Parramatta captain Clint Gutherson has thrown his assist behind Jakob Arthur after post-match abuse from followers prompted a heartbreaking remark from the younger Parramatta half.
Arthur began in Parramatta’s loss to Canberra on Saturday with Mitchell Moses out as a result of concussion, and was abused by supporters exterior the dressing rooms post-match, in accordance with a fan who posted in a Facebook supporter.
“After the game last night we went down to see the players. As they came out they were happy to give their time to sign stuff and take pics,” the fan wrote.
“There was a group of dead set f***wits there when they saw Jakob come out they started bagging him pretty hard.
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‘I couldn’t help but to tell them to pull their heads in, the gutless wonders mumbled something under their breaths and squirmed off.”
The supporter then revealed one other unhappy second that adopted.
“… A friend of mine then asked him (Arthur) for an autograph which he responded ‘are you sure?’.
‘That had to be one of the most heartbreaking things I have ever seen, a young bloke trying his best for a team he loves and being hammered by his own supporters.’
NRL legend Laurie Daley said on Tuesday reading about the incident nearly reduced him to tears and that criticism copped by Arthur, son of Eels coach Brad, in recent years when playing in first grade was unacceptable.
“Geez I find that unsavoury when people do that. He’s a young boy out there doing his best and people want to be critical of him,” Daley mentioned on the Big Sports Breakfast.
Gutherson mentioned Arthur was “fine” after the incident however echoed Daley’s sentiments.
“He’s a very strong character and he’s copped a lot … he’s never deserved anything that he’s got,” Gurtherson mentioned on the Big Sports Breakfast.
“It’s never just anyone’s fault that you lose a game of footy, it’s a team sport. I thought he was good on the weekend, he played good footy. He probably missed one kick at the start of the second half there and he’s his own toughest critic.
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“We all stand by Jakey when he comes into the team and it definitely wasn’t his fault we lost on the weekend. All the fans, they’re just looking for an excuse and for some reason it’s always Jakey. I’d rather put my hand up and take that heat off him.”
Arthur has revealed abuse from followers, each on-line and in-person, since making his debut in 2021 and mentioned had shut down a few of his social media accounts due to the abuse.
“I don’t read any of (the criticism), and I’ve been off social media since the start of the year,’ Athur said last year.
‘… it (doesn’t) really bother me. I tried to take it as a challenge and enjoy that extra pressure instead of shying away from it. I was taught at a young age to not respond.”
Source: www.foxsports.com.au