Parramatta prop Tim Mannah has urged his team-mates not to settle for mediocrity as they look to get their NRL season back on track against Gold Coast on Sunday.
After an indifferent start to the season that has seen them win just twice in the first six rounds, the Eels have a chance to turn their season around with a victory against a Titans outfit that has also taken time to get going in 2011.
The Eels could drop to last place by the end of the round with a loss, and a Canberra victory over Newcastle, and Mannah insists the time to start turning hard work into results has to come soon.
"As a playing group we've got a group that is really committed to the cause and we don't want to settle for mediocrity," Mannah said.
"So we're going to make sure we get past these hiccups and get our confidence back and move forward. It's important that we don't let these last few weeks stop us from getting where we want to be at the end of the year."
But they will have to do it without star full-back Jarryd Hayne, who is sidelined for the next two weeks after being suspended for a headbutt on Bulldogs' forward Corey Payne.
Mannah believes the Eels have been spoiled by Hayne's presence for so long, and his absence could bring out the best in some team-mates.
"As a group I think it's going to be good for us to mature a bit," he said.
"I think we've been spoiled having Jarryd at the back ... and we've looked to him a lot when things get tough and put a lot of pressure on him.
"It's going to be good for us to understand now that he's not going to be there on the field and ... just try to force other people to put their hand up and want to be the person that steps up."
Throughout this season, Mannah has been the one to step up for the Eels as he emerges as their forward leader - but he was more excited about the prospect of going head to head with Titans' co-captain Luke Bailey in the veteran's 200th NRL match.
"He's in the best form I've seen him in for a long time," Mannah explained.
"I've got a lot of respect for Bailey, he's been around since I was a kid ... I remember looking up to him for a long time. I still got a bit of a thrill and a buzz when I play against players like him who I looked up to as a kid, and it will be no different when I play this week."
- AAP
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