Mention the ‘c’ word around Parramatta this week and most people assume it stands for a star playmaker’s ‘contract’.
For coach Brad Arthur, the decision halfback Mitch Moses makes about his future has huge ramifications, but the ‘c’ word he’s focused on ahead of Friday’s clash with the Sharks is ‘composure’.
As he looks to avoid the Eels’ first 0-2 start to a season since 2018, Arthur is calling for poise and patience should his team get taken to the wire again as they did by the Storm in Round 1.
With the scores locked at 12-12 inside the final 10 minutes, Arthur watched his team squander a number of chances to grab a win in regulation time before Harry Grant stole victory for Melbourne in golden point.
“We had three full sets with six mins to go starting in good field position and we didn’t nail those opportunities, probably our mentality was a little bit wrong,” Arthur said.
“We’ve got a good attacking team who think they can score a try whenever they need to but with six minutes to go you don’t need a try to win the game of footy, you need to set to take a nice, calculated shot at field goal.
Paulo the wrecking ball
“But we weren’t in good position [for the shot] and we were trying to ice the game with a try and that’s probably the wrong mentality to have.
“Even in golden point we had an opportunity and we turned the ball over cheaply.”
One aspect of his team’s performance Arthur couldn't fault was their attitude across the 85 minutes against a Storm that has now won 20 consecutive opening rounds under Craig Bellamy.
“We have focused heavily for this season on making sure we come with the right attitude,” Arthur said.
“There was a few games last year where we walked off the field and said ‘we didn’t turn up today’ and that’s rather embarrassing and it’s not good enough from us as a club.
“But I felt like last week we had a good attitude, we started well, it was a tough physical game but some of our footy let us down.”
If the Eels are to bounce back in front of their loyal fans at CommBank Stadium, much will revolve around Moses and his combination with new hooker Josh Hodgson, who played the entire 85 minutes last week in his first NRL match back from a knee reconstruction.
The crafty Englishman had a try assist, a line break assist and racked up 42 tackles in a solid debut for his new club and Arthur is adamant the 33-year-old will be a huge asset to the Eels.
“Josh brought line speed and good attitude to what we wanted to do,” Arthur said.
Hodgson looking sharp
“Once the spine starts to gel, he will take a bit of pressure off Mitch and Dylan [Brown].
“I don’t expect him to be at his best yet but what we do expect is leadership and attitude, which he was great with against Melbourne.
“The combinations will come naturally as he has more time on the field with those guys and learns when they want the ball and when they don’t.
“It will take a bit of time but it’s not an excuse for results.
“We got better last year at putting the last game aside, dealing with it and facing the honesty of it and moving on. The best thing you can do is respond and that’s what we’re looking to do against the Sharks.”
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