look at the coaches we have had and the teams we have had. Our recruiting is a disgrace. Bring back Carl Webb!!!!
Agree. With the exception of 2009, it's been terrible since Brian Smith left. And what about Brad Arthur? 1 finals appearance since he came along. Need to dig up Jack Gibson from the grave!!
the Eels have had a lot of problems in other ways though. Denis Fitzgerald was a scum bag. The club has been poorly run since the late 80's really, and it shows.
the Eels have had a lot of problems in other ways though. Denis Fitzgerald was a scum bag. The club has been poorly run since the late 80's really, and it shows.
Came close though, 1998 - 2005. I really thought Parra were going to win a premiership in that period, but the Brian Smith years ended very badly every year. Such a massive build up to end in an anti-climax disaster. It was like sailing on the Titanic every year.
Brian Smith was a chocker in Big matches. Was a good coach regular season.
Brian Smith was the best coach ever during the regular season, but finals footy was the opposite. I just don't get it. Did he put too much pressure on the players?
The Knights players at the grand final breakfast knew they would beat the Eels because of how stressed the Eels players were. Brian Smith didnt know how to have his players relaxed, shame we could have maybe won 3 titles under Brian Smith.
Post by Electric Eel on Jan 2, 2019 2:42:47 GMT 10
Taken from Wikipedia (2001 NRL Grand Final)
In 2011, 10 years after Newcastle's grand final victory, Kennedy spoke to the media at The Once a Knight reunion lunch recalling his memories of the 2001 final. Kennedy said ‘‘They came into the game under a shitload of pressure but for us, it was just a good time and a heap of fun. Parra were shitting themselves and we were having a good time". Newcastle centre Mark Hughes recalled the game saying "I remember how nervous and stiff Parramatta were". "The Parramatta players came dressed to the grand final breakfast wearing Miami Vice black suits.
Newcastle prop Josh Perry said of the week building up to the game that he knew Newcastle were going to win saying "It started at the midweek grand final breakfast. We lined up next to Parramatta to walk out onto the stage, and they were so tense. They weren't talking to us, while we were being ourselves and having a joke and enjoying the moment – they were anything but that. From that moment on we knew we were going to win". Parramatta captain Nathan Cayless in 2017 spoke of the game saying "It was disappointing for us, and it took a long time to get into another grand final [2009]. We'd had a good season, and just wanted to stick to what we had done, and what worked for us so well. We didn’t change too much and just looked at it as if it were another game of football. Newcastle just played out of their skins".
what Nathan Cayless said was crap. If it was just another game of football why were they so tense? I dont think Brian Smith knew how to keep the players relaxed.
what Nathan Cayless said was crap. If it was just another game of football why were they so tense? I dont think Brian Smith knew how to keep the players relaxed.
Yeah, I'd go on what the Knights players said. Another thing that wasn't mentioned, Andrew Johns was such a great player, that the players around him played with confidence. That's why they played out of their skins in that game.
1981 1982 1983 1986 
