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Eels shun Accor Stadium NRL captain's run

Eels coach Brad Arthur has sought to keep the disruption to Parramatta's plans to a minimum by not going into camp or having a captain's run at Accor Stadium.

Eels head coach BRAD ARTHUR talks to Corey Norman during a Parramatta Eels NRL training session in Sydney, Australia.
Eels head coach BRAD ARTHUR talks to Corey Norman during a Parramatta Eels NRL training session in Sydney, Australia. Picture: Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images

Parramatta won't partake in a captain's run at Accor Stadium on Saturday, with coach Brad Arthur seeking to keep things as simple as possible for his premiership-chasing Eels.

As well as shunning a practice run at the venue for Sunday's meeting with Penrith, the Eels have opted against bunkering down in camp.

Parramatta are seeking to end a 36-year title drought, but by opting to have their final training session at their Kellyville base Arthur has sought to avoid disruption to their routine.

"The more normal we can be the better we're going to be (on Sunday)," Arthur said.

"The occasion is massive enough in itself and I don't need to add to that and build it up because they know what is at stake and how hard they've worked to get here.

"We've played plenty of footy at Homebush and I don't think a captain's run would help us, having said that I don't think it would hinder us.

"This is their routine and they are comfortable here and we'll keep it as normal as it is."

Arthur pointed to the Eels' preliminary final win over North Queensland in Townsville as proof that their methods had enjoyed success.

"The last thing you want to do on the one day they get to themselves is take them away from their family," he said.

"We had a hit-and-run mission where we tried to keep things as normal as we could and flew the day before and that seemed to work for us.

"I've spent a bit of time with this group now and the simpler the better for us."

Arthur is aware of the weight of expectation on his side in the build-up to Sunday.

It's the Eels' first grand final since 2009 and halfback Mitchell Moses is the man tasked with steering Parramatta to ending their wait for a title.

The No.7 has had a busy month, celebrating the birth of his daughter, grieving the loss of his grandmother and suffering some concussion concerns.

Arthur said he admired the way Moses had continued to keep fighting, hailing his tenacity for getting the Eels back to a grand final.

"He is coming into the prime time of his career, he's always been a great competitor," Arthur said.

"He's playing tough at the moment, some of the injuries he's played through this year he has really put his body on the line for his teammates."

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