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After the Dyldam Parramatta Eels’ 17-4 loss to the 2016 Grand Finalists last night, Head Coach Brad Arthur put down the loss to a lack of patience and disciple from the Blue and Gold.

The Eels were down 14-4 at half time, and with no Kieran Foran, who was ruled out late from injury, and five-eighth Corey Norman having come off the field with a neck injury, Arthur said the game could not be dismissed.

“No we can’t dismiss it (the game), because regardless of losing a couple of halves, we only completed at 50% in the second half,” Arthur said.

“We just need to be a bit more patient.”

“If we want to take a positive out of it, even though we were a bit loose at times through the middle with our defence, we scrambled ok. We kept them out in the second half,” he added.

With a penalty and a late field goal the only difference to the scoreboard in the second half, Arthur says the toll of tackles and lack of completions affected the Blue and Gold.

“I just thought we were a little bit loose up the middle at times, just a bit inconsistent from tackle to tackle and set to set with our defence.” Arthur said.

“At one stage we had made 40 or 50 more tackles at the start of the game.”

“I think we were five of the first 15 sets which makes it had. As soon as we got the first opportunity to attack their try line, we turn it over on tackle two. I think they were just a little bit more disciplined and patient than us.”

Arthur however pinpointed some positives, praising his team as they kept ‘turning up’ for each other which kept the Broncos tryless in the second half.

“I think the good aspects were at the end when we were completing at 50% and we were a bit all over the shop with our attack, but that could’ve got a lot worse for us and it has in the past,” Arthur said.

“We got loose through the middle but we kept turning up and scrambling and the attitude was ok in defence.. It wasn’t perfect in terms of our tackling but it could’ve got a lot worse.”

 “Losing a half at half time and putting a second rower out there so it did affect us in terms of our attack because I thought we looked a little bit all over the shop with our attack,” Arthur added.

“We panicked a little bit and when we did poke our nose through the line we were trying to force offloads. Who knows if Michael Jennings scored there it might’ve been a bit of energy that we needed.”

The Eels are hoping to see the return of both their halves next week, with Norman expected to make a full recovery from a neck injury as well as welcoming Kieran Foran back from injury.

“The Doc said it’s just precaution (for Corey) and if the scans come back like they think they will he should be alright for next week, that’s what he told me anyway.” Arthur said.

“He (Foran) wasn’t close enough. I watched him run today and he’ll run on Saturday, but the guys are telling me he’ll be right to go (for next week).”

Click through to see the match report

Click through to see the video highlights

Click through to hear the post-match interview with Kaysa Pritchard

Click through to see the Game Day Gallery

Acknowledgement of Country

Parramatta Eels respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

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