Parramatta’s tumultuous season continues as Junior Paulo’s year has effectively ended due to a serious foot injury confirmed by scans. Paulo sustained a Lisfranc injury during Thursday night’s 32-16 defeat to South Sydney, sidelining him for eight weeks and likely ending his season.
Interim coach Trent Barrett criticized his players for contributing to their own downfall as the Eels find themselves at the bottom of the NRL ladder again. This defeat marks their fourth consecutive loss, following a week where star halfback Mitchell Moses publicly criticized his teammates and the club’s management after their previous loss to Newcastle.
The Eels have struggled with just one win since Brad Arthur’s departure, and their next permanent head coach remains undecided. Dean Young, Jason Ryles, and Josh Hannay are the final contenders, with Trent Barrett also in the mix despite a poor 1-5 record as caretaker. The board convened this week, but an official announcement isn’t expected until next week. Adding to their challenges, Paulo’s injury is causing concern, especially since Moses, Paulo, and Clint Gutherson have only been on the field together for eight out of 24 matches this year. Moses showed frustration by receiving a late sin-bin for a professional foul after the Eels missed chances to win, despite mounting pressure on Souths’ line in the first half.
Barrett emphasized the need for urgency, stating, “With nine seconds left, we can’t afford that. We have to show more desperation.” Reflecting on the game’s progress, he noted, “At 26-16, it was respectable, but allowing another ordinary try made it 30-16, which made it look like we were heavily beaten again.” He clarified, “That wasn’t the reality, but we must eliminate such lapses from our game.” Barrett criticized their lateral ball movement, saying, “We were too sideways… In wet conditions, you won’t score tries with fancy footwork.” He stressed, “Whether from a kick, drop, or playing through defenses, tries are still worth four points—they don’t have to be spectacular. We were perhaps guilty of seeking only beautiful tries.”
