Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson doesn't believe Brad Arthur will be waiting long to land his next NRL gig as the Eels step up their hunt for the club's next coach.
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Gutherson and halfback Mitchell Moses have a chance to return from injuries to face Cronulla on Thursday as the Eels begin to come to terms with the end of Arthur's 10-year reign.
Interim coach Trent Barrett was unable to stop the club's tough run of results last weekend, with Parramatta falling to a 42-26 defeat to South Sydney.
The club is expected to up the ante in the search for Arthur's long-term replacement over the next few weeks before making a decision on who will lead the Eels into 2025 and beyond.
Gutherson, who has been sidelined with a knee injury over the last month, shared an incredibly tight bond with Arthur and said the axed coach had been let down by his squad.
"I think any club that is looking for someone or or wants to go down the path of a new head coach, I think Brad would come straight to mind," Gutherson said.
"He has shown what he's done over the last 10 years.
"The club was in a bit of a hole when he first came here and we had some great seasons.
"The players and everyone involved loved how he worked and the work ethic he had.
"But in the end we let him down, which is disappointing, but we've got to move on from it."
Gutherson claimed Arthur had been hamstrung by injuries to key players and said the decision over the profile of the next coach was a call best asked of the club's chairman and chief executive.
"When we can get that team back on the field and playing all together, I think we'll probably click," Gutherson said.
"It's a great club. Everyone knows that. I'm sure there's a lot of people out there putting their hat in the ring to take over.
"But we've got Baz (Barrett) here at the moment and that's all we're focused on."
Australian Associated Press
