Monday Buzz: Parramatta Eels chairman Sean McElduff Q&A on Brad Arthur coaching future, disastrous Dolphins performance

A chat with Eels chairman Sean McElduff put a spotlight on the fact Parramatta are a club in denial, refusing to concede there’s any problem with coach Brad Arthur. Phil Rothfield reveals the Q&A that exposes what’s wrong at the Eels.

Parramatta Eels are a club in denial

The Parramatta Eels are sadly in denial.

After a pathetic performance against the Dolphins on Friday night, Eels chairman Sean McElduff has refused to concede there is a problem with coach Brad Arthur.

They have now conceded 105 points in the last three games against the Raiders, Cowboys and Dolphins and face a tough three weeks against Manly, the Broncos and Storm.

I spoke to McElduff over the weekend about the current situation.

Read on and you’ll see what I mean about them being in denial.

Buzz: How’s the coach looking?

McElduff: It’s not panic stations yet.

Parramatta Eels chairman Sean McElduff. Picture: Brett Costello

Buzz: That was terrible on Friday night, they showed no heart in the second half.

McElduff: It wasn’t a good performance, I agree. You heard what the coach said afterwards.

Buzz: And you were flogged two weeks ago against the Raiders.

McElduff: In between that we had a good win against the Cowboys. Before the Canberra game we beat Manly.

Buzz: But surely the coach is under pressure.

McElduff: I wouldn’t say so at this stage.

Buzz: But you didn’t make the eight last year.

McElduff: We expect to be a finals team but we’re just seven games into the comp.

Buzz: So you’re not even looking at the coaching position?

McElduff: No, we’re not. It’s too early. Obviously we’re missing Mitchell (Moses). He’s a massive loss.

Buzz: Okay, if you don’t make the eight, is Brad safe?

McElduff: It’s too early to have that conversation.

McElduff refused to admit Brad Arthur is a man under pressure. Picture: NRL Photos

Buzz: It’s a fair question.

McElduff: It’s a reasonable question but it depends. If you get lapped every week, it’s one scenario. If you miss the eight but have injuries, it’s how the team’s performing for the coach.

There’s a whole host of things. It’s futile speculating now because we’re only seven games into a 25-game season. That’s the way I think about it. As I said, we beat the Cowboys last week.

Buzz: You’ve conceded 85 points against Canberra and the Dolphins.

McElduff: Canberra in Canberra is a tough game. The Dolphins performance was terrible. The coach said that. Let’s see how we respond. Brad’s been good for a long time. It’s not even something we’re even contemplating at this time.

Buzz: Your fans are very angry.

McElduff: I can understand that after the performance on Friday night.

A dejected Clinton Gutherson on Friday night against the Dolphins after his team shipped eight tries within 25 minutes. Picture: NRL Photos

So on that note we ended the conversation.

That second half performance in Darwin on Friday night was the worst I’ve seen from a Parramatta Eels side for 10 years.

Arthur said after the game: “We gave up.” And he was spot on.

Somehow the Dolphins scored eight tries between the 50th and 75th minutes. That’s almost a try every three minutes.

It’s easy for people in denial like McElduff to blame it on the absence of Moses.

Not to mention the Dolphins were without Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow, Tom Flegler, Felise Kaufusi and Herbie Farnworth, close enough to their best four players.

Besides, I’m not sure Moses could have saved any of the eight tries in those 25 minutes. I’m also not sure he could have stopped Canberra scoring 41 points two weeks earlier. This team has conceded an average of 35 points a game in three weeks.

All clubs suffer injuries to key players.

Other clubs are coping without their best players, so why can’t Parramatta cope without Moses? Picture: NRL Photos

Look how Penrith keep finding ways to win without Nathan Cleary.

The Broncos seem to manage when Adam Reynolds is not there.

Storm had Cameron Munster out for the first five weeks but kept winning.

Moses is not the reason Parramatta is in crisis.

This goes back to the last season’s premiership capitulation.

They have now won just six of their last 15 games.

The players are not responding to Arthur’s coaching. It’s as simple as that.