Dyldam Parramatta Eels Head Coach Brad Arthur has pointed to execution as the difference between a win and a 22-6 defeat by the Wests Tigers on Easter Monday at ANZ Stadium.
Despite leading 6-4 at the break, the Blue and Gold were caught by a fast-finishing Wests Tigers side, with a patched-together backline taking to the field for the Eels.
With winger Reece Robinson a late scratching, second-rower Manu Ma’u stepped into the centres, joined by David Gower when Ryan Morgan left the field with a head knock.
For Arthur, the Blue and Gold’s attitude and execution was the primary concern.
“I just think we didn’t play to win,” Arthur said.
“I thought we were trying to protect a lead, or play to not get beaten. It’s frustrating that we tried hard, but trying hard doesn’t always win you games of footy.”
“We lacked a bit of polish for the majority of the game, and they probably did things just a little bit quicker and harder than us.”
“At the end of the day it was 6-4 with, I don’t know, 12 minutes to go. If we complete those sets and kick the ball down the other end of the field we might’ve been able to claw our way to a win, [even] with two back-rowers in the centres.”
While the Eels injury list remains a lengthy one, Arthur was confident Robinson would return for Parramatta’s Round 6 clash with the Titans on Saturday at Pirtek Stadium.
