Worrying signs for Parra

Okay, to start off i understand this site is getting a little bit bitchy about who should post what and what some readers here want to read etc... I'm going to post this anyway as a freedom of speech... So if anyone gets their nose up about it, that's fine you don't have to read it.We all know Parras weakness and strength. I feel our biggest weakness is when everyone starts rating us and saying we are going to go all the way etc. On the flipside we play our best footy when we are down and out and there is no pressure on. Now, i know Newcastle aren't going that well but after i logged on to Centrebet tonight and found the odds Eels $1.50 to the Knights $2.45 it's a worrying sign that Newcastle are being written off. Not entirely written off, but it should probably be closer. This is the game i'm worried about the most since our season hangs by a thread.... Whenever the bookies start to label us favourites we usually lose.... I hope to christ DA's mentality he is working into the heads of the players proves me wrong but i have a bad feeling about it this week... I wouldn't bet my house on em' anyway...And if those Tigers keep winning i think we should keep looking over our shoulder until we face them in round 24 because that will be the defining match if we make it that far. That game should be a crackerBut this weekend i'm hoping Parra 13+

I think our team suffers from a huge psychological problem. There is a term for it but I am at a loss as to what it's called. Basically, if we play well all year, we build up a continuing expectation week in week out that we are a top side and one of the teams to beat. We as a team then look ahead to the finals and think. Man! If we continue to do this and "go out the back door" in the finals then we will be labelled chokers (a tag we have had in the past) and massive under achievers. Conversely, if we play average footy and amble along throughout the year, hanging onto a finals hope grimmly and somehow swoop from the clouds and grab 7th or 8th spot then we are already labelled over achievers and a "dark horse" therefore relieving a bit of favouritism pressure. This has happened numerous times over the years. Not an ideal way to approach your footy but I suppose it keeps us all inerested. How many times have we all said, "only if we beat the Sharks at home, only if we beat the Tigers that time, etc". Pressure is something all teams find it hard to deal with but over the years I've never seen it have such a crippling affect than it doers on our boys. Frustrating but as it goes, That's my team........

Replies

1Eyed Eel August 5, 2009 at 1:18am

To warrant even further cause for worry, the whole situation seems to be an exact turnaround of the last time we met earlier in the year.

At that time, Newcastle was in hot form - they had just strung together consecutive wins and were being labelled as premiership hopefuls. They were playing at home in front of a big crowd. We'd been beaten easily the week prior and were being written off as no hope. And of course, we all know what happened. We downed them.

Thats pretty much the exact same scenario as we're seeing this week but the roles are reversed to a tee. I do agree, Anderson has a major challenge to keep the boys heads on straight and I wouldn't be surprised if the Knights come out fired up to the max because they were surely embarrassed by last week's performance.
- cgee221 > 1Eyed Eel August 5, 2009 at 6:11pm
  
  I wouldn't necessairly say we played in second gear...the intensity wasn't as high as other games, however I think that happens whenever you play the Sharks. They have that dull, boring style and really slow the game down & bring others back to their pace. It would work fantastically for them if they could score more points, however because they can't it makes for a sluggish football match.
Camo73 August 5, 2009 at 8:13am

Let's be realistic. It is unlikely that we will make the finals this year and even more unlikely that we'll go very far even if we do make them. I'm not being pessimistic, just realistic. We're still 3 points out of the 8 and winning all of our games is no guarantee that we'll make the 8. We have won our last 3 games and we have played some solid football. It's nice that people are calling us the dark horse of the finals.

It is possible that we'll have a miracle finish and win the rest of our regular season games, scrape into the finals and go all the way. In this year's competition I think we have as good a chance as any team. The dragons are out in front but they are not unbeatable. We've beaten the Dogs and beaten the Storm and shown that if we come into a game and play our best, we are capable of beating anyone.

I'll be cheering the boys on all the way to the end. This year was always going to be a building year and I think we've done some really good things. There is a whole lot of hope for the future and next year looks like it is going to be a good year for us.
- 1Eyed Eel > Camo73 August 5, 2009 at 11:04am
  
  Mate, I actually don't think its unrealistic to expect we'll make the finals. The team is talented enough to do it and they're playing good footy. As you say we're capable of beating anyone, but the important thing is we need to do it week in, week out. When your playing for survival thats when you can string these wins together. This week is obviously going to be another big week, as is every week, but I think with whats been shown I'll be dissapointed if we don't make it.
- stevo > Camo73 August 5, 2009 at 12:25pm
  
  its not unrealistic look at the teams above us they have a harder run home than us all the way to penrith who are in 5th spot
EelLectric August 5, 2009 at 9:27am

In addition to Daz Lloyd's fears posted above, sides coached by Brian Smith have a habit of coming up with the goods after being blown off the park in in the week/s before they come up against a team in form. Remember back to 2005. We got absolutely SMASHED by the Broncos up at Suncorp (I think it was 42 nil or something ridiculous at halftime) and the following week we went down to Olympic Park on a Saturday night and beat the Storm.

Expect the unexpected.
N1cK August 5, 2009 at 12:20pm

I think we have been playing great football, still if we where to make the finals we'd have to improve alot on our best to think we can win. I dont believe we beat melbourne at there best, and i think we'd struggle against st george if we played them this weekend and they are definatly going to improve between now and the finals. Stil i have faith bring it home boys.........
Nidge August 5, 2009 at 12:33pm

I think our team suffers from a huge psychological problem. There is a term for it but I am at a loss as to what it's called. Basically, if we play well all year, we build up a continuing expectation week in week out that we are a top side and one of the teams to beat. We as a team then look ahead to the finals and think. Man! If we continue to do this and "go out the back door" in the finals then we will be labelled chokers (a tag we have had in the past) and massive under achievers. Conversely, if we play average footy and amble along throughout the year, hanging onto a finals hope grimmly and somehow swoop from the clouds and grab 7th or 8th spot then we are already labelled over achievers and a "dark horse" therefore relieving a bit of favouritism pressure. This has happened numerous times over the years. Not an ideal way to approach your footy but I suppose it keeps us all inerested. How many times have we all said, "only if we beat the Sharks at home, only if we beat the Tigers that time, etc". Pressure is something all teams find it hard to deal with but over the years I've never seen it have such a crippling affect than it doers on our boys. Frustrating but as it goes, That's my team........
Johno August 5, 2009 at 12:38pm

Achieving anything more than finishing this season strongly, as we currently are, is a bonus. If we make the finals it will be an incredible and unlikely run home.

Don't get me wrong, we are playing well enough and have some strike power to get there and I am hopeful that we make it. In the end, our run will be decided by a couple of things: can our young stars keep the intensity up; can the few blokes who IMO are currently batting above their weight, have started to mature as players and are now showing their potential. With a bit of luck, it is their potential now shining through which will hold us in good stead for next year.

Whatever happens from here on, I'm just stoked. These blokes have now lifted, are giving it a good hard go and haven't turned up their heels. What more could you ask for really!
Parraloft August 5, 2009 at 1:36pm

Lets just do what the team seem to be doing,take it one game at a time.Newcastle have a full team back but have off field issues that will hopefully work in our favour.I believe we will beat Newcastle by 10+ but will be a tighter game than the last 2.Also think teams will be more aware of our off loading tactics as we reach the close of the season.Then we look to the Warriors at home and hope to maintain momentum.