https://www.parraeels.com.au/news/2019/04/22/arthur-praises-eels-for-big-win-at-new-home/
Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur has praised his side for their performance during their huge 51-6 win over Wests Tigers at Bankwest Stadium.
Read on to see what he said during the post match press conference.
On the Eels huge win
“I didn’t see that score line coming. I was actually pretty nervous, I wasn’t much fun at home today. We haven’t made a habit of performing on the big stage when there is a lot of pressure. The way it (the game started) wasn’t great you know, losing Daniel (Alvaro) and one or two disallowed tries but we just stuck to our guns and hopefully it is a step forward for us. It was nice to get that result but it’s important that we don’t think we are going to just turn up and win everytime. I just think we are evolving as a group, the young blokes take everything in their stride and have a real mentality around playing their role and what’s best for the team,” Arthur said.
Nerves before game
“There was just a lot of excitement around the stadium and the expectations that we needed to win, which it should be that, that expectation. We have got a lot of young blokes Stoney has played a couple of games, Oregan has played a couple of games so we had 1400 games of experience between us today which is not a lot,” Arthur said.
On Blake Ferguson missing the game
“Josh Hoffman was very good for us today. He came in for the Bulldogs game into the centres when Michael Jennings was out and did a really good job for us. I think the boys are relishing in the opportunity when they get the chance. The back five made up for the lack of Blake Ferguson,” Arthur said.
On player contract talks
“They’re footballers and that’s the situation and they just have to perform well for their teammates. It’s not about the individuals it’s about playing well for each other and we weren’t great at it last year. The attitude shift is positive for us. Everyone is fighting for their future but it’s more than that. We were really disappointing last year. We let a lot of people down and probably none more so than ourselves. That’s the hunger and the drive there at the moment. The boys don’t like walking off the field being disappointed and letting people down,” Arthur said.
On Clint Gutherson’s performance
“I said during the game it’s just great having a fullback who is everywhere and his fitness levels are not by fluke but through hard work. I’ve always stated about Gutho, first in last to leave, diligent in everything and can handle an honest conversation. If you walk into the sheds before a game you wouldn’t think he was focused but he is one of those blokes who can just flick the switch when it’s time to play and I know coming to every game what we are going to get from Clint Gutherson, every single week.
On his own contract with the Eels
“Oh look I’ve made no secret of the fact that I love this club, I want to stay so we just have to keep playing well. It’s what it is, I have to earn my contract, but it’s not about me, it’s not about Gutho. It’s about the team, but we have just got to play well. We are not going to play like that all the time, but as long as they have got the effort and the intent. I thought our forwards were outstanding the way they carried the ball today,” Arthur said.
Mitchell Moses’ performance
“Yeah Mitch was good that (kicking) is a big part of his game and he is sticking to the plan and giving us every opportunity and he is playing what’s best for the team and he has that personal brilliance around his game.,” Arthur said
Replies
A good read and well summed up by the coach.
For me I believe he deserves an extension, although even with the good performance tonight, there will be some of the players finishing at the eels end of the year. The more they play like they did tonight the harder it wiil be for them to not be signed. Their auditions have continued and improving quite well., and once the injured players are back it will create good competion between them
It was one of the better Ba press conferences, no bullshit and no cliche's, just an honest assesment and honest, realistic answers to the situation he and some players find themselves in after a horror season last season.
Very true KKF. He and the players know where they stand regarding contract talks, hopefully now the media can go and sit in a dunny for a month or more and get their crap out of their system, the club will announce what's going to happen in due course. Perhaps the agents could be included in the toilet squats for that duration as well.
Tad & Lurker
Too many fail to really look into last years hell season, especially with the skeleton staff he had with him for the major part of the season, in fact if it was a skeleton it was one with a lot of missing bones. He virtually had no assistants until Kidwell was brought in late, it didn;t help greatly and it was only when the new trainer Jiminez came on board that things got better, even though they never really improved on the board. However one could see team improvements.
No coach can do the job by himself in the modern game, & alway said that BA has a coach with hands tied until the club finally released the purse strings. Today and so far this year we are seeing what he can do as a coach especially when he has the staff and players to work with. How many others would really do any better? Think of Madge a premiership winning coach and read his presser, similar to our coach last year.
