(Attention eds language warning 17th par)

By Ian McCullough

SYDNEY, March 28 AAP – Parramatta coach Brad Arthur believes his forwards have the potential to be ranked as the best in the NRL after they dominated South Sydney’s much-vaunted pack on Friday.

The Eels’ slick off-loading, pace around the ruck and ability to muscle up in defence caught the Rabbitohs’ big men off-guard as they chalked up a shock 29-16 to end their opponents’ unbeaten start to the season.

“I am pretty happy with the forward pack we’ve got and they’ve got a good pack that is one of the best,” Arthur said.

“But I think if our boys aim up like that every week we should be talked about like that.

“But the challenge for our forwards is to do it week in week out and at this stage we haven’t done that.”

Former Rabbitohs Nathan Peats and Chris Sandow were instrumental in the victory with the little halfback playing a starring role with a try, three goals, a field goal and two assists.

The usually taciturn Arthur said he was delighted with the form of Sandow and said he knew before the game the mercurial playmaker would have a big night.

“As I said during the week, I thought his energy at training was good and his energy when he got here to the game was good,” Arthur said.

“You just know with Chrissy when he’s on. He had a few things play with his mind last week but he turned it around for us.”

Peats was associated with Souths from the age of 12, and captained the under-20s team that lost in the 2010 grand final to the Warriors.

He moved to the Eels last season after becoming frustrated by a lack of opportunities due to the presence of Issac Luke only for his season to be curtailed by a serious knee injury.

Friday was the first time Peats had played against his former club and he said he’d been looking forward to the game for the entire off-season.

“It was a great feeling at the end there, I was carrying on a bit but I was pretty happy and excited,” Peats said.

“But we can’t just be good at Pirtek Stadium and not any other stadium and need to beat the Tigers next Monday.”

Peats was at the centre of a concussion debate against the Warriors last week when he returned to the field after sustaining a head knock in Auckland.

The hooker said he was upset at allegations levelled against Arthur that he put pressure on him to return to the game when he wasn’t fit enough.

“The only thing that really pissed me off was people saying that Brad threw me back on and overruled it (the doctor).

“He’s not only my coach but he’s my mate. He would never jeopardise my health. He got the all clear and brought me back on.”