Parramatta dropped a bombshell by sacking Brad Arthur, efficient instantly, and have conceded they’ve been making an attempt for weeks to get Wayne Bennett to rescue them.
The membership issued an announcement on Monday afternoon: “It was the view of the board and CEO that the progress of our NRL workforce has stalled. Our purpose is to win premierships and it’s time for the membership to go in a brand new path.
“We need to thank Brad who has labored tirelessly for the membership over a 10-year interval. Throughout his time as head coach, the membership has performed in 5 finals collection, together with a grand last in 2022.
“We want Brad and his household the easiest sooner or later and we’re very grateful for his companies to the membership.”
Arthur turns 50 on Tuesday however it is going to be a dark milestone for the devoted mentor who has labored tirelessly to interrupt the Eels’ premiership drought which stretches means again to 1986.
Trent Barrett will take management of the workforce as Interim head coach for the rest of the 2024 season.
It has since emerged that Parra’s prime brass contacted Bennett not too long ago to get him to Parramatta however he had already dedicated to a return to South Sydney.
“I known as him on the second of Could, and he mentioned, ‘I’m a good means down the observe with the Rabbitohs’,” Eels chairman Sean McElduff informed the Sydney Morning Herald on Monday night time.
“We had quite a few different conversations. I attempted laborious however we didn’t get there. To be completely trustworthy, he was at all times going to the Rabbitohs,” he added, revealing that he and CEO Jim Sarantinos had flown to Queensland to satisfy Bennett in a clandestine mission.
Touted as finals contenders heading into the season, Parramatta have been some of the disappointing groups alongside South Sydney, who’re operating final and punted their coach not too long ago with Jason Demetriou getting his marching orders.
Arthur’s final recreation was a 48-16 Magic Spherical hammering by the hands of Melbourne on Sunday. He stuffed in as interim coach in 2012 when Stephen Kearney departed mid-season after which after Ricky Stuart held the publish for a tumultuous yr, he had been within the function since 2014.
However whereas he took the membership to the 2022 grand last, he didn’t win a premiership in a decade on the helm.
“I’ve by no means walked away from a combat and we’re going to maintain combating laborious. I nonetheless consider on this workforce however they’ve acquired to begin to consider in themselves, particularly after they’re underneath a little bit of stress,” Arthur mentioned after Sunday’s loss.
Nonetheless, it was the ultimate straw for membership administration on the again of an identical capitulation not too long ago in Darwin after they have been thrashed by the Dolphins.
They’ve been hampered by accidents with star halfback Mitchell Moses (foot) and captain Clint Gutherson (knee) lacking time however the workforce ought to nonetheless be doing higher than a 3-7 file in 14th spot after 11 rounds.
Solely the struggling Wests Tigers, Titans and Souths have fared worse this yr.
Barrett is getting a 3rd probability to show he might be an NRL head coach after stints at Manly and Canterbury resulted in his early departure on every event.
Canterbury Bulldogs
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St. George Illawarra Dragons
NRL : Head To Head
Thu, 23 Could 2024, 19:50
North Queensland Cowboys
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Wests Tigers
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Fri, 24 Could 2024, 18:00
Manly Sea Eagles
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Melbourne Storm
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Fri, 24 Could 2024, 20:00
Canberra Raiders
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Sydney Roosters
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 25 Could 2024, 15:00
Cronulla Sharks
v
Penrith Panthers
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 25 Could 2024, 17:30
South Sydney Rabbitohs
v
Parramatta Eels
NRL : Head To Head
Sat, 25 Could 2024, 19:35
Brisbane Broncos
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Gold Coast Titans
NRL : Head To Head
Solar, 26 Could 2024, 14:00
New Zealand Warriors
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Dolphins
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Solar, 26 Could 2024, 16:05
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His shares rose throughout a stint on the Panthers as Ivan Cleary’s assistant and the previous St George Illawarra star may very well be an choice to take over long run.
With Bennett returning to South Sydney and off the market, former Eels hooker John Morris, extremely rated Storm assistant Jason Ryles may very well be tempted with Craig Bellamy staying within the Melbourne prime job for 2025, whereas Cronulla and Queensland assistant coach Josh Hannay can be within the combine.
Former Wallabies and Argentina rugby coach Michael Cheika declared his curiosity within the Rabbitohs publish and would probably have an interest within the Eels emptiness, together with membership legend Nathan Cayless who has served an apprenticeship underneath Arthur.
Barrett will lock horns with former teammate Ben Hornby, who’s South Sydney’s interim coach, when the struggling Sydney powerhouses face off at Accor Stadium on Saturday night time.
with AAP
