeee
Fair way of thinking about it EA.
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 5 Next