http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sp...s/news-story/2ae5896b5ba048f39f37f6603b806e17
Brad Arthur, Bernie Gurr outline new hope for Parramatta Eels fans
Paul Crawley, The Daily Telegraph
an hour ago
IT’S a message of hope for Parramatta fans on a day that is also likely to determine Semi Radradra’s fate in the NRL.
With the blockbusting Fijian due to front court on Monday on charges of domestic violence against his former partner, Brad Arthur and new Eels boss Bernie Gurr have opened up to The Daily Telegraph.
After the disasters of last year, the irony is Parramatta still have money to spend in their salary cap for this year.
But Arthur said that they wouldn’t blow it unless the right players become available.
Arthur is also tipping star halfback Corey Norman to take his game to another level after his eight-match suspension for drug possession cost him any hope of winning the Dally M Medal.
Gurr heaped praise on Arthur, rating him up with Phil Gould, Ricky Stuart and Graham Murray as the best coaches he has worked with.
The respected administrator also defended the club’s culture under Arthur.
But perhaps the most positive news for fans is that a new board will be in place before the new season starts.
NEW BOARD, NEW HOPE
It’s finally about to happen after years of infighting and agendas.
Administrator Max Donnelly announced plans for sweeping reform last year that would prevent former directors standing again.
“The game plan is to announce the five independent directors before the start of the season,” Gurr said.
“I think we will actually get it done before the end of February.
“It will include two Leagues Club directors and five independents.
“So it is going to be heavily weighted to the independent side.
“From what I am told, we have some really impressive people that wanted to come on the board. It is a pivotal moment.
“There is obviously the 2016 perception of Parramatta but inside the club there are a lot of really good things happening. Our footy program is really solid, Brad is doing a good job.
“I have worked with some really impressive, great coaches. Phil Gould, Graham Murray, Ricky Stuart ... Brad is excellent.
“He is very well organised. He understands the game. He has a good rapport with the players.
“You only have to look back to last year and all that was going on around the club.
“The football program was the most solid part of the club and that comes down to Brad and his leadership.”
SEMI AND CLUB CULTURE
Neither Gurr nor Arthur would comment on Radradra’s court hearing on Monday.
In all likelihood, the verdict will determine if Radradra plays out the season with the Eels before he heads to French rugby.
“I can’t really tell you anything because I don’t know anything,” Gurr said.
“That is the reason they have the court case, to determine what occurred and make a ruling accordingly.
“We have said we would respect the legal process. It seemed a long while ago in November but the day is here and he gets his day in court.”
Kenny Edwards is also facing domestic violence charges, while Peni Terepo brought further embarrassment when he failed to inform the club that he fronted court on driving charges when he refused a blood-alcohol test.
Using Terepo’s three-match ban and $15,000 punishment as evidence, Gurr argued: “I am happy with where the club is at from a footy program culture point of view.
“With Peni Terepo, it is the first time he has stepped out of the crease in eight years with the club and people are saying ‘you should sack him’.
“I am thinking, ‘you don’t understand all the facts that go into that’.
“In many ways that would have been the easy thing to do.
“But in the right way it would have been the wrong thing to do because he didn’t deserve to be sacked.
“He deserved to be severely disciplined. That has happened. We hit him in the pocket.
“He can’t play a few games, and the Nines. We think that was totally appropriate.
“Yes, we have had a couple of incidents, even in the three months I have been in the job.
“You are going to get these incidents.
“Some other clubs, I am not going to name them, I don’t do that, but they have had their incidents, too.
“How they deal with them is up to them. But as far as we are concerned I am very comfortable with the processes we have in place.”
NORMAN’S MOTIVATION
If Norman hadn’t been wiped out for eight games last year on drug possession charges and for his involvement in a sex tape, plenty reckon he would have won the Dally M Medal.
“He was going very close, wasn’t he? You know what, that is a good thing for us,” Arthur said.
“He will have that hunger and drive there knowing that was an individual honour that he let slip.
“But everything happens for a reason. We probably wouldn’t have got the opportunity to see Gutho (Clint Gutherson) at five-eighth, either.
“Corey’s unfortunate incident provided an opportunity for Gutho and he came of age as a footballer.
“It has been a long road. Each year we have got better with a stronger roster.
“Now we have some good leadership through Bernie, we have been given every opportunity to play some decent footy now. So it is up to us.
“We had our own standards (last year) and our own expectations that we wanted to meet as a football team.
“This year we need to raise those standards and expectations of how we play and what sort of team we want to be known as.”
