NRL news: Brad Arthur reveals how Parramatta Eels will bounce back from loss of stars

In the face of mounting unrest, Eels coach Brad Arthur has declared: “We’ll find more Mahoneys and Papali’is”. Here’s how.

Brad Arthur has stepped forward on behalf of a bruised and battered Eels administration to quell fears the club’s roster and premiership hopes are in disarray.

The Parramatta coach has backed he and his support staff’s ability to unearth new stars while revealing the club’s departing players have made a pact to win the 2022 title before they leave.

The poaching of the club’s trio of guns including Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers) and Marata Niukore (Warriors) has led to serious questions over Parramatta’s recruitment expertise, contract nous and strategy.

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Parramatta Eels head coach Brad Arthur backs the club to rebound from the departure of a number of key players. Picture: Jonathan Ng

The relieving re-signing of captain Clint Gutherson has done little to appease frustrated fans who want answers at a point where NSW Origin prop Junior Paulo is also yet to be re-signed.

Instead of senior management stepping forward to discuss their recruitment process and fallout, it’s the head coach who has fronted-up to detail his disappointment in losing the trio while explaining why he had full faith in the club’s systems to replace them.

“It was a hard decision for those guys to tell me they’re leaving because as a squad we’re all very tight,’’ Arthur said.

“But everyone has got different needs in their career and what they want to get out of it.

“What Eels members and fans need to remember is, all these blokes that are leaving us started somewhere.

“We’ll do that again with other players.

“I’ve got confidence in the coaching staff and the senior players to help that happen.

Reed Mahoney’s decision to leave the Eels hit fans hard. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

“Tom Opacic (centre) came to us and improved, Bryce Cartwright (backrower) came in and improved, Isaiah, Reed – they all came in and improved.

“We’ll find more Mahoneys and Papali’is.

“Those three that are leaving are better footballers and better people for being here, so we know what we’re doing works.’’

Asked if he feared the contract chaos of the past six weeks, coupled with suggestions that the leaving players will lose their focus, would crush any hope of a 2022 title, Arthur replied: “No way.

“It will make us more galvanised and stronger.

“All three guys (Mahoney, Papali’i and Niukore) have said that to me. They’re determined to finish with what they came here to do.

“They all believe, on the back of what happened last year (beaten 8-6 by premiers Penrith in week two of the finals), that we’re getting closer and closer and they’re all determined to do it.

“All three have said the same thing — they’re going to finish the year strong for their mates and the club.’’

Having retained Clinton Gutherson (L) the Eels are now working hard to hold on to Junior Paulo. Picture: Cameron Spencer/Getty Images

Arthur didn’t want to provide a running commentary on the Paulo negotiations, but there is a sense of confidence the hard-running prop will commit to a new deal.

However, the Eels coach did drill down on how the club plans to replace the loss of Mahoney, Papali’i and Niukore in 2023.

The club will have almost $2 million to spend on new players.

“The plan for me is, we re-sign the players that we’re trying to and the ones we need to replace, I’ve got trust in the staff and the playing squad that we’ll keep developing more players,’’ Arthur said.

“We want to retain everyone, but the reality is we can‘t.

“We’ve brought in Mary (Paul McGregor) and Mick Ennis (on the coaching staff) to help that development as well.

“We just have to work out what style of players suits us; do we want experience or younger players?

“In 2023 we’re still going to have the core nucleus here in Gutho (Gutherson), Mitch Moses, Dylan Brown, Nathan Brown, Reg (Regan Campbell-Gillard), Shaun Lane, Waqa Blake and Bryce Cartwright.

“Look at Melbourne and the Roosters, they get to a stage where they just can’t keep everyone and they bring people in underneath them and make them better.

“It’s a good reflection of our club that clubs are buying players from us. It used to be Parramatta buying expensive players from other clubs.’’

Penrith premiership-winning hooker Api Koroisau, Cowboys hooker Reece Robson and Tigers dummy-half Jacob Liddle have been offered to the club as a direct replacement for Mahoney.

“They’re all options,’’ Arthur said.

“We are not short on options. We have had a lot of interest from a lot of people.

