by James Hooper
The Parramatta Eels have been rocked on the eve of the biggest game of their season by an explosive internal review claiming there is “nepotism” at the club.
As the Eels prepare for the Friday night elimination semi-final against the Canberra Raiders, Fox League has learned some of the key points out of the review conducted by ex-NRL coach Nathan Brown include:
— There was a perception of nepotism in the appointment of staff and players
— Better connection needed from NRL to Flegg and to Junior Reps
Acknowledgment of all staff across all programs could be better
— Skill development of players could be better with the ‘Eels philosophy’
— Role clarity needs to be better communicated and the communication across all roles needs to be clearer.
The findings from the elite pathways report were presented to the Parramatta Eels NRL board a fortnight ago on August 31. There is no suggestion in the briefing document obtained by Fox Sports that the claim of nepotism relates to coach Brad Arthur or his son Jakob, who has been selected to play off the bench against the Raiders on Friday.
The leaked findings of the review comes at the worst possible time for the Eels, as they prepare to play the red-hot Canberra Raiders at CommBank Stadium on Friday night. Fans were left devastated after Parramatta were demolished by the Panthers last Friday night after finishing in the top four.
The elite pathways review was intended to give the board an overall view of the club’s performance across Harold Matthews, SG Ball, Jersey Flegg and how the lower grades feed into the NRL squad.
Coach Arthur’s finals record of having only won two finals games out of nine appearances for a 22% strike rate dating back to 2017 has been repeatedly raised this week.
Broadcaster Ray Hadley has referred to deep-seated issues at the Eels surrounding Arthur on his morning radio show this week, which has been the talk of rugby league circles on the eve of a finals clash seen as the most important for the club in at least a decade. Long-suffering Parramatta fans have not been able to celebrate a premiership since 1986, the longest drought of any current club.
The development comes amid questions around why ex-NSW forward Nathan Brown – who is on $550,000-a-season and is still signed for next year – remains on the outer and has been unable to force his way into the Eels best 17.
Fox League has also been told the Eels leadership group have questioned why Brown has been continually omitted from the NRL side.
The Eels have been approached for comment.
Replies
They. Are. Imploding. FMD!!!
This is all on the Parramatta Board to be honest, they have condoned this behaviour for two seasons and now the situation seems out of control.
If the booing from your own fans at a home match wasn't enough of a warning sign then I don't know what is.
Yeh I agree. It shouldn't have taken an external review to see what everyone else could.
They obviously have seen the situation for what it was and failed to act. They have been negligent in their duties. The coach having total control over team selection is one thing but nepotism in the workplace is not acceptable.
Absolutely it's been allowed to fester from coaches sons having free reign in coaching boxes onwards - was a debacle from
the start with no clear parameters
The board and the CEO, theyve let this club slide badly.
Theres nothing we are infront of the curve on, we are never proactive, only reactive.
Compare us in every grade to a club like penrith, we are falling behind badly, theres no heart in the club and zero footy knowledge
We could all see this long ago, only the complete imbecilic club bootlickers couldnt see this coming, because they blindly support everythihng the club and coach does.
Every year before the biggest game we have some shit go down,
Even if we can win with 15 players this will make it harder now. Jesus I'm starting to think we are cursed FMD.
Not cursed. Just a hit job on Parra right before our finals game.
The report was presented Aug 31 but isn't leaked until today. All opinions on issues aside, the JA and NB stuff wasn't even mentioned in the review and was added in to the article as comments by the media. But screw them all, we play better with our backs against the wall anyway.
This guy gets it.
Right on target 🎯
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