He's coming home.
Arthur was a Seven Hills junior who progressed to Parramatta's S.G. Ball, under-20 and reserve-grade teams. He then became a captain/coach at Cairns, winning four premierships.
That record led to his joining the Melbourne Storm.
"I was very lucky," he said. "A friend learned there was a position available and he put my name up." Arthur got the job and "I learned from the best coach in the business," he said of his four years at the Storm with Craig Bellamy. He also coached the Storm under-20s to last year's Toyota Cup title.
"I can't wait to get my teeth into it and put in a tough pre-season," he said of Parramatta's 2011 campaign, which will start on November 1. He'll also be living close to his extended family; his father is in the Blue Mountains and the rest still live around Seven Hills.
Arthur was one of the first people Kearney rang when he accepted the Eels job. "Steve's a very relaxed, calm, level-headed person, whereas Craig Bellamy's more hot-headed and tends to blow up during games," he said. "I'm probably a bit more like Craig."
Arthur said there was no doubt what Kearney's approach to the task would be. "He believes in discipline and having the right attitude," he said. Arthur said the qualities instilled at the Storm were apparent during their troubled 2010 because of the salary-cap scandal. "It was a tough year, training all week for no points but they still would have finished a point out of the top four (if points were available). "That's the culture of the place."
He said Kearney would create the same environment at Parramatta. Arthur said the Storm had always fancied their chances when playing Parramatta. He said when things went wrong for the Eels, heads would often drop. But Arthur said there was also plenty right with the Eels, and they just needed greater consistency. "Steve will also focus heavily on the youth nursery and giving kids every opportunity," he said. "At the Storm I was very fortunate to work with the likes of Billy Slater, Greg Inglis, Cameron Smith and Cooper Cronk. "They have a tremendous work ethic and attitude to football. "They were the ones really driving the discipline in the team and hopefully we can bring some of that culture to Parramatta."
At 36, Arthur has dreams of one day being an NRL coach but that heaven and hell can wait.
He can't wait for November 1, however.
Replies
"I can't wait to get my teeth into it and put in a tough pre-season,"
"He believes in discipline and having the right attitude,"
He said Kearney would create the same environment at Parramatta.
.... lets hope so!
I know the board leak like a sinking ship, but thank god thay made this decision.
I rtuly believe Parra can be a great club again and consistantly compete for titles, but without discliplne in sport business or anything else competitive you don't stand a chance without it.
COME ON SK !!!!!!!!!
I'm only sad for a real pro like N. Cayless who would have been perfect for this approach, a great club man who deserved better than the shit some of his team mates dished up.