http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/nrl/eels-coach-defends-anthony-watmough-and-declares-kieran-foran-will-play-halfback/story-fnp0lyn3-1227605277399

Eels coach defends Anthony Watmough and declares Kieran Foran will play halfback

FOR 25 years Parramatta have searched for the right man to take ownership of their prized No.7 jumper.

On Thursday Kieran Foran will be officially unveiled as the latest to try and put to bed the Peter Sterling curse.

In a wide-ranging interview with The Daily Telegraph, Eels coach Brad Arthur has revealed his plans for the club’s most significant signing in three decades.

And it’s fair to say he expects more from Foran than what Chris Sandow delivered.

Arthur also opened up about the crucial role of fellow recruits Beau Scott and Michael Gordon, while launching an impassioned defence of Anthony Watmough.

GET OFF CHOC’S BACK

It is easy to bag Watmough’s performances in 2015 after coming across from Manly on huge money. It has left most fans questioning the decision to sign the veteran on a four-year deal.

When that was put to Arthur, he let rip: “He has been bashed from pillar to post.

“People have no idea what these blokes go through. The amount of needles and treatment that him and Danny Wicks had to have.

“After round two (Watmough) probably shouldn’t have been playing but you know what? He was our marquee signing and they would have went through the roof if he wasn’t playing.

“So he just went ‘yep, I’ll play’. And he kept playing and the physios tried to rule him out for five weeks straight and he kept going.

“He’d say ‘if you want me, put a needle in me and I’ll play’.

“Towards the end him and Danny weren’t training. They could hardly lift their arm up to put their jersey on and they couldn’t take their jersey off at the end of the game.

“But going forward his body is fixed. He has had the knee op, the shoulder op, so come round one there shouldn’t be any excuses. He has to aim up and he is aware of that. And I’m sure he will.”

KIERAN’S CHALLENGE

Foran will become the 35th player to wear the Eels’ No.7 jumper since 1990, after which Sterling only played a total of four games in his final two seasons.

While Parramatta have made two grand finals in that period, they haven’t won a premiership.

This will be Arthur’s third year in charge, and with Foran’s reported $1.1 million a season price tag comes pressure.

“Kieran will be halfback. Kieran wants to get his hands on the ball more so he will be able to do that,” Arthur said.

“He comes as our marquee player and the difference will be that he is going to have a lot more responsibility.

“He is going to have to lead and we want him heavily on the ball. And that is a halfback’s role. We really want him taking control of this team.”

While outlining Foran’s role, Arthur also explained why he will complement Corey Norman.

“It is always handy to have a left-footer and right-footer on either side of the ruck,” Arthur said.

“It is ideal for your kicking game and both possess really good running games.

“Normy’s organisational skills have had to develop the last two years playing in the team that we have had and he has really taken control.

“Now he can step back a touch and really inject himself and run the footy when he needs to and Kieran will step up more as the general.”

At Manly the Kiwi international was surrounded by a superstar backline, and there is no doubt what happens from here will ultimately determine his legacy.

“Hopefully we have worked hard to put what we think is going to be a real competitive list around him and hopefully he lives to say he was very happy with his move to Parramatta,” Arthur said.

BEAU MEANS BUSINESS

With Watmough and Scott, the one guarantee is the Parramatta’s pack won’t be pushed around.

“Already you can just see he has a no-nonsense, uncompromising approach to everything he does. There are no passengers,” Arthur said about Scott.

“He hasn’t said a lot and from what I have gathered so far he is not one of those blokes who is making sure the coach is watching him when he is helping another teammate.

“He is not after the accolades or the limelight. But he has the experience and he knows the sacrifices you have to make to play at the top.”

GORDON AND GOALKICKING

In 24 games last year, the Eels either led at halftime or at some stage of the second half in 20 matches. They also lost four games in the last 10 minutes. And that’s not taking into account Jarryd Hayne left without warning.

“Losing your marquee player a week before you are about to start pre-season, it does make life a bit difficult,” Arthur said.

“You take Johnathan Thurston out of the Cowboys, are we talking about them winning the grand final?

“I think we managed and dealt with it the best we could. In terms of our effort and playing with pride and passion we had plenty of that. We just lacked a bit of game management and class to close out those games.”

Now they have experience in crucial positions, and a bloke at fullback who kicks goals with the best of them in Gordon after the Eels averaged 62 per cent the past two seasons.

“We were close but we just weren’t close enough and with the addition of those players in key positions, a half, a fullback and a real hardened campaign in the back-row and you add young Clint Gutherson (at centre), that is four key positions that balance out our team a bit better.”

THE CAPTAINCY

Tim Mannah and Foran are the most likely contenders while Scott captained Country last year.

Asked if Mannah’s leadership was confirmed, Arthur said: “We will decide who our captain is going to be coming into that last trial match.”

So no guarantees?

“And Timmy knows that, there is no guarantees for any player,” Arthur said.

“The idea is they all work really hard and focus on themselves individually and get as fit as they can and the leader or leadership group or whatever you want to call it will pop up naturally.

“Then it will be an easy selection for me come February.”