Over the last few years in the NRL there have been a few guarantees—Melbourne and Manly challenging for a top four position, Queensland winning the Origin, referees making blunders and Parramatta contending for the wooden spoon. For the avid fan, this has almost become something to expect.

From the diabolical board, the over spending on players and the coaching merry go round; the Eels have been locked in mediocrity since their memorable run to the Grand Final in 09.

This season is different. Very different and even as a Manly fan, I can feel that the Eels are ready to turn the corner.

Why you ask?

Well, for the first time in a number of years, I believe they have made the correct choice with their selection of a coach.

Enter Brad Arthur.

His CV and experience speak for themselves with Arthur tasting both first grade and under 20s premiership success with the Storm.  The former Horticulturalist was also on the Eels’ coaching staff in 2012 when board decided to part ways with current Kiwi coach, Stephen Kearney.

It was during that spell that Arthur really impressed me as he was able to automatically changethe  attitude of the team and have them play a more exciting and competitive brand of football. In that span the Eels won two from six and many expected that Arthur would be trusted to steer the club in the near future.

But in typical Parramatta fashion, they messed it up and elected to bring a high profile signing in Ricky Stuart. The move didn’t really make much sense as Stuart had been fired from his two previous jobs and seemed like his tactics and methods were wearing out on modern day players.

Sure enough, by the end of his first season Stuart had worn out his welcome and decided to bolt for his dream job in the nation’s capital, whereas Brad was on the brink of tasting premiership success with another club—the Manly Sea Eagles.

The time came to make the logical choice and luckily for new Chairman — Steve Sharp, who was still out voted 4-2 by the incompetent Eels board – was able to get his man.

Since then Arthur has said all the right things. He wants to build the club up through its huge junior base, which over the last few years has been more of a feeder club to the rest of the league.

The Daily Telegraph recently revealed that Arthur is so determined to stop the rot, he’s employed club greats Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt to head a specialist mentoring scheme.

 Under the new program, the pair will work specifically with local juniors identified as future stars. And at the top of that list are Tanginoa, centre Jacob Loko and 2011 Australian Schoolboys prop Junior Paulo.

“Everyone knows the potential of those three guys,” Arthur revealing to the Telegraph.

“But, importantly for us, they don’t walk around at training like they’ve already played 50 or 60 NRL games.

“And that’s one of the reasons we’ve employed Nath and Burty to come in once a week and work with them. I want people at this club who love the Parramatta Eels.”

But Arthur still has his work cut for him. He has a star signing that hasn’t played a competitive game in over two years, an under achieving high priced halfback who’s off field troubles have been well documented, and a board that is in constant disarray.

Many feel that the former backrower is up to the task, with Manly insiders recently claiming that a few of the players feel Arthur is up there with one of the best, if not the best coach that they’ve played under during their time.

That’s a huge wrap, considering most of the squad has also played under great coaches such as Des Hasler and most recently, Geoff Toovey.

So far the Parramatta players are also praising the work that the former local junior has put into place with Tim Mannah recently telling the Daily Telegraph of the improvements he has seen in Arthur since his care taker role a couple of years ago.

“I can see the growth and development he has got from going there and Parramatta is better off for it.” Mannah said.

Whether that growth and development will automatically translate to a finals berth in 2014 is not yet known. However, the attitude that the Eels can compete in every game will be instilled into the players right from the get go.

It is this belief in his players and the system which may finally elevate the Parramatta club from the wooden spooners, to the Silver spooners.

Maybe there are no guarantees in life.