Deep inside the tunnels of CommBank Stadium back in March, Brad Arthur made a sombre prediction about his son ahead of the 2022 season.
The Eels coach told foxsports.com.au his teenager was in for a tough season in the headlines, having made his NRL debut at the club the previous year.
“It’s not easy, to tell you the truth. Sometimes his surname, people might think is a positive for him but it’s actually probably a negative for him,” Arthur said at the time.
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And so it would be, Jake played 12 games for Parramatta in 2022 and if they won there’d be silence but after losses the criticism came thick and fast for the 19-year-old.
Jake was booed by his own supporters and relentlessly trolled on social media, but he always had the unwavering support of his father who didn’t flinch in the face of nepotism accusations.
Brad also declared in March that his son “is like the rest of our kids, he’s working hard and when the opportunity comes I think will be ready”.
Jake, who is contracted until the end of next season, won seven of the 12 games he played this year – including two starting in the halves.
But the heat got turned right up in grand final week when his selection triggered uproar, despite the fact Jake had been named on the bench in the previous five games.
Pundits were calling for his spot to be filled by a more versatile player. However, there would be no late switch and the young half not only played but scored a try in the decider.
Jake told foxsports.com.au in the sheds after the grand final on Sunday that it had been a tough season and despite the outside noise, he always knew he was playing.
“It’s been a rollercoaster season but it’s been a really good challenge for me and I’ve learned a lot from this year,” he said.
“(Brad) told me on the Sunday at training that I was playing and yeah, just a crazy opportunity.
“He said to just enjoy the week and to treat it just like just another game of footy really.
“It’s disappointing to end the season like this but power to the boys, everyone had a go and it just wasn’t our night.
“Yeah it was unreal (to score) I couldn’t believe it and I’m very grateful for it. I’m still pinching myself, it’s just an unreal experience.”
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Eels five-eighth Dylan Brown, who partnered Jake in the halves in a Round 21 win over Manly, told foxsports.com.au that nothing will break the Arthur family.
“This year just shows how tough of a family they are and how mentally strong they are,” Brown said.
“They cop all the shit that comes with footy and I love them and their family, they’re unreal.
“Jake works so hard, did you see that try he scored tonight? I’d take that for sure and put it on my highlights reel.”
Heading into this year’s finals, there were questions around Brad’s ability to take the Eels to their first grand final in 13 years.
Parramatta had played finals in four of the previous five seasons but never made it past the second week in a run that included two straight sets exits.
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In his ninth year at the helm, the embattled coach needed a result and his side finally delivered with emphatic wins over the Raiders and Cowboys.
They couldn’t finish the job against arguably the best team this century, and the longest premiership doubt in the competition will extend into a 37th year, but Jake said he was proud of his dad.
Jake praised his father’s dedication to the cause and backed the Eels to go one better in 2023.
“It’s a disappointing finish tonight but we’re so proud of him, he’s worked so hard to get here, just unfortunately couldn’t get the win,” Arthur said.
“It’s been a great season overall and hopefully we can build on it next year.”
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