Brad Arthur to be named new coach of wooden spooners the Parramatta Eels
David Riccio
The Sunday Telegraph
October 06, 2013 12:00AM
MANLY assistant coach Brad Arthur is poised to take over wooden-spooners Parramatta just 48 hours after Sunday night's Grand Final.
An Eels board meeting on Tuesday is set to ratify the well-credentialed Arthur as the new head coach to replace Ricky Stuart.
Out of respect for both the Sea Eagles and Sydney Roosters build-up to Sunday’s decider, Parramatta chairman Steve Sharp was unwilling to declare Arthur has officially got the job when he spoke to The Sunday Telegraph on Saturday.
Sharp, who is an advocate of Arthur’s potential as a coach, also said any final decision on their new head coach needed to be approved at the upcoming board meeting.
"There’s been four interviews conducted and on Tuesday we’ll convene a board meeting which will determine who gets the job," Sharp said.
"While there hasn’t been a decision made, what I can confirm is that we’ll have a new head coach by the middle of next week."
Tim Sheens, Kevin Walters and Jason Taylor were all considered for the head coaching role, but Arthur finished the interview process, which was completed last week, as a clear front runner and favourite for the toughest job in Australian sport.
While Arthur’s resume includes working under Melbourne Storm premiership-winning coach Craig Bellamy, coaching Melbourne’s 2009 Toyota Cup team to the Grand Final and assisting Geoff Toovey to this year’s Grand Final with Manly, he also has the fundamental and crucial factor required for any coach the support of the players.
It was Parramatta’s most high-profile star, Jarryd Hayne, who publicly declared his support for Arthur only days after Stuart chose to take up an offer to join the Canberra Raiders.
Hayne has worked previously under Arthur, who took over as caretaker coach of the Eels in 2012 for the remaining six games of the season after head coach Stephen Kearney was axed.
Promoted from his role as assistant, Arthur won two of the six matches.
The Manly forward pack have also credited Arthur as the man that has instilled confidence and a relentless attitude towards dominating their rivals.
The Sea Eagles pack have overcome major injury setbacks throughout the entire year to continually play above their weight.
"He has us forwards firing. Like a lot of good coaches, his best stuff is behind-the-scenes working with individuals," Sea Eagles prop Brent Kite said recently.
"Brad is a bit old-school. He has a belief what the forwards can bring to a game and that is something we all like.
"We have had Brad specialising with the forwards this year. That has made a massive difference."
The appointment of their new coach this week will allow the Eels to commence their planning for the 2014 season.
Until now, the club’s bid to move forward has been railroaded by boardroom upheaval, having no coach and only recently appointing a new chief executive in little-known Scott Seward.
The Eels will be welcomed by their new coach when they commence preseason training on November 7 with new recruits Will Hopoate, Nathan Peats, Corey Norman and Brendan Santi all committing to the club despite the recent turmoil.
