http://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/after-a-miserable-two-years-for-the-parramatta-eels-their-future-is-looking-bright-under-brad-arthur/story-e6frf3tc-1226951688817

After a miserable two years for the Parramatta Eels, their future is looking bright under Brad Arthur

Heath Kelly

Fox Sports

AFTER consecutive wooden spoons many Parramatta fans were just hoping to finish the 2014 season without an unwanted piece of cutlery.

Yet, there the Eels sit at the halfway mark of the season in eighth spot, the fifth of five teams all on 16 points and with a genuine chance of finals football.

Nobody but nobody saw this coming. Brad Arthur had been given the reins following Ricky Stuart’s acrimonious departure at the end of last season and all a Parramatta fan had at his disposal was hope.

Hope for the best and hope that Jarryd Hayne, the club’s one genuine superstar, didn’t get injured.

Not only has Hayne got through relatively unscathed, he has been the standout player of the NRL this season, leads the Dally M, and been the driving force behind a team that once again looks like they are enjoying their footy.

It took a few weeks for the Parramatta faithful to finally start believing. A 36-16 first up win over the Warriors was followed by a thrashing at the hands of the Roosters and it looked as if the Eels were in for another long season.

The Eels followed it up with a tough loss to Manly before going on a three-game winning streak including an epic victory over the Roosters and all of a sudden the Eels looked to be a genuine force.

Hayne finally had some attacking flair around him with the return of Will Hopoate following his two-year break and Semi Radradra has developed into the most lethal winger in the competition. Corey Norman has been a calming presence at five-eighth and Brad Arthur has worked wonders with halfback Chris Sandow, back to his best following his battle with off-field issues.

The forward pack aren’t world beaters but in Tim Mannah they have a staunch leader and Manu Ma’u has also been a revelation.

Nathan Peats had, until injury, been the buy of the year at hooker. How they cope without him for the rest of the season remains to be seen.

Parramatta have been a much improved side in 2014.Source: FoxSports

Current ladder position: Eighth

Results

Rnd 1: Eels 36 def. Warriors 16

Rnd 2: Roosters 56 def. Eels 4

Rnd 3: Sea Eagles 22 def. Eels 18

Rnd 4: Eels 32 def. Panthers 16

Rnd 5: Eels 25 def. Broncos 18

Rnd 6: Eels 14 def. Roosters 12

Rnd 7: Tigers 21 def. Eels 18

Rnd 8: Cowboys 42 def. Eels 14

Rnd 9: Eels 42 def. Sharks 24

Rnd 10: Eels 36 def. Dragons 0

Rnd 11: Bye

Rnd 12: Panthers 38 def. Eels 12

Rnd 13: Eels 18 def. Cowboys 16

Jarryd Hayne has led Parramatta back to the top of the table. Pic. Phil HillyardSource: News Corp Australia

Best Win: Having been thrashed by the same team only a month before most were giving the Eels little hope of an upset win over the defending premiers, the Roosters, in round six. Jarryd Hayne was again superb in attack but his defence was equally brilliant, stopping a barnstorming Sonny Bill Williams only centimetres from the line in the closing stages to allow the Eels to hold on for a 14-12 win.

Semi Radradra has been in scintillating touch. Picture Gregg PorteousSource: News Corp Australia

Worst Loss: “Oh, no! Here we go again.” That was in the thoughts of most Eels fans when they were absolutely crushed by the Roosters 56-4 in round two including 40 unanswered second-half points. The match also featured one of the wildest swinging arms seen in years when Darcy Lussick collected Jared Waerea-Hargreaves high. It cost him four weeks on the sidelines.

Best Player: Plenty of players have been in great form at the Eels but Jarryd Hayne is not just the best player in his team but in the whole competition. It has been vintage Hayne throughout the first half of the year, he has already collected 21 Dally M points and is odds on to win the medal for the second time.

Chris Sandow is back to his best. Pic. Mark EvansSource: News Corp Australia

Most Improved: Tough call as there has been plenty of big improvers in season 2014 including Will Hopoate and Semi Radradra. But it has to go to Chris Sandow. Plenty wondered if we would ever see him in the NRL again but he is back doing what he does best with a smile on his face.

