In a massive vote of confidence, news is breaking that the Parramatta Eels have extended the contract of coach Brad Arthur until the end of 2024.
Stability has been the key to the Eels consistent performances, and that consistency has seen the Eels rise to being the highest supported club in Sydney and third across the NRL (Roy Morgan Research 2021) along with being the leading NRL club for memberships (32,376 members).
Brad Arthur in press conference mode
Taking over an Eels team which had finished second last, last, then last again from 2011 to 2013, Arthur did not face an easy task. The job was made no easier with the salary cap scandal of 2016. BA has since forged a career win percentage of 51.5%.
However, his winning percentage has climbed over the last three seasons. Arthur’s record from 2019 to 2021 stands at 46 wins and 28 losses, which is a win rate of just over 62%. That strike rate has kept the Eels entrenched in finals football.
During the Eels 2021 four match losing streak, the knives came out. Without question the Eels lost form, but after a short period where they seemed unsettled by injury and relocation, the team regrouped and hit the finals with confidence and momentum.
It was no surprise that the club stood by Arthur during that period. After all, the management and Board of Directors have a policy of providing whatever support is necessary to assist the coaching staff to succeed, and the public statement by CEO Jim Sarantinos to that end should have quelled the rumours.
Of course, some sections of the media declared BA to be a “dead man walking”, and I cannot begin to tell you the rumours put to me that supposedly came from reliable or well-informed sources.
This year’s final series proved that the 2021 Premiership was wide open and the Eels were playing to a level which could have, or should have, been rewarded. The Panthers were a penalty call or two away from bowing out in straight weeks. The Eels were the better team in that controversial yet gripping match. Instead, Penrith rode some crucial calls to a title.
The challenge ahead for the Eels lies in player retention.
Is it therefore any surprise that the coach has now had his contract extended?
I recently wrote a post predicting that Arthur’s contract extension would be announced very soon. I knew that the astute management of the Eels would guarantee that there would be no conjecture around the coaching situation that could potentially delay player negotiations.
A contract extension before November would help to avoid further speculation around coaching during the 2022 season. It would also mean that Arthur wouldn’t entertain approaches from other clubs.
I applaud the decision of a two year deal. This provides assurance for player contracts up to 2024, as well as ensuring that there is continuity in player development.
It will also mean that Brad will be the longest term coach in the Eels history.
Stand by for announcements about key players.
Eels forever!
Sixties
Excellent news! Now for the process of re-signing our squad.
Spot on!
so great to hear
Yes!!!
I admit to being somewhat surprised, also somewhat not surprised.
I wonder how much of this is to not just provide the cluc with stability but also the players as well, with the number of contract end of next year, and the November 1 open duck season, for players who are wanted to stay this news is likely somewhat of an incentive decision that may well be there to ease the minds of players, especially with the amount of speculation around the coach and teams.
Colin, of course that would be part of it. The team is poised for big seasons, and that means players and staff as a unit. There is an incredibly positive vibe in the club and BA is central to that.
Good news. I hope that will allow the Eels to find a consistent centre, a quick winger, as Haze will lock up 1 side.
Michael ( a NZ fan)
Thanks for replying Michael. I might also add a second dummy half will be handy.
I am not so focused on position as I am focused on the need for speed.
How much do we miss Semi.
We do miss him, but we also have to provide a back up for Reed. He’s had two significant injuries in consecutive years. Fortunately the NRL shut down during his 2020 injury.
Michael we have 2 very good centre’s in Waqa Blake and will pensini. Ppl will say Waqa is best served as a winger but i thinl his a very good centre.
Love this! He is Parra through and through. Has the ability to get the team up week in, week out. His football ideologies/systems work in the most part, and when they don’t, he’s man enough to admit it. No ego, always does what he thinks is best for the team. He will take Parra to the next level.
Cheers Brent. I wish I had noted that aspect of Brad in my post – the no ego, straight shooter. It’s who he is. Thanks for adding this.
Bit of a contrast to Flanagan, who some are continuing to champion. Why would we want a bloke who was fully prepared to risk players’ well-being (in multiple ways) for the sake of his own potential success? It’s such a stark contrast in integrity, whether you support BA or not.
🙌 🙌 🙌 💯
Great news! He is the right guy for the job and it takes away all the speculation at the start of next year.
The players seem to love him and with so many coming off contract we should be able keep the right ones.
Exactly Michael. The players have great respect for him.
Great news! BA is going to be crucial in the re-signing of Gutho in particular but Reed and other’s also. There is too many people in this world who don’t love their job and even more that are not passionate about their employers. Having a head coach that’s invested in the club as much as he is in the players builds culture and it’s become very evident that The Parramatta Eels are creating a new culture of accountability and success.
Thanks to the Board for being wise enough to recognise this and letting it continue under BA’s guidance.
