Just weeks into the 2020 NRL season, the Eels were being dubbed a premiership threat.
They sat atop the ladder for the first part of a season, but of late, they’ve attracted doubters.
Figures in the game and the media who say they’re not premiership contenders.
The Eels aren’t listening to the noise.
In fact, the team isn’t interested in anyone else’s opinion.
Just ask Reagan Campbell-Gillard.
“People and the media as well can say what they want,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“I believe the team that we have; we’re definitely a threat. We have matched and come up against the teams that are sitting above us.
“The belief that we have is that we can take it out” he said.
All the Eels are worried about is a top four finish.
They risk dropping out of the four with a loss and if the Raiders win.
Second rower Shaun Lane said the team knows how crucial it is in their premiership hunt.
“If you look at he history of the competition and whose won it, there’s not many who have come out of the top four to win it really,” Lane said.
“Putting in four big games back to back is really difficult to do. Getting that second chance is a massive advantage and I guess having a game at Bankwest as well is also a massive advantage as well.
“Top four is what we set our sights on at the start of the season,” he said.
The Tigers will no doubt be putting in a spirited performance on Saturday night, as they send off Club legends Benji Marshall and Chris Lawrence.
“It’s good that we’re there (fourth position), but obviously one week to go,” Lane said.
“I’m sure they’ll be looking to send them off on a high note,” he said.
But confidence, the Eels have.
“We just have to really focus on doing our own job and make sure we get that win again,” Campbell-Gillard said,
“We have had a longer turnaround this week to get everyone ready and put on a show on Saturday and build nicely for the finals,” he said.
