Time to Acknowledge Parra's Heart

After a game where I was shouting at the TV as error after error mounted, I found my huge exhale at game's end brought a moment of admiration.As my thoughts pondered how the team would find players to fill a team next match, I suddenly realised what they had overcome.Sure it was the Storm without their big 4. Parra went into the game with some missing stars too. To then lose the fullback, reshuffle the team, have Taka running on one leg and finally lose Peats, was a massive hurdle. Our handling also presented the team with more headaches.Now let's factor in the recent weeks. A sequence of close games, mostly losses and blown opportunities. The coach and one of his main play makers are reportedly at loggerheads. The CEO resigns. The media are all over the club and not one story is good news.If ever a recipe for disaster was written, here it was.Hands up if you saw nothing but a loss with 20 to go? I know I did.Yet they didn't.It wasn't pretty, and the opposition was down quality, but they found a win.I realise that I often look through some rose coloured glasses, but if these boys were not putting in all that they could, they would have lost this game. They are finding some heart and I think it should be recognised.

Yes, finally they showed some heart. But also a good dollop of complete ineptitude. Like throwing the ball behind themselves to concede a try. To scrape by on luck alone to have that Storm centre denied a try, when defending against the dummy half is footy 101. Or to drop the ball with 18 seconds left (Lussick) after Jr Paulo dropped it too. It was like watching a team actively trying to lose.

In the end we got lucky against a seriously depleted side.

Sorry, my standards haven't dropped just because the team's standards are so poor!

I am glad we won. But I wasn't confident even when there was less than a minute and we just had to hold on to the ball. For me, that's the real take-home message of the game. These guys try to find ways to lose!

"It's time to start bringing in some young blokes. They did well towards the end of last year Guymer,Moretti etc. TDS needs time in reserve grade have papa as utility. Hopgood offers very little. Get rid of Brian Kelly. Need to ask everyone was Dylan…"

Fui and Captain Cayless were the winners earning the spots at front row for the team.Now onto Hookers, a position that had limited options.Anyway not long now til our starting 13 is settled.https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/3Q9GTXJ1. Hayne2. Radradra3.…

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…

Replies

Chris June 15, 2015 at 10:02pm

That's the big difference this year. Heart and pride. With the exception of the Gold Coast game we have shown heart and pride in our performance. The forwards have been strong. We have been know for the opposite for ever.
1Eyed Eel June 15, 2015 at 10:04pm

The thing that I take out of all this - is I think we're actually more competitive than we were last year. Last year, we would win big and then lose big. This year, we're in every game - and that's because our forward pack are doing a sensational job. That's why I keep saying we're really close to having a great roster. The forwards are covered, Foran brings stability to the team. Things are much better than the table position and the constant negative headlines would suggest.
- sixtiesboy > 1Eyed Eel June 15, 2015 at 10:22pm
  
  Phil, with Hayne, in fact with any NRL standard fullback, we would have won many more games. It's a definite step forward to be so competitive after losing him. Next year will be good.
- Bup > 1Eyed Eel June 16, 2015 at 6:01am
  
  We don't have a fullback yet sixties. I'd love to know outside of Gordon are they looking at anyone else.
FME June 15, 2015 at 10:07pm

I'll bag them when they don't put in but I'll praise them when they win no matter who they play against. If u have nothing good to say about the team after they win well then there's something wrong there.
Prof. Daz June 15, 2015 at 10:10pm

Yes, finally they showed some heart. But also a good dollop of complete ineptitude. Like throwing the ball behind themselves to concede a try. To scrape by on luck alone to have that Storm centre denied a try, when defending against the dummy half is footy 101. Or to drop the ball with 18 seconds left (Lussick) after Jr Paulo dropped it too. It was like watching a team actively trying to lose.

In the end we got lucky against a seriously depleted side.

Sorry, my standards haven't dropped just because the team's standards are so poor!

I am glad we won. But I wasn't confident even when there was less than a minute and we just had to hold on to the ball. For me, that's the real take-home message of the game. These guys try to find ways to lose!
Alan Hunt June 15, 2015 at 10:12pm

They really dug deep and deserved the win, laughable to hear the dribble on Fox news saying we were lucky to win after a call go our way at the end. Well we had a fair try disallowed and they scored one off an offside. You can't fault the effort just the execution.
- FME > Alan Hunt June 15, 2015 at 10:18pm
  
  Agree. Regarding that disallowed Melb try his right hand came off the ball before he got it over the line and although his left hand had downward pressure when the ball eventually got over the line he didn't have control over it so knock on. If the ball was already over the line and he put his hand on it fair enough but it didn't. Totally fair call. In saying that I rekon we got a lot of 50 50 calls go our way and it's about time.
Hell On Eels June 15, 2015 at 10:13pm

Backs against the walls. Against all odds.

# Down 12-0 before my popcorn was ready
# Possession against us 56 - 44 %
# 7 less sets completed
# More than double Storms errors 14-6
# More Penalties against us (as usual)
# Players playing out of position mid game.
# More than half our first grade squad either out or injured or on suspension.
# Salary cap scandals.
# Tier 2 cap scandals (e.g. Luke Kelly)
# Election pressures
# Political unease
# CEO leaving.
# Media scandals/bashing (e.g Sandow/BA affair, political turmoil)
# NRL threatening independant regime to oversight our club
# losing countless tight games over last 5 weeks, including the Cowboy debacle.

Jesus.
- tele1 > Hell On Eels June 15, 2015 at 10:28pm
  
  great fun being eels fan, hey LOL

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