. PARRAMATTA were so far down the track to appointing Jason Taylor that he completed a video interview with the Eels media department about becoming head coach.
News Limited can reveal an internal camera crew filmed an interview with Taylor several weeks ago, in which the Roosters assistant coach discussed his plans to resurrect the back-to-back wooden spooners.
The footage is understood to have been stored on a private YouTube channel, which Taylor had permission to review.
The revelation that Taylor was already participating in club publicity trials demonstrates just how unexpected Tuesday nights boardroom backflip to appoint rival candidate Brad Arthur was.
Eels directors ostensibly met to discuss the finer points of Taylors contract, having voted 3-2 in his favour a week earlier.
Jason Taylor was snubbed for the Eels coaching job.
Taylor had demanded slightly more money than Arthur, and also expressed a stronger desire to transfer his own staff at the expense of assistants left over from the Ricky Stuart era.
One was expected to be former Eels strength and conditioning coach Hayden Knowles, whom News Limited understands has a strained relationship with proposed football manager Daniel Anderson from when the pair previously worked together at Parramatta in 2009.
Despite those minor misgivings, Taylor still expected to be given the job. Over the previous 48 hours hed phoned senior Roosters officials to thank them and farewell them.
Sections of Parramattas management and board were also convinced he was the man. Eels CEO Scott Seward even went as far as phoning Arthurs representatives on Tuesday morning to inform them Taylor would be appointed.
Brad Arthur wins race for Parramatta Eels job 1:54
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Parramatta CEO Scott Seward reveals how the club came to the decision to appoint Manly assistant, Brad Arthur, over former Eels player and hot favourite for the job Jason Taylor.
That night directors who voted for Taylor a week earlier attended the meeting without any knowledge whatsoever that a second vote was being planned by Arthurs supporters.
Under pressure to survive after publicly backing Arthur, chairman Steve Sharp had spent the previous week in clandestine negotiations to salvage the situation.
One director, Peter Serrao, changed his vote from seven nights earlier. Serrao had loyalties to both Taylor and Anderson, having worked with the pair during various stages of his earlier career as a junior coach and teacher.
That left Mario Libertini with the casting vote. Libertini did not attend the first meeting, having only been invited back by Sharp late the week beforehand. He voted for Arthur, handing the Manly assistant the most surprising reprieve of all.
Ray Price slams Parramatta board over coaching sage 3:35
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Parramatta legend Ray Price has slammed the Eels board over their handling of the club's coaching saga after they backflipped and elected to appoint Brad Arthur to head their first grade side in 2014.
Both Seward and Taylor have played down the boardroom machinations. Theyve publicly agreed they couldnt reach mutual terms over the coaching structure, a story that casts both parties in a more favourable light.
Yet its at odds with the Taylor video, his farewell to the Roosters, Sewards call to Arthurs management, and the fact two Eels directors still voted for Taylor on Tuesday night.
Seward did not respond to questions about the video on Thursday.
Something is amiss. And even with Taylor out of the picture, Anderson still had not accepted the football manager job late on Thursday.
Neil Henry on new role at Titans, Eels coaching job 1:23
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As Neil Henry settles into his new home on the Gold Coast, the former Cowboys coach has opened up on his new role at the Titans, acquiring help from Mal Maninga and why he didn't sign with Parramatta.
Its understood the NRL referees boss has demanded an assurance that he wont be out of pocket should he be dismissed ahead of time.
Its a rare and bold ultimatum that illustrates the level of trepidation surrounding the most unstable club in rugby league.
