The term basketcase could have been invented to describe the Parramatta Eels over the past three years.
New coach Ricky Stuart is the latest to take on the onerous task of bringing the glory days back to the Eels, whose premiership drought now stretches back 27 years.
When former Australian and NSW Origin coach Stuart says the job is going to be the biggest of his career, it’s easy to see why.
Stephen Kearney’s reign will go down as one of the most forgettable in the club’s history, with the team finishing last for the first time in 37 years in his second season, 12 months after avoiding the wooden spoon in the final round in his first.
The New Zealand Test coach is an easy target for blame, but this is a man who led the Kiwis to the World Cup in 2008 and his standing in the game is high enough for Brisbane to appoint him as Anthony Griffin’s assistant.
Kearney’s predecessor Daniel Anderson’s reward for taking the club to the grand final in 2009 was the sack a year later after missing the finals.
The issues affecting the Eels were far more deep-rooted than just who was coaching, with a number of big name players turning their noses up at the prospect of joining one of the truly big clubs in the NRL.
There was also the ignominy as fans looked on in frustration while local juniors such as Tony Williams, Krisnan Inu, Jorge Taufua and Kris Keating all prospered at rival clubs.
When chief executive Paul Osborne departed just before the start of last season, Parramatta Leagues Club chief Bob Bentley was made temporary CEO and had to juggle two jobs.
It all added up to a grim season and the nadir of Kearney’s reign was the club’s decision to make the under-fire coach address irate Eels members in the leagues club while his playing squad stood sheepishly behind him in an awkward attempt to demonstrate team unity.
Appointing Stuart was a bold move by the Parramatta board and short-term he will instil some pride and passion to the team before rebuilding his less-than-imposing squad.
The arrival of respected former Newcastle CEO Ken Edwards has also restored some order in the boardroom.
However, with a weak roster, only bolstered by the arrival of Manly fringe players Darcy Lussick and Daniel Harrison, and hit by the retirements of club greats Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt, Stuart knows there will be long days ahead.
“Anyone who thinks this is a job where we turn things around in two or three months is kidding themselves,” Stuart said.
“This a big rebuilding job and there will be days where results will not always go our way. But my job is to be patient.
“These blokes have been knocked about a lot over the last 18 months and it will do them no good if I keep hammering them.”
Stuart is one of the most fiercely competitive and driven men ever to play and coach the game.
His hatred for losing is legendary, as is his intensity, but he does have an uncanny knack of getting the best out of players.
Jarryd Hayne remains Parramatta’s best hope for sparking victory and Stuart’s decision to make Hayne co-captain with Reni Maitua could be a masterstroke.
However, his biggest test will be unlocking the potential of mercurial halfback Chris Sandow in his second season at the Eels.
“Last year was hard, I found the pressure of expectation hard to deal with,” Sandow said.
“Ricky has been good with me and has worked hard with me and I feel like I can get back to the form I showed with Souths in 2011.”
It’s going to be a long year for the Eels, but after a miserable 2012, they can console themselves that the only way is up.