Parramatta Eels have best defensive start to season in 30 years but salary cap fears hang over club

IT’S a flashback to 1986 that will bring both pride and despair to long-suffering Parramatta fans. And Eels coach Brad Arthur’s brilliant work is on the line.

Nathan Peats of the Parramatta Eels rugby league team during Parramatta training at Old Saleyards Reserve, Parramatta. Pic Brett Costello

IT’S a flashback to 1986 that will bring both pride and despair to long suffering Parramatta fans.

Ahead of Thursday night’s Brookvale Oval blockbuster against arch rivals Manly, The Daily Telegraph can reveal statistics that show how Brad Arthur has helped inspire the club’s best defensive start to a season since the last year the Eels won a premiership 30 years ago.

Despite the ongoing salary cap investigation that threatens to destroy Parramatta’s season, the Eels have the chance to grab a share of the NRL competition lead if they can overcome the rejuvenated Sea Eagles to record their fifth win in seven games.

In their opening six games so far, the Eels have only conceded 65 points, which is the NRL’s best defence.

Fox Sports Stats also show that is the club’s best defensive start to a season since 1986 when they conceded 50 points over the same period.

But the cold reality is it might all end up counting for nothing in the coming weeks if the club’s worst fears are realised and the NRL strip Parra of all their competition points — and any chance of competing in this year’s finals series.

While the club’s board and administration have plenty to answer for in relation to the salary cap investigation, Arthur has somehow managed to shield his players from the dramas and build a camaraderie where the players refuse to give up on each other.

The irony is that Arthur could have easily walked out on Parramatta last year when he was reportedly offered Geoff Toovey’s job at Manly before Trent Barrett took over.

There was also plenty of critics questioning Arthur’s coaching record before this season, and why great players like Kieran Foran and Beau Scott would want to join him at the strife-torn club.

Nathan Peats says Brad Arthur has built a genuinely strong playing group.

Asked this week what it was that made Arthur a coach players want to play for, tough hooker Nathan Peats declared: “He loves the boys, and you genuinely get the feeling that he cares about you.

“It gives you confidence. I remember when I first got here from Souths.

“With my defence, he sort of gave me a bit more freedom to try and whack a bit more instead of worrying about the wrestle. And if I had an off game he’d just give me a bit of confidence.

“It has just grown from there. That is why everyone wants to come here and play under him, because he is just a good bloke.”

Star centre Michael Jennings has also played under some tremendous coaches in his time in the NRL at Penrith and the Roosters, and also for NSW. Jennings agreed Arthur’s ability to treat players as individuals and with trust was his secret.

Jennings says the coach’s trust in him has increased his commitment.

When Jennings arrived this year he was carrying a knee injury that limited his pre-season training. But instead of feeling pressured to prove himself, Arthur made sure Jennings’ rehabilitation came first. As a result, Jennings said that trust was reciprocated on the field.

“I guess it is just having that right mindset that you are playing with someone you don’t want to let down,” Jennings said.

Last week Parramatta repelled Canberra for six sets on their own tryline with a defensive display that made everyone stand up and take notice that this club has finally turned the corner. At least on the field.

Young lock Tepai Moeroa is now in his third season of first grade and he said Arthur had made the players believe in him and each other.

“The boys just want to work for each other,” Moeroa said. “That is plane and simple. No one wants to let anyone else down.”