'It wasn't a coliseum tonight': Arthur laments lack of fight in Eels

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur accused his team of “running away from the collision” after suffering their first loss at Bankwest Stadium against last placed Penrith in an error-ridden match on Thursday night.

After thrashing Wests Tigers and coming from behind to beat St George Illawarra in their first two matches at the new stadium, the club’s home ground was being described as a coliseum but Arthur said the difference was the attitude of his players in those matches.

“It wasn’t a coliseum tonight,” he said. “I reckon we ran away from the collision instead of running into it.”

A win could have seen the Eels climb as high as fourth place after round 11 but they may now slump as low as 12th, depending on other results.

After leading 8-0 early in the match, poor handling and discipline cost Parramatta and they finished the match with 13 errors – most of which were committed in the second half.

Arthur said he felt the Eels were on top in the first half but it was all downhill after the re-start.

“I think we didn’t complete our first five sets, we just turned the ball over cheaply,” he said.

“We know we can play football but we want to do that all the time and you’ve got to earn the right to. We’re not willing to stick at it, in the first half we were starting to earn the right but the way we started the second half we just wanted to get it over and done with.”

Asked what was needed to turn things around after three consecutive losses, Arthur said: “Our ability or our want or desire to grind and go right to the 80th minute, instead of trying to trick our way or fluff our way. This is a tough competition so you can’t do that”.