Parramatta Eels to extend coach Brad Arthur's deal
Date
October 22, 2014 - 11:00PM
Chris Barrett and Adrian Proszenko
Parramatta are endeavouring to move ahead with life after Jarryd Hayne and will begin by upgrading and extending the contract of head coach Brad Arthur until the end of the 2017 season.
Arthur and Eels chief executive Scott Seward are both away on holidays but a new deal for the coach, who steered Parramatta from consecutive wooden spoons to 10th spot in the NRL last season, is expected to be signed off soon after their return next week.
The development comes as the newly cashed-up and Hayne-less Parramatta consider candidates to add to their roster, with Manly and New Zealand five-eighth Kieran Foran emerging as the marquee player on top of their hit list.
The decision to lock Arthur in for an additional season is a significant display of faith in the 40-year-old who was able to turn around the fortunes of a team that has operated in recent seasons in an environment tainted by boardroom dysfunction.
The former Melbourne and Manly assistant was originally handed a two-year contract, with an option for a third year, when he took over last October following the exit of Ricky Stuart.
He will, of course, not have the luxury of having his best player, Hayne, at his disposal as he seeks to take the next step at Parramatta and deliver a first semi-finals appearance since 2009 and, depending on how the fullback's American football ambitions pan out, he may not have him back again.
However, the Eels' extension of Arthur's tenure is strongly motivated by a desire within management to create stability in the coaching ranks at Pirtek Stadium, a trait not always in healthy supply as the likes of Jason Taylor, Michael Hagan, Daniel Anderson, Steve Kearney and Stuart have come and gone as head coaches in the past seven years.
As a result, Parramatta are also set to offer one-year contract extensions to their assistant coaches, Peter Gentle and Steve Murphy.
"We want to give the playing group every confidence in the coach being there for a long time," chairman Steve Sharp said.
"[Arthur] has instilled a real confidence in the young players in the club this year. We've seen the emergence of people like Semi Radradra and Bureta Faraimo under his tutelage and young players like Tepai Moeroa and Manu Ma'u reaped the benefits because of the discipline that Brad brings into the organisation.
"He's a true blue football coach and the players can relate to him in every aspect."
Parramatta powerbrokers are assessing how best to spend the cash freed up by Hayne's unexpected departure.
Anthony Watmough is expected to join the club when a release can be negotiated from Manly and he may not be the only player to transfer across from the arch rivals.
Foran is off contract at the end of next year and is viewed as a player who can transform the resurgent Eels into genuine contenders. Foran is close to Watmough and also has a good relationship with Arthur from their time together at Brookvale.
Brett Stewart is another potential player of interest although it is more probable the Eels will look for a quality half they can build the team around rather than a like-for-like replacement for Hayne. The blue and golds will also consider Josh Hoffman, who is contracted to Brisbane but been given permission to look at other options. Cronulla have also expressed interest in Hoffman but are more likely to end up with Broncos teammate on the outer Ben Barba.
The Eels are likely to pick up Gold Coast's Brad Takarangi, who was advanced in his discussions with Wests Tigers before Jason Taylor was appointed the club's head coach. Although there is no official announcement as yet, another former Sea Eagle, Richie Fa'aoso, will also join Parramatta.
