‘Future of the club’: Arthur’s bold call

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is adamant he has “100 per cent” support from club officials amid flagging fortunes and retains that same level of optimism that boom youngster Blaize Talagi will remain with the Eels.

With just three wins from the opening eight games, Arthur’s side is in 12th place on the NRL ladder ahead of a Friday showdown with the Broncos in Brisbane without captain and fullback Clint Gutherson.

Playmaker Dylan Brown has been elevated to co-captain for the match, with 19-year-old Talagi set to wear the No.1 jersey in a big show of faith from the coach who labelled the teen star the “future of the club”.

Talagi reportedly failed to trigger an option in his contract to remain at Parramatta for 2025 and can field offers from around the league, but Arthur already has plans for him as Gutherson’s potential long-term successor.

“All the indications from us are that he is the future of the club,” Arthur said on Thursday.

“I’ve had a conversation with Blaize – he’s only a kid, so I try not to have too many of these conversations with him and just keep them footy related – but the only question that I’ve asked him is: Does he want to be at the club? He told me he does. That’s half the battle.

“The club’s been working with his management trying to get something sorted. Both parties have been working hard at that.

“He wants to be here, so it will sort itself out.”

The Eels have lost four of their last five games on the back of missing finals last season, putting Arthur’s own long-term future in the spotlight.

But he said the internal support allowed him to “not coach scared”, which paved the way for the Talagi decision and removed the pressure to coach for his career having spent 11 seasons in charge.

“(The speculation) doesn’t bother me,” he said.

“I know I’ve got (the Eels’) support and I 100 per cent mean that. I’m grateful for it.

“It allows me still to be able to coach and not coach scared and put people in the team like Blaize at fullback this week, knowing that’s what’s best for the club.”

With Mitch Moses a chance to return from his foot fracture for next week’s clash against Melbourne in Magic Round, Arthur said giving Brown the chance to be skipper was a good moment for everyone at the club.

“When I told (Brown) about being captain, he couldn’t get the smile off his face,” Arthur said.