NRL 2021: Eels v Warriors, Brad Arthur’s all-time reaction as son Jakob Arthur seals win on debut

Jakob Arthur is definitely one for the future but for the present, the Eels have a star with the ability to take them to the Promised Land. His name is Mitchell Moses.

Jakob Arthur scores as father and coach Brad Arthur cheers on from the stands.

He went from ball boy to golden boy.

Young Jakob Arthur, on debut, may only be the caretaker Eels five-eighth but the son of head coach Brad was a tryscoring hero in Parramatta’s nervous 34-18 win over New Zealand Warriors in Magic Round on Sunday.

Jakob, a former Eels ball boy and later a club statistician, scored a match-sealing try with four minutes remaining, prompting Brad to jump from his coaching chair and punch the air in pure delight.

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A lanky kid, Jakob cut through, was clipped from behind but crawled over for his first NRL try.

Jakob Arthur scores as father and coach Brad Arthur cheers on from the stands.

Minutes earlier, Jakob — Parramatta player number 815 — notched his first try assist as Parramatta held off a late Warriors surge to ensure victory in front of 40,000 fans on debut.

“It’s a dream come true,” Jakob said. “It’s unbelievable, I can’t put it into words. You dream about this, it’s unreal. Some of my mates drove 10 hours to come and watch me play.”

Jakob was mobbed by his mates in the crowd at fulltime. They were wonderful scenes.

Asked about Jakob, Eels skipper Clint Gutherson said: “It’s pretty special.”

Eels teammate Reagan Campbell-Gillard added: “Jakob was thrown into the deep end but held his own and he has many more games to come.”

what a moment for jakob arthur and brad arthur #NRLWarriorsEels#NRLMagicRound#NRLpic.twitter.com/EG86wtxLH5

— nrl bits (@nrlbits) May 16, 2021

That Brad Arthur reaction was the best ever!!!#NRLMagicRound

— BUZZ ROTHFIELD (@BuzzRothfield) May 16, 2021

Not me crying seeing brad Arthur cheering on his son... definitely not me

— Kell Loz (@KellieLoz) May 16, 2021

Jakob, just 18, could have posted another two try assists but teammates Ryan Matterson and then Blake Ferguson both failed to ground the ball over the tryline.

And while Brad watched on from the coach’s box, his other son, Matthew, was the Eels ball boy.

Brad made his way down to the sideline and hugged Matthew on fulltime in a great moment, with the Eels coach fighting hard not to burst into tears.

It was Parramatta’s fifth successive win over a courageous Warriors. The Eels remain in second place with a 9-1 record.

Jakob proved he was ready for NRL, no doubt. He was whacked legitimately twice early but bounced up and worked into the game over the opening 10 minutes with a couple of tackles, several runs and a few kicks.

Jakob Arthur on debut (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

“It was an incredible debut,” said former NRL champion, Braith Anasta. And Fox Sports’ Cooper Cronk added: “Jakob just achieved his dream.”

In another confidence boosting moment, Jakob successfully manoeuvred his body under Warriors player Ken Maumalo, who was over the tryline attempting to ground the ball.

Jakob could have scored from a bomb rebound early in the second half but offloaded to Matterson, who scored untouched. Soon after, Jakob kicked ahead and regathered.

Arthur had just one training session with NRL teammates ahead of his debut, a moment he had dreamt about for five years.

MIRACLE MOSES

Mitch Moses continued in scintillating form. He threw a flick pass for one Eels try, made a clean break for another and then popped up on halftime to kick the ball dead when a Warriors try loomed.

His running game worried the Warriors. Moses is fast becoming the complete footballer, consistently taking the right option at the right time. Moses has yet to formally re-sign with Parramatta but the deal is expected to be ratified shortly.

He came from the field near fulltime but didn’t appear to be injured. Could Moses finally be the one to lead Parramatta to that elusive Promised Land?

Team captain Clinton Gutherson speaks to his players (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images)

RIPPING REGGIE

Parramatta blew New Zealand away early with three tries inside the opening 17 minutes for an 18-0 lead. After 20 minutes, unbelievably, Parramatta enjoyed nearly 70 per cent of possession.

And, remarkably, Eels prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard scored two tries in two minutes during that first half blitz.

Campbell-Gillard’s second try comprised a 25 metre run to the tryline, stepping off his big left foot.

SUPER SIVO

The Fijian giant trampled over Warriors winger Rocco Berry in the first half to score a typical bulldozing try.

“He is creating all sorts of havoc in the NRL,” former Origin star Corey Parker told Fox Sports.

Sivo has now scored 47 tries in 56 games for Parramatta. He is a beast.

ON REPORT

Just one in this match — Warriors forward Ben Murdoch-Masila on report for a high tackle on Moses.