NRL 2021: Eels rookie Jakob Arthur is getting his rugby league education from his idols

He helped take down the Warriors in his NRL debut, now Jakob Arthur has his eyes on Manly - and he has some pretty serious backers in his corner.

At every turn, Parramatta rookie Jakob Arthur is surrounded by his idols.

From his dad and Eels coach Brad, to the eighth Immortal Andrew Johns and new teammate halfback Mitchell Moses.

The wealth of football knowledge is giving the 18-year-old rookie an enviable and arguably unrivalled education in rugby league.

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“He’s the best ever, it’s unreal to get to learn from Joey (Johns),” Arthur said. “Some of the things he teaches you, you would never think of when you play, it’s unbelievable.

“He’s really helped me learn the moves and plays that every team does and to add polish to my own game, and how to make it that one per cent better.”

Eels rookie Jakob Arthur (left) is soaking up the advice from NRL legend Andrew Johns.

While those around him may have been nervous ahead of his debut last Sunday, Arthur has the cool demeanour of a veteran, despite only facing his first sit-down interview on Wednesday with News Corp.

It helps he’s literally grown up at the club.

Arthur remembers the days when, as 15-year-old, he would run out the kicking tee to Moses in matches.

Now Arthur is picking the in-form halfback’s brain for intel ahead of Parramatta’s blockbuster clash against Manly on Sunday.

“He’s been helping me since I was a little kid,” Arthur said. “He is always giving me pointers, tips about footy. He has been unreal for my journey. He’s helped with my kicking game and game management.”

Arthur’s debut against New Zealand, where he scored a crucial try, produced one of the most heartwarming moments this season.

Eels coach Brad Arthur was in tears after embracing his son Jakob after his impressive debut against the Warriors.

Unable to contain his emotions, Brad, in tears, embraced his young son after the match. It’s a side of the coach not even Jakob is used to seeing.

“He’s always pretty serious, so it was good to see, he is never normally like that … I think it showed that he has a different side to him and how proud he was,” Arthur said.

Pride is one reason. A sense of relief is undoubtedly the other.

Coach Arthur spent the week anxiously preparing Jakob for the biggest moment of his life from the family home’s kitchen table after COVID protocols limited the teenager’s chance to train alongside his new teammates.

“Yeah he was nervous, he was trying not to talk about the game but couldn’t stop himself, he kept wanting to talk about it to make sure I knew what I was doing,” Arthur said.

Arthur’s halves partner Moses was nervous, too, given the youngster trained for as little at 15 minutes with side before last Sunday’s match.

Mitch Moses was full of praise for Jakob Arthur after his debut last weekend.

“No one realises, he literally only had one session with us and it was a captain’s run. He would have been out on the field for 15 minutes,” Moses told News Corp.

“It did not faze him at all … I was speaking to him before the game, I thought I would have had to try and have a conversation to calm him down, calm his nerves … If anything I was probably more nervous than him.

“It just speaks volumes of how he is as a player and I think he has a really big future. It showed on the weekend.”

Moses, who presented Arthur with his debut jersey, knows all to well the pressure that comes with being a rising halfback in the NRL.

Being the coach’s son only adds to the expectation.

“He’s got to expect the scrutiny. It’s part of the position. If you want to be a halfback and a young halfback in the NRL you have to cop the criticism,” Moses said.

“But he has handled it unbelievably, to be honest.”