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Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur says his team’s performance was soft in their huge 64-10 loss to the Melbourne Storm.
Read on to see what he said about the game, in his post-match press conference.
Thoughts on the loss
“Soft. We went from a tough performance last week and in the space of seven days to our softest performance. You’re only as good as your last game and that was rubbish,” Arthur said.
“I thought our first few sets were okay and we jus came up with a number of soft options and we weren’t prepared to play these blokes for 80 minutes. They’re hard to beat at the best of times but when you come with that sort of mentality and attitude; trying to fluff our way, trick our way to a win; you can’t beat them like that,” he said.
On what Arthur said to the team after the loss
“We just had a conversation you know, why? All the players are talking about how it was soft, not good enough, poor effort, it’s embarrassing, but why did we come like that? We had so much to play for,” Arthur said.
On the team’s search for consistency
“It’s a common phrase, that we’re inconsistent, but mentally we have to harden up. You know, you have to be in the fight and play for 80 minutes every single week. Good teams do that and we’re not good enough yet,” Arthur said.
“Like I said, you’re as good as your last game. I thought we were really good against the Dragons and really poor tonight. Mentally we have to be prepared to fight and stay in the fight and do it for 80 minutes,” he said.
On starting the game with an extra forward
“It was to try to challenge them physically and confront them with that effort and go after them,” Arthur said.
On contract distractions
“They’re professional sportspeople, we all are and once they take the field, it doesn’t matter what has gone on during the week, we have to go out there and play with pride and be happy that we are putting our best effort out there. If our best effort is not good enough, so be it, but we can’t be happy with that. It has nothing to do with the rest of it, nothing,” Arthur said.
On Maika Sivo’s sin binning
“Oh I’ll have to watch it again, but he hit him in the head. As long as they’re (referees) consistent. A couple of weeks ago Daniel Alvaro got his in the head and there was no sin bin, so … it has got to be consistent,” Arthur said.