The Eels might struggle without Nathan Peats who has been the buy of the season. Picture Gregg PorteousSource: News Corp Australia

Needs to Lift: Fuifui MoiMoi. The Eels cult hero has been spending more time in reserve grade than first grade and appears not to be part of Brad Arthur’s plans either short or long-term.

Long-term injury list:

Jacob Loko (Knee, Indefinite)

Nathan Peats (ACL, Season)

Kaysa Pritchard (Shoulder, Indefinite)

Prediction: If Jarryd Hayne stays fit anything is possible as witnessed back in 2009 when the Eels last reached the grand final. The Nathan Peats injury is a major concern but Isaac DeGois is a shrewd recruit. Most fans were happy just to get out of the cellar but now would be disappointed if the Eels missed the eight which is a more than realistic ambition.

"I remember watching him in nsw cup. He was at left centre with Naiduki on the wing. I remember every week saying he should make his nrl debut. He was such a good defender at 18/19 years old. I would argue since then that his attacking threat has…"

"Michael, you are dumb. Doesn't mean you are a bad bloke.
The whole game of managing a roster is value for money. Will Penisni gets paid the same as the great Centres in the game and he isn't one. Move him on, it's not harder than that. Hos brother…"

"He did and he more importantly has this tendency to switch off and look despondent and defeated and his effort goes down by 30 %.
I made my piece that he might not reach the potential we hoped of him becoming an origin level back, which he was…"

Replies

Hamish June 12, 2014 at 11:57am

Worrying signs are points conceded, missed tackles and offloads as shown. For a team that can play really good second phase play and has scored the most amount of tries I was surprised with the low amount of offloads. However, from my predictions at the beginning of the year I think we are travelling very well and if we can rack up some away wins we will definitely make September footy.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Hamish June 12, 2014 at 12:45pm
  
  If you eliminate the three floggings, you need to eliminate our three biggest wins.
- Parramatters > Hamish June 12, 2014 at 1:54pm
  
  Agree Hamish. Offloads must improve I think Junior will be the guy for this also. However I think Mannah should work his butt of getting himself a good offload, hes a co-captain and a leader so should be more involved in creating opportunities aka gallen, merrin, parker.
- Cʜɪᴇғy Mclovin 🐐 > Hamish June 12, 2014 at 2:10pm
  
  We can come up with some factors which influenced our three beatings.
  
  1. Roosters/ Peats injury - Edwards to hooker.
  
  2. Cowboys/ very Short turnaround, travel to Townsville heat.Fatiged
  
  3. Panthers/ No Hayne, Hunt shocker.
  
  However there is one significant factor which accelerated the outcome of these games. Lack of control from our halves. Sandow and Norman's limited experience together may be a factor. However it's now time for them to take full control, and this weekend's game against the Dog's novice halves could determine their futures, and our season.
True EEL June 12, 2014 at 1:15pm

nicely put miatch.
Hamish June 12, 2014 at 1:16pm

Yep the turn around from last year is dramatic. Shows what a competent coach can do to a talented, yet largely inexperienced side.
Turpy June 12, 2014 at 1:34pm

Miatch you can't exclude the floggings. They were also all away games.

How many away games, as in away from Pirtek have we left to play.

Really we have been lapped in half of our away games this year.
Hamish June 12, 2014 at 2:14pm

Yep would be good to see our starting props get some more offloads. I think we may have been a bit hesitant so far this season as we don't want to lose the ball coming out of our own half. Also we don't want to force that offload when it isn't on. I can also see Junior Paulo filling that role of bashing the defence then offloading. I doubt Mannah will, it's not in his game to a great extent. Without looking at the stats the same could be said about Terepo not being a massive offloader (he makes up for this with his hard running). Lastly, the person I could see doing a fair amount of offloading is Mossop in the middle of the park, and Gower seems to have a handy offload as well.
Tin Tim June 12, 2014 at 2:22pm

Teams above us don't stand out like previous years. Top four not out of our reach!!!
Tom Mus June 12, 2014 at 2:33pm

We've scored the most tries in the comp, and we've done it without offloads. Offloads can help, but I'm not sure that introducing risk when we're already scoring bucketloads is a necessity.

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