However, Hindmarsh, Cayless and Burt will have memories of those failed campaigns. They will be wanting to move on from the past. And why not this year? Why not be the first team to win the comp from 8th position?

As for “don’t be scared to win” I don’t think that is a problem for the Eels. They are riding a wave and are trusting each other and their abilities to get the job done.

The fact both the Titans and Dragons decided to opt for a penalty goal to open their accounts on the weekend spoke volume about the limitations of the self-belief. There may be a thought that the two points will help in a close game. But it does send the message to the opposition that your offense is not capable of breaking the line.

As for the Dragons, next year will be interesting. They will lose Poore and possibly Sailor. The weight of expectations could prove to be a burden.

The Titans should do well again as they do have the nucleus of a good side. But they need to find some extra strike power to find someway to really put teams away when they have the ascendancy.

I didn’t see last night’s game but I believe Wallace is injured and Hunt may be in trouble for tripping. If both of those players are out, favouritism will swing to the Storm.

I rate the Hodges Origin debut up with these ones too.

*Sigh* Hopefully only a few days on the couch this time.

Of course, Hayne the Redeemer shall bring us into glory and exorcise those demons once and for all.

Actually It was a freakish semi-final series for the Dogs – we definitely overacheived to make the finals – it was a team of solid plodders that snuck in eighth, and had big come from behind wins against Newcastle, Parra, and I think it was Saints (I recall Barry Ward and Anthony Mundine have some sort of verbal altercation), before being slaughtered by the Broncos

BTW, here is some of Paul Carige’s finest, hope it inspires Eric Grothe Jnr or Luke Burt to oblige us with a repeat performance. Mind you blaming it all on Paul Carige was a bit harsh, as Stu Kelly, that speedy winger Wereat and a few other players made mistakes at vital intervals – and the Parra pack was out on its feet in those last few minutes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3IFLa5fT0yQ

Apparently Carige now works as a teacher at a Brisbane youth detention centre, I feel a bit sorry for the poor guy – even if the two words “Paul Carige” were the perfect words at the end of the last century to wind up a Parramatta fan.

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/horror-game-still-dogs-carige/story-e6frexp9-1111114413500

Yeh he had a shocker (actually some of the errors seem to have been exaggerated to monumental proportion – not judging the position of the sideline – taking a bomb near the touchline – it was that kick on the first-tackle which almost offered Polla-Mounter a fifty metre field goal that was the unforgetable “brain-explosion”

Still if there was a Bulldogs player that has similar opprobium it would Scott Wilson – in that grand-final against the Raiders (the one where Martin Bella knocked on from the kick-off). My god that match still hearts, it was the most one-sided grand-final since Manly-Storm.

“As for the Eels, they were flat and Hayne especially looked out of sorts. That faint glimmer of hope now extinguished. Thank an imaginary sky friend I only have to suffer through 11 more games.”

It is far too easy to say Parra has learnt from past losses. They clearly showed in ’01,’05, and ’07 that they hadn’t. The question shall remain – as to have they learnt? As mere mortals, there really is no way of knowing the answer until the next fortnight of ’09 plays itself out. One way or the other, though, this question will get it’s answer with a big Yes or a big No.

However, Hindmarsh, Cayless and Burt will have memories of those failed campaigns. They will be wanting to move on from the past. And why not this year? Why not be the first team to win the comp from 8th position?

As for “don’t be scared to win” I don’t think that is a problem for the Eels. They are riding a wave and are trusting each other and their abilities to get the job done.

The fact both the Titans and Dragons decided to opt for a penalty goal to open their accounts on the weekend spoke volume about the limitations of the self-belief. There may be a thought that the two points will help in a close game. But it does send the message to the opposition that your offense is not capable of breaking the line.

As for the Dragons, next year will be interesting. They will lose Poore and possibly Sailor. The weight of expectations could prove to be a burden.

The Titans should do well again as they do have the nucleus of a good side. But they need to find some extra strike power to find someway to really put teams away when they have the ascendancy.

I didn’t see last night’s game but I believe Wallace is injured and Hunt may be in trouble for tripping. If both of those players are out, favouritism will swing to the Storm.

Interesting thought on avenging 1998 when there has been at least one other team better than Parramatta for the previous 22 seasons. 9 finals series exits in that time without taking the Holy Grail must gnaw at Eels fans : 6 straight 1997 – 2002, then 2005, 2006,and 2007. The so-near-yet-so-far award must go to the Dragons, but followed closely in second place by the Eels.

All the best for the next two games, it would be great for Parra to win one for you – I’m guessing your first ever over drinking age. Panthers have given me 2 premiership wins over drinking age now – the best part being the “next day happy hangover”.

A thought for the Eels, and this applies as much, if not moreso, to the Dragons. A local golf club legend one Saturday, upon seeing me tighten up a little, gave me a word of advice I will always remember. Coming to stand next to me shoulder to shoulder, he simply said “Don’t be scared to win”.

Its something, I take it, King Benny hadn’t thought to tell his troops at Suncorp tonight. Maybe he hadn’t heard it before? If I was an Eels fan, I would be finding any way I could to get Anderson to use this phrase in his next pre-match talk, and possibly the one after.