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The Australian: Martin Gabor
The truth hurts’: Eels defend Brad Arthur and vow to bounce back following horror loss in Darwin
Brad Arthur’s position as Eels coach has come under fire following their shocking second half in Darwin, but the players know where the blame lies.
Parramatta’s senior players say the pressure should be on the team and not coach Brad Arthur after he called them a “part-time team” following their second-half capitulation against the Dolphins that has raised question marks about his future.
The Eels were embarrassed in Darwin last week, conceding eight tries in 25 minutes as the weakened Dolphins tore them to shreds.
The Dolphins raced away with eight tries in 25 minutes to embarrass the Eels. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images“If you watched the second half, it looked like we didn’t know each other and we hadn’t trained together,” veteran prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard said on Tuesday.
“It’s not panic stations, but it’s a bit of a wake-up call for the whole team.
“It was a little embarrassing to see the 40 minutes in that second half. We’ve addressed it and we’re looking forward to this week.
“Things weren’t going well for us. We’ve sat down, watched it and nullified where we’ve got to fix it.”
The fallout from Friday’s loss has involved some very honest chats amongst the playing group who have vowed to take the pressure off their coach by not letting him down ever again.
Brad Arthur is under pressure but appeared in control at Tuesday’s training session. Picture: Brendon Thorne/Getty Images“Brad has copped it for 12 or 13 years. It’s not his fault. The onus is on us,” Campbell-Gillard said.
“Being one of the senior players here, I’m more than happy to cop the brunt of it. I’m sure our other senior boys are willing to put their hand up as well.
“It’s not nice to see what’s happened to Brad given what he’s done for this club. He’ll always put his hand up and face the media and take the brunt of it, but for the performances we’ve been dishing out, we have to (take responsibility).
“There’s a lot of honesty at this club and no beating around the bush. It’s very straight down the line.
“If you can’t take any criticism and judgment, then I think you’re in the wrong sport. It’s about holding everyone accountable and making sure everyone is accountable for their actions and how they played.”
Clint Gutherson is expecting a big turnaround after some honest chats this week. Picture: NRL PhotosSkipper Clint Gutherson sat next to Arthur after the game last week and said on Tuesday that the Eels let their fans down with a performance that came just a fortnight after they conceded 41 against Canberra.
“Everyone respects what he says and what he does. We’re letting him, the coaching staff, the club and the fans down at the moment. It’s on us,” he said, confident they’ll produce a proper 80-minute performance against Manly this week.
“You never want to hear that from your coach, but the truth hurts sometimes and you’ve got to hear it.
“If you’re not willing to hear what the bad things are and you just want to hear the good things, then you don’t really last too long in the game.
“He’s really challenged us this week to get back to doing all the little things right.
“You can’t get all the highs all the time. It’s like any other job – if you’re not doing something right, then someone has to pick you up on it.
“It shouldn’t take this long for Brad to have to say it after a game for it to get a reaction, but that’s what it is.”
Replies
Brilliant post, Bup. Well said, even though I do enjoy listening to players or former players talk every week even if some of it is forced due to their media and fan engagement obligations. A guilty pleasure.
There seems to be a "calm, philosophical air" around their talk this week.
An acceptance, "yeah, we were crap, Brad's right" but "it's not the end of the world" as Gutho said; we're only human.
I'm not sure whether this is a good sign or not, as I prefer the "sore loser" talk of Gutho during the Cowboys, "I hate losing, and want to win every moment" coming from the Sir Alex Ferguson and Lombardian schools of thought.
Maybe, it's irrelevant. If they focus on their processes and what they've "doing" and "do" the fundamentals well and with gutso - run hard, tackle hard, chase hard, "building pressure", as you point out - that's what counts and all the talk is somewhat a moot point. Background noise.
As an aside, listening to people in the game at ground zero, you never stop learning something new. But part of the beauty of rugby league is it's a fairly simple game, even compared to our rugby union cousins which is far more technical, annoyingly so.
The problem with these type of statements and supposed commitments from the players is we have heard them many, many times before and yet every time we hear it the resurgence is fleeting. When a team over an 11 year period has only won 6 games in a row once and never more than 6 its a clear sign of a lack of mental fortitude, a comfortability about their position, role and desire. The club desperately needs a true leader on the field as well as off it.
A new head coach and captain will turn this club around in a season.
Get Steve Waugh in to talk to them about mental fortitude. That was a man who accepted nothing but the best.
Love this idea
They need more than an inspirational talk from a real leader, they need a real leader amongst them.
It won't take that long, and that's all that is required.
But BA called them a part time footy team. So if they even turn up this week, what does that prove? String together a few games, and play shit once again. Beat the teams you are expected to lose to, and get beat by the ones you aren't.
A lot of players should have been dropped, but aren't. Rinse and repeat, we've seen it all before. The whole joint needs a clean out, coach and the bloody players!!
Imagine hiring a assistant that was sacked from two clubs for not being able to score enough points. If Arthur's a clown then Barrett's the flower on his shirt that squirts the water. We can't keep him if Arthur goes. It needs to be a trifecta of Arthur , Barrret and Oneill if we make moves. Actually a quad , that fuckstick useless try hard nobody Rogers needs to go too.
How about Anotonolli - the so called defence coach ???
And Murphy - everyone's best friend
And Cayless - probably the most useless coach ever to be handed a team sheet...
If Bennett ever decided to join us ... There will be absolute mass sackings.
Funny but all those blokes you mentioned maybe responsible..... but what you cannot deny that everyone of them would know at least 10 times more than the you about Rugby league !.....yes it is funny isn't it!
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