On Thursday night, against an understrength Sydney Roosters team, the Parramatta Eels slumped to their third loss in four games.
By the end of the game, I was furious.
Throughout the year (and in preceding years too), Parra have been criticised for being a decent team, without the skill to really make a dent in the finals.
On Thursday night, after a couple of wobbly weeks, the Eels had the chance to show that they were at least still in contention to make an impact in the finals. Instead they put in one of their worst performances in years, being kept to zero on the scoreboard.
It’s maddening because after a promising start to the season, with each loss a top-four finish looks further away, particularly when you consider the Eels’ final games see them play the Panthers, Storm, Rabbitohs and Sea Eagles.
(Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)
While that’s the toughest run home out of any team, if Parramatta are serious about finals footy, these are the teams they need to beat.
But what made me even angrier than Thursday night’s insipid performance is the criticism I continue to see of Brad Arthur.
There are footy fans who think he is a pretender. That he can’t coach.
But that shows tremendous disrespect to a man who has transformed the Eels from perennial cellar-dwellers to top four contenders year after year.
At the start of the year, with a heavy heart, I said that if Arthur could not get Parramatta past Week 2 of the finals, then it was time for the club to start looking for a new coach.
I stand by this but, despite the results of the last couple of weeks, remain adamant that no decision needs to be made until the end of the year.
Arthur’s teams have bowed out in Week 2 of the finals in three out of the last four years. But particularly in the last two years, despite technically finishing in the same position, there was marked improvement.
In 2019, the Eels lost to Melbourne 32-0 in Week 2 and never looked like they were in the game.
In 2020, the blue and gold were out in Week 2 again, but the difference was that they were well and truly in the game against the Rabbitohs.
It was a difficult lead-up too, with the three of the team’s regular backline players missing, including finding out on the morning of the game that Michael Jennings would be unavailable due to a positive drug test.
Michael Jennings in his Eels days (Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images)
This year, the goal had to be to improve again and that could only be by progressing past Week 2 of the finals. If Arthur cannot deliver this, it is time to start looking for someone who can.
But Parramatta would do this with a heavy heart because Arthur is a good coach.
He took the reins as a caretaker coach at a club in crisis and he has led the organisation through some heavy storms. He kept the squad together during the 2016 salary-cap crisis, and has seen multiple changes in personnel, including several chairs and CEOs.
But throughout that entire period of disruption there has been clear improvement.
He leads a team that consistently appears in the finals, with the likes of Nathan Brown, Clint Gutherson, Junior Paulo and Mitch Moses playing State of Origin.
The forward pack used to be constantly accused of having a soft underbelly. This is no longer the case.
Recruitment has also improved, with players like Isaiah Papali’i coming to the club and making significant improvements in their game.
While all these things are good, the fans want a premiership and it remains to be seen whether Arthur can deliver one.
But regardless of whether he can, when he eventually leaves the club, I and many other fans will no doubt owe him a debt of gratitude.
So often people involved in sport or an organisation say their goal is to leave a place better than when they found it.
Arthur can certainly say he has done that at Parramatta.
M A Hussieni
Guest
Great article Mary, I love BA as coach and I would love to see him for another 20 years, as far as I am concerned we need a player in calibre of Nathan clearly, tomy turbo, lattrell Mitchell or someone who can win a game when it gets dirty and I don't think we have one right now, love your work Mary keep up the good work. From a die hard supporter in Melbourne.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Mary. After the last few days of eels news coming out to do with Arthur and the General Manager what are your thoughts?
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
Because their last lot of "Third Party Agreements" entailed paper bags in carparks. Parra needs to rebuild some public credibility for companies to attach their name and coin. Parading around on Bankwest Stadium with their heads held high reminds me of the children's fable " The Emperor's new clothes"
WallabyJ
Roar Rookie
I wonder how much stronger the team would be if we still had an in form Mennings playing in the centres? I also wonder why a club based in Sydney with one of the largest memberships in the comp isn't better set up with third party agreements and therefore able to purchase more high profile players?
Maxtruck
Roar Rookie
I think the supporters of the other 15 teams in the comp should be thanking Parramatta for taking him and therefore avoiding the possibility of him setting your club on a ten year path of mediocrity.
Parramatta’s sliding .
Guest
You have to take a look at the club overall. A couple of years ago, Parramatta’s NSW Cup team ( Wentworthville )won their competition. Their team in the semi professional league , won their competition. So they’d been having some success. Then Parramatta gave Wentworthville the flick. They insulted that club & during the time that Wentworthville was their NSW Cup team. Parramatta chose very few players from the winning Wentworthville team to play first grade. Instead Parramatta for the most part, preferred to just buy players from elsewhere. Also, they decided to not pay overs for any player. So the standard of their buys, has to be questioned. I understand the not paying overs for players, as they’d been burnt a few times by doing just that. Still, if you’re going to go that way. The club must build from within. Same as Penrith. For one thing, many top players on the market don’t want to go to the western suburbs clubs. So not paying overs to get them means? As I said before...not getting fantastic imports. A Gould type figure at the club is required. To revamp how their junior system operates. So how Parramatta has performed over the last few years, has been commendable. They’ve not had the best of the best imports. Their junior & lower grade systems, still have their problems. It’s not going to change. By that I mean, they’re not going to win a premiership. Unless they change things up & make sure that they get the best of their local juniors , instead of many of them going to Manly. Plus , they have to be able to attract a couple of star players. Instead of them all going to the usual suspects & those who will pay overs.
