Monday Buzz: Phil Rothfield’s highlights, lowlights | Why Eels still fear axed coach Brad Arthur
The Eels have secured the services of Jason Ryles as their new head coach, but it’s the movements of axed coach Brad Arthur that have them nervous.
The Parramatta Eels have a new coach but they still fear their old one.
The Eels have announced Jason Ryles as the man to take over next season but their officials are still nervous about former coach Brad Arthur emerging as the frontrunner to coach the Perth Bears, expected to be the NRL’s 18th franchise.
Arthur is managed by Chris Orr, who also looks after Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown, who would be available to join the Perth side for 2027.
Arthur was extremely popular with the players at Parramatta, including many of their rising stars. Don’t be surprised if a number of them are tempted to head west if Arthur gets the gig.
The club has a long history of losing their best juniors.
Wests Tigers star Stefano Utoikamanu and Lachlan Galvin were both in Parramatta’s pathways.
The Eels recently had four players in the NSW Under 19’s - Matt Arthur, Sam Tuivaiti, Lindsay Tui and Ryvvr Lee Alo.
WALLABIES RATINGS BLOW
The Wallabies still have work to do to win back the disgruntled fans who have abandoned the sport.
Their national TV rating on Saturday night for the Wallabies v Wales Test match on Channel 9 was 561,000 (free to air and streaming) – about half as many viewers who recently watched the women’s State of Origin games.
It was also way less than the 744,000 who watched the Friday night NRL game between the Broncos and Panthers 24 hours earlier.
The rugby was also clearly beaten by the Saturday night AFL game on Channel 7.
It didn’t help Nine’s cause that so many sporting fans were glued to a golden point thriller between the Manly Sea Eagles and the Cowboys on Fox Sports at the same time.
At least the Wallabies v Wales figures were slightly ahead of the 520,000 who watched last year’s Bledisloe Cup.
HUNGRY DOGS
Canterbury might not be the best side in the competition but they are certainly the hungriest.
Saturday’s victory over the Warriors in a magnificent game of rugby league came down to their sheer determination and resolve in the critical moments.
There were three big plays at the back end of the game that brought back memories of the famous old Dogs of War from the 1980s.
Moments when their never-say-die attitude was the difference between winning and losing.
• The gang tackle, led by Stephen Crichton, on Roger Tuivasa-Sheck that bundled him into touch.
• The Bronson Xerri tackle that miraculously stopped Leka Halasima from touching down for what would have been a matchwinning try.
• And then the Read Mahoney charge down that sent a field-goal attempt from Warriors’ Chanel Harris-Tavita off course.
This is a football side that plays with so much tenacity and toughness.
A side that Cameron Ciraldo has somehow lifted from 15th on the ladder last year with a shocking differential of minus 331 points at a club that has not played finals football for eight years.
HIGHLIGHT
The most magnificent Super Saturday of rugby league with two golden point thrillers at Accor Stadium and in Townsville. This comp is so much better on the weekends that all the State of Origin players are available for their clubs.
LOWLIGHT
Wayne Bennett saying he had nothing to do with veteran South Sydney hooker Damien Cook’s departure to St George Illawarra. Give me a break. The Rabbitohs have already removed Mark Ellison as head of football to give Bennett complete control. It’s laughable for him to suggest he played no role in Cook being refused a 12-month extension.
SPOTTED
One of Australia’s most experienced sports commentators is making a comeback for Channel 9 at the Paris Olympics. Andy Raymond, who hosts the excellent podcast, Unfiltered, will call all the boxing. Cost restraints mean he will call off the TV from Nine’s Sydney studios.
SPOTTED
A possum made its way to inside the 2GB Continuous Call team’s broadcast box at old Leichhardt Oval on Saturday evening and headed straight for the pizza box while the boys were busy calling the Storm v Wests Tigers game.
SPOTTED
Parramatta Eels forward Junior Paulo embracing Bulldogs skipper Stephen Crichton at Accor Stadium on Saturday. They are Samoan teammates.
SPOTTED
The Bradman Best-Kayla Fenech love story attracted a clever online reader’s comment: “The first time anyone can say that Bradman is batting above his average.”
SPOTTED
Former South Sydney Rabbitohs coach Jason Demetriou buying flu medicine at Chemist Warehouse in Caringbah.
360 VIEW
Catch you on NRL 360 on Fox League at 6.30pm with Braith Anasta, Gordie Tallis and Brent Read to discuss the State of Origin teams and another great round of rugby league.
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