Eels have tried 20 different halves combinations since making NRL grand final in 2009
David Riccio
The Sunday Telegraph
November 24, 2013 2:30PM
THE search for stability in the Parramatta halves began 20 years ago.
Champion halfback Peter Sterling retired in 1992, quickly followed by scheming five-eighth Brett Kenny one year later.
Ever since, the blue and gold conveyor belt of sixes and sevens have rolled in - and just as quickly, out of the popular club.
Since making the grand final in 2009, the Eels have tried 20 different halves combinations.
A total of just 17 wins over the past three seasons and back-to-back wooden spoons tells the story.
But just five weeks into his role as head coach of the Eels, Brad Arthur has taken the unprecedented step of calling off the search party.
The Sunday Telegraph has learned that Arthur is set to start the 2014 season with Luke Kelly and Corey Norman as Parramatta's starting halves.
It's a significant sign of confidence from Arthur whose focus is on working for the next three months to build a formidable halves combination and restoring belief within the entire playing roster.
It also indicates Arthur has the forthright to make a tough call for the sake of stability at the club.
Kelly will wear the no7 next season after playing 18 games last year for the Eels under former coach Ricky Stuart.
Norman, a powerful and skilful runner of the football who signed from the Brisbane Broncos, will slot into the five-eighth jumper after playing all of his 17 matches this year at fullback.
The 22-year-old has previously stated that the prospect of playing in the halves was one of the motivating factors in his decision to move to Parramatta.
The obvious question is what all this means for highly-paid halfback Chris Sandow, whose personal issues stymied his 2013 season?
It's a response that only Sandow can answer during the next three months of pre-season training. A contributing factor in Arthur's decision is likely to be Sandow's less conventional playing style - off-the-cuff and at-time erratic - which is in direct contrast to the vocal, point and kick style that Kelly offers the Eels.
Sandow managed just 15 games last season under Stuart, who like Arthur, turned to Kelly to steer the Eels around the park.
There have been reports Sandow, who is contracted to the club until 2015, has returned to the Eels overweight.
However, Eels officials have been pleased with the popular halfback's attitude, appearing focused on finding the form that saw him named 2008 Dally M rookie of the year.
Under Arthur next season, Kelly will be asked to provide the structure and direction, in order to allow the Eels greatest strike weapons, fullback Jarryd Hayne and centre William Hopoate, to play what they see.
Hayne plays his best football on the left side and it's also at left centre that Hopoate will make his NRL return after two years out of the game.
Arthur's high-opinion of Kelly stems from their relationship which originated at the Melbourne Storm in 2009.
The 24-year-old, who was born in Katherine, was named man of the match in Melbourne's Toyota Cup grand final win in 2009, which Arthur coached.
While Kelly ultimately left the Storm for the Eels to play regular NRL football, it was in Melbourne that he was able to refine his game as the understudy to Test halfback Cooper Cronk.
Kelly and Norman's first match together is likely to be the Eels opening trial match against the Wests Tigers on February 8 in Alice Springs.
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