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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
Soooo true
very skewed thinking from the " non accountability bubble" coming from Mr defensive / stubborn himself
Though it's same as always with these interviews. Is he going to say "we can't stand him but he's here so gotta deal with it".
That is true, probably as cliche as credit to the boys etc. But I think at a certain point I'd like to see them so pissed off and embarrassed with what they've dished up, that they forget the script, that they don't know what to say, that they accidentally say the 'wrong thing' and crack the shits.
And continue with that anger and embarrassment on the field, angry at last week's result, take it out on Manly, angry at the coach, take it out on Brisbane, angry at the club, take it out on the Storm etc. With all the frustrating things this club does , our players have enough ammo there to be angry for the next decade at least.
If these players really do feel frustrated and embarrassed, and they should, they need to harness that shit.
Well 100% footy has said BA had a meeting at the club and the players were responsible for talking and the media is all players this week.
Not sure how this turnaround will happen. Better results in how to score tries in opposition Red zone with lots of possession.? Better defence in our defence red zone?
I hate hearing players talk about what there going to do , tell us what you've done.
Should've banned media this week, bunkered down , called each other a bunch of fairies and go out on a nationally televised game on Friday and prove your not a bunch of pussies .
Attitudes the problem not talent. I want to see our forwards playing with Mark Geyer type fire.
Reg is the only one ever in our pack who looks remotely angry, sick of hearing we play for each other and the coach blah blah.
Id rather us hate everyone who isn't us, the coach called you part time footballers .
He should of called them worse then that.
Surely the board meets after this game if there isn't a response, a winning response.
Fix your attitude and the team you play doesn't matter, bash everyone , get off the ground and bash em again then run through them.
Rugby leagues an easy game, when your down there's no need to over complicate it .
Run harder then them .
Hit Harder then them.
Chase harder then them .
Refuse to lose .
lol Carty said he was pissed off that media was gunning for BA before Dolphins.
Goes on to miss half arsed attempted talking on JMS for the Fuller try. Great way to show you love BA
Yep, there were line breaks down our right edge where no attempt to tackle was even made and they simply ran past.
I can't remember ever seeing a first grader not even attempt to make a tackle before, on the weekend I saw it a few times.
I would have done the review of the game and made the players stand up and explain to their teammates why they couldn't be arsed making any attempt to defend.
Replaying it over and over until I got a response.
Bup 100% spot on Bup. Agree - Melb do this well for me. Bellamy for me if we seek change with an understudy / same for Bennett
But Juniors is another issue.
Agree 100%. Our olayers are too nice, nomongrel in their tackle. Players just ran back and passed by the players who are still making a tackle, not helping them to complete it. How many we have seen our players driven back by the opponent since no one is behind pushing him against. How many times Lane, Carty, etc had been left lying down after a tackle, so slow in getting up and defending the ruck. Seems they don't care for each other.
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