FROM WIMPS TO WINNERS
Parra rise to Arthur's challenge and prove they won't be pushed around by anyone this year
BY STEVE MASCORD & TONY ADAMS
PARRAMATTA STAR JOSEPH Paulo has revealed coach Brad Arthur challenged his forwards to prove their toughness against the best in the business before last Sunday's 10-point win over Canterbury.
While Arthur stresses his ambivalence to records and history as he rebuilds the Eels, the coach-of-the-year candidate is clearly not above using the perceptions of others to motivate his men.
"We wanted to test ourselves against the best," Paulo says. "We've heard all week about how tough they were, the Doggies, so we wanted to...gibe it to them. We manipulated the way they were playing - job well done to our forwards."
"We've been told we can only win at home so (Arthur) tried to change our mentality, about bringing the same toughness that we show at home, bring it here."
Parramatta have been out-muscled and out-enthused all too often over the past two wooden spoon seasons. Not this year under Arthur, though.
"He's really creating an identity for our team," Paulo continues. ""He can't teach us to be tough. You've just got to go out there and be tough. It was a good opportunity to not only show him, but show the opposition, that we can be tough."
Eels legend Brett Kenny believes the win over the Bulldogs represented an important psychological victory for the underdog Eels. "Everyone has been saying, 'They can't win without Jarryd Hayne' and I must admit I thought the same - I thought the big Bulldogs forwards would run over the top of them," Kenny says.
"But they were brave and tough and showed they can step up and win big games even with Jarryd. I'm happy he was missing in the end because they will get a lot of confidence out of winning without him."
Kenny has also been blown away by the improvement in Chris Sandow's game this year. Like ht rest of the Eels, Sandow is playing tougher...and showing great mental strength to overcome his well-documented demons.
"You have to hand it to Brad; he has worked out how to use him," Kenny says. "Chris is never going to be a Peter Sterling-type half who organises you. Brad is getting Corey Norman to play that role and Chris can just play off his head, which is his strength."
"He is playing tougher, too and isn't a speed bump in defence like he was at times in the past. He has come up with some good tackles and clearly has his heart in the game now."
Meanwhile, despite being linked to a departure from Pirtek Stadium, Paulo says he is determined to sign a new contract there.
"I definitely want to stay here at Parra," he says. "Now Brad's here, I really feel like this is home. The blue-and-gold fans have been awesome to me. It hasn't been sorted yet, I'm just waiting for my manger to do all the negotiations.
