Eels’ Wayne Bennett dream dashed after Brad Arthur sacking
Secret behind the scenes meetings have been revealed in the wake of the Parramatta Eels sacking their coach in a brutal move.
The Eels have been trying to sign Wayne Bennett as coach for almost three weeks, and have sacked Brad Arthur despite failing in their bid to flip his intended move to South Sydney.
Arthur was axed following a brutal Magic Round loss to the Storm, but it’s clear his papers have been stamped for weeks as Parramatta higher-ups worked behind the scenes to land the supercoach.
Watch every game of every round this NRL Telstra Premiership Season LIVE with no ad-breaks during play on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial today >
Bennett was known to be holding meetings with South Sydney during Magic Round but News Corp reported on Monday Bennett had rejected a deal from the Eels, also made across the weekend in Brisbane.
The Dolphins boss told Eels chairman Sean McElduff and CEO Jim Sarantinos he was committed to returning to South Sydney even if Arthur was about to be sacked, according to The Courier-Mail’s Pete Badel.
“I called him on the second of May, and he said, ‘I’m a fair way down the track with the Rabbitohs’,” McElduff told the SMH.
“‘I know the club, I know the players and I feel like I have unfinished business there’. For the last 18 days, I’ve been trying to flip him. At the end of the day, he wants to be at the Rabbitohs. You can understand why.
“I made a trip up to Queensland with Jim to see him. We had numerous other conversations. I tried hard but we didn’t get there. To be perfectly honest, he was always going to the Rabbitohs.
“He’s successful, he’s a seven-time premiership winner, experienced and proven to get the best out of his team. All the attributes you would want from an NRL coach. He’s a bright guy, he understands the player psyche.”
Despite the failed bid to land Bennett the Eels made the long-awaited move on Arthur on Monday.
“The Parramatta Eels have this afternoon informed Brad Arthur that his tenure as Head Coach has ended, effective immediately,” a club statement read.
“It was the view of the Board and CEO that the progress of our NRL team has stalled. Our goal is to win premierships and it is time for the Club to go in a new direction.
“We want to thank Brad who has worked tirelessly for the Club over a 10 year period. During his time as Head Coach, the Club has played in five finals series, including a grand final in 2022.
“We wish Brad and his family the very best in the future and we are very grateful for his services to the Club.
“Trent Barrett will take control of the team as Interim Head Coach for the remainder of the 2024 season.
“We will provide a further update as we move forward to appoint a Head Coach for the 2025 season and beyond.”
Arthur has led Parramatta since 2012, taking them to the 2022 Grand Final, but they are currently 14th on the ladder with a 3-7 record.
Originally published as Eels’ Wayne Bennett dream dashed after Brad Arthur sacking
’Get rid of it’: Coach goes nuclear on Bunker
Outgoing Dolphins coach Wayne Bennett has called for the NRL to “get rid of” the Bunker following a controversial call that cost his side a try in Sunday’s loss to the Knights.
NRL pull late schedule change because of AFL
The NRL has reportedly pulled a late finals scheduling switch to avoid a clash with the AFL, leaving two clubs hard done by.
NRL top eight decided in thrilling finale
The final place in the NRL’s top eight came down to the last match of the regular season and it was bad news for Wayne Bennett.