Eels coach Brad Arthur has reportedly offered his services to a rival NRL club, despite being contracted until the end of the 2024 season.
According to Nine’s Danny Weidler, Arthur’s management made the approach but the Parramatta boss claimed he was “in the dark” surrounding any negotiations.
The 48-year-old went on to say he had all intentions of remaining with the Eels until the end of his contract, hoping to win a premiership and break a 36-year drought.
“I approached Brad for comment about this. He said he’s in the dark about any such maneuverings and it’s his intentions to honour his contract with Parramatta until the end of 2024 and try to win a competition with them,” Weidler said.
“So, I guess it’s going to be a case of watch this space and see how the Eels go.”
The Bulldogs and the Dragons are likely the clubs approached by Arthur’s management according to reports.
Eels captain Clint Gutherson said he expected Arthur to address players about the reports on Tuesday.
“My partner sent it (the report) to me last night. I was in bed, we’re on a camp at the moment,” Gutherson said on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“I’ll talk to him this morning. You don’t know where it comes from and you never really listen to what’s going on around you but I’m sure he’ll say something today when we have a team meeting and we’ll move on from it pretty quickly.
“You’ve just got to roll with it. It’s always going to be out there, media stuff about Parramatta and we’re pretty used to it now.”
“… You don’t really know what’s true and what’s not so you try and stay out of it.”
Dragons head coach Anthony Griffin is contracted until the end of the 2023 season, being granted a contract extension in February this year.
Since taking over the role at the end of 2022, Griffin has managed to win 16 games and lose 25 and his situation has come under the microscope for the remaining seven games of the year.