Brilliantly said JonBoy. We have a management and Board of Directors that don’t have a knee jerk reaction to situations. The stability that is being created, and the confidence that such support brings, will be crucial.
Without any success, all you say is pointless. Keep living in dream land. The dogs will win a premiership before we do. Sad sad day
Eelsfan I am a bit surprised that you chose to compare us against the Dogs. That is the worst example you could have given. They have made no improvement under Barrett.
If you are looking at a coach who is struggling to retain his position you have nominated one right there.
John Eel all Eels fan has to do is look at Barretts form with manly. Know dessy had the same team minus foran yet dessy get’s them to the semi’s. Yet Barrett is flat out getting them off the bottom.
Barrett is not a coach’s backside. Gus talked him up n ppl believed uncle gus.
Dog’s won’t make the top 8 even with all these players coming. Why well simple look who they are getting. Player’s can’t tackle. Jac, naden, Burton, dufty.
There new fowards tpj. Goes Mia in game’s Vaughan still thinking about his Bbq.
Trust me eels will beat the dog’s n finish higher up the ladder.
Not according to Jamie Soward Rev. He has Dogs finishing 6th and the Eels just sneaking into the top 8 as his selections for 2022.
He only sees the attack that these players bring
Rev. Why was Gus brought in to the dogs system? It was not for a breakfast gulping but, for evening fresh banquet like food, the type that real dogs would have in their bowls.
I don’t see Gus sitting in an execs chair and just listening to crap, I would think that he will be very much involved in the team, coaches as well as the vital area of feeding the team with new recruits.
Not only that but dare I also suggest that he will be watching the training, as well as having his finger in every area of the club NRL squads.
For someone who says he no longer wants to coach anymore, taking on an emperors role at a club that has had issues for years now, but a club also that does have a proud history, and wants to become not just another good club but one that wants to be premiers consistantly. Gus wont come cheap either, but he will also be able to play his game of cards in the background saying that he is not a coach, persay. But the reality is he will control whoever is coach, as well as the recruitments.
He wont be just a person in an office & sit on a nice big chair, but his signature will be on everything at the club, especially if the dogs are on the rise.
First piece of the jig saw puzzle for 2022, now for player retention.
I like the way we finished the year, it was like an awakening, I really hope that BA has worked out why, I think it was far more than just resting a few players for the finals. And sixties, first weekend without NRL, I”ll have to get a life.
Exactly BDon. And we were hitting our best form of the season at finals time.
Don’t worry, I’ve got a series of posts ready to go. No off-season here.
Wow sixties, delete comments that don’t line up with your opinion. So much for a fans site. No wonder other eels site mock you, no freedom of an opinion for my beloved eels on here. I don’t need to agree that Arthur is a the coach to lead us forward. I believe he has had his chance and failed miserably
Easy to constantly harp and criticise, a coach that has taken the club from the depths of an infighting and underperforming board , rebuilt the roster and now finishes in the finals is supposedly not up to it.
Who is there to replace him at this point, can’t see anyone attainable. I do believe a bit of a shake up of assistants would be useful, but as HC overseeing the club and setting up pathways , recruiting and has the support of a playing group, he should be retained.
Don’t need coaches who are a hairs breadth away from another suspension, or recycled, these next 2/3 years will define him and the club, needs to see it through.
Derek, I’m constantly amazed by those who’ve pushed for that suspended coach. He copped suspensions for a reason. That isn’t the path for our club.
I’ll leave your comment here as your objection to the signing and criticism of me. However, your previous comments were straight insults including one that was directed at someone replying to TCT for the first time. That is not acceptable and I would not have a first visit copping that garbage.
By the way, this is our home here. If I walked into your home and started disrespecting your visitors you wouldn’t allow it and say I was entitled to a freedom of speech.
If you prefer “other Eels site” as you call it, please call that your home.
On the topic sixties, how could you praise the re-signing of Arthur has a win? Do you not think he has had ample time to bring success? Daniel Anderson was the last coach to take us to a grand final. Since then it has been nothing but heart break after heart break.
I believe there are other options out there and a change may be what we need.
I have written on this many times. I’ve even included a couple of reasons in this post. The club is currently in the strongest position that it’s been in, on and off field, probably since 2001. That cannot be argued with because it’s fact. 2009 was an on-field flash in the pan that was emphasised by the depths to which we plummeted immediately afterward – and that includes off field too.
incidentally, there is nobody available who would do a better job than Brad.
I’m not sure I can agree that 09 was a flash in the pan, to me it was the end of our premiership window. In the years leading up to the grand final we made the third week of finals ’05, 1st week of finals in ’06, and 3rd week of finals in 07. That period and the 09 GF sandwiched the poor 11th place in 08.
