Arthur hopeful of quick return for Hoffman

Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is hopeful Josh Hoffman's neck injury is not serious and he will be fit to play for the Eels in their next game against the Raiders in Darwin at the end of the month.

The 31-year-old didn't move after copping an accidental knee from team-mate Mitchell Moses while making a routine tackle in the 56th minute of Parramatta's comprehensive 38-10 win.

Medical staff called for a stretcher and then the medicab to take him from the Bankwest Stadium field.

"He's gone off to hospital but there's positive signs. He's gone off for precautionary scans," Arthur said.

"I've spoken to Hoffy [in the sheds] – he seemed to be all right and in good spirits. He was getting stuck into me so he seemed to be all right."

Arthur has almost a full squad at his disposal now after several ins and outs throughout the past 13 rounds. He doesn't want to return to the bad old days of piecing a side together.

Halfback Dylan Brown, who has been out since round three with a stress fracture in his back, is on track to make the Darwin trip on June 29.

"He's training really well and tracking really well. We don't want to rush him but all indications are that's the plan," Arthur said. 

"We've got a few blokes a bit busted but nothing major. We're pretty healthy at the moment with where our squad is at."

Another key return has been lock Nathan Brown. He made 24 runs and 200 metres, a tackle-break and three offloads for his 60 minutes on the field.

It was his second game back after a pectoral tear in round one.

"He definitely takes pressure off our halves because he takes control of that middle third," Arthur said.

"Browny sort of steadies the ship through the middle and allows those other two to focus on getting to their end of the sets with their kicks, or their push."

So how did Arthur get that response from his players, after they were humiliated 42-22 by the Sharks a week earlier?

"I just asked them. Look, it was great tonight and we showed we can actually play when we want to. But it's making sure we can have the same desire, intent and attitude week in, week out," he said.

"I made some harsh comments last week about the type of team we are, but we still haven't proven we are a full-time team yet.

"It's not my job to motivate them every week. They are professional sportsmen – we've all got to individually motivate ourselves."

Another reward might be the recall of winger Blake Ferguson in to the NSW Origin side for game two in Perth.

"I thought he was great tonight, Fergo. He got back to the inside shoulders and found his front and played strong. He was great," Arthur said.

"He obviously sets the standard with the start of the sets. I would like to see him picked."