https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/michael-jordan-style-doco-to-reveal-secret-world-of-state-of-origin-20201017-p56630.html
Written by Danny weidler.
Brad to worse
Parramatta have a growing problem: the division between general manager of football Mark O’Neill and coach Brad Arthur.
In the days since the Eels went out of the finals in straight sets, losing 38-24 in dramatic fashion to Souths last weekend, Arthur has been under real pressure – somewhat unfairly, considering they were a Mitchell Moses penalty miss and aDamien Cook non-sin binning from potentially playing in a preliminary final this week.
The core of the problem is the division between O’Neill and the coach, but the cracks at the club are threatening to grow. The players and the football department are on one side; O’Neill is on the other, with the support of the club’s executive.
It’s pointed criticism, implying that Arthur’s old-school approach won’t deliver the ultimate prize and end the club’s 34-year premiership drought.
The criticism of Arthur came at a sensitive time for the club as it dealt with the stunning positive drugs test for veteran centre Michael Jennings on the morning of last Saturday’s semi-final loss to the Rabbitohs. Jennings denies being a drug cheat and says he will fight to clear hisname.
The Eels think the next stage in their development will come from improving the team in a holistic sense. A major criticism of the Eels has been that they are fragile and get frazzled when the blowtorch is applied.
The club has done plenty of work in the area of mindfulness and mental strength. I had lengthy chats with Ryan Matterson this year about the work he did in that area and his approach has been adopted by other players.
While Arthur is criticised for being too old-school and not taking on new ideas, O’Neill and the Eels football department are castigated throughout the NRL for being “too bureaucratic”. Their slow decision making and negotiating frustrates many. Managers say, along with Wests Tigers, they are the most cumbersome club to deal with.
Last year’s negotiations with club captainClint Gutherson were a case in point. Rightfully, Gutherson felt disrespected and he has proved himself to be their best player. It was not how their leader deserved to be treated and every signing the club makes is like pulling teeth.
Replies
I was nodding my head reading this article until it criticised our negotiating with player agents. This is one area the club has improved upon dramatically. I'm sure the player Agents hate it which means their mates in the media also hate it. Which means it's precisely how we should be handling negotiations.
I missed a paragraph in my copy paste. Sorry noob error
No one at the club denies the Arthur-O’Neill rift – just the level of tension between the pair.
O’Neill has been in his role for two years and, in fairness, the Eels have had considerable success in that time. But they now want a premiership and Arthur knows where the drive to change his approach is coming from.
There was a line that got under his skin this week. “The team is not going to improve by doing another three laps of the oval,” an Eels official told me.
When was this article published? I check both SMH & DT each morning, and I do not reccolect seeing it, especially in recent editions, would also like to know who the writer was to lend some credibility to it.
If there is issues & I say IF between the coach & GM, I wonder if there is a repeat of why the GM left the Tigs after a shortish time.
Its another Genie Blog / Post. Lol Funny - well done "That Guy"
Danny weidler's column today.
Wow i would of sworn it was a bull#&$# story. There you go. 👍
The Dunny Weasel and you guys are taking it seriously? Seriously?
Hahahha no still think its bull$&# news and a genie article, just got the author wrong.
The rifts a lot bigger than BA and Oneil
Yes, cumbersome aka not walkovers
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