I’m retrospectively in two minds Ham. I can see your perspective, but if you take 2009 out of that sequence, you can see the downward trajectory. Don’t get me wrong. I believe we should have been premiers but the first half of 2009 felt like a continuation of 2008 and then 2010 continued that slide. The run of late season form in 2009 was like a team playing with nothing to lose – something that couldn’t be replicated for a sustained period the next season, even with the majority of the same roster. There were coaching changes, off field upheavals and we later learnt that there was a rift in the team.
Eelsfan – go and have a look around the coaching stock that may be available to replace BA, but in that stock, how many have or are better qualified, & not punted by their clubs board?
I have followed the game for a couple of years or so, & wouldn’t mind a couple of dollars for all those that have failed with other clubs. If you really know the game and that of the eels, then go over to Wiki and do a clubs coaching records search, look at the names, and how long they have been with a club and the successes of them & their abilities.
Who were the other options. Don’t say flanno and benny.
Eelsfan brad is a thinking guy. He learned his lesson from last year. This year he said we struggled by playing the player’s every game last year. So this yr we are going to rest them n freshen them up n it proves a correct call by brad because we win the next week n lose to a side that cheats it’s way to glory.
BDon I am with you the way that they got themselves back into form was good.
From what I saw I feel confident that that they know now what is required.
I think the week off helped them but more importantly they found their mojo
I have said it before I believe the premiership window is wide open for 2022.
So do I John.
As I see it the club is aiming to be in the mix for a title every season much like the Storm and Roosters (and to a lesser degree Souths) over the past decade. And when they do win a comp not then slide back into a rebuilding phase (see The Sharks, The Cowboys and again, to a lesser degree Souths). The Eels aren’t quite there but given they are only one of four teams to have played finals the past four seasons so there is a great foundation for a chance to win the comp. Yeah, I frustrated that the team has a second finals game hoodoo and not won a comp since 1986 but the club is in the best position for over a decade. And to be blunt you’d think from some comments elsewhere that the club is still in the doldrums of 2012-2013.
Intelligent summation!
Shaun, Well said! thankfully the club is run professionally. Can you imagine the calls that would have been made if the knee jerk reactions we see out in some sections of social media were guiding decisions.
Great news. Any idea what the tenure of his assistants are like? Any comings/goings in that area?
Murf and Kidwell just extended for next year. No news beyond that. Media are reporting that the Tigers are chasing Ryan Carr to offer him a position.
Are they chasing everything that moves? I would believe that Ryan would be better positioned for the future by staying with the eels, he would make an excellent assistant coach.
I rate him Colin.
Good news.
Just hope BA’s daughter gets her puppy soon.
Nicely said!
Hope we don’t lose Carr.
Same here Rocket.
I can see the story line. Parramatta Eels have there car stolen by west tiger’s.
I just can’t get on board this decision there is a blind faith optimism about our side that I can’t see we will finish around the same next year keeping BA maybe good to keep this current squad together but is that a good thing?
Alot of This current squad haven’t got the job done what makes us think they can now?
Same coach same players will mean same results..
Loosing 2nd week of the finals is not a Sucsessful season so why reward him with 2 years I don’t get it
I think we’ve had this debate several times Offside. Blind faith is faith without evidence. There is ample evidence about where our club is at on and off field. It’s in the strongest position it’s been in since 2001. Is there such a thing as blind pessimism? I knew BA critics would soon simply ascribe second week failure to this year despite the evidence of how the team played and what transpired in that final..
The Riff won their last 3 games by 2 points, I’m happy to say they showed great application to energy, focus and defence to create the right foundation to win, but they also didn’t have much go against them in the Lady Luck stakes, that’s football, so be it. Across those 3 games I reckon 50% of their good fortune occurred in our game, luck was the difference in that game, happens often, but I just felt we were on a level I hadnt seen before, and can be maintained by the right roster and team structure. Not the time to be having coaching upheavals.
couldn’t agree more!
We were competitive is that enough?
Offside does the club need to improve this roster, I believe so. Not dramatically but some improvement.
Will it happen for 2022, I don’t think so. Would it happen if we change coaches probably not.
My own opinion is that the best way to improve this club is organically. That is getting players coming through the pathways that are an improvement on the current crop.
It definitely needs to improve the roster and make tough calls on players like gutho who is a popular club man but not a fullback that will win you a big game I wouldn’t be going into a bidding war for him
So, in your opinion, a fullback who pulls off more try-saves than any other fullback in the game (by some margin) doesn’t win you games?
Ok then…
Hes a very good player but i wouldn’t pay overs for him that was my point gutho isn’t as fast as other fullbacks but he is reliable and competitive but if you had a chance to sign him or hypothetically teddy I know who I’d sign.
