'I've got no reason to leave': Eels coach stands his ground

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur says his commute to work would be the envy of most people in Australia as he laughed off reports linking him with a move away from the Eels.

“I’ve got no reason to leave,” Arthur said on Tuesday. “I drive seven minutes to work. I think everyone would love to drive seven minutes to work and work for Parramatta.”

Reports surfaced on Monday that Arthur’s management firm, Pacific Sports Management, had offered his services to a rival NRL club despite the fact he is contracted to the Eels until the end of 2024.

Arthur labelled the speculation as “funny”.

Canterbury remain without a head coach for next year while there is long-term uncertainty about the head coaching positions at St George Illawarra, Gold Coast and Newcastle.

Arthur has been at the Eels since 2014 but has yet to break the club’s quest for their first premiership since 1986.

“I’m nine years into my job and at some stage every year there’s a question mark around whether I’m the right coach moving forward,” he said.

“It’s just part and parcel of a job that’s results driven.”

Exploring his options now could be a smart move for Arthur. His stock is still high given he has finished in the top eight in four of the last five seasons.

When they are firing Parramatta are one of the most entertaining and dominant teams in the competition.

This season they have a 11-6 record and sit in sixth spot.

Improving on that beyond 2022 could be more challenging with Isaiah Papalii, Marata Niukore and Reed Mahoney all leaving the Eels at the end of this year.

“This (2022 season) is our best opportunity (at winning a premiership) that I’ve had since being here,” Arthur said.

“Does it mean it (our premiership window) is shutting? I don’t believe so. We’ve got a lot of good young blokes coming through.”

The knock on Arthur has been his inability to get his side peaking at the right time of the year and that the Eels have often floundered in the big games.

Ahead of Thursday’s home game with Brisbane, the Eels coach has taken his side to the Central Coast to recharge ahead of the remaining six weeks of the season where they will hope to jump into the NRL’s top four.

“We’re in a better position right now than we were this time last year,” Arthur added.

“We still haven’t played our best footy, our besty footy is ahead of us.”