Eels v Sea Eagles - Post Match Press Conference
Parramatta Eels Head Coach Brad Arthur has welcomed his team's return to form after they thrashed bitter rivals, the Manly Sea Eagles 44-10 on Sunday afternoon.
Arthur said his side displayed good control and patience in a match that saw his side score 44 points in 55 minutes.
"We were prepared to grind it out, be patient and back ourselves to play for 80 minutes. I think it was 26 sets into the game before we actually scored. We played tough, we played controlled, we played patient.
"We took the shot at goal and we missed. When we got another opportunity, we took the two points. It just shows the mentality that we were prepared to grind it out" said Arthur.
"We talked all week about our identity and we talked about it again at half time. That's the priority for us, to look like the team we want to be and we need to continue to do that." Arthur added.
Co-captain Clint Gutherson echoed his coach's sentiments.
"As Brad said it took us a while to get on the board. But once it did we started rolling and that's how we want to play. We want to play tough at the start and then start going at the end," he said.
Asked about his side's spirited mid-week training session that reportedly drew blood from some players, Arthur said it was a session his side needed.
"Half way through our main session, something clicked and they'd had a gutful of each other and they just ripped in.
"We had some staff that wanted to pull it up because it was getting very competitive but it was exactly what we needed and we need to make sure we keep it."
After being on the receiving end of a 54-0 hiding at the hands of Manly in round two, Arthur said he was proud of the way his side hung in early before taking advantage of the weight of possession in their favour.
"We didn't have to make 400 tackles today, so that helps. So it's all relative to the amount of work you've got to do defensively and then when you've got the ball you don't quite have the same energy.
"If you flip it around five weeks ago when it was the situation down at Manly. I thought Manly defended well early today. They hung on and hung on, better than we did in round two. But our forwards had a bit more energy to carry with, a bit more vigour to push for each other."
Quizzed on the form of Mitch Moses, Arthur said his halfback's hard work finally came off in this game.
"He's been trying very hard and it worked for him today. He showed a good level of composure and patience. As both halves did. They've been trying hard, it just hasn't been working."
The only cloud hanging over Parramatta's big win was the injury to winger Jarryd Hayne, who limped from the field late in the first half with what appeared to be a re-aggravation of the hip injury he suffered in round three.
Match Highlights: Eels v Sea Eagles, Round Seven
