Mannah keen to move on from nightmare campaign
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Tim Mannah has had 10 years with Parramatta and he knows where the 2018 Telstra Premiership season fits into that decade of football.
"It's probably one of the toughest seasons I've been through," the prop said as he reflected on the year following the 44-10 loss to the Roosters to put the Eels out of their misery.
"In the past we've had tough seasons but what made this one tougher was that we had expectations," Mannah said.
"The frustrating thing was we knew what we were capable of doing. But we couldn’t play the type of football we wanted to play.
"Looking back now it definitely stings (this season) but it's over now. We'll learn some real hard lessons from it – we have a long time to get ready for next year."
It is the Eels third wooden spoon in six years (2012, 2013, 2018) but the first for coach Brad Arthur who started in 2014.
"I'm not going to lie. I'm glad it's over. We also can't be too quick to dismiss it and move on," Arthur said, adding that the club was still reviewing all parts to the season.
"But I'm glad it's over so we can look forward to a fresh start."
Match Highlights: Eels v Roosters - Round 25, 2018
Arthur said Saturday night's loss, where the Roosters had 13 line breaks to the Eels one, was disappointing. He chose the same word to describe the entire season.
"It was also disappointing and not what we planned for or trained for. But it's gone that way.
"Everyone has got to come together; stick together; work hard together to make sure it doesn't happen again because it’s a horrible feeling."
Co-captain Mannah was asked if the Roosters had the hallmarks of a premiership-winning outfit this September.
"This is the first time we played them this year so it was our first taste of their style of football," he said.
"I'd definitely say they will give it a real good shake. When they are on, they are a real good footy team."
Surprisingly, the match statistics showed the Eels with the better completion rate – 88 per cent to 76 – and less errors, four to the Roosters 12.
But the scoreboard was heavily against Parramatta – two tries to the Roosters' eight.
The Bondi Junction club collected the Jack Gibson Cup, named after the man who coached both clubs to premierships, while Roosters centre Latrell Mitchell won the man of the match, for his personal points tally of 24 (three tries; six goals).
Mitchell was presented with the Chad Robinson Medal, named in honour of the second rower who played at both clubs, who died in November 2016.
