Eels Blogs

Dyldam Parramatta Eels forward David Gower has labelled Head Coach Brad Arthur “brutal” when it comes to honesty and accountability at the Blue and Gold.

Having worked with Arthur as part of the Manly-Warringah Grand Final outfit in 2013, and joining him at Parramatta for the 2014 season, Gower says the Head Coach is clear about his demands for the Eels NRL squad.

“Yeah, he’s brought belief,” Gower said.

“He’s brought accountability: we’re accountable to ourselves first and foremost, and we’re accountable to each other. That’s on the training paddock, that’s in the gym and it’s definitely in games.”

“It’s a brutal honesty that just lets you know that if you’re going good, he doesn’t let you get too far ahead of yourself. He doesn’t like anyone taking shortcuts.”

“It’s a brutal, honest, mentality that he has with us as players and we respect that and we work with that.”

And when the Eels take on a flying Warriors side on Saturday in Auckland, Gower is expecting an equally brutal confrontation on the field. 

“We know we’re in for a tough game, no doubt about it,” Gower said.

“They’re a great side: they’ve got some some class outside backs and some big boys, playing with a lot of confidence and confidence is a hard thing to stop.”

“Especially over there in New Zealand, they grow an extra arm and a leg over there so we need to make sure we head over there with the right attitude.”

“We pride ourselves on improving every week and making sure the game is in our control, and if we go out and execute every week the way we know we can, we give ourselves every chance to win games.”