Issac Luke and the Warriors get the last laugh over Parramatta in 24-14 victory

THE Eels’ season is all but dead already after they crashed to a 24-14 loss to Warriors, withh the former premiership threats in total free fall.

Parramatta's Mitch Moses after a Parramatta mistake during the Parramatta Eels v Warriors NRL match at ANZ Stadium, Homebush. Picture: Brett Costello

BRAD Arthur is running out of excuses.

He knows it.

We know it.

So where does the buck stop?

Is it the players’ fault that this team that started the season as such a genuine premiership hope has won only two games from its first 11?

Or is it the coach?

Last night, with more than four months of the season still remaining before the finals, the post mortem on Parramatta’s year was already in full swing.

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Even though Arthur would not concede the Eels could not still make the play offs in the wake of their 24-14 loss to an understrength New Zealand Warriors — who were without Shaun Johnson and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck — the fact is Parra are gone.

Stuck in last spot on four competition points, they would now have to win at least 10, and probably 11, of their remaining 13 games to make the finals.

And given their record so far that is not going to happen.

Arthur was adamant his players “are trying really hard but we are playing really dumb”.

But asked where the buck stops, Arthur wasn’t about to throw his players under the bus.

Luke plunged over for the match-sealing try.

“Individually we have got players making errors and giving away penalties,” Arthur said.

“But it is not the same people all the time.

“It is right across the board.

“We are aware of it.

“But it is just not the players’ fault, everyone in the club needs to take responsibility for our performances.

“Under pressure we are not nailing those moments and coming up with the right decisions.”

And this loss was the perfect example of that.

Whether it was Corey Norman failing to kick out on the full from a penalty, or Mitchell Moses giving up a vital penalty at a crucial time.

There was just too many missed tackles and too many crucial errors.

Once again, the Eels were their own worst enemies.

And as hard as they tried, it ended with the same sad story.

To make matters worse, co-captain Beau Scott may well have played his last game for the club after suffering a suspected ACL knee injury.

Scott is off contract at the end of the season and unlikely to be handed a new deal.

You could tell Arthur was feeling for his players, especially Scott.

“Sometimes it is not fair but that’s what it is,” Arthur said.

“It is the game.

“The boys, they put their bodies on the line week in, week out.

“It is easy for everyone to have pot shots at them but to actually get out there and put your body on the line, and see how you handle it.”

Arthur was also asked if it was fair that Moses was being considered for NSW given the predicament his team is in.

It was a strong performance for the Warriors without two of their best.

“He needs to play well for Parramatta and if Parramatta is playing well it increases his chances,’ Arthur said.

“But that is not a priority.

“The priority is us winning games of footy.”

And the reality is if Brad Fittler is still considering picking Moses for the Blues ahead of James Maloney, Fittler better think again.

“It probably typifies our whole season,’ Arthur said of the mistake riddled performance.

Luke was close to best on ground.

“Big moments in the game that we are not nailing.

“We are trying really hard and the effort was great again tonight. But effort is not enough to win an NRL game against good teams.

“I thought defensively we were very good (in the first half). Although they scored two tries they were soft on our behalf.

“But I think our completion rate was 60 per cent, you don’t give yourself a chance. In the second half we completed 16 from 16 and we gave ourselves a chance.

“We are trying really hard but we are playing really dumb. And we are just not giving ourselves a chance in a tough competition.”

NZ WARRIORS 24 (D Fusitua P Hiku I Luke J Tevaga tries M Lino 4 goals) bt PARRAMATTA 14 (C Gutherson M Ma’u tries M Moses 3 goals) at ANZ Stadium. Referee: Gavin Reynolds, Phil Henderson. Crowd: 9,467

Originally published as Issac Luke and the Warriors get the last laugh over Parramatta in 24-14 victory