Dyldam Parramatta Eels Head Coach Brad Arthur has praised his side’s continual defensive effort and noted the Blue and Gold improvement in attack in their 36-6 victory over the Canberra Raiders at Pirtek Stadium in Round Six of the NRL Telstra Premiership.
With the Eels attack yet to fire in the opening five rounds, Arthur said having halves Corey Norman and Kieran Foran working on their combination on the training paddock this week had already begun to show on the field.
“Foz trained twice this week, I think against the Bulldogs he had two sessions so in the first six rounds we’ve only had two sessions together with our halves,” Arthur said.
“I think that showed today.”
“They just looked a bit more comfortable together and we completed ok in the first half too which gave us a bit of ball.”
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The Eels continued to show a strong defensive resolve and mental strength, keeping the Raiders scoreless for three quarters of the game, and Arthur highlighted holding the visitors out, during seven back-to-back sets on their try line.
“We made an error first set of the second half which is not the way we need to be starting our second halves,” Arthur said.
“Then I think it was seven sets, but it was seven minutes, that we spent defending our try line.”
“Credit to the boys there, they kept turning up for each other.” Arthur added.
And whilst impressed with the defensive effort of the side, Arthur said there were still plenty of lessons to learn and improvements to make.
“There’s a bit of confidence about our try line defence at the moment,” Arthur said.
“But just because we’re confident, doesn’t mean we need to spend plenty of time there,”
The Eels now have a short turn around to their Round Seven clash, taking on the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles at Brookvale Oval on Thursday night.