“I’m really comfortable and confident in what lies ahead.

“We’re just going to stay calm and make sure that any moves that we make are best for the club in the long-term.’’

‘CAN’T GO ON LIKE THIS’: CHEAP EELS LET ANOTHER ONE SLIP AWAY

By Paul Crawley

Parramatta legends Ray Price and Mick Cronin have come out swinging over the loss of Reed Mahoney to their old arch rivals, the Bulldogs.

Price slammed the club’s current administration, declaring “they haven’t got a clue” and “are pathetic”.

The premiership-winning captain also reckons the people running the club “wouldn’t know a footballer if he picked his nose”.

Mahoney has taken the money and scooted over to Belmore.

Cronin’s beef related more to the demise of loyalty in a modern game, where “it seems to be all about the dollar”.

It is understood the Eels were blown out of the water by the Bulldogs’ four-year deal worth a reported $2.4 million, compared to the three-year term worth $1.5m that Parramatta put on the table.

Parramatta chairman Sean McElduff came out this week and said it was “absurd” that the Eels had been criticised for low-balling players during negotiations.

But there is just no denying that when push came to shove Canterbury’s new football boss Phil Gould played the Bulldogs’ old rivals off the break to sign the 23-year-old hooker who league legend Cooper Cronk has labelled a future captain.

Mahoney is said to have tossed and turned over the decision on Wednesday night before fronting coach Brad Arthur on Thursday morning.

He was apparently upset that the news then broke publicly before Mahoney got the chance to tell his teammates.

Reed Mahoney is seen as a future captain by Cooper Cronk.

There has been speculation that the decision has also somewhat strained Mahoney’s relationship with his coach.

But his agent Sam Ayoub was adamant Mahoney would not be seeking a release from the final year of his existing contract.

“Of course, like the rest of the squad there, his ambition is to be winning the comp with Parramatta (in 2022),” Ayoub said.

But according to Price, the Eels have really dropped the ball by losing Mahoney on the back of Isaiah Papali’i and Maratha Niukore signing with the Wests Tigers and Warriors respectively.

“What are they doing?” Price fumed.

“He is a quality hooker. He is a very good player.

“But so is Papali’i.

Isaiah Papali'i is already leaving the Eels after next season.

“Jesus Christ.

“It can’t go on like this. They need players and they are just letting them go.”

And Price couldn’t hide that he was also fed up that former players from the Eels’ glory years no longer felt welcome at the club.

“There is not much we can do because they just don’t listen to anyone,” he added.

“We are the only team that won something and they couldn’t give a s**t about us.

“The majority of the people that are having anything to do with the club and the side wouldn’t know a footballer if he picked his nose.

“They haven’t got a clue. They are pathetic.”

Reed Mahoney spent time in the Maroons camp in 2021.

Cronin, as is his way, did not want to make it personal, but was certainly “disappointed” with the way the game has changed.

In his day Cronin was famous for turning down significantly bigger offers from rival clubs to stay loyal to Parramatta, and he reckons many of his former teammates did the same.

“Blokes like Ella, Kenny, Price and Sterling would all come into that category,” Cronin said.

“They would have all taken unders to stay.

“I am not going to be hypocritical because the club can get rid of you pretty quick.

“But it disappoints me from a game perspective that there is not a lot of loyalty. It is just the modern game.

“All I am saying is that the game has changed. It seems to be all about the dollar.

“That is dead set a good offer and I can’t blame him.

“But as I said, it probably shows you to a degree now that it is just about the money.”

Cronk was also baffled that the Eels didn’t do more to keep the rising star, labelling it a “huge blow”.

“I reckon Parramatta would be scratching their heads,” Cronk told Fox Sports.

“He is courageous, he is tough, always putting his body on the line and they are the type of guys you can really form a good core around.”

Cronk also reckons Mahoney shows the character of a future captain: “Take performance out of the equation, I think Reed Mahoney has got a really good temperament, looks like a really good kid and someone you really can help instil a humble, hardworking culture.

“So I would have thought Parramatta would have tried to move heaven and earth to keep him.”