NRL 2021: Parramatta Eels stand by Brad Arthur after form slump
Pressure is mounting on the Eels and coach Brad Arthur, and CEO Jim Sarantinos has spoken out as Parramatta’s grip on the top four loosens.
Parramatta’s hierarchy have thrown their support behind coach Brad Arthur and his struggling playing group with the club adamant the Eels boss can turn the tide heading into the finals.
Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos declared the past few weeks was “not reflective” of what the team was capable of.
With Parramatta’s top four hopes now on life support, the club was dealt another blow with hooker Reed Mahoney expected to be sidelined for an extended period.
The Eels premiership credentials were again whacked when they lost 40-12 against South Sydney on Friday night. Parramatta have now lost four of their past five matches with their only win against the Titans during that period.
Eels coach Brad Arthur is under pressure after losing three straight matches.
Despite pressure mounting on Arthur, who has another 12 months left on his deal, Sarantinos said the club had faith the coach and believed the playing group can still make a premiership tilt.
“It’s obviously been a tough few weeks and we’ve been below our best,” Sarantinos told The Sunday Telegraph. “As Brad pointed out after the game, we need to regain some confidence.
“We are sitting fourth because we’ve shown throughout the year that we’re a good football team.
“The last couple of weeks isn’t reflective of who this team is. We’ve got a tough run coming but we have confidence in Brad and our leaders to turn things around and get back to playing their best footy heading into the finals.”
The Eels’ record as premiership heavyweights makes for concerning reading. Before their loss to South Sydney they had been easily beaten by Penrith and the Roosters and look like a shadow of the team which beat the Storm 16-12 in round two.
Parramatta boss Jim Sarantinos says the club still has faith in Arthur.
Parramatta’s final month of matches is arguably the toughest of any side.
While Arthur declared a top four finish remains a chance, they will need to quickly find form if they are any chance of salvaging this season.
“We’re just down a bit on confidence I think,” Arthur said. “There’s still four weeks to go but we can’t be worrying about the top-four finish at the moment, we’ve got to worry about getting some football back on that we know that we need to be playing and find our rhythm again.”
Parramatta take on Manly on Saturday before a game against the Cowboys. They end the regular season with successive matches against premiership favourites Melbourne and Penrith.
Daily Telegraph
Replies
Well Jim Sarantinos really can't say anything else.
We've shown throughout the year we are good at beating up on the weak sides....
Scott
🤮
OK it's official. He's gone.
LOL, was waiting for someone to say it. The good old death knell.
lol we're veterans mate ;)
Yep, my first thought, the famous "the coach has the full confidence and backing of the CEO and board"
Nek minut!
WAKE UP JIM YOU DOPE!
You cant be serious, he sounds as delusional as BA, what an imbecile.
'I think we are just down on confidence'' thanks scoop, what a genius Jim is, he sounds balls deep in BA.
Apologies to jim if hes bluffing here and this is actually the kiss of death for BA.
Gold snake
What exactly did you want him to say publicly Snake ?
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