Tuesday, April 13, 2004
Parra very well placed
If Parramatta win the games they are expected to win over the forthcoming month there is every chance that come Round Nine they will be sitting at the top of the table - or at least very close to it.
The Eels are currently only one win shy of the top four teams - Penrith, Brisbane, Canberra and Canterbury - as they enter a period with a series of games they will be expected to win.
Parramatta play the inconsistent Manly this week who are languishing in second last place and are currently favourites for the wooden spoon. They then back up at home against the only team going worse than Manly - the Sharks. That's followed by another home game against North Queensland before the team gets a bye in week nine.
Parramatta will be expecting to take eight points from those four rounds which would certainly have them in the top three and very possibly on top of the table. The Broncos take on the Panthers, Bulldogs and Raiders in coming weeks so there will be losses among the top four teams.
Indeed, if Parra can continue its dominance at home, the winning streak may continue up to the half way mark in the competition. Round ten sees Parramatta play Melbourne followed by St George the week after, both at Parramatta Stadium before an away game against the Tigers.
Considering doomsayers felt that the Parramatta team would need time to gel, this could leave Parramatta in a remarkable position as the team enters the tougher period of its draw. Parra should go into its games against teams like the Panthers and Roosters full of confidence and with a team that has had time to settle into a new playing style and establish new combinations.
Of course, it will only take a couple of shock losses to upset the applecart but the Eels will be very well placed for a top four finish if they knuckle down over the next two months and deliver the results they are capable of.
Even the Daily Telegraph admitted things were looking good for the Eels. "For Parramatta supporters, the team's performance augurs well for the future after the disappointment of recent years."
The Eels are currently only one win shy of the top four teams - Penrith, Brisbane, Canberra and Canterbury - as they enter a period with a series of games they will be expected to win.
Parramatta play the inconsistent Manly this week who are languishing in second last place and are currently favourites for the wooden spoon. They then back up at home against the only team going worse than Manly - the Sharks. That's followed by another home game against North Queensland before the team gets a bye in week nine.
Parramatta will be expecting to take eight points from those four rounds which would certainly have them in the top three and very possibly on top of the table. The Broncos take on the Panthers, Bulldogs and Raiders in coming weeks so there will be losses among the top four teams.
Indeed, if Parra can continue its dominance at home, the winning streak may continue up to the half way mark in the competition. Round ten sees Parramatta play Melbourne followed by St George the week after, both at Parramatta Stadium before an away game against the Tigers.
Considering doomsayers felt that the Parramatta team would need time to gel, this could leave Parramatta in a remarkable position as the team enters the tougher period of its draw. Parra should go into its games against teams like the Panthers and Roosters full of confidence and with a team that has had time to settle into a new playing style and establish new combinations.
Of course, it will only take a couple of shock losses to upset the applecart but the Eels will be very well placed for a top four finish if they knuckle down over the next two months and deliver the results they are capable of.
Even the Daily Telegraph admitted things were looking good for the Eels. "For Parramatta supporters, the team's performance augurs well for the future after the disappointment of recent years."
