Trial, 2014: Manly 28 Parramatta 24

Arthur: We didn't convert our opportunities.

Hugh Humphreys
Sat, Feb 22, 2014 - 10:00 PM

Dyldam Parramatta Eels Head Coach Brad Arthur says tonight’s trial game against Manly Warringah Sea Eagles shows there’s still work to be done leading into the NRL season in a fortnight.

Arthur says he’s impressed with Will Hopoate’s first professional game in 28 months, with the centre showing plenty of effort on the field.

“He hasn’t done anything for two years so it was always going to be hard, and his first touch [assisting a try], hopefully that gives him that confidence,” Arthur said.

“He made some tough carries, and they ripped into him and he didn’t shy away from it, so I’d say it was a positive start.”

“He made his tackles and he’s going to get better as we get better around him, and obvious with improved strength he’ll get better as well, but it’s probably the first time he’s made some full-on serious tackles in two years.”

Despite the scoreline going against us 28-24, Arthur says it’s good to see which areas need to be improved.

“Obviously two different teams ran out for them and for us in the second half; and we’ve got a little bit of work to do, especially in the second half,” he said.

“Their halves have been working together for a long, long time, and their senior players too. So we’ve got a bit of work to do.”

Brad says he’s impressed with some of the efforts from our younger players, who put in a solid first half.

“Some of the young kids did really well in the first half; we created some opportunities and in the second half made three or four line breaks, we just didn’t have the support needed to convert that into points,” he said.

“But we created some opportunities, and we need to be a bit better there.”