Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has hailed the consistency of his NRL squad ahead of their pivotal clash with lowly Gold Coast on Friday.
Victory over the Titans will not only book their ticket to this year’s finals series, it would also cap their most consistent campaign in 17 years.
Should Arthur’s side get the job done at Cbus Super Stadium, they will go the entire 25 rounds without dropping out of the top eight.
It is a feat not achieved at the club since the likes of Brett Hodgson, Daniel Wagon, Michael Vella, Nathan Hindmarsh and Andrew Ryan played in 2002.
“The fact that we have been in the eight shows that we have a level of some sort of consistency,” Arthur said.
It will be a major achievement for Arthur, whose team is still a chance of breaking into the top four should the sides above them drop points over the final month.
Yet while proud of their campaign so far, Arthur has bemoaned his side’s inability to produce a comprehensive, 80-minute effort.
“I suppose the lack of consistency’s been over an 80-minute period when we go into a period of the game where we concede a few tries,” he said.
“And they’re in big chunks. We’ve managed to reduce those chunks now to less damage, (but) we still haven’t got out an 80-minute effort yet.
“That’s something that we’re striving for.”
Arthur believes his team’s consistent performances have them poised for any potential ambush by the last-placed Titans.
“I think we’ve won seven of our last nine games so there’s a level of reliability there,” he said.
“But we’ve got to be able to do it week in, week out, and we’re at the end of the season where it’s probably more important.”
Meanwhile, the Eels welcome back prop Kane Evans back from injury while Tepai Moeroa drops back to the extended squad.