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Parramatta youngster Jake Arthur has opened up on his love for analysing rugby league, crediting Andrew Johns and his father Brad for nurturing his passion.

Parramatta youngster Jake Arthur credits phone calls with Andrew Johns and a lifetime of watching rugby league with Eels coach and father Brad for his love of analysing the game.

The young Arthur has been the subject of social media trolling and booing from sections of the Eels crowd when handed chances at NRL level this year, with claims of nepotism at the crux of the negative attention.

But after playmaker Mitchell Moses went down with a finger injury, Arthur silenced his critics with a strong performance starting at halfback in Friday night's 36-20 defeat of Manly.

With the game on the line in the second half, Arthur threw the cut-out pass that helped Parramatta claw back to within two points, and later helped extend his side's lead by sending a grubber kick through for Will Penisini.

Arthur has been consulting with NRL great Johns, who is on staff at the Eels, since making his debut last season and revealed his passion for studying the work of the competition's best halves.

"I just love footy. I watch pretty much every game most weeks," he said.

"I'm just always trying to look for ways to get better. Joey really helped me with that. He picks things to detail.

"He's always ringing me and helping me out."

But Arthur's love for analysis predates his professional career. The 19-year-old has spent his youth watching the NRL alongside the man set to become the Eels' longest serving coach by the end of his contract.

"Me and my little brother, ever since we were young, we'd just sit there and watch footy with (Arthur) all the time. It 100 per cent rubs off," he said.

"Sometimes he doesn't want anyone talking, then other times he'll see what other teams do to see if it'd work for us."

Arthur said he hadn't let negative comments faze him as he looked to cement his spot in the spine for the remainder of Moses' injury.

"I haven't really worried about it. I've just waited for my opportunity and have been trying to play my best footy," he said.