Training dust-up sharpens Eels for Broncos clash

Unfazed by some of his players coming to blows at training, coach Brad Arthur is backing Parramatta to pass the “test of character”.

Darius Boyd tries to fire up the Broncos during their elimination final defeat to Parramatta last season

Unfazed by some of his players coming to blows at training, coach Brad Arthur is backing Parramatta to pass the “test of character” that will decide the 2020 NRL premiership.

Installed among the title favourites after being big winners in the revised NRL draw, the Eels’ preparation for Thursday night’s clash with Brisbane appeared in disarray after fighting broke out at Saturday’s session.

But Arthur insisted it was not out of the ordinary, even suggesting the incident was a positive sign that his ladder leaders were fired up for the NRL restart.

“It’s just everyone getting competitive at training. It was no different to any other session,” he said of the training altercation.

“We challenge our reserve grade players to try and prepare us the best they can and that means coming at us, and they did a really good job on Saturday.

Eels winger Maika Sivo scores a spectacular try against Brisbane in last year’s finals series

“The boys haven’t played for a long time, they are just keen to get out there.”

The Eels would be forgiven for champing at the bit with the odds stacked in their favour to end their 34-year title drought.

The undefeated leaders are the only NSW club who will play home games at their own venue for at least the first seven weeks of the revamped season. One bookmaker has the Eels only behind Melbourne to win the grand final.

Arthur tried to play down their premiership hype before taking on Brisbane, who they thumped 58-0 in their previous encounter in last year’s finals.

“The advantage we get is when there is … fans (at Bankwest Stadium) which of course we can’t have, so any advantage … (won’t be) until we get the crowds back,” he said of their perceived edge in the draw. It will be a real test of character whoever does win it.

“The team who stays healthiest for the longest and keeps their combinations will put them in a good position.”

Eels halfback Mitchell Moses and prop Reagan Campbell-Gillard

In a boost for the Eels, hooker Reed Mahoney will run out against the Broncos after working overtime to recover from foot surgery in March.

“It would have been interesting to see how we handled that period without Reedy but we didn’t have to,” Arthur said.

“It was a blessing in disguise with what happened (shutdown).”

A record 58-0 defeat may still hurt but skipper Alex Glenn says Brisbane’s focus will be extending their perfect season start in Thursday’s clash with Parramatta.

Arthur agreed Brisbane would not be out to prove a point.

He believed their focus would be the last time they met at Suncorp Stadium – the Broncos’ 17-16 golden point round 24 win – rather than their finals exit.

“There is no edge at all (over Brisbane),” Arthur said.

AAP