Eels Press Conference - Round 24
Blue & Gold Head Coach Brad Arthur told reporters the Eels fought back well in the second half, after a first half on the back foot in the 44-6 loss to the North Queensland Cowboys at 1300Smiles Stadium on Friday night.
“They were just way too good for us tonight,” Arthur said.
“I thought we showed plenty of fight at the back end of the game. Coming into halftime we’d made 223 tackles to North Queensland’s 100, so with the weight of possession we just couldn’t handle them.
“They just steamrolled us.”
On the disappointment of being at the bottom of the ladder, Arthur wants to move on and focus on the last game of the season against the Sydney Roosters next Saturday at ANZ Stadium.
“Well it’s an embarrassing score line, but we’ve got to deal with it and move on.
“We’ve tried hard enough (not to be on the bottom of the ladder), we just haven’t been able to get it right.
“The last two months the boys haven’t gone away.”
Clint Gutherson shared his thoughts on the tough result and challenge of playing the Cowboys in Johnathan Thurston’s last NRL match in Townsville.
“It was hard, frustrating,” Gutherson said.
“Once you get 30 points put on you in the first half it’s pretty hard to come back, but I’m proud of the boys in the second half for not giving in.
“We knew it was going to be hard. It’s just not a good team performance.
“No matter what game you’re in you can’t let that happen. It’s quite embarrassing.”
