Taking a look at Round 20 tonight, Parramatta take on the Roosters in Mackay.
I’m going to put a bit of heat on the Parramatta Eels this morning, their fans know it all too well.
No premiership success in 35 years. It’s a drought, it is definitely a drought.
People often talk about premiership windows with playing rosters and the Eels have been semi-finalists in three of the last four years, and they will be in the finals again this year – that’s four of their last five.
But are they a genuine contender? Beginning tonight they have a chance to absolutely stamp their credentials.
There is a clear-cut top six on the NRL ladder – the Storm, Panthers, Rabbitohs, Eels, Roosters and Sea Eagles.
But if you’re not aware, guess who Parramatta play in their last six games, between now and the finals getting underway.
Well, they play each of the other five, with a game against the Cowboys thrown in during Round 23.
The Roosters tonight, South Sydney next week, Manly Round 22, then the Cowboys before the last two rounds of the year they play Melbourne and Penrith. What about that for a draw.
The Eels have had a great season, by the numbers they’ve lost only five games, their last two defeats have come in their last three matches by close margins - Penrith by one point and Canberra by two points.
But there is this big question mark hanging over them once again.
Their most recent games against the top six, they lost all three – Penrith, South Sydney, Manly – the case against them starts to build up.
To fire back at that, they can’t be losing to teams below them on the ladder, it did come down to the last play, albeit they did lose. They can’t be losing games like that.
The question mark as I see it over the Eels in the big matches is their attack, can it hold up? Can it be as commanding as it is when they play a middle of the road team?
The ball is in the Parramatta Eels’ court, their fans mightn’t like me putting the pressure on their team, but the stats are the stats and the draw is the draw.
The Eels' draw in the next six weeks is as tough as it gets.
Contenders or pretenders? If they are true contenders, then the point being proven has to start tonight.
Beat the Roosters, and beat them well.
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