NRL 2024: Brad Arthur puts Eels players on notice and reveals why he finally selected Ethan Sanders
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has declared he wants to keep his job at the Western Sydney powerhouse club and how halfback Ethan Sanders will help him do it, at the expense of the Canberra Raiders.
Brad Arthur has declared he needed to pick rookie playmaker Ethan Sanders to help save his job at Parramatta, as the Eels coach delivered a blow to the Canberra Raiders halves stocks in 2024.
It comes as Arthur put the top 17 on notice ahead of Friday’s clash against Manly, warning players their spots in the NRL side are not safe in the wake of the humiliating loss in Darwin, where the Dolphins piled on eight tries in 25 minutes.
A tug-of-war between the Eels and Raiders for Sanders, who will wear the No.6 jumper this week, ended on Tuesday when the teenager informed Parramatta officials he would be departing the club.
Arthur revealed Sanders will not be released early to join Ricky Stuart’s men, who are without Jamal Fogarty for the next three months after the experienced halfback suffered a ruptured biceps that required surgery.
“He’s come and fronted up and let us know that he’d be moving on,” Arthur confirmed.
“He’s told me to my face, and his manager has, that he’s not asking for a release this year. He made an obligation to the team at the start of the year, and that’s a sign of the man he is.”
Sanders will debut against the Sea Eagles after the under-pressure Arthur wielded the axe once again in the halves, as the coach looks for an answer without injured general Mitchell Moses, who isn’t expected to return until round 12.
Arthur has dropped Daejarn Asi, who was cleared of a concussion, for the Sea Eagles clash after the fill-in playmaker was called into the side to replace another rookie in Blaize Talagi.
Talagi, who has also missed out on selection this week, spent two games at five-eighth alongside Dylan Brown in the halves before he was axed, only to return on the bench against the Dolphins.
Arthur made no apologies for the team changes or the fact that Sanders was left to bide his time in reserve grade before finally getting his shot in the halves.
“I want to keep my job. I want to work here, so I need to pick the best team available,” Arthur said.
“We’ve got Dylan Brown and Mitchell Moses as our halves. I don’t think anyone expects me to drop either of those guys for (Sanders).
“So the opportunity is better for him somewhere else. I’m proud of the fact that we can make these players better and they get presented a better opportunity.
“But I need to win games of footy. We can make players better, but I don’t keep my job by that. I keep my job by winning games of footy.”
Arthur labelled his playing group a ‘part-time football team’ and accused players of giving up after the second half capitulation in Darwin.
The scathing post match spray was designed to embarrass players but also pose as a warning that Arthur is willing to cut players from the NRL side if they fail to meet standards.
“I wanted to see them be disappointed. I wanted to see them be embarrassed. I wanted to see them hurt,” Arthur said.
“I don’t like making a heap of changes, but they forced me into it.
“There are things in our team that are non-negotiable, that they’ve got to do.
“You can’t change every player (but) lot of the guys are lucky they’re in the team this week and they know that.”
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