akd545
NormTip For The NRL, Back The Eels
August 21st 2006 12:55
When a rags to riches story comes up like this, it is not hard to take notice. The Parramatta Eels, who many considered not even to make the finals ten rounds ago, are now in the top four.
Playing against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, the Eels slipped into fourth place on the ladder after they blasted the Roosters away, winning 40-26. This makes Parramatta now a strong contender in the finals (which bar any major upsets in the next two rounds, they are now certain to make), and in fact gives them nine successive wins in the row.
The fact is that many pundits did not give the Eels the time of day halfway through the season, and rightly so. In Round 10, they were without a coach, without a strong team, and without faith. On May 15th then coach Brian Smith was asked to step aside, and the same day star player Tim Smith turned up to training intoxicated, an issue that had already plagued the side for the entire season. They were on 2 wins from 9 matches, and it did seem that so early in the season they indeed had no chance.
Fast forward three months later to the day. Not only has the side been able to step up to the challenge against new manager Jason Taylor, but they were also able to bond with each other and strive to overcome the impossible task. After Taylor took the club on board, they lost only three more games.
Now they have won nine games straight, and in fact look like they will go strong for some time. In the remaining two rounds, they face up against the Broncos and Cowboys respectively, and it not out of the realm of possibility that they will win at least once, and maybe both of those matches to get a strong foothold into the finals.
After that, who knows? The way the competition has constantly changed about it has become almost impossible to tell who will be around for the Grand Final. Now I am not saying that the Eels are strong enough to win the competition, but I believe that they will definitely get a lot closer than anyone ever dreamed of three, two or even a month ago. With nine wins behind, who knows how many more they can notch up in this dream run?
Until next time, sports fans.
Playing against the Sydney Roosters on Sunday, the Eels slipped into fourth place on the ladder after they blasted the Roosters away, winning 40-26. This makes Parramatta now a strong contender in the finals (which bar any major upsets in the next two rounds, they are now certain to make), and in fact gives them nine successive wins in the row.
The fact is that many pundits did not give the Eels the time of day halfway through the season, and rightly so. In Round 10, they were without a coach, without a strong team, and without faith. On May 15th then coach Brian Smith was asked to step aside, and the same day star player Tim Smith turned up to training intoxicated, an issue that had already plagued the side for the entire season. They were on 2 wins from 9 matches, and it did seem that so early in the season they indeed had no chance.
Fast forward three months later to the day. Not only has the side been able to step up to the challenge against new manager Jason Taylor, but they were also able to bond with each other and strive to overcome the impossible task. After Taylor took the club on board, they lost only three more games.
Now they have won nine games straight, and in fact look like they will go strong for some time. In the remaining two rounds, they face up against the Broncos and Cowboys respectively, and it not out of the realm of possibility that they will win at least once, and maybe both of those matches to get a strong foothold into the finals.
After that, who knows? The way the competition has constantly changed about it has become almost impossible to tell who will be around for the Grand Final. Now I am not saying that the Eels are strong enough to win the competition, but I believe that they will definitely get a lot closer than anyone ever dreamed of three, two or even a month ago. With nine wins behind, who knows how many more they can notch up in this dream run?
Until next time, sports fans.
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