THE only clubs that say trial form doesn't matter are the losers, Jack Gibson gibsoned once.
It was a good line from the drawling master and Gibson made Parra matter more than anyone else has done: his three premierships as coach will always say that.
Gibson always liked his teams to be fair dinkum in trials, whether playing at Nelson Bay or in Sydney. His Newtown were down by 13 points at half-time in the old preseason final in 1973 before going on to win. The Jets went on to finish third in the premiership that year. Against that, Penrith won the 1968 preseason final in their second year in the competition and finished mid-table in the serious stuff.
So should Eels coach Steve Kearney say "What, me worry?" and place no store in the Gibson dictum after Parramatta's disappointing trial form, culminating in a five-tries-to-two 26-10 loss to Penrith?
Like every other coach before every other season, he worries about how many injuries his squad may suffer.
With young centre Jacob Loko suffering a season-ending injury before a ball was kicked, Jarryd Hayne and Tim Mannah knee injuries against Penrith and second-rower Ben Smith a pectoral injury that might keep him out indefinitely, Kearney will hope the Eels have got their quota out early.
Beyond that, in this more than other seasons, trial wins would have meant nothing.
The inimitable Gibson again.
When he took over at Easts in 1974, the former gambling man was asked if he thought rugby union recruit Russell Fairfax would make it in league. "I'd rather back him than lay him," Gibson gibsoned.
Well, you'd rather watch Eels halves recruits Chris Sandow and Ben Roberts have a few starts before you'd want to back them with any confidence.
Fullback, halves and hooker are said to be the spine of teams in the modern game. By the nature of their styles, Sandow-Roberts will see Parramatta play a more expansive, unpredictable game than the rigid one Kearney employed last year.
Weighed down by being unorthodox creator and finisher, playmaker, orange-slicer and dressing-room cleaner, fullback Hayne was seldom the daring dasher of his previous seasons in 2011.
Halfback Sandow will certainly take some of that pressure off. Hayne-Sandow is a combination that could rank with the best. Could.
Against that, Sandow can be match-winner and match-loser several times in the space of a game.
In several seasons, intended five-eighth Roberts has never advanced beyond his status as worldbeater one game, reserve-grader for the next five, six, seven. His talent is unquestioned. Time is running out for him to answer the question of whether he can elevate his status.
All up, the 2012 Eels may or may not be electric but they should entertain.
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