It’s been a long season and Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur is planning to give his players a freshen up before the finals.
Premiership heavyweights Penrith face a soft run-in to the NRL finals with neighbours Parramatta preparing to rest key players, including skipper Clint Gutherson, for a final round game between the two Western Sydney rivals.
News Corp can reveal Eels coach Arthur — aware the round 25 result is unlikely to affect his side’s ladder position — will withdraw players for a much-needed pre-finals freshen up.
After snapping a four-game losing streak with a 32-16 victory over North Queensland, Arthur plans to select his strongest side for Saturday’s match against Melbourne before then convincing several star players to sit out the Panthers game.
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Not that Parramatta would care, but that decision could impact on Penrith.
After a tough win over Souths last Saturday night, the Panthers will face struggling Wests Tigers and then a weakened Eels side over the final two rounds — hardly a ferocious preparation for the finals.
“I haven’t worked out which players they’re going to be yet but I’m leaning towards getting ourselves ready for that first final. A few of the boys have played every game and haven’t missed a training session,” Arthur said.
“It will be tough convincing them but, at the end of the day, we have to do what’s best for them, moving forward. A lot of blokes haven’t had much rest. It might be about resting a few and getting ourselves ready for the finals.
“We definitely can’t go any lower on the ladder and it will be tough to jump a spot. A win or loss won’t count for too much. We know we’re playing finals, that’s the main thing.
“It’s very hard to encourage ‘Gutho’ (to have a rest). You pull him off with three minutes to go and he gets the shits. ‘Gutho’ played all the games last year. A lot of blokes have played a lot of footy and then you throw in rep footy.
“It’s not just the physical toll, it’s mental too. It’s how we can be ready for that first final but we definitely want to run with the same team and look to test ourselves against Melbourne.”
If Arthur rests players for round 25, it is uncertain whether Panthers coach Ivan Cleary could follow suit ahead of his side’s likely week one finals game against South Sydney.
“I don’t know what Ivan’s got in mind for our last game, either. He might have a couple of players who he might think having a rest and a week off will do them the world of good,” said Panthers group CEO Brian Fletcher.
“This stuff happens at the end of the year. It’s part of football — you’re protecting yourself for the finals aren’t you? I’m sure we will have a full side next week against the Tigers.”
Melbourne’s Craig Bellamy has rested players from the final round in past years but Roosters coach Trent Robinson is strongly against the theory.
Robinson said before the finals last year: “I don’t think we’ve ever disrespected the game, the product or the jersey. I think players that don’t play each week are still very good players. We don’t hand out anything for free.
“There is a balance of all of those things that go into your decision, but it is never to disrespect the game or the jersey.”
Parramatta’s Maika Sivo has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an MCL injury. He will miss four to six weeks and is currently walking with the aid of crutches.
Scans on Monday will confirm the extent of the injury with Arthur saying he would be “really surprised” if Sivo played again this year.
Veteran winger Blake Ferguson is certain to be named as Sivo’s replacement. Ferguson hasn’t played for three weeks through a calf injury.
Arthur is expected to shift Haze Dunster from right wing to the left to allow Ferguson to play as the right winger.
Despite beating the Cowboys, TAB bookies remain unimpressed, posting Parramatta as $51 premiership outsiders alongside Newcastle. The TAB is paying $23 for Parramatta to reach the top four.
Replies
I think there's pro's and cons to going in against good and bad teams into semi's
ideally would be better to play A Newcastle than say a Manly if you were Penrith a decent team and a top 4 quality team but then again could get beaten up badly too
Resting can be good as they come in with clear head and body aches are either gone or are not as bad, but it can be bad as they can relax and take some time to get back into sync
Either way it can be good or bad just depends on the team, all I know is in the past we've gone full pelt into a semis and got fatigued giving our all which led to early exits as we are mentally and physically drained so BA probably thinks why not see what it does, probably think a straight out exit will get him sacked so why not try something and see if it works.
Resting player prior to finals once your ladder position is set in stone is a ridiculous idea?
Better tell that to Bennett, Bellamy, Robbo, Cleary and Des because they'll all be doing the same.
I doubt it would effect confidence if anything its like a trial game before the season the players that play will get some minutes in their legs.
A young bloke may make a debut a player that's stuck in the bubble and doesn't play like Stone,Rodwell,Russell get 1 game more then they would of.
The players return a bit fresher for the week off ideally if we had a top 2 spot secured you'd rest a few each week as opposed to a bunch in 1 game
Naive, Offside. Very naive, read the comments from Mick-the devon demon and myself above if you want some sensible clarity of strategy mate.
What about the consequences of getting another flogging on our form or the battering to our tentative confidence going into the finals Captain? there's no leadership in that corporal.
Bennett, Bellamy, Robbo, Des and Cleary would be coming from a position of confidence and strength, not a position of hopelessness and weakness like we would be Captain.
At least this way Mick, when they get flogged BA's excuse will be he rested his best players lol
Dear Brian,
From your past experiences, whatcha reckon about resting guts? Would you ok this?
I like it
regards,
macybrown
Will you be texting us ? Btw FYI I thought Jamie Lyon was a gutless pussy and supported your stance with him.
Haha!
Of course you'd rest players if they need it. If there is literally no change to your ladder position by winning Round 25 then it makes perfect sense to rest anyone who needs it (recovery, freshen up, injury etc). I think BA is done but there's nothing wrong with doing this.
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