Coach slams Eels’ disrespect in win over Broncos

Eels coach Brad Arthur has criticised his team’s lack of respect for the Broncos in Friday night’s 24-16 win in Brisbane.

A visibly frustrated Arthur told the press that Parramatta’s performance at Suncorp Stadium was “nowhere near” up to scratch.

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Despite eventually emerging victorious, the Eels struggled to contain the 2020 wooden spooners during the first half.

Three crisply executed tries helped the home team to a 16-0 halftime lead in Kevin Walter’s first outing as head coach. Anthony Milford proved a menace on the edges of the park with form reminiscent of his stellar 2015 campaign.

The Eels, on the other hand, failed to make the most of their chances with ball in hand, at times looking flustered.

Even with injuries to Brisbane’s Xavier Coates and Matthew Lodge, Parramatta headed into halftime scoreless and with an abysmal completion rate of 53 per cent as dropped balls marred their first 40 minutes.

“We just needed to respect the opposition a bit more,” Arthur said of the Eels’ first-half performance.

“I’m a little bit annoyed that we didn’t show them enough respect early or in the first half. I don’t want us to be a team like that.

“We just thought we could pass our way, instead of working hard.”

Arthur was quick to heap praise on the Broncos, insisting they “did a really good job”.

“You could see they wanted to play for each other,” he said.

Brad Arthur didn’t mince his words.Source:Getty Images

The Eels launched a spirited comeback early in the second stanza, eventually taking the lead and winning by eight points.

In his first game for the club, Isaiah Papali’i looked at home wearing blue and gold. Hooker Reed Mahoney was also strong, notching one try, one try assist and 55 tackles.

“(Mahoney) was good tonight, he was very effective,” Arthur said.

“He waited for the right opportunities. He’s had a good pre-season, he’s worked hard on himself physically, his body, and he showed it tonight.”

Parramatta returns home to host Melbourne in round two, Arthur conceding that match could prove challenging for his side.

“We know we’re up against a quality opposition. We just need to focus on what sort of team we want to look like and the first half was nowhere near it,” he said.

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