Parramatta second-rower Shaun Lane has warned it could take all season for the Eels to find form, reminding critics "Rome wasn't built in a day".
And in an honest assessment of Parramatta's early-season form, Lane also admitted the Eels must stop being so reliant on injured half Mitch Moses.
Parramatta's start under new coach Jason Ryles could hardly have begun worse, with their for-and-against of -64 the equal-worst of any side after two rounds since North Queensland in 2002.
Ryles has made no secret of his desire to revolutionise Parramatta's attacking and defensive systems, conceding it will take time for players to learn.
Lane conceded the situation meant the Eels were "bound to fail" at the start of the season, but was adamant players had to stay the course.
"It's only two results out of a long season," Lane said.
"Rome wasn't built in a day, we're not expecting to have come out and lit up the competition in the first two rounds with all of the change we've had.
"It's about trusting the process and not letting the outcome get to us too much, no matter how good or bad it is.
"There has been so much change that anyone was bound to fail for a little while with the amount of change that we've brought in."
A grand-final team in 2022, Parramatta are in the midst of a roster transition with several older heads off contract while blooding the likes of fullback Isaiah Iongi and hooker Ryley Smith.
Lane pointed to Canterbury's maiden season under Cameron Ciraldo as proof that the pain could be worthwhile, with the Bulldogs finishing 15th in 2023 before reaching last year's finals.
"Growth is just a non-linear kind of progressive thing ... We're not sure how long it's going to take," Lane said.
"It could take the full season until we're up and running.
"We've seen other teams like the Bulldogs where it took them quite a while to get to where they needed to last year.
"There are no expectations for us, it's just about coming in, ripping in every day and trying to improve as quickly as we can."
The Eels are likely to have Josh Addo-Carr back for his return bout with Canterbury, with the ban for drug-driving complete.
A fit-again Dean Hawkins will also play halfback, with Moses not due back from his foot pain for at least another month.
Parramatta have won only four of 18 without Moses since the start of last year.
"That's part of the growth of our team moving forward is to not rely on one person," Lane said.
"That's been the case for a number of years now. We were lucky that Mitch was never injured.
"But last year and the start of this year, you can see just how reliant we were on his experience, his ability to guide the team around the park and kick into corners.
"It's part of the growth of young players in our system to learn how to do that in Mitch's absence."
