Sacked Parramatta Eels coach Brad Arthur has shown nothing but class since his axing from the job he held for almost 11 years.
The NRL coaching veteran did everything but achieve the ultimate with the Eels, taking them from the pits of the ladder to the 2022 grand final where they were bettered only by the dynastic Penrith Panthers.
It has all gone south for Arthur’s side since that day, having missed the finals last year before falling to 14th on the ladder after Round 11 this season.
But Arthur, who coached 264 games for the Eels, says he holds no grudges with the tough decision the club’s board made on him.
“I’m not bitter or angry about it,” he told 7NEWS Sydney.
“I’m actually more grateful for the opportunities that have been presented to me over the last 11 years.”
He became emotional though when asked about the unwavering support he has received from his wife Michelle.
“Michelle… sorry,” Arthur said, holding back tears as he took a moment to compose himself.
“Michelle’s put her whole life on hold for me — and the kids.”
The couple have three children, with son Jake making his way through the ranks at the Eels, playing 20 games under his father, before moving to the Manly Sea Eagles.
Arthur said he has been contacted in some way by every single player from Parramatta since his sacking on Monday.
“A couple of boys turned up with some flowers for Michelle and a carton of beer, and then others rang, some texted,” he said.
Brutally, the club’s decision — expedited by the Eels’ 48-16 Magic Round loss to Melbourne — came just a day before Arthur’s 50th birthday.
But irrespective of their seventh and most damaging loss of the season, it was a calculated decision that had been in the works for some weeks.
Eels chair Sean McElduff admitted the club had already been chasing the signature of NRL supercoach Wayne Bennett before moving on Arthur.
“We wanted Wayne Bennett, it’s as simple as that,” he said.
“We spent the best part of three weeks trying to convince him to come.”
But Bennett was always hell bent on a return to South Sydney.
“I never left anybody in any doubt that my preference was to go back to South Sydney and I’m very pleased that’s happening,” he said.
As for Arthur, he hasn’t given up hope on the prospect of continuing his NRL coaching career.
“If a club’s interested, I want to keep coaching,” he told 7NEWS.
“But I don’t need to worry about that right now, I’m not in a hurry.”
Whoever is tasked with the Parramatta job next season will be charged with fine-tuning an ageing roster that was loyal to Arthur and is littered with big personalities.
Chief executive Jim Sarantinos said on Tuesday — less than 24 hours after Arthur’s decade-long reign ended — that the club had already begun compiling a list of prospective candidates for the role.
NSW State of Origin coach Michael Maguire as well as several well-credentialed assistants such as Jason Ryles (Melbourne) and Josh Hannay (Cronulla) are likely to be linked to the Eels job.
“We’ll be looking for what we think is the best coach for our club,” Sarantinos said.
“We think we’ve still got a really strong roster and we think we’ve got a roster that will appeal to any incoming coach.
“We want someone who’s been involved with a winning program, and someone who’s been around a high-performing culture.
“So, whether that be an experienced coach, or someone who might be picking up their first opportunity as a head coach, we will identify who we think is best for our club.”
Sarantinos, however, cautioned that the incoming coach would not have total control of the club’s roster.
The Eels’ recruitment and retention had been a major talking point during Arthur’s tenure, with the club’s failure to retain several key players who helped them to the 2022 grand final seen as a trigger for Parramatta’s slide down the NRL ladder.
“We have a roster management committee, Brad played a key part in that and he was the strongest voice,” Sarantinos said.
“We’re very comfortable with the say that Brad had on recruitment.”
Trent Barrett will take charge of the Eels until the end of the season but it is unclear if he would want to return to a head coaching role after failed stints at Canterbury and Manly.
