Last year the Panthers’ private theme as they scaled the premiership heights was all related to climbing and conquering Mt Everest. This year players have let slip they have a new theme, “the mission”, which will be unveiled should they win Sunday’s decider.
Every step they take in this finals campaign is being caught on camera as the club films a documentary on its season. That will only be aired if they win, however. Cameras have been seen following the team around and it may explain why trainer Pete Green was miked up during the preliminary final win over South Sydney. That may have been fortuitous as audio evidence is said to clear Green of any wrongdoing in his verbal encounter with South Sydney’s Jed Cartwright, a former Panthers player.
The players are remaining tight-lipped about their season theme, but a couple have let slip clues about what they are using to inspire them through a long year.
“Yeah, just call it ‘the mission’,” Liam Martin said. “Last year it was about Everest and that was our theme. This year it’s something else.”
We asked Nathan Cleary about the nature of “the mission” and he acknowledged its existence, but little else. “I can’t tell you about ‘the mission’ – I won’t tell you anything about it,” he said.
This column has been told the theme is based on the idea of a “mission against the odds”. Some players have used the words “mission accomplished” after games. There was also a question raised in the playing group at the start of the season: “Last year we conquered our Everest – do we aim for the moon?
The reason for the secret nature of their “mission” is that a big part of the value of it is keeping it within the playing group.
FOX AND HOUND
The Panthers won’t say it publicly but legal action is being considered following attacks on trainer Pete Green. The angry men on Fox Sports criticised Green for his alleged attack on South Sydney’s Jed Cartwright.
Cartwright says Green did not say what was reported to have been said. Panthers coach Ivan Cleary mentioned defamation when interviewed during the week, but stopped short of suggesting legal action would be taken. The Panthers didn’t want to follow it up with the grand final their priority during the week, but it could become an issue in the future.
ARTHUR’S MENTAL STRENGTH SHINES THROUGH
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has known for at least 12 months that it was grand final or bust when it came to his career.
However, even in his most troubled times his wife, Michelle, had faith in his mental strength and ability to coach. At a time when coaches’ mental health has become an issue for the first time, following the tragic death of Paul Green, Arthur has become a poster boy for resilience and durability.
Privately, Arthur had been telling his confidantes at the club that he wanted to make sure everything from the junior pathways to the first-grade roster were in good shape because he loves the club – but it’s hard not to think he was doing it in case things were taken out of his hands. It may explain why his agent approached the Bulldogs to see if he had a shot at a job there – if he needed it.
But through it all, Arthur has come across as strong as anyone in the game – and he’s had to be because he’s been fighting off scrutiny of his coaching and attacks on his methods for much of his time at the Eels. But it has not been the personal swipes – which in recent times have been coming from high-profile broadcaster Ray Hadley – which really had an impact on him. Instead, it’s dealing with losses.
“I wonder about the stress of it, but he loves coaching and I’ve never asked him to reconsider it,” wife Michelle said. “I on’t know what else he’d do. He’s very mentally strong and he’s quite good at not really caring what other people think – and not caring about what they think about him. But when they’re losing he definitely feels like he’s letting people down, so he won’t go out very much; he’ll avoid going to the shops or restaurants or anywhere because he just feels like he’s letting people down and he doesn’t want to see anyone.”
There was an indication during the week of how little impact media scrutiny has on Arthur. The Arthurs were celebrating the birthday of son and grand final bench player Jake when Hadley arrived at the same restaurant. Arthur had never met Hadley so he approached him and introduced himself – despite Hadley’s criticism of him.
Part of Arthur’s coping process is training himself with the same intensity as he drives his players.
“He doesn’t sleep much,” Michelle said. “So he might be up early and he will do the household chores. He’s actually very helpful. He also exercises a lot. I sed to think when they used to say that there were leaks at Parramatta, I would always think that it was him because he walks the streets and/or runs the streets and he has these earplugs in and he’s on the phone all the time. And I think that our whole suburb can hear everything that’s going on as he just runs around and around and around. It’s kind of his outlet.
Brad and Michelle Arthur at the Dally M awards.Credit:Getty
“You’ve probably spoken to him before and you can hear him puffing down the phone as he’s running. I think the route that he does is five kilometres, but he can do that a number of times a day. It’s a stress and energy release.
“I think he also likes to be able to kind of compete with the boys when they’re doing things, like he’ll always try and get in and if he’s asking them to do something, he will get in and do it himself as well.”
Brad’s best quality is his loyalty to Michelle and the family.
“I know he comes across as quite intense and quite stern probably, but he’s not, he’s actually quite soft,” Michelle said. “He’s a good family man. He’s a really good dad and quite a bit of a softy.”
But is he romantic? “Not at all,” Michelle said with a laugh. “It’s our 20-year wedding anniversary this year and I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know what date it is.”
REED A TRUE GIANT
Reed Mahoney has more than a grand final on his mind as he runs out for the Eels for the last time tonight. He also wants to deliver a message of perseverance.
“I want to show all kids out there who are told they should give up because they are too small that they should keep going,” he said. “It happened to me and I didn’t listen, and I’m glad. I love being the little guy in the land of the giants. I love the physical challenges I face and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else.”
Departing Eels hooker Reed Mahoney.Credit:Getty
Mahoney admits his career would not have got to this point if it was not for some extremely tough love from Eels coach Brad Arthur.
“He gave me some real rockets early on,” Mahoney said. “I thought I was doing enough with my approach to the game, but I clearly was not. He questioned my work ethic and let me know I had so much more to do if I wanted to make it.
“That put me on the path to where I am today. It taught me what I needed to do. I think he must have seen something to be bothered giving me a rocket, so I’m grateful.”
FISH SPLASHES OUT
There has been huge demand on players to look after family with tickets to the grand final. James Fisher-Harris is right up there with his outlay. Teammates say he’s spent more than $9000 on tickets for family and friends. Clint Gutherson will have a 45-strong support crew busing in from the northern beaches.
EEL’S PAINFUL CALL
Isaiah Papali’i called out Jason Taumalolo in the lead-up to last weekend’s preliminary final. And he feels it backfired.
Papali’i has conceded that the giant Cowboy had eyes for him throughout the game in Townsville. He says JT put more into his attack and defence whenever they came in contact.
Papali’i is mates with Viliame Kikau and was considering calling him out for the grand final, but thought better of it and backed out of the idea. The clash will be one to watch regardless.
ROYCE’S ADVICE
Panthers legend Royce Simmons says he has “no regrets” about suggesting that Brad Arthur should take up coaching after Simmons told him he wouldn’t make it as a player. But Simmons admits that could all change tonight.
“He was not that big, not that fast, but he could have played a fair bit of first grade,” Simmons said. “He was very smart as a player and because he was never going to play 200 games I said a coaching career would be the way to go. He took it very well. True to the kind of person he is, Brad is always thanking me. I’ve enjoyed seeing what he has done and I don’t regret it.”
But that may change. “Yeah, I can’t wish him too much luck this week,” Simmons said. “Of course, I want him to do well, but not against Penrith in a grand final.”
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