A selection headache is looming for Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur.
Emerging half Jake Arthur, the son of the coach, is currently one of the stars of this preseason. Make no mistake, in terms of his consistency and his recent dominance of opposed sessions, JA is demanding inclusion in the top 17 for the season opener against the Titans.
As I left Kellyville after this morning’s session, I couldn’t think of one reason for BA to not select his son. His surname shouldn’t be an obstacle, despite what some critics might think of coaches selecting their offspring.
And yet, circumstances might result in “Snake” missing out.
Incumbent halves Mitch Moses and Dylan Brown will retain their places. Neither warrants Brad Arthur leaving them out. In fact, I’m tipping both to have huge seasons.
Once again Jake was the star of this morning’s opposed work and he is literally finding a new level each week. Today, in addition to his organisational skills, Jake was instrumental in creating opportunities out of playing eyes up football.
Two big plays stood out.
n the first instance, after taking the ball at first receiver, JA had the defence pack-pedalling as he ran the attack to his left. A precision pass in traffic put Ray Stone into space. He then linked with Samuel Loizou, before the young centre found Jake backing up through the middle. A 30 metre sprint to the line completed this movement.
Jake then set the left side alight once more. Again he got the defence on the back foot, but this time Mitch Moses had looped around to receive the ball from Jake down the short side on the left. Moses’ cut out pass to Naiduki sent him on a 30 metre sprint before he took the Gutherson tackle.
To his credit, Naiduki didn’t try to push the pass. Instead, he got a quick play the ball and the play moved quickly to the right edge for Will Penisini to cross for the try.
Is it possible for Jake Arthur to win a bench spot?
Jake continues to add kilos to his frame and I suspect that within the next couple of years his playing weight will be somewhere in the 90s. Will that open up other positions for him to cover? Potentially, yes.
But that doesn’t solve the situation right now for how the player at the forefront of the preseason can force his way into the team.
Furthermore, there are other players staking their claim for a bench spot.
Makahesi Makatoa was another to have an impressive session. His charges into the defence were mixed with some enterprising ball play. Maka has a terrific motor and his game is marked by the capacity to take multiple hit ups in the same set.
Mitch Rein has also caught the eye across the entire preseason. He’s one of the fittest in the group and offers BA the option of selecting a 200+ game dummy half on the bench.
The bench was already going to be challenging to select.
Throw in these three as genuine contenders and BA’s bound to changing his mind numerous times before round 1. He’s probably fortunate that there are two NRL trials scheduled for this season.
’ll finish this report with a brief overview of the rest of the morning’s session.
The focus was on the two sides of the kicking coin – the chase and the return. To state the obvious, the chase aims to keep the return pinned close to the line. The objective of the kick return is to get the team on the front foot.
Haze Dunster looked incredibly confident. He attacked the ball and was difficult for the chasers to bring down. I also liked the hit ups of young backs, Sam Loizou and Sean Russell.
BA scaffolded the session, starting with unopposed tackle sets, then staging repeated kick chase and kick return drills, before going through to the contact opposed game.
Trent Elkin kept the conditioning turning over with sets of Malcolms as well as running mechanics over sprint distances. However, as we move closer to the first trial, that footy component continues to be on the increase at every session.
I’ve got no problem with that!
Eels forever!
Sixties
Replies
I actually belive that JA is progressing well. It was never JA's fault that he played so many games last year despite being out of his depth. But you could see that he is a hard working player. I believe he will have a similar gamestyle to a Adam Renolyds / Cooper Cronk. I am NOT saying he will or will not reach the levels of those players.
JA showed in NSW cup he could hold his own, he was 18 and holding his own against men nearly 10 years older than him, so credit where credit is due. I hope he works out cause if he does what does that mean? Parramatta have a great player on their books, and even better a player that will not leave unless his dad does.
But if he doesn't then we all know what is going to happen, though i believe the way JA was talked about after his rookie season will prepare Matt Arthur for his inevitable inclusion in the squad in 2024/25.
Ive said it since the beginning and i still havnt changed my mind. JA hasnt done anything wrong, and he shows a lot of promise. Still dont get the hate directed at him last year. I thought he filled in fine and did his job as a youngster brought up to cover injuries etc. I wonder if the hate is because of his surname and the "Bush coach" brigade pushing the narrative, or do people really think he cant play. I guess time will prove people right or wrong.
I love pointing out : Dylan Brown 21 games 2 try assists
: Jake Arthur 7 games 3 try assists
I've no hate for young jake, he had a red hot go, but he was not even close to being ready for 1st grade last year. Hopefully he's working on his defence and will be a good backup half this year.
That's a much more sensible observation Gaz, this article is a good one and I wasn't sure if EA was actually there or not until 60's signed off at the end.EA I think you did a fine job in representing this, it is very relevant.
BE I don't think quite got last year, JA did a fine job in his first game, a realisation in his second game and then went dramatically backwards, even when he went back to Reggies.
Now BA did have alternatives after the second performance and stayed with him, that is where the talk of hate and nepotism came from. Nepotism is a horrible word, I used it last year but realistically you can be damned if you do or you don't.
I'm prepared to put away the nepotism argument as I think BA will have advisors this year that will keep him balanced.
In the interim lets follow Gaz's advice and see what happens. I do not want any Parra players to fail because of rubbish written on any football site.
👍
Yeah Gaz, you are right with that call. He was put in way before he was needed to, wasn't built for NRL when he debuted and he did not have the games he would have liked due to it.
I think the fact that JA would not have debuted that early if he wasn't BA's son, that overshadowed that he is a talent. I hope Matt is brought through a bit more easier with Hodgson and whoever the 14 is (Hands or even Rein) and eased into the top grade instead of thrown to the fire of the fans and media.
Try Savers - D Brown : too many to list
- J Arthur: none
It was tounge in cheek Marty. Dylan is better on every level then JA. I just dont like it that as a 5/8 he hasnt been able to set up someone for a line break or a try with any regualrity. If he does this year, we are on our way to a grandfinal.
Yes but JA was a turnstile. They'd run through him like a hot knife does butter. Add poor reads to that too.
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