If there is one small consolation, at least Parramatta skipper Nathan Hindmarsh’s final match in the NRL won’t be soured by the collection of the wooden spoon.
That `honour’ was instead achieved in his penultimate game – the 38-6 thumping by South Sydney on Sunday confirming the Eels would finish last for the first time since 1972.
It’s the final nail in the coffin of a forgettable final campaign, the frustration clearly evident in Hindmarsh’s attitude in the post-match media conference.
“I’ve stopped caring mate,” Hindmarsh said when informed the Eels would now definitely finish last.
“I shouldn’t say that, I go out and play footy but it is what it is.
“Hopefully the team bounces back next year.
“There’s got to be someone who gets the spoon every year, unfortunately for us it’s this year.
“We’ve just got to deal with it, it goes into the record books as coming last.”
The Eels felt the brunt of a Greg Inglis barrage, but caretaker coach Brad Arthur said they got what they deserved.
“Yeah, especially when the plan was not to kick to him and we seemed to do a pretty good job of finding him out and kicking to him a lot,” Arthur said.
“Our halves need to take responsibility for that.
“All week we’ve talked about and practised not kicking to him and spoke about it before the game, at halftime and during the game and I suppose maybe the pressure got to them a little bit because we definitely didn’t want to kick to him.”
The Eels will now gear themselves up for next Sunday’s double farewell, when Hindmarsh and winger Luke Burt play their last games in the NRL against St George Illawarra at ANZ Stadium.