Parramatta Eels Part Ways with Coach Brad Arthur, Super League Tactician Eyed as Potential Replacement
In a surprising move, struggling NRL side Parramatta Eels have sacked their head coach, Brad Arthur, with immediate effect. The team’s slow start to the 2024 season, sitting 14th in the league table with just three wins from their opening 10 games, has led to the club’s decision to part ways with Arthur.
The Eels’ 48-16 humiliation against the Melbourne Storm in the NRL’s magic round was the final straw, as the team’s poor performance and -103 points difference, the second-worst in the league, sealed Arthur’s fate. The long-serving coach, who had been in charge since 2014 and guided the Eels to an NRL Grand Final during his tenure, was unable to defend his position after the lopsided defeat.
Now, the focus has shifted to potential replacements, with one of Super League’s leading head coaches, Steve McNamara of the Catalans Dragons, being linked with a move to Parramatta. Reports have suggested that McNamara was a leading candidate to replace Ricky Stuart back in 2013, and recent commentary has touted him as the “perfect replacement” for the ousted Arthur.
“Despite signing a new deal in February to remain in Perpignan until the end of the 2026 season, a genuine offer from the NRL could tempt McNamara to make the switch.”
The Eels have put former Wigan Warriors star Trent Barrett in temporary charge as interim head coach until the end of the 2024 season, while they search for a long-term replacement. Barrett, who enjoyed a successful playing career with 15 caps for Australia and 11 appearances for New South Wales in State of Origin, has previous experience as a head coach with Manly Sea Eagles and Canterbury Bulldogs. The Eels are determined to find the right leader to guide the team back to success in the 2025 season and beyond.
đź”— Source
