The 2018 debacle that is driving Arthur and the Eels
Parramatta and expectations haven't gone well together in recent decades.Which begs the question: what will happen this year now the Eels are considered top-four contenders? Especially given their storming finish to last season, plus the addition of representative forwards Ryan Matterson and Reagan Campbell-Gillard.Eels coach Brad Arthur has worked all summer to make sure his players are fit, but also ready to cope with the higher-than-usual hopes from one of the game's most passionate fan bases, sponsors and the media.You only have to go back to 2018 when the Eels promised so much but finished with the wooden spoon. Arthur, like his players, was happy with their finish to the 2017 season when they won nine of their last 10 games and went within a couple of points of humbling the Storm in week one of the finals.But the coach noticed something creeping into the playing group at the start of the following season. There was a blowout trial win over Newcastle in Maitland. Then there were…
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