NRL news: Brad Arthur reveals how Parramatta Eels will bounce back from loss of stars

The Parramatta coach has backed he and his support staff’s ability to unearth new stars while revealing the club’s departing players have made a pact to win the 2022 title before they leave.

The poaching of the club’s trio of guns including Reed Mahoney (Bulldogs), Isaiah Papali’i (Wests Tigers) and Marata Niukore (Warriors) has led to serious questions over Parramatta’s recruitment expertise, contract nous and strategy.

The relieving re-signing of captain Clint Gutherson has done little to appease frustrated fans who want answers at a point where NSW Origin prop Junior Paulo is also yet to be re-signed.

Instead of senior management stepping forward to discuss their recruitment process and fallout, it’s the head coach who has fronted-up to detail his disappointment in losing the trio while explaining why he had full faith in the club’s systems to replace them.

“It was a hard decision for those guys to tell me they’re leaving because as a squad we’re all very tight,’’ Arthur said.

“But everyone has got different needs in their career and what they want to get out of it.

“What Eels members and fans need to remember is, all these blokes that are leaving us started somewhere.

“We’ll do that again with other players.

“I’ve got confidence in the coaching staff and the senior players to help that happen.

“Tom Opacic (centre) came to us and improved, Bryce Cartwright (backrower) came in and improved, Isaiah, Reed – they all came in and improved.

“We’ll find more Mahoneys and Papali’is.

“Those three that are leaving are better footballers and better people for being here, so we know what we’re doing works.’’

Asked if he feared the contract chaos of the past six weeks, coupled with suggestions that the leaving players will lose their focus, would crush any hope of a 2022 title, Arthur replied: “No way.

“It will make us more galvanised and stronger.

“All three guys (Mahoney, Papali’i and Niukore) have said that to me. They’re determined to finish with what they came here to do.

“They all believe, on the back of what happened last year (beaten 8-6 by premiers Penrith in week two of the finals), that we’re getting closer and closer and they’re all determined to do it.

“All three have said the same thing — they’re going to finish the year strong for their mates and the club.’’

Arthur didn’t want to provide a running commentary on the Paulo negotiations, but there is a sense of confidence the hard-running prop will commit to a new deal.

However, the Eels coach did drill down on how the club plans to replace the loss of Mahoney, Papali’i and Niukore in 2023.

The club will have almost $2 million to spend on new players.

“The plan for me is, we re-sign the players that we’re trying to and the ones we need to replace, I’ve got trust in the staff and the playing squad that we’ll keep developing more players,’’ Arthur said.

“We want to retain everyone, but the reality is we can‘t.

“We’ve brought in Mary (Paul McGregor) and Mick Ennis (on the coaching staff) to help that development as well.

“We just have to work out what style of players suits us; do we want experience or younger players?

“In 2023 we’re still going to have the core nucleus here in Gutho (Gutherson), Mitch Moses, Dylan Brown, Nathan Brown, Reg (Regan Campbell-Gillard), Shaun Lane, Waqa Blake and Bryce Cartwright.

“Look at Melbourne and the Roosters, they get to a stage where they just can’t keep everyone and they bring people in underneath them and make them better.

“It’s a good reflection of our club that clubs are buying players from us. It used to be Parramatta buying expensive players from other clubs.’’

Penrith premiership-winning hooker Api Koroisau, Cowboys hooker Reece Robson and Tigers dummy-half Jacob Liddle have been offered to the club as a direct replacement for Mahoney.

“They’re all options,’’ Arthur said.

“We are not short on options. We have had a lot of interest from a lot of people.

“I’m really comfortable and confident in what lies ahead.

“We’re just going to stay calm and make sure that any moves that we make are best for the club in the long-term.’’