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Parramatta Eels skip traditional grand final ritual in Penrith warning

Clinton Gutherson (pictured left) speaks to Mitchell Moses (pictured right) during training.
The Eels won't undergo their captain's run at Accor Stadium ahead of the final with coach brad Arthur wanting the players to stick to their routines. (Getty Images)

Eels coach Brad Arthur has opted for his team to do the captain's run at their base, instead of Accor Stadium, in a switch-up ahead of their grand final showdown against the Penrith Panthers.

Arthur wants to keep the Eels players comfortable in a bid to end a 36-year title drought in the NRL.

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And the coach feels a captain's run at the Kellyville base will help the players avoid disruption to their routine.

"The more normal we can be the better we're going to be (on Sunday)," Arthur said.

"The occasion is massive enough in itself and I don't need to add to that and build it up because they know what is at stake and how hard they've worked to get here.

"We've played plenty of footy at Homebush and I don't think a captain's run would help us, having said that I don't think it would hinder us.

"This is their routine and they are comfortable here and we'll keep it as normal as it is."

Mitchell Moses faced with pressure ahead of grand final

Arthur pointed to the Eels' preliminary final win over North Queensland in Townsville as proof that their methods had enjoyed success.

"The last thing you want to do on the one day they get to themselves is take them away from their family," he said.

"We had a hit-and-run mission where we tried to keep things as normal as we could and flew the day before and that seemed to work for us.

"I've spent a bit of time with this group now and the simpler the better for us."

Parramatta haven't made a final since 2009.

Mitchell Moses (pictured) speaking to the media.
Mitchell Moses (pictured) will have the task of guiding the Eels to their first NRL premiership in 36 years. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) (Mark Kolbe via Getty Images)

And a lot of pressure will fall on star halfback Mitchell Moses.

Moses has been in strong form in the back half of the season and will be up against Panthers leader Nathan Cleary.

The No.7 has had a busy month, celebrating the birth of his daughter, grieving the loss of his grandmother and suffering some concussion concerns.

Arthur said he admired the way Moses had continued to keep fighting, hailing his tenacity for getting the Eels back to a grand final.

"He is coming into the prime time of his career, he's always been a great competitor," Arthur said.

"He's playing tough at the moment, some of the injuries he's played through this year he has really put his body on the line for his teammates."

with AAP

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