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Parramatta coach Brad Arthur says the Eels' were "embarrassed" in their 34-4 NRL loss to Canterbury.
Parramatta coach Brad Arthur has lashed his team's effort in their 34-4 loss to Canterbury, labelling it as embarrassing and accusing his players of lacking desire.
The Eels turned in easily their worst performance of the year on Monday afternoon, dominated in the middle and blown to pieces from the Bulldogs backs.
Poor in attack, the Eels looked off from their opening set when they made a mess of their last-tackle play before blowing a try through an obstruction moments later.
They offered up two intercept tries for the Bulldogs and desperately lacked line speed as they failed to put any kick-pressure on Matt Burton as he ran riot for Canterbury.
"I'm just very disappointed with the effort," Arthur said.
"I am disappointed as a club today in both grades. We had 34 players who didn't own their jobs.
"We didn't come with any hunger, any want or any desire.
"Credit to the opposition. They wanted it more than us today. They were desperate.
"It was embarrassing."
Parramatta's inconsistency remains one of the most puzzling aspects of 2022 as they sit two points out of the top-four in sixth place on the NRL ladder.
They remain only team to have won in either Melbourne or Penrith this year, but have also dropped games to competition battlers Canterbury and Wests Tigers.
Usually one of the best teams in the competition through the middle of the ruck, Parramatta tried to be too expansive too early against the Bulldogs.
The result came with three forwards backing up from State of Origin, while Eels players were given five days off during their bye round.
"There is no excuse whatsoever. We were just beaten to the punch physically," Arthur said.
"Any option we took today was a soft shortcut, cheap option. We didn't want to take any tough option.
"Whether we disrespected ourselves or the opposition or just thought we could go through the motions.
"We went from sideline to sideline. We didn't run into the contest, we ran away from it.
"And then you try and pass your way around it instead of running into it."