Eels Blogs

Respected rugby league voice Matthew Johns believes Parramatta are on the cusp of reaching a crossroads with coach Brad Arthur, and stunningly declared Wayne Bennett the man to help the club overcome their premiership woes.

The Eels are in the midst of another late-season form slump after starting the year going toe-to-toe with the Panthers as the NRL's most dominant force.

Last Friday's concerning 28-0 defeat to an injury-stricken Roosters side marked the third loss in four games for Arthur's side, as their hopes of a top-four finish hang on a knife's edge.

Maintaining the competition's longest premiership drought of 35 years, promising starts over recent seasons only to capitulate at the final hurdle saw Arthur under increasing pressure heading into the Eels' 2021 campaign.

Arthur has only won once in six finals matches despite possessing what many believe to be a premiership-calibre roster, leading to growing doubts over whether he's capable of taking the Eels to the promised land.

Bennett, meanwhile, will move on as Rabbitohs coach at the end of this season as he prepares to leave the club in the hands of assistant Jason Demetriou next year. 

The seven-time premiership-winning mentor plans to move home to Brisbane and has spoken about his desire to coach the NRL's 17th franchise, billed to be based in Queensland's capital and introduced into the competition in 2023.

However, Johns doesn't believe Bennett's next move is a fait accompli. 

He believes Bennett - the man Arthur will face in the coaches box this Friday - is the man to help Parramatta take the next step, referencing what the decorated coach achieved in two years with the Dragons back in 2010.

"Wayne Bennett has been coaching every year for the last 34 years - I just refuse to believe he's going to take a year off," Johns told SEN.

"There's reasons why he believes he has to return to Brisbane, I get all that, but from a football point of view to return to Brisbane on the chance that the new Brisbane side comes in and he's going to coach that – I just don't see Wayne doing that.

"I see Wayne coaching in some way, shape, or form (next year).

"If you look at Wayne and what he's done with teams, or namely St. George Illawarra, there are similarities between St. George Illawarra (in 2010) and where Parramatta are at.

"They're a team where you say they're a top-four side but they can't quite take the next step. It's like a sprinter who's at 10.02 (seconds) but can't get down to 9.9, that's where Wayne specialises in."

Johns believes Arthur faces a crucial four-week period coming up in the context of his coaching future with the Eels.

Parramatta faces Manly, Melbourne, Souths and Penrith over the final five weeks of the regular season, and cling onto fourth place with 28 competition points and a superior points differential to the Roosters, with the in-form Sea Eagles closely trailing. 

Johns says it could be make or break for Arthur if history of the Eels crashing and burning in the run home to the playoffs repeats itself.

"Look, it's a little unfair on Brad but I think it's a big month coming up for Brad because if they continue to struggle the question in the Parramatta boardroom will be can Brad take us that next step?," he added.

"If they believe the answer is no, then what next?"

While Cameron Smith agreed with Johns, he believes criticism of Arthur is slightly heavy-handed.

Adding to Parramatta's woes is the fact star halfback Mitchell Moses remains sidelined with a fractured back, although he is a chance to return this week to face the Rabbitohs.

However, Smith admits it's becoming an all too familiar situation at the club.

"I think that's going a little bit too far. I think Brad Arthur's doing a pretty good job there at the moment," Smith said regarding pressure centering on Arthur.

"It's an unwanted tag that they've recieved over the last few years. They started the season so well and been in a great position heading into the Origin period and just on the back half they seem to struggle.

"There's been a big out with Mitch Moses' back injury but they've still got a quality line-up.

"I called a game a fortnight ago when they played Canberra and the way they played in the first 10 to 15 minutes, it looked like they'd have had the game sewn up quite easily but what Canberra did to them was apply so much defensive pressure and played aggressively.

"It sort of upset the style of footy that they like to play and it just seemed as though whenever a team plays that physical aggressive style of defence against Parramatta, they just struggle to get into their game plan or settle into a groove. They seem to find points easily when teams don't do that."