Eels powerbrokers had resolved to wait until June before making a decision on Arthur, believing that would give the coach enough time to demonstrate a tangible turnaround in results. That timeframe took into consideration the Bankwest Stadium effect, a chance for the Eels to take advantage of the new stadium. Clearly the venue is a huge advantage if the victory over the Tigers is any guide as the team prepares for a series of home games in coming weeks.

If the Eels continue their winning ways, Parramatta officials are open to fast tracking a decision on the coach and potentially tabling a deal sooner than the initial June deadline.

“One thing I can tell you is the deadline won’t be pushed out, but it may be brought forward,” Eels chairman Sean McElduff told the Herald.

Many of the off-contract stars, particularly Gutherson, are close to Arthur. Should Arthur recommit, the chances of them doing likewise could also improve. Regardless, the prospect of the uncertainty being removed about who coaches the club into the future will likely be welcomed by all parties. Clearly, the contractual situation of the players isn’t affecting performances. Parramatta legend Peter Sterling addressed them in the sheds on Monday before they produced one of their best performances under Arthur’s tenure.

 

 

“Sterlo was in before the game and again at half-time,” Mannah said.

“It was good for him to give some advice, to whisper into our ear a few things that we can do.

“Obviously everyone has got a lot of respect for him and it’s good to have the old players come in.

“He spoke a bit in my ear, gave a few really good pointers. One of them was be patient. The other was to have a lot of energy.

“I thought we did both of them really well.”

Hooker Reed Mahoney added: “Sterlo comes in every now and then and has a little chat to the boys. He just had a little chat to me and said to be prepared to go 80 minutes.

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“He said to be prepared to be in a grinding game. It was great to get some tips from Sterlo.”

Parramatta’s head of football, Mark O’Neill, has been in constant contact with the managers of the off-contract players. Mannah said he was keen to continue his career in the blue and gold but was comfortable waiting for a new deal.

“Buckets [O’Neill] has been really good,” Mannah said.

“He said we will sit down around June time and there’s no rush from my end or their end.

“Obviously I’ve made no secret I’d like to stay at this club. This place is home for me, it would be awesome if that could happen.

“I just have to see how it all pans out.”

Asked if he would move clubs if a new contract wasn’t forthcoming, Mannah said: “If I had to, I will. I’ve got a young family, I have to make sure I think about them as well. But I love this club and would like to spend all of my time here.

“I feel great, we’ll see how we go.”

Adrian Proszenko is the Chief Rugby League Reporter for the Sydney Morning Herald.

 

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  • My opinion is you sign him or you don’t!!! This holding pattern we are in with the coach is putting unnecessary pressure on signing the players. Make a decision and stick with it we can then sign our current players or go to the market.

  • It’s looking more and more likelier by the week.

    You can see a marked difference in this team.There night and day better than last year.

    Restructured re-roled everyone’s doing there job.

    Bar the Canberra game even with injuries to key guys the backups are stepping up.

    Think he’ll get another 3 year type deal with more cash.

  • This situation is all the more interestering now that Gould is available. One win does not make a champion team but it does show that they can play like champions. Big question is ,does BA have the ability to get the team to play like that every week from now on.

    • don robinson : That`s an easy one to answer: NO, NO, NO. Look at his record. It`s his persistent record, he has never been able to get them up for a game of substance. Get rid of him while we have the chance. It was not his influence on the players on Monday, it was the occasion of the opening of the stadium filled with Blue and Gold supporters. It was the same in 1986 with the opening of the previous stadium. St George was the favorites to win that game but the Eels touched them up 36 to 6 purely because of the special occasion.

      • You really are a very bitter and negative and lonley  person there  Robert .

      • Robert, perhaps St George might have been the favourites for that game.  I rightly don’t remember.  However, that year Parramatta won the pre season cup, the mid week cup, were minor premiers and the winners in the Grand Final.  So I don’t understand your point cause it wasn’t that one game that defined the season.  We won everything that year!!  I’m not saying that is what will occur this year but it wasn’t just the opening of the new stadium that influenced the season.  Sure it was a contributing factor but we won all our games for the pre season cup and all our games for the mid week (Panasonic Cup) cup and that was played at Leichhardt Oval!  We won the minor premiership and back In those days we played just as many games at home as we did away.  Then the finals were played at the SCG.  We had stability and that’s the key!  

      • Brian Smith couldn't get us up for big games either. So was Brian Smith a mistake for the club? 

      •  You have no idea 

      • So Robert, who of the available coaches have a record that screams out they should be signed instead of Arthur? Should we sign Taylor, Cartwright, Barrett? What about Steve Price? 

  • You can clearly see that BA and the senior players have learnt from last year and are committed to ensuring those mistakes aren't made again. That is what you want to see with decision makers and they shouldn't be penalised for that.

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