BARKING UP WRONG TREE
King Arthur laughs off talk he wants out
Nick Walshaw & david riccio
PARRAMATTA coach Brad Arthur has described suggestions he wants out of the club as “funny”, stressing the Eels have never been better placed for a premiership under his nine-year reign.
It comes as The Daily Telegraph can reveal Canterbury is the club that has been sounded out about Arthur’s coaching future.
Nothing is likely to eventuate from the Bulldogs link.
Speaking at Wyong, Arthur laughed off suggestions his management team, Pacific Sports Management, had this week offered his services to another club.
Contracted to Parramatta until the end of 2024, Arthur said he not only had no knowledge of any approach made on his behalf, but revealed his agent had also denied pitching him to any rival bosses.
“So I was surprised,” Arthur said of suggestions he was being shopped around. “I didn’t know anything about it.
“We’ve come up here (Central Coast) to have a camp and I got the call yesterday.
“But I don’t know anything.
“I’m contracted until 2024, I live seven minutes from training, so why would I want to go anywhere?”
Asked what his management had told him about the situation, the coach continued: “I spoke to them this morning and they saidthey don’t know anything about it”.
So you weren’t offered to anyone else? “That’s what they told me,” he said.
Asked why people within Club Land would make up such a claim, Arthur continued: “I’ve got no idea. (But) how many coaches are there that have been sacked? How many coaches jobs are on the line we’re being told? “It was only two or three weeks ago I was getting sacked.
“Now today I’m going somewhere else. I’ve got no reason to leave though.
“Like I said, I drive seven minutes to work.
“I think everyone would love to drive seven minutes and work for Parramatta.
“But it’s been the same for … I’m nine years into my job here and every year there is a question mark around whether I’m the coach moving forward.
“It’s part and parcel of the job. I get it.”
When it comes to the coaching merry-go-round in Sydney, Canterbury remains on the hunt for a coach in 2023 while the spotlight is also on St George Illawarra’s Anthony Griffin.
But as for if Arthur could even picture himself coaching another NRL side? “No,” he replied. “Well, I don’t want to. (Although) I’m not silly, everything comes to an end at some stage.
“I just don’t want that to be at the moment. Or real soon.
“But I don’t have a crystal ball. I don’t know what’s going to happen next week. But at the end of the day I’m committed to this team and club.
“The boys haven’t even asked me about it. Because they know. It’s a five minute conversation with you guys and I’ll move on from it.”
Asked if he wanted to replace Griffin at the Dragons, Arthur deadpanned: “No.
“I’m not here to take other people’s jobs. I’m here to do my own job.
“And I love it. I think it’s funny really.
So we’ll see the funny side of it and move on.”
Elsewhere, Arthur rejected suggestions the Eels’ premiership window was closing, while stressing the club had never been in better shape to claim a premiership under his tenure.
“This is the best opportunity we’ve had since I’ve been here,” the coach said of an elusive NRL title.
“But that doesn’t mean (the window) is shutting.
“For the last two or three years I feel like that same question, or that same point has been made – this is your year.
“And we certainly want to do better than we did last year.
“We’re in a good place.
We’re healthy with our squad.
“So there are no excuses.”
And as for what this is the Eels’ best chance? “This team has been together two, three years now,” he said. “Our spine are getting more experienced playing together.
It just takes a little bit of time. But we’re in a better position now than we were this time last year.
“We still haven’t played our best footy. Our best footy is ahead of us … we’ve got a good run of home games coming up, so there’s no excuse.” — with Jen Dawson and 3 others.
Replies
I mean we have 7 games left then semi's, even if he was thinking about why say it?
That is why i hate listening to interviews other than post-game interviews, even they can be wishy washy at times, cause they hardly ever tell the truth and nor should they. Do not give the opposition a leg up by saying something you shouldn't. They are all professionals in their field but also in handling the media. Whatever BA or the club says now is irrelevant until the end of the year.
Unlike Papali'i who tip toed around his conflict, BA did what you'd expect and should have done.
Lol so BA manager searching for a long term deal he won't get at the eels has decided to look elsewhere without BA knowledge...sounds about right.
Honestly Mick, it doesn't make sense purely due to what BA said he has 2 years left on his deal.
Only way it will makes sense is he is getting a sense he is gone for 2023, even then that is a bit early too as he could do like last year and get us a set away from a prelim, actually get us into one.
It is a weird story.
LB, BA can take care of his future just like players do it's abvious his manager wants to strike while the iron is hot! We are sitting in the top 8 and BA manager is trying to position the coach elsewhere only because there are few clubs struggling timing is everything
His future atm is taken care of having 2 years on his deal? Only difference would be going elsewhere and getting an extra year for 2025?
Money could be a factor, but more likely if this is true the scenario i believe the most is he himself feels the writing is on the wall.
Where does Arthur say he gets paid well?
I thought he said he is happy with what he is paid?
Could be wrong but either way still weird.
Just watched it again
He said" I get paid alright I'm not complaining- I've got 2 years left on me contract"
Jason would you say 'alright' could be taken as 'well I should be getting more'? LOL
Not sure he can justify being paid any more with current season finishes over 9 years.
Win a GF and go to the negotiating table with something to back up your new pricetag
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