Eels blow the whistle on lack of discipline

Brad Arthur is demanding the Eels get back to their disciplined ways against Canberra after the coach was left to deal with another suspension to influential forward Nathan Brown.

The Eels are second behind the Sea Eagles at conceding the fewest penalties after six rounds but gifted the Roosters some "cheap points" through four penalty goals last Saturday.

One of the penalty goals game via a high shot conceded by Brown and their influential forward was found guilty at the NRL judiciary on Tuesday night for high contact on Victor Radley.

"What's probably more important for us [this week] is that the things we didn't get right we show that we learnt from it," Arthur said on Friday.

"The fact we didn't build pressure, had some opportunities to score tries and we gave up some cheap points – eight points in penalty goals – we've worked hard on our discipline.

"I want to make sure we don't repeat those and if we do that we'll give ourselves a real good chance at winning the game.

"We've learned from that during the week and need to show that tomorrow night against a tough outfit."

Arthur said he was disappointed for Brown, who will serve his third suspension since August.

The 27-year-old former Rabbitohs and Wests Tigers forward only made a return from a previous two-match ban in round five. 

"He plays the game very tough, aggressive and he competes," Arthur said.

"He got a suspension last year which was just dumb and he's aware of that. But this year I think he's come unstuck competing.

"I don't want him to change how he plays, we just need to keep working on him to be smarter with his approach."

Brown's replacement, Daniel Alvaro, is set to come off the bench for his first NRL appearance of the season with Marata Niukore to start at lock.

Arthur was confident Alvaro was physically ready to fit into the line-up despite not playing a Canterbury Cup game since March.

The club has not followed suit of some NRL rivals by organising scrimmage-style matches for their fringe players.

"We're looking into it but feel that the training we're doing at the moment the players are satisfied with that," Arthur said.

"Our opposed sessions midweek are pretty tough and close to a good scrimmage anyway so I think they're getting enough out of that.

"Daniel's more than comfortable with his preparation going into this weekend's game."