Hopes are high that incoming coach for 2013, Ricky Stuart can do what a procession of coaches before him have not been able to achieve – unite the team into a sense of sustained success and rejuvenate premiership aspirations.
His appointment comes as two of the Eels’ stalwarts, Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt retire from the game after spending their entire football career with the Eels.
Hindmarsh says he is in conversations with the NRL about possibly taking a role there and Burt is expected to take up a role with the Eels in a player welfare capacity.
The pair’s retirement is significant not only because of their on-field contributions but also because they have become recognised as champions of the Eels brand over many years - Hindmarsh in particular with his regular media appearances.
In an interview with WSBA, Hindmarsh and Burt were reflective on the eve of their retirement.
“My time here had been awesome – I would not have wanted anything else than the chance to play rugby league for a living. I’ve loved every minute of it. What more can a bloke ask for than to play the sport he wanted to as a job,” Hindmarsh told WSBA.
“I have been very fortunate to be able to spend my career at one club. I’d like to be remembered as a player who is going to put in week in week out; a consistent player goes out there every week and plays the best he can no matter what the circumstances.”
Asked if he believed that Stuart had the capacity to turn the team around Hindmarsh said Stuart had the right credentials but needed time to prove himself.
“We have been going through a new era here for the last few years now. We’ve had a few coaches. Ricky’s credentials speak for themselves. We have to wait and see the results,” Hindmarsh said.
“We’ve seen here that coaches haven’t lasted very long but I am not sure why. I managed to have 10 years under Brian Smith and all of a sudden I have gone through coaches like they are going out of fashion. Just one of those things that happen - people like to see results.”
He said at the end of the day players needed to bear as much responsibility as the coaches for on-field performance.
“It’s 50/50 between coach and the players; maybe more towards the players. We get given the guidelines to go out there and play the game plan and then it’s up to us to do the talking on the field; to do the tackles on the field and to do the carries on the field
“Steve Kearney worked really hard to get the wining feeling back into the club where blokes wanted to stay and could see the direction we were heading in. Steve has left the club in a good state for that.
“Steve went back to scratch and started to rebuild the club and that was always part of the process. It was always going to be tough but the way he has left the club is in a really good position because the juniors are great we have a lot of school boy players that are going to be fringe or full time first graders,” said Hindmarsh.
Burt says he’d like to be remembered as a consistent player and an approachable guy.
“I have always been approachable by anyone. People say that we (rugby league players) are not approachable and I don’t think I am any better than anyone else. We are made of the same stuff. Why can’t they approach me and ask me a questions talk to me about whatever they want,” Burt said.
“As rugby league players we are no different than anyone else except we have had the opportunity to play rugby league on Parramatta Stadium.
“Sometimes the persona given off by a handful of players is ‘don’t annoy me I play rugby league for a living’ but the fans are the ones who come and buy tickets to come through the gate and buy our jerseys and that support us week win in week out.
“If we don’t have fans or sponsors we don’t have a game. They are the ones who pay the money to go through the gate to watch us play. In a round-about way they pay our wage, without those guys we don’t to do what we do on the field,” said Burt.
Eels CEO Bob Bentley who lead negotiations to secure Stuart’s coaching services said the new coach would create excitement off the field which would convert into memberships and corporate sponsorships.
“Obviously Ricky brings a great deal of success and respect with him to the club that was evidenced through the recent Origin campaign and I am confident Ricky will put in place the processes and structure to ensure the Club returns to its former glory days,” Bentley said.
“There is a very strong culture of passion and success at the Eels supported by a committed group of staff and it has been great to be involved in that over the past season.
“It's this passion and will to succeed that will see the club, under the guidance of Ricky Stuart, become a premiership force again. Ricky's knowledge of the game, his commitment to achieve success at this level and his passion for football is no doubt the most attractive assets in his signing.
“We are really excited to see how Ricky can motivate and inspire the team through his love of rugby league. He has succeeded at this level before, taking the Roosters to three grand finals and winning one premiership, and we look forward to seeing him bringing a winning culture to the Club.”
Bentley paid tribute to retiring stars Luke Burt and Nathan Hindmarsh.
“Both Nathan and Luke have come through the Parramatta system and are one club players. They are the heart and soul of the Parramatta Eels and have been throughout their careers," he said.
“They will be a massive loss for the team but at the same time they have left a great legacy built on club pride and loyalty and we are confident we can carry on and make them proud.
“I'd expect to see them remain around the Club, with Luke to take on a welfare and education role within the Club and Nathan will no doubt be keen to stay involved in some capacity."
Despite the team’s lack of success over recent times Bentley believes sponsors and supporters have remained loyal.
“We are very lucky with our sponsors that they are passionate Eels and rugby league supporters and they have stuck with us through successful and not so successful periods,” Bentley said.
“Our sponsors just want to know the club is doing the right thing by them, our members and fans, and our players and coaching staff and at the Eels we are constantly challenge ourselves to ensure that we are meeting these expectations and striving for excellence.
“I want Ricky’s introduction into the club to be as seamless as possible to enable him to put in his processes and systems. That foundation will be what we develop our success off. The next 12 months will be addressing our on field roster and giving Ricky the support he needs to finish 2013 strongly.
“We have a young player roster and I believe 2013 will be a year of both consolidation and excitement and I expect to see bigger and better things in 2014 and beyond.”
