Trent Barrett calls for Parramatta to confirm their new coach immediately amid fears star recruit Zac Lomax may backflip on Eels contract

Parramatta interim coach Trent Barrett has called on club officials to make a decision as soon as possible on who will officially replace Brad Arthur, who arrived at work on Wednesday with no word yet on his long-term future with the Eels.

Barrett said making everything “public” could also be crucial to ensuring NSW State of Origin winger Zac Lomax does not reverse his decision to play for the club next year.

Parramatta’s board met on Tuesday night and a decision was expected to be made on whether Barrett, Jason Ryles, Josh Hannay or Dean Young would take over as manager for 2025.

It is understood the board will not make any public announcements until after Thursday’s match against South Sydney, and for Barrett, that can’t come soon enough.

“I think so. I think for everyone, the club and the players,” Barrett said when asked if the club should make an announcement as soon as possible.

“But it hasn’t really affected the players that much. They are professionals. It’s not something you experience regularly, but they have to experience it. Their job is to play and play well.”

Barrett’s cause was not helped by three straight defeats, which now leaves the Eels second-last in the NRL rankings, with just four wins this season.

But the interim coach is convinced that his team is playing better than the results suggest.

Barrett also fears NSW State of Origin winger Zac Lomax will reverse his decision to leave the Dragons and join the Eels as uncertainty continues

“We haven’t quite got the results we wanted in the last few weeks, but they’re playing a good style of football at the moment. We just can’t cross the line,” he said.

‘We’ve been pretty unlucky the last three weeks. We got that really good win over Cronulla and we could have won the last three games, especially at the weekend against Newcastle.

‘There were three tries that we thought were tries, and three of them came from our dropped balls and from 90 yards out.

‘If you look at the games, I’m quite happy with the performances. We just couldn’t win.’

Lomax signed a four-year contract to move to Parramatta when Arthur was still coach there.

Following reports that the sought-after St George Illawarra star was in doubt, Barrett said a decision on the coach could allay fears. Asked if he feared a change of heart, he said: ‘I hope not’.

“I know Zac very well, he needs to know too,” Barrett said.

“He probably signed here under the impression that Brad was the coach. It’s always tough on individuals when things like this happen. Once it’s out in the open, it’s better for everyone.”