I feel our spine just lacks that xfactor maybe it’s Mitch but I believe our roster is good enough to be in the mix but not quite there to win it
Our spine is starting to look top level to me. Both Moses and Brown’s kicking game improved this year, Reed was starting to show variety. You need the forwards consistently at least breaking even for the spine to develop. Injury and late form slump probably disrupted a real surge from the 1,6,7,9.but those last 5 games carried a strong message.
Your last 4 words describe your point perfectly!
The players aren’t the same though. The young ones are a year older and will presumably be better/more used to playing alongside each other. And the older ones could possibly be worse off but if we don’t re-sign Rankin I don’t believe we have a player over the age of 30 in our squad next year, so the potential drop off in a player’s ability is minimal. Just because there’s no external recruitment doesn’t mean the team hasn’t changed.
Going into this year Rookie of the Year Haze Dunster had only played 1 game through injury and suspension, next year he’s going in with half an NRL season under his belt and his 4th pre-season. Will Penisini has played half a reserve grade season and a handful of NRL games and will be coming off his 2nd NRL pre-season, coming into this year the highest level of league he had played was SG Ball (under 18s). These 2 alone are essentially new players to the team, but not new to the system. Similar could be said for Makahesi Makatoa, Ky Rodwell, Sean Russell, Jake Arthur, Wiremu Greig.
So yes there has been minimal external recruitment, but internal development is what we’ve focused on for 2022.
No issue with the re-signing of BA; and hope he does well.
The key for me is this:
Milo, the evidence in the Storm match and the finals is that there has obviously been some tweaking in defence – personnel/position and system.
if we lose Marata it won’t be due to not wanting him to stay or offering a suitable deal.
I was hoping that Lussick would stay. I’m sure that signing a dummy half is a priority.
Yes i agree we did well against Melb Sixties, my concern was at times we fell back into some old issues and just hope they can work on this again.
Marata for me has more impact than a couple of others and we should have locked him up before.
If hearing who we have as back up, yes he is useful, but i am not sure about how threatening and only hope we can add some attack here.
Sixties i believe we the club has made a big mistake in letting lussick go n then chase a 30+ yr old mitch rein.
On reedy i think his attacking game was 1st class before his 1st injury vs Newcastle before SOO 1. He was running from Dummy half a lot n playing eye’s up footy. I think the injury before SOO 1 blew his confidence up a bit. Even his kicks from Dummy half were good then went down hill quickly.
Did we “let him go”? Or did we offer him the money appropriate to a back-up NRL hooker, but he also got offered the money of a starting SL hooker, and he made a choice of what was better for his career and bank balance? I’m disappointed to lose him too, but not to the point of matching what he would have been offered.
Lussick went to SL a while back, his flirting with the eels this season showed his abilities in the NRL. With Reed back this next season, I doubt Lussick wanted to be a Will Smith player, that is with abilities but primarilly confined to the bench as a replacement for the run on 9 to have a rest.
A thought for the future, if Reed goes to the Dolphins, then unless there is an equal to him in replacement, its possible that Lussick may return and be the run on 9, that is where he is looking to.
Colin do you think that Reed will go?
I do not have a feel for it. On one hand I think that he may want to return to where he grew up. On the other hand he is currently the number 9 at a club that is well and truly in the middle of a premiership window.
Does he really want to walk away from that and go to a struggling new team.
I don’t know which way to lean.
John, I am a bit the same way with Reed, while I believe he will more than likely stay, much I think will depend on his recovery, and now being out for extended periods in the same type of injuries, he is likely to have some doubts, so he needs a strong off season with the trainers and medico’s.
The one big aspect in him resigning is the physcological one in the early stages, that will mean next year he will play with someone (Will) as a back up for him as he works his body back into condition and his mind as well.
I would think he would stay if the vast majority of players resign also, and that may well be a big factor in his mind, he should sign for 3 years as most of the others are also in the same boat.
It will depend on what Harry Grant or the cheese do.
Then it will come down to the coin.
Or a sense of loyalty but to accept loyalty from a player or club is simply unrealistic
That is a good point Offside. Three hookers and 3 club options.
100%, make that 110%, on Marata. It wasn’t any fluke that our wider defence improved when he played in the centres, and ditto later in the year when he started on the right edge of the ruck.
Agree BDon, he has some skill with the ball and his defence has been v good for mine.
Unabashed Marata fan.
The issue with Reed is, if he goes who do you replace him with?
No idea John, to me Lussick went well in his short stint.
On the other issue (17th team) I cannot believe we have not seen much about the lack of depth in the NRL….to me it will make the 8 even more stretched in some ways, and not to mention the players potentially staying longer in the game….anyway we will see.
Milo & John, I just had a look at the eels team players, including the Knock on affect cup (who picked that dumb comp name?) & we are really without any back up hooker, unless Roach recovers and is signed up again as he’s only on a one year deal.
I must admit to some degree of uncertainty with the 17th team, makes for a bye every W/E for one team, may be ok to rest players, especially as the end of year games get closer.