By David Riccio
A number of influential figures walked out on the Eels after the grand final loss. So, who steps up? Coach Brad Arthur opens up exclusively on 2023. Plus, their likely Round 1 team.
Eels coach Brad Arthur believes the club’s proven football factory will unearth a new batch of stars to keep their premiership window open.
In his first interview since Parramatta’s 28-12 grand final loss to Penrith eight weeks ago, Arthur has identified the “no names” he says can replace the departures of influential figures Isaiah Papali’i, Reed Mahoney, Marata Niukore and Oregon Kaufusi.
“Our record shows that when a player comes to our club, they improve. And if they do leave, they leave a better person and a better player,” Arthur said.
“Nobody knew Reed Mahoney when we signed him, when Isaiah came to the Eels, no one really knew much about him, and Marata was in that same boat as well.
“So now we have a new group with an opportunity to do the same.”
Pack mainstays in 2022, Papalii, Mahoney, Niukore and Kaufusi played 103 games for the Eels out of a possible 112.
In essence, their impact was immense through their consistency and therefore key to the Eels’ grand final charge. With the quartet moving on to rival clubs in 2023, Arthur has holes to fill – and that has led to anxiety among Eels fans.
However, the head coach pinpointed forward recruit from the Knights Jirah Momoisea (eight NRL games), ex-Raider and Warrior Jack Murchie (40), former Bulldog Matt Doorey (18) and NSW Cup talent Toni Mataele, were at training with the lure of a starting back-row position.
“I told them I need them to be 80-minute players.
“I think they’re off the pace physically at the moment, compared to what our requirements are for a backrower. But that’s a good sign for our club because most players that come to our club don’t match our standards.
“So they’ve been told they need to be fitter.
“With our training, they’ll improve naturally.
“It’s no different to Isaiah and Marata and Shaun Lane, they all had to work when they arrived.’’
POMMY EEL
Veteran hooker Josh Hodgson, the club’s biggest signing, will be fit for round one after missing last season with a torn ACL.
Arthur said his back-up options were Mitch Rein and rookie Brendan Hands.
“In one week, I’ve seen the leadership of Josh and how he rubs off on his teammates,” Arthur said.
“He’s been terrific and he has a playing style that is suited to Parramatta.
“Every year we’ve had blokes leave and I’ve only ever worried about what was next, which is the next blokes who have come to work with us.”
OH NO, MATTO
Lock-forward Ryan Matterson confused the majority of the competition by his decision to accept a three-game suspension for a crusher tackle from the grand final instead of accepting a $4000 fine.
He will miss the Eels’ first three games against the Storm, Sharks and Sea Eagles.
Arthur said he’s got an idea who will cover Matterson’s early-season unavailability.
“We signed J’maine Hopgood from Penrith – he hasn’t joined us (at training) yet, but we’re looking forward to seeing him,” Arthur said.
“He was probably the best player in the entire NSW Cup, he just couldn’t get a run with Isaah Yeo in front of him.
“Like the other guys we’ve brought in, we’re more than happy to bring these guys in and coach them up and get the best out of them.’’
MOSES AND BROWN
The more it drags on, the playing futures of the Eels’ most influential playmakers threatens to develop into the biggest story over summer.
Both Mitchell Moses and Dylan Brown are off-contract at the end of 2023, with rival clubs – including the Wests Tigers, Bulldogs and Dolphins – preparing major money plays.
The Eels coach shares a tight relationship with both players and without waxing lyrical, said he hoped both chose to stay.
“Both players are obviously a big part of this team and club, and I would love nothing more for them to stay,” Arthur said.
“They know exactly what I think of them and what we can do together – that’s all that matters.’’
POST-GRAND FINAL
In the aftermath of the Eels’ grand final loss, Arthur took an annual end-of-season holiday to Bali, where he reflected on the season while mapping a plan to go one step further in 2023.
“I’ve now moved on,” he said of the 28-12 defeat. “I’m worried about what is ahead of us.
“(Penrith) were too good for us. And they’ve been too good for the entire competition for the past three years now.
“I was gutted and disappointed in the result. But they played their best, we didn’t.
“I’m proud we got there, but I’m not satisfied.
“I know we’ve got plenty of drive left in us and I’m enjoying the opportunity to have our next wave of players come through.’’
Replies
Don't do it ME there's somethings I've watched over the years that have been sickening to see and the retention and everyone coming off all at once is just one of them.
I get your point, the question has to be asked why do we concede so many metres when defending - is that fitness, mobility or tactics? BA throw away line ' your highest paid players stay on the field ' don't quote me word for word is a really narrow statement - Im questioning the tactics and the use of the bench
It's too many power forwards and not enough toilers. Look at Penrith's pack - nearly all toilers. Their best attacking front rower is Brian To'o.
Good point pou, we have a more balanced pack next season
Because we don't wrestle and slow the ruck down well enough.
For me the thing about defense is first contact if that initial contact is good and you stop momentum the others coming to join make it a lot easier to dictate ruck speed.
Coryn Hughes yes agreed we don't; and you don't have to wrestle to win. You have to control the ruck. Penrith did it well in the Gf and tested the refs and won. We don't do that, and need to. Hopefully with Hodgson he can share some tricks as being well behaved in the ruck does not always help you win. I feel that we don't push the refs enough in this area.
Yep, teams march down the field way too easily against the Eels. Penrif "won the collision" with their tackles which earnt them the right to further slow down the ruck.
Love this interview. I still hope we sign at least 2 more props with some NRL experience before I can relax a little before next year.
Nathan Brown is in discussions with the Tigers. If they sign him it will be an immediate release and will give us an extra 500k to throw at Moses and Dylbro.
You replace him with a minimum wage player, what's that about $130k or something?.
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