Brad Arthur had started this season claiming Parramatta players finally believed they could beat any team to win this year’s premiership.
On Friday night, his Eels proved it.
Trounced by North Queensland just six days earlier in searing heat, Parramatta pulled off one of the greatest wins of Arthur’s tenure as coach with a 22-20 victory over Penrith.
Arthur labelled it the proudest moment of his nine years at the club immediately afterwards, with the Eels down on troops but high on spirit.
But more than anything, it showed that Parramatta are ready to ensure the 2022 premiership is no two-horse race.
In the past two years, only one team has been Melbourne in Melbourne. And only one team has beaten Penrith in Penrith since 2019.
The answer to both those questions is Parramatta.
Those wins also mark Melbourne and Penrith’s only losses this year, proving the Eels can mix it with the big guns after falling out of the finals in the second week for the past three years.
“Can is the word,” Arthur said.
“We have to make sure we’re doing that every week. It’s only round nine, a tough opposition (in the Sydney Roosters awaits) next week.
“We’re not an elite team at the moment. We have shown we can be.
“Because elite teams do it every week. We can’t take it for granted. We can compete with the best of them, but we have to do it every week.”
Arthur is also seeing a more mature team.
After being heavily bagged following their loss to the Cowboys in Darwin, the Eels showed no lingering effects from that thumping, nor from the short turnaround, nor even from the spotlight that came from it.
Likewise, Arthur was impressed by the way his side brushed off Taylan May’s controversial try just before halftime on Friday night, after Viliame Kikau had clearly knocked on in the lead up.
“We come out and there was no chat about that,” Arthur said.
“Maybe in the past a few years ago we would have maybe been stewing on that decision.
“Worrying about it wasn’t going to help us at the time. We knew it was a mistake, but we made plenty tonight too.
“I think that (resilience) is better in the team this year.”
Adam Bagnall
Roar Guru
No they can't. Their two best players, Moses and Gutho regularly choke in the finals.
Clint
Roar Rookie
The potential is certainly there in that team but you'd have to think 8/1 odds of taking it out seem reasonable at the moment. If they can secure a top four spot, get a couple of good wins leading into the finals and jag a win in week one anything can happen from there.
MW
Roar Rookie
Penrith played without a coach or assistant coach. They were under pressure yeah but no way they win that if Ivan is there. Did you watch last weeks game or the tigers loss, or the last half of last year (besides the finals) and the last halves of the 3 years prior?
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi MW. You don’t think that was pressure last night?
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Hi Greg. Nice point. That’s be only panthers and storm can do it really
MW
Roar Rookie
Not a chance in hell. I would love to see them in the grand final v Penrith. It would be one of the coolest matchups of the NRL era, but playing well every few games isn’t going to get them there. Moses and Gutho are so overrated. When the pressure is on they go sideways which leads to errors which leads to a loss. Moses in Particular, he can’t handle the heat. Sorry Parra fans but this question has been asked several times a year for the last few years and always ends with the same result
NSWelshman
Roar Rookie
NO!
Chris Lewis
Roar Guru
great win by eels last night, so you never know.
varun sharma
Roar Rookie
OMG here we go again like last 4-5 years. simple answer "NO".
no one in particular
Roar Guru
They showed last night that they can compete with the intensity. Now they have to prove they can do it 3 weeks in a row.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
It all makes it interesting for positions 2-6 by time of finals. Say parra are 4th or fifth by then, beat panthers and storm but lost to bottom team and had a flogging. Then the team X is in 3rd spot and lost to panthers and storm easily but played strong against most all lower teams. The dilemma. Lol
Dionysus
Guest
It is the consistency which is the big issue. They have shown that they can mix it with the big two and grind out a win with the heavyweights but they can't seem to do it week in and week out. They get up and play out of their skin against a Melbourne or Penrith but then lose the following week against lesser teams. The trouble is that the finals series is not a one off game against one of the best but a series in which they need to string together a series of wins against tough opposition. History shows that it is that stringing together a series of wins that has been the Parra's Achilles heel. The win against Penrith was great and they are definitely a genuine threat to the ambitions of the big two but I will not be convinced that they can pick up the title until they show that they can put a string of wins together and showing that needs to start now.
Forty Twenty
Roar Rookie
It's possible. They've still got some players to return from injury as well, including their barnstorming winger.
Soda
Roar Rookie
Parra need to win it this year if they are gonna win it. All that talent is moving out at the end of the year. As much as they were good last night they are still very much beatable by any other team in my opinion. They may well have played their grand final last night.
Greg
Roar Pro
No. They have not shown they can win 3 big games in a row and their halves have not shown they can own big moments under pressure. One asset they have against the top teams is that they play a little different with lots of offloading and attacking off of the second phase. The issue is the increased risk of errors playing this way. This is why I can't see them winning three in a row when it matters. One of those games the offloads won't stick.
jimmmy
Roar Rookie
The Eels have proved time and time again that they can match it with the big boys. The problem is they often don't match it with anyone else. The danger to Parra is they may not make Top 4. And if you don't make top 4 , you are just making up the numbers.
E-Meter
Roar Rookie
As an Eels supporter, unlikely that we will win. Until we can get moderately close to matching the consistency of Melbourne and Penrith, it won’t happen. When those teams an off day they still manage to win or lose by a couple of points at worst. When we have an off day, it’s a complete debacle with a belting. We also loss to a team on the bottom of the ladder (at that time). Eels fans will be in nervous anticipation about next week against the Roosters, ie which team will turn up. Will it be the team that has conquered Melbourne and Penrith, or the rabble that gets beaten by North Qld or the Tigers.
Tony Palme
Guest
The self-believe is there. We can go all the way to break the hoodoo. Die hard Parra fan. PNG.