Parramatta legend Peter Sterling says Brad Arthur and Mitchell Moses have emphatically answered their critics, believing no one deserves a premiership more than the maligned halfback.
The Eels are one win away from breaking a 36-year title drought after qualifying for the grand final with a gutsy come-from-behind win against North Queensland on Friday night. The last Eels side to win a title was the class of 1986, with every player to subsequently wear the blue and gold burdened by the history that comes with the ever-growing drought.
None more than the Parramatta halfbacks, who are forever compared to Sterling, the last man to lead them to the title. Moses, who missed the birth of his first child for the Townsville clash, is the most recent to carry the expectation that comes with the No.7 jersey.
Sterling, who followed Parramatta’s win over the Cowboys while holidaying in the Cook Islands, said Moses possessed all the qualities of a premiership-winning halfback.
“Absolutely. He’s 28 years of age, his time has been the last couple of years,” Sterling told The Sun-Herald. “I thought he did a great job in Origin; he’s stepped up.
“For him to take his place [on Friday], doesn’t that put things into perspective? It must have been a horrendous decision to make: the birth of your first child or a chance to go into your first grand final.
Peter Sterling during the 1986 grand final win.Credit:SMH
“It just shows what it means to him to make that decision. We hope it’s completely justified, we hope his partner understands, we hope his child understands down the track as well. Something like that, it puts things in perspective as to what it means.
“He’s been a quality player for a long time now. Wearing the jersey, I feel sorry for blokes who have worn the seven; they shouldn’t have to be part of that poisoned chalice [narrative].
“He’s a quality player, a good bloke. They all deserve success, and he much more than anyone, because when the side isn’t going well, a lot of the criticism comes back on the No.7.”
Moses isn’t the only Eel who has been a lightning rod for criticism. Coach Arthur has also received plenty of flak. A recent club review even found there were perceptions of nepotism in its junior pathways. While there was no suggestion this extended to Arthur or his professional relationship with his son, back-up playmaker Jake, it didn’t stop detractors from taking pot shots.
They have been under fire from critics but Mitchell Moses and Brad Arthur are having the last laugh.Credit:Getty, NRL Photos
However, Sterling said Arthur had done a tremendous job in helping to turn around a club that earned a wooden spoon in 2018.
“Brad and the players have answered [critics] with their performances,” he said. “He’s come out and said there may be agendas out there, but it’s not going to break the side.
“That’s clearly evident. If there were any cracks, it would have been in the last 10 minutes [against the Cowboys]. They have handled it really well.
“Sometimes you’re better off addressing it and putting it to bed, otherwise it lingers around. Brad did that, said that it’s ridiculous and there are no problems within the group, that’s all that matters to us.
‘He’s been a quality player for a long time now. Wearing the jersey, I feel sorry for blokes who have worn the seven.’
Peter Sterling on Mitchell Moses.
“They’ve answered that in kind. Any criticism of Brad Arthur goes out the window; the fact he’s in a grand final and has been knocking on the door the last few years. Especially where we’ve come from, having finished 16th not that long ago. The results speak for themselves.
“If they can get the job done next week, it would be really justified, how far they have come and how hard they have worked.”
Sterling has kept a low profile since retiring from commentary duties last year. The former NSW and Australia No.7 prefers to keep out of the spotlight, but took time out from his holiday to wish his former club the best in the decider.
“We’re in a great position,” he said.
“Coming into a grand final, we just need to enjoy it and soak it up. Hopefully we can play our best football. If we do that, we’ve shown we can beat any side, and that includes Penrith. We’ve shown that this year.
“We have every reason to be confident. We are all excited. It’s been too long. We’re a big club and we deserve success, we’ve worked hard for it.
“There’s no reason why we won’t attain it next week.”
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