Parramatta coach Brad Arthur is refusing to panic despite the Eels’ disastrous 0-6 start to the NRL season.

Their 18-2 defeat in Canberra on Saturday meant it is the first time in 27 years the club has lost the opening six games, only breaking through for their first win of 1991 in round eight.

Not since South Sydney in 2008 has an NRL team gone 0-6 and no team has ever recovered from such a position to make the finals.

Despite the grim statistics for a team that finished fourth on the ladder last year, Arthur said the Eels were simply down on confidence.

He left the door open for changes to the side when they face Manly next Sunday, who smashed the Eels 54-0 in round two to start the rot.

“We’ll look at the game again, but we won’t make any rash decisions tonight, we’ve got no choice but to get up and go again next week,” Arthur said in his post-match press conference.

“The effort was great and we’re trying really hard but it’s not good enough to win NRL games.”

Parramatta’s defensive efforts continue to please Arthur as they made 80 more tackles than the Raiders, but he says there is no quick fix to their attacking woes.

“We keep shooting ourselves in the foot with ill-discipline with penalties.

“We’re just down on confidence and bounce of the ball is not going away and we can’t scrounge a try at the moment, which is not great for our confidence.

“They’re having a real crack and the effort’s there, but winning is a habit and unfortunately so is losing.”

The only real positive to come out of the match was fullback Clint Gutherson’s accomplished return from an ACL injury, with Arthur praising the way the 23-year-old handled himself.