We are 6 rounds in to the season, no team has won all their games with 4 teams above us with 5 wins out of 6, we are 4 wins out of 6, had we won 5 we would have been in 3rd spot. We will be knocking on the door with it being open for the rest of the year.
Colin Hussy: For you and all the gushing types, one swallow does make a summer. Sign Arthur now! On TV everywhere. Wayne Bennett put it, "If you listen to the fans in the Grandstand that is where you will end up". If Arthur was responsible for today's result when just 8 days ago we were scoreless against the Raiders and had 18 points put on us. If he inspired the team today why did he not inspire them 8 days ago? He had all the help then as he had today. If we follow your logic the improvement, If there be an improvement, is down to all the extra staff employed. That is not down to Arthur at all.
In my analysis after round three, I revealed that the Eels have had poor results when playing Canberra at Canberra. That was continued last week. I also revealed that the Eels also had similar trouble playing Newcastle at Newcastle. Well, we play Newcastle at Newcastle this week. On the form of both sides, the Eels should massacre the Knights but it rarely ever works that way. I will be more than satisfied if we win by a point up there and I would not be surprised if we lose up there. The Knights play an aggressive and fast moving game against us---something the Eels don`t handle too well here- too- fore. The crowd up there is 100 % against the Eels and influence the referees no end against the Eels. To win up there we need to pile on the tries as we did today. We will not get the penalties needed to win the game.
Robert Lloyd, 3 points 1: you are still as ignorant and rude as ever, in regard to seemingly purposely mispelling my surname for whatever smartness you do so, or is it your general lack of thought overall and spelling?
2: It is also obvious to me you have a very poor grasp of reading, as well as understanding. Lets deal with understanding, first, the blog was not written by me it was from the eels web site, as usual I posted that link to try & show that for people like you.
3: Well this works with reading, did you read what I said in my above reply, tell me where I went wrong there? Also if you care to read other posts I have put up, I have very much already said much of what you have, maybe your comprehension is that low that its the only way you can post these days is to take other peoples post and put them together for your own gratification,
Case points being, my posts re the Canberra game said of my concern regarding playing there, also I have referred to Newcastle being one of our bogie teams, so step down off your podium fella, and beyond the 1, 2, 3 steps for leading positions. In fact time for you to retire.
sent this to a dragons mate whose been putting crap on me for years. Just try to enjoy it Robert for gods sake.
Daz, I don't think he can, I get the impression that his enjoyment is in seeing the eels lose as it gives him a hypo hit to rubbish the club, players and more especially the coach. I would love to see the team he coaches and how they would respond to his methods on the training paddock and playing field.
Tad, excellent post & agree. BA was very measured in his comments, for some reason even on the eels home page I get a block on the coaches press conference that says I have to sign in to the NRL site, it rarelly works for me even though I signed up for that site.
This is a big season for him really as well as the players, the press is constantly after eels stories especially with the signings issues, after yesterdays game & result if that becomes our standard all of them deserve extensiong but wont happen.
He has 5 seasons already, started with a pretty poor roster and club issues that I doubt any other coach would have done any better. Look at Wests and Penrith change coaches and Wests have done well except for yesterday, but Penrith I believe are in a similar boat as we were when BA first took over. Except for the brown bag and cap scandal we were heading for a top 8 in year 3, we made it in year 4, and then the club financial issues stepped in and took his support staff, this year with a back office turn round quality players and assistants, the worm has turned.
One big swallow doesn't make a season but I do believe this team we have now, and that includes the on and off field team are heading the upward path. Measured responses from players and coach are showing despite the amount of pressure on them all. Canberra will be up amongst the top teams this year and be hard to beat down there, they have hard nosed forwards and some big backs with skills as wel. The eels have youthfull enthusiasm and amongst them some big and still developing bodies which will show into the future.
BA, to me was measured, rather than subdued, he could well have been hyper with the win but there's still a long road ahead, even if he is still coach for another term he cannot get in front of himself, too early in the season.
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