Parramatta veteran Reni Maitua knows all too well his side’s NRL season is on the cusp of being a lost cause.
Prior to a two-year drug ban in June 2009, Maitua was part of a woeful Cronulla side that lost nine on the trot.
The Sharks would eventually slump to 15th place and only dodge the wooden spoon on points differential.
The Eels will head into their round-eight clash with Wests Tigers last on the ladder and with just one win for the season.
Fans would take heart from their side’s fairytale run in 2011 from wooden spoon contenders to the grand final.
But a couple more losses will extinguish such fanciful thinking.
“I think every game is a must-win game,” Maitua said ahead of Sunday’s home fixture.
“We’re sitting on the bottom of the table … (and) we can’t lose too many more. I’m not sure what round we’re going into but we’ve only had one win.
“So I’d say mathematically there’s not too many more we can lose. We’re desperate.”
Eels veteran Luke Burt returns to the side, while coach Stephen Kearney has maintained the faith in out-of-sorts playmaker Chris Sandow.
While most of the Eels were given the representative weekend off to freshen up, Sandow was told to play for Wentworthville in the NSW Cup in an effort to rediscover his touch.
A shoulder injury meant the 23-year-old missed the clash, but questions over Sandow’s form and barbs about his weight have gathered pace.
Both Maitua and Justin Poore on Tuesday expressed sympathy for Sandow over the intense scrutiny he’s been under and urged teammates to lift and secure a win that would help ease that pressure.
“I feel sorry for Chris because he plays in such a key position in our team. I think a lot of our form’s been down individually – including myself,” Maitua said.
“It’s just unfortunate that he’s copping most of the bagging because I think we could point out a few people.”
Poore suggested Sandow – signed from South Sydney last year amid great expectations – was being unduly singled out.
“I don’t think it’s fair. It’s all 17 of us – not one bloke. You can’t come and blame him,” the prop said.
“Chris’s copping a lot of the blame, but it’s all of us.
“Collectively as a team we just have to stick by him and everyone’s just got to do their job. If (they do) … we’ll get a win.”