NRL 2024: Brad Arthur defiant despite Parramatta’s shellacking at the hands of Melbourne

Brad Arthur’s most ardent supporters are finding it harder and harder to mount an argument in his defence following the Eels’ insipid Magic Round performance against Melbourne.

Brad Arthur after his side's big loss to Melbourne. NRL Imagery

Brad Arthur insists he is still the right man to lead Parramatta but even his most ardent supporters are finding it harder and harder to mount an argument in his defence after an embarrassing night that culminated in the Eels being on the end of a second-half shellacking from Melbourne.

Arthur came into Magic Round with the microscope on his position after the Eels had made a sluggish start to the season but they plumbed new depths in their 48-16 loss to the Storm.

They conceded 32 points in the second half before scoring a late consolation try.

Arthur desperately needs to sprinkle some magic dust on his squad but there was none to be found at Magic Round.

Instead, there was only misery for Eels fans as they watched their team capitulate to the undermanned Storm, which was without Ryan Papenhuyzen and Jahrome Hughes, and lost Cameron Munster at the break.

The Eels had their own injury woes with Mitchell Moses and Clint Gutherson sidelined but while the Storm stepped up in the absence of its biggest names, the Eels fell apart.

Arthur has taken his side to task on occasions this season and he was critical of their resilience again on Sunday while launching a staunch defence of his own position.

Brad Arthur after his side's big loss to Melbourne. NRL Imagery

Asked whether he expected another week of scrutiny on his job, Arthur said: “It is going to be the same but I have never walked away from a fight.

“We are going to keep fighting hard. I still believe in this team but they have to start believing in themselves, especially when they are under a bit of pressure.

“They need to believe in themselves that they can get themselves out of it with one set of six in defence.

“The second half was embarrassing. We fell in a hole for a period of 10 or 15 minutes, lacked resilience in that period and just kept digging he hole deeper at times.

“We would fight out of it for a bit but the damage was done.”

The Storm finished the game with an unrecognisable spine, taking the opportunity to give captain Harry Grant a break in the last 10 minutes.

Munster sat on the bench with ice on his groin only metres from Papenhuyzen, who is about a month away from his comeback from a broken leg.

Parramatta could have Moses back next week, although it may not be soon enough to save Arthur’s job as his 11th season in charge rapidly goes down the gurgler.

They were insipid at Suncorp Stadium but Arthur was defiant when asked whether he was still the man to lead the Eels.

“The facts will be there at the end of the season but we need to get better at managing the game while we have Mitch out,” he said.

“We can’t be sooks about it. We just have to get on with it. We can only go on with the facts and the facts are that we are not playing well enough and I am the head coach of the team.

“We have to do something about it.”

Asked whether he believed he retained the support of the club’s hierarchy, Arthur said: “Yeah, definitely. We are five minutes after the game but there hasn’t been any indication from the club towards me.

Parramatta suffered the heaviest defeat of Magic Round. Picture: Hannah Peters/Getty Images

“All they want to do is get around us and support myself and the coaches and the rest of the staff and the team. At the end of the day what matters is what we are doing on that field for 80 minutes and it is not good enough at the minute.”

Remarkably, their next game against South Sydney has now become a battle to avoid the wooden spoon, with Parramatta drifting dangerously toward the bottom of the ladder.

Souths have lost six in a row but based on what Parramatta produced on Sunday afternoon, the Rabbitohs will fancy their chances.

“Obviously when we get under a little bit of fatigue, we lack resilience to defend that set and things go against us,” Arthur said.

“We’re our own worst enemies with that and at some stage it catches up with you.”

Originally published as NRL 2024: Brad Arthur defiant despite Parramatta’s shellacking at the hands of Melbourne