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
need Sivo & Semi
Kent Dorfman
Roar Rookie
yep, you only get rid of someone if the replacement is better.
Mary Konstantopoulos
Expert
David, it's a great point. I would love to hear your thoughts because I only started supporting Parra in 1998 so was only there for the end. But I think Smith highlights the hard position the Eels are in. The team needed to take the next step. Did they have a coach that could take them there? Smith's results suggest no. But then we punted him and in came the carousel of coaches who led Parramatta to bottom 8 finishes for essentially the next decade. It's a hard place the club is in, because we need to take the next step, but there is not point punting Arthur is there is no one available who can help the club get there.
David Lander
Guest
Reading this article I have to ask Thoughts on Brian Smith Before Smith arrived Parra were more likely to win a spoon then a comp Brian Smith got the team to the finals year after year Brian Smith never won a comp. Brian Smith got criticism for hia failures in the biggest games (grand finals and GF quailfiers) Brian Smith after 10 years in charge and no premiership got fired. This ia year 9 for BA and he has even less finals wins then Smith at least BS got to a grand final.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
Good article Mary. I'm so accustomed to the seasonal decline the last few years, I expect nothing else. The way we are playing at the moment is just boring. BA keeps mentioning the effort, the collision. That should be a given for every NRL team. Those requirements are simply not enough on their own. You need skill and execution as well. I just despair every time we reach the attacking zone of the opposition, because you know our only chance of scoring a try is through a kick. I am just sick of 5 barges and a kick. We've got guys that can offload, but so often they are left posted on their own from one out garbage. What happens at training all week?
Paul
Roar Guru
It would be a serious mistake to get rid of Arthur because, as you say, unless there's a better alternative out there ( and there's not), better the devil you know. In any event, I'm sure the issue is simple; Parra haven't got the playing pieces quite right. I don't think Moses is quite up to it and the defence needs an old fashioned hitter to stiffen the middle. I think if Arthur had say Radley in the middle and a better half, The Eels would be a team seriously challenging for a premiership.
Nat
Roar Guru
My point isn't about the Dogs, it's more about the level of talent in the Parra squad. Barrett is just an example of a struggling coach. Based on the list alone they should be top 2, on the park they should be up with the Panthers and dominating the 13 teams below them.
That’s the way it is.
Guest
I thought St.George laid Parramatta’s forward pack threadbare early in the season. Totally overpowered them & they were thrashed. If the opposition just does their tackles , they can overcome the so called ‘power game’ that Parramatta uses. Canberra did just that. Roosters did the same. Not so sure that their pack is the envy of that many teams. At least ,none that put in an effort in defence. Then without Moses, the whole side is just lacking any winning edge. Much the same as Penrith without Cleary.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
Mythical hate has nothing to do with my comment at all. The Roosters have recruited better than just about any other team. Maguire gave the Chooks a good hiding when he had Sam Burgess and Inglis but now he's lucky to avoid the spoon. Why doesn't the magic continue for Maguire at the Tigers? Coaches don't do well or win titles without great recruitment , it's a pretty simple point. If you don't understand that players like Mitchell and Manu are part of the recruitment strategy then I can't help you. Manly recruited Schuster as a tubby lad who nobody was interested in. It's still recruitment. You can't develop the talent these players have , they are born with it , you can only help them fulfill their potential.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
"what has Arthur done?" He's delivered above average results. I, along with every supporter of every club want more, but that's what he's actually done. On top of that he stood tall during our crisis (2016). You've got Bennett, and he may or may not deliver (a premiership) in his time at the Bunnies, and we all hope for a better than 1 in 16 year premiership, but very clubs achieve it.
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
"Barrett could get that success". We'll see. He inherited a pretty clean cap (poor Dean Pay, who had potential) and he's brought in some more "guns" for next season. Maybe Gus will save it, maybe another club will be in desperate need for some outdoor furniture, but surely you can't bring Barrett into this equation?
Eelsalmighty
Roar Rookie
So we've got a marginal top 4 side (I'm a supporter so I should be able to be a tad generous), and a marginal top 4 coach (at least a top 8 coach), and not many (if any) better established coaching options. So if you want to change the coach, and I don't, are you looking at a potential superstar rookie coach, or bringing in a potential gun, whose been underperforming because of the roster? I don't see a good (available) option either way. I thought in the pre season we were way too light in the middle forwards. Nothing against any individual player, and huge wraps on the starting pack, but in the 15 minutes either side of half time, when Brown, RCG, Paulo are off the bench is too weak. Half way through the season and I was thinking I don't know how he's (BA) done it/doing it but it's working a treat and the stronger attacking style the bench forwards were bringing to the game was proving me wrong. Fast forward, and I'm back to thinking that's the problem. It looked like it was going to be a problem, and it looks like it is a problem again. My thoughts, keep BA and bring in a couple of genuine middle forwards, even if they're not star forwards.
Tom G
Roar Rookie
Well there was that spoon
She’ll be right mate
Guest
Teddy had potential Manu was unknown, as was Mitchell. Keary was unwanted. JWH has remained one of the top props in the comp for a long time , I doubt that would be the case if he’d been at the eels . Ferguson was one of the top wingers in the comp when he left the Roosters , and is a dud at the Eeels . I think your probably allowing your haate for the Roosters cloud your judgement old boy.