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A focus on defence and enjoying their work has got the reigning wooden spooners off to a winning start, with Eels coach Brad Arthur praising his side's defensive attitude.

"We had a period in the first half where we defended five sets, got the ball back, went down the other end of the field and scored some points so defensively we were strong," Arthur said after the side's 36-16 win over the Warriors at Pirtek Stadium.

"We've still got a couple of things there we can work on and improve, those last 10 minutes we put the cue in the rack, we needed to be a little bit more ruthless there," he added.

Despite both wingers, Semi Radradra and Vai Toutai, scoring hat tricks, Arthur said it was the forwards who paved the way for the win.

"[Coming over to the club] I just wanted to make sure they had a real desire and a want," he said.

"It's not always going to be pretty, the scoreline doesn't reflect to me [the nature of the game]. It's just about finding a way to get the two points.

"We want the boys to enjoy coming to training, to their workplace, and have a bit of passion about what they're doing."

The win for the first-graders capped off the first time in three or more years that all five grades have won their fixture, he said, but he maintained the club has still got a long way to go. "We've got to roll up again next week against the Roosters who are going to be tough."

Eels skipper Jarryd Hayne agreed the forwards laid the platform for the win.

"It was obviously very aggressive; I thought our defence was a standout and the forwards really set the tone," Hayne said.

"There was a bit there it was 50/50 and they were making a bit of a comeback but our forwards really stood up and our backs complemented them with the way we finished off the plays."
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