What comes after a “big schooner of reality”, as Jason Ryles eloquently described Parramatta’s 52-4 round one thumping by Melbourne?
In the Eels’ case, getting the hangover out of the way as quickly as possible.
The blue and golds have dusted themselves off from a round-one rout and hope to be boosted by the early return of former NSW and Australian winger Josh Addo-Carr when they face premiers Brisbane at Suncorp Stadium on Thursday night.
After missing the visit to Melbourne with a broken thumb, the 30-year-old flyer will line up against the Broncos barring any ill effects from training on Tuesday.
It’s a valuable addition to the side blown away by the Storm but will count for little if Parramatta self-destruct in the way they did last week.
“I hope it’s a blip on the radar. I reckon maybe a few of us got ahead of ourselves, I guess,” captain Mitchell Moses said. “It’s a bit of a reality check. We set a high standard in the pre-season. We didn’t follow that, and we need to fix it up.”
Josh Addo-Carr at Eels training on Tuesday.Credit: Parramatta Eels
The Eels confront a Brisbane team also smarting from a 26-0 defeat against Penrith and looking to shake off extra scrutiny over the shock signing of superstar prop Payne Haas with South Sydney last month.
The loser could end up properly under the pump and after a performance in Melbourne blighted by missed tackles and mistakes the message for Parramatta’s young squad is about getting back to basics.
“It’s early in the season. The NRL’s a tough competition, you know what I mean,” Moses said. “We finished the season off pretty well last year, but that was last year and the shackles were off. We couldn’t make finals, we knew that, so we could go play footy.
“But it doesn’t just happen again, so I think we’ve got to strip it right back, get back to the little things that matter for us and the things that maybe the fans don’t see that we didn’t do well on the weekend.”
Jonah Pezet had a tough outing against his former side Melbourne.Credit: Getty Images
In a reflection of his unusual contractual circumstances, Moses’ play making partner Jonah Pezet will take on his future team seven days later after playing his old club.
He received a rough reception against Melbourne, where he had been stuck behind Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes in the halves hierarchy, targeted in particular by Storm forward Joe Chan.
Pezet, 23, can expect similar treatment in Brisbane, but Moses is not concerned.
“I think [Chan] got him once,” he said. “It’s going to happen with the half, you’ve just got to cop it. He’s a confident kid. He’ll be fine. He’ll move on. He’s been pretty good at training this week, so hopefully we can transition that into the game.”
Parramatta will be without prop J’maine Hopgood, who is serving a one-game suspension for a high tackle on Melbourne’s Alec MacDonald. Jack Williams is likely to start in the front row in his place.
The Eels will also take the field knowing the Zac Lomax affair is finally over after the former Parramatta winger confirmed a switch to rugby union.
It wasn’t the conclusion the club might have anticipated after a protracted legal contest with the Storm over his NRL future, during which Parramatta had sought a player swap.
But like their first-round thrashing, the Eels coach was happy to have the matter behind them.
“For me, I just think the best thing is that there’s been an outcome and he gets to play footy again,” Ryles said. “On behalf of all the club we wish him all the best. He’s a good person. We certainly want to see what’s best for him so we can all move on now.”
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