Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur embraces Darwin community

Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur says getting around the Darwin community will lift his squad ahead of their blockbuster clash with the Brisbane Broncos.

Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur believes engaging the Darwin community has brought his squad closer together ahead of their Round 8 clash against the Broncos.

The Eels arrived in their second home of the Top End on April 18, a day sooner than normal, giving them further opportunities to get out and about.

And Arthur believes getting those chances, and more “comfortable” conditions compared to last year, will pay dividends for his team’s Anzac Day clash on April 21.

“It’s good for us, especially at this time of year, to get away together and hopefully we see the benefits on Friday night,” Arthur said.

“The boys got to go down and do a signing session where there was a good turn out and now it’s all about our preparation and training.

Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur believes coming to Darwin is a great chance to bring his squad together. Picture: Matt King/Getty Images

“It’s great we can give back to the local community and it’s really good for young kids to have role models, that’s really important.

“Last year was different with the humidity, but already we’ve noticed more comfortable conditions here, but conditions don’t matter once you cross the white line.”

This is the second time in three years Parramatta has faced the Broncos at TIO Stadium with 12,000 people there to watch the Eels win 46-6 in 2021.

However, Arthur is putting little stock in past results knowing the Brisbane side is vastly different from the team they faced two years ago.

Eels’ player Dylan Brown with Ryan and Nate Burke at a signing session in Darwin. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

“Past results don’t pay for much anymore, the team they have now has more games and experience under their belts,” he said.

“They’ve got Adam Reynolds, and their team is 40 games from where they played us last time.

“Our team’s changed, the conditions changed so it’s very hard to draw on past occasions, but whoever has the best kick-chase line will probably go a long way to winning it.”

Compared to the Broncos, the Eels haven’t quite enjoyed the start to the season they were hoping for, winning just three of their seven matches so far.

Adam Reynolds has brought plenty of skill to the Brisbane Broncos. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

But with a 30-4 win over the Bulldogs last round, and combinations coming together, their confidence is growing.

“Winning helps with confidence, (we) could have or should have won every one of our games, and just a couple of big moments cost us along the way,” Arthur said.

“On the weekend our best periods of play were for longer periods, and our periods that weren’t as great were only for a couple of sets here and there.

“The boys are in a good mood, the comfortable thing for me as a coach is they’re never satisfied with their performance.

“We need to enjoy a win and be happy, but they’re never satisfied and their standards are high of each other and while we have that we will have better standards on the field.”