Arthur rejects Sterlo fears on Eels attack
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Rugby LeagueParramatta coach Brad Arthur has rejected claims from Eels legend Peter Sterling that his side's attack is too one-dimensional to challenge the NRL's best, insistent only the polish is missing.
The Eels start a crucial run home to the finals on Thursday night against the Sydney Roosters, sitting two points clear of their rivals in the battle for a top-four spot.
Parramatta received a massive boost on Wednesday morning, with Mitch Moses back to lifting full weights in the gym and expected to return from a back fracture next week.
But the Eels' run home won't be easy.
They face all five fellow top-six sides, in what is by far the most difficult run to the finals of any team.
Since beating Melbourne in round two, Parramatta have gone from one-from-four against that same group of elite teams.
Last week's loss to Canberra prompted Sterling to claim they lacked variety in attack with too many one-out runs coming out of their own half.
In turn, Sterling claimed that the Eels were simply running their forwards out of gas by running at brick walls, with the lack of shifts out of their own end.
But Arthur insisted that was not the case and that his side was instead simply missing the polish of the competition's best.
"That's Sterlo's opinion and he is entitled to it," Arthur said.
"We shifted the ball 35 times last weekend compared to Canberra's 11. We created opportunities. We ran near 2000 metres and had 20-odd offloads.
"It's about us taking those opportunities. That's probably been our situation since the start of the year.
"We leave too many tries out on the field. We have to ice those moments.
"You look at Melbourne, they put themselves in a position, they score. They finish everything off.
"It's just our finishing touches with what we're doing at the moment."
According to Fox Sports Stats, the Eels have the third most one-out hit ups in the competition, behind only Newcastle and South Sydney.
But the figures show they are also willing to play expansively, with only Penrith throwing more passes than their 112 per game.
Regardless, the return of Moses - who has been out of action due to a minor back fracture from State of Origin III - should only help their attack.
While Arthur would not risk the No.7 by bringing him back early, he expected Moses to be fine to face the Rabbitohs in round 21.
"If next week we are putting him at risk we won't play him," Arthur said.
"But he has done movements in the gym today with a full weight session he wasn't able to do a few days ago.
"And from tomorrow we have an eight-day turnaround into our next game.
"So it should give him three sessions with the team next week."
Replies
Christ
of course he does 🙄
Brad always thinks he knows best, everybody can see what BA cant, hes not the sharpest tool in the shed.
Thats why he'll never win a comp, hes not shrewd enough, not in front of the game.
Our club needs to wake up.
BAs taken about 5m off our club over 10 odd years, now he's sons on the payroll on over 100k a year.
Its getting into parasite territory, this kents leeching off the club and delivering very little, same old shit every year.
you'd have to agree though that he's punching above his weight in yearly earnings
yep . wholeheartedly agree .
Our passes count comes from all the passes we throw side to side attacking the line . Wasted! BA is absolutely clueless . What would the greatest halfback that's played for our club and one of the smartest footy brains of all time know compared to one of the best captain coaches batemans bay has ever seen?
Spot on, passing side to side and praying is just dumb.
Passing the ball side to side in the red zone then adding up the number of passes is not proof of playing expansively. BA is missing the point entirely.
10000000000% As experts have been saying. We pass to much inside the opp red zone and too little out of trouble. Should be the otherway.
I hope Mark O'Neil is following all of your recent posts Mutts & not reading TCT thinking that is a true reflection of what the masses think.
For curiosity I took a look over there to see their thoughts on the JA selection, nothing against the guys but whoa aren't they blinded and too close to the coach and his son. I guess if they bag them they lose their little priveldges and training access but it doesn't look like they expected such an uproar over JA's selection again this week.
The people have spoken!
Worth a quick browse under Team List Tuesday.
https://thecumberlandthrow.com/
They shut the blog down because of all the negativity, being a loyal supporter is one thing but completely ignoring obvious faults is another.
🙉🙊🙈
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