Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur takes his players to visit the sick kids at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead

THE Eels were gutted at having been stripped of 12 competition points. Brad Arthur knew he had to do something. So he gave his players a reality check.

TRAINING had just finished on Monday when Parramatta coach Brad Arthur ordered his players to hop in their cars and drive up the road.

Even though the players appeared upbeat, they were still gutted at having been stripped of 12 competition points for the club’s salary cap breaches.

Arthur knew he had to do something.

The Eels get a glimpse of what really matters.

So he strayed from the weekly schedule and gave the players a “reality check’’ by taking every single one of them to visit the sick kids at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead.

“I was thinking about how to put things into perspective,’’ Arthur told The Daily Telegraph last night.

“We had a tough week, and we had got some bad news, but it wasn’t the end of the world. I wanted to stress the point to our players that we couldn’t walk around feeling sorry for ourselves.

The Eels players give a little - and get a lot back.

“I said we still have a choice. I told them we were lucky and fortunate enough to still have a choice to make about what we want out of this season.

“A lot of the kids we saw don’t have a choice in what they get out of life. What they’ve been dealt is what they’ve been dealt.

“We had a rough week, but there were plenty of people worse off. It was a positive for us that we have a choice. It’s not as if we’re not good enough — the choice is ours and whether we want it bad enough.’’

Arthur and the players cooked up a barbecue for the children and their families. The players later visited those who were too ill to leave their wards.

The Eels often cheer up the kids at Westmead. A lot of the players have young families and seeing a child in pain doesn’t escape the mind of a young father.

“Beau Scott had difficulties with his son, Danny Wicks had difficulties with his son. It was touching for the boys to go there,’’ Arthur said. “It was good to get a reality check.’’

Coach Brad Arthur thought it would be perfect motivation for his players.

While the players were at Westmead, former NRL auditor Ian Schubert was meeting with the NRL about how the Eels could shed $570,000 from the cap in time for tonight’s clash with South Sydney.

Schubert, acting on behalf of the Eels, realised a third player would have to depart the club with Anthony Watmough and Ryan Morgan if they were to play for points.

Nathan Peats, who was at Westmead — and the father of a young son — would learn later that night from Arthur he would be the sacrificial Eel.

Semi Radradra drops in on a young Eels fan.

On Thursday night came confirmation from the NRL that the club had done enough to play for points tonight.

Arthur fronted a huge media throng before the captain’s run. For 10 straight rounds, he’s found himself talking about everything except the NRL game the next day. The past month has been the most tumultuous he’s been involved in.

“I enjoy coaching. I love it. It’s nice for everything to be rosy, but that’s never going to be the case,’’ Arthur said.

“Hopefully all this only makes me a better coach. I want to do this a long time. I don’t know if it can get much worse than it has the last month. The boys and staff have helped me hold it together. There are a lot of good people at the club.’’

Parramatta skipper Tim Mannah makes on little boy’s day.

The approach to the clash in front of a packed Pirtek Stadium will be simple.

“We have to take the emotion out of it,’’ Arthur said. “We need to start the game well. As long as we come with the attitude that we’re prepared to play tough for each other and roll the sleeves up, the rest will look after itself.

“We can’t think 12 wins. We know the equation. But it’s also the furthest things from our mind. The first 15 minutes is our priority.’’

The kids at Westmead will be cheering.

Originally published as Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur takes his players to visit the sick kids at The Children’s Hospital at Westmead