‘Pissed off’ Parramatta players fire back at suggestions coach Brad Arthur has lost the playing group
PARRAMATTA players have revealed how reports Brad Arthur has lost the dressing room prompted an intense team meeting and a training session that left skipper Tim Mannah bleeding.
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“PISSED OFF” Parramatta players have revealed how reports Brad Arthur has lost the dressing room prompted an intense team meeting where vows were made to restore their coach’s credibility.
Only a day after the Eels’ poor loss to Canberra, the team’s sixth straight defeat to start the season, it was suggested Arthur no longer had the playing group’s trust and respect.
An outraged Parramatta centre Brad Takairangi first noticed the comments, posting them to the team’s WhatsApp group.
This sparked a “players only” meeting on Tuesday where the team openly admitted their faults, before promising to “pull their fingers out” in a bid to save their season.
“That report about Brad really got under a lot of the boys’ skin,” utility Will Smith said.
“We said it among ourselves that enough was enough. We can’t have people talking about our coach like that. It is just not right.
“It is far from the truth. Everyone loves Brad and the rest of the coaching staff here.
“I haven’t been at a club where the coach works as hard as he does for the team.
“We really need the win this week to turn it around.”
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And the hard truths in the meeting transferred onto the training paddock with several players firing up in a physical session.
“Someone hit someone and they dropped the ball and the other team was yahooing and it was on,” hard man Kane Evans revealed.
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“A few boys got pumped. I got pumped too.
“Haynesy (Jarryd Hayne) was firing up coming back; Daniel Alvaro, Timmy (Mannah) was bleeding. Everyone was going hard. It was mad.”
Star fullback Clint Gutherson was particularly hurt by the Arthur comments. Gutherson credits his former Manly assistant for helping him become the confident and consistent player he is today.
“It’s stupid,” Gutherson fired about suggestions Arthur has lost the dressing room.
“Everyone was furious, because it’s a lie. Brad has got so much respect from all the team, staff and club.
“We feel bad for Brad and they staff. They have sleepless nights trying to find a way for us to win and we are going out there and losing.
“But Brad has helped me build a career here and he had trust in me that I’d get better.
“I pretty much owe my whole career to Brad.”
Gutherson knows the players’ talk will be viewed as cheap if they don’t come out and beat Manly at ANZ Stadium on Sunday.
“We’ve got to go out there and win to prove a point,” he said.
“That is the only way we will stop people talking.
“We’d only won two games at this time last year. That is a positive we are looking at.
“But we have to win, that is it.”
In a bid to defy history and save their season, Parramatta players conducted a full-on session on Thursday.
Players almost came to blows, while blood was spilt.
Now the Eels have promised to avenge their “embarrassing” 54-0 loss to Manly in round 2.
“The plan for this week is to put one back on their chin,” lock Peni Terepo said about the Sea Eagles.
“It is a bit of motivation to get one back on them.”
- with AAP