Ricky Stuart says he’s excited by the prospect of his first NRL match as coach since July 2010 but showing Parramatta’s long-suffering fans their team is competitive is far more important than the scoreboard against the Warriors on Saturday.
Stuart’s men were hammered by the Wests Tigers and drew with Penrith in their trials and host a Warriors side blessed with great talent but riddled with inconsistency.
Parramatta took out the wooden spoon last year and Stuart is under no illusions about how hard it will be to turn around a side that won just 12 of their past 48 matches.
“I am excited about it and I know all the players are as well,” Stuart said.
“I have pulled up a couple of sessions short this week because the excitement was there and we didn’t want to be playing three weeks ago.
“I am not worried about the scoreboard, I am worried about two things: I want the perception of the crowd to change and I want them to see a competitive, tough football team.”
“I’m not going to lack patience here, it’s a big, big job and it’s going to take time.”
Stuart has struggled to hire new faces since his arrival at the end of last season, with Manly fringe players Darcy Lussick and Daniel Harrison the only additions.
The Eels have signed young Canberra forward Josh Papalii for next year but the Raiders are putting pressure on him to stay in the capital.
Papalii has until round 13 to change his mind but Stuart has reiterated his confidence that the 20-year-old will be wearing blue and gold next year.
“I am not nervous, he has signed a legal document in front of his mother, his manager and in front of Peter Nolan, our recruitment manager.
“I am excited by the signing, he’s going to be a great asset, but I know there’s a lot of pressure being put on him which is unfair.
“I think there’s too much pressure on players to make decisions too soon and it needs to be looked at.”
The Warriors also have a new coach in Matthew Elliott, who comes in after a season that saw the club go from grand finalists to finishing 14th and losing their last eight games.
Elliott has been boosted by the return of halfback Shaun Johnson who’s recovered from an elbow injury and former Eel Todd Lowrie will make his debut for the visitors.
