As Phil Gould ran his pen through Parramatta’s NRL finals hopes moments after their 26-14 win over South Sydney, coach Brad Arthur declared his Eels will make the top eight if they want it badly enough.
The Eels arrested their three-game losing skid with a win over a Rabbitohs side missing four Origin players and several other starters through injury.
Arthur’s men remain in eighth place with the win but Gould, speaking on Channel 9, bluntly concluded the Blue and Golds will finish the year in the bottom half of the ladder.
Gould suggested the Eels had taken advantage of a Bunnies line-up weakened by injury Origin duties and questioned their ability to produced similar efforts against the top teams every week.
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While Arthur understandably disagreed with the notion Parramatta won’t make the top eight, he conceded their ability to maintain the rage will ultimately determine their finals fate.
“I think we’re good enough to fight our way into the semis if we have the want and desire and the right attitude,” Arthur said.
“But it’s a tough competition and we’ve got to find a way to come with it every week.”
“… We showed with our energy and the effort that we put into our game tonight that while I know they (South Sydney) had some quality missing we’ll give ourselves a chance (to win games).
“And over the last three weeks that’s been lacking and we haven’t put ourselves in the contest.”
Arthur threatened to ‘change the team again’ if his players’ effort levels drop off again in the coming weeks.
Pressed on the importance of the Origin period, given the fact the Eels don’t have a single NSW or Queensland representative involved in Origin I, Arthur replied: “The priority is backing it up next week now.
“We go to Shark Park next week and they’re a tough, grinding team so we need to be right on top of our game.
“We’re nearly at full strength and we’ve got a couple of blokes that aren’t far away from coming back into the team next week as well.”
He added Nathan Brown is a chance to return next week, with Dylan Brown on track to play before the end of June.
