LeagueNews.co | Cooper McEnroe
Billy Slater has thrown his hat in the ring, joining the chorus of critics taking aim at the Parramatta Eels.
The legendary fullback pointed out that the Eels can't keep using Mitchell Moses' injury as a crutch, especially when the Panthers have been soldiering on without their own maestro, Nathan Cleary, for a good stretch now.
The pressure cooker is heating up for Eels coach Brad Arthur following an embarrassing loss to the Dolphins up in Darwin last week.
Despite holding a narrow 8-4 lead at halftime, Parramatta crumbled in the second half, succumbing to a lopsided score of 44-16.
Doubts are creeping in about whether the players are fully behind Arthur's game plan, sparking speculation about a possible coaching shake-up.
With Moses sidelined for a month, Dylan Brown has struggled to fill his shoes as the team's chief playmaker.
However, Slater insists that the Eels can't lean on Moses' absence as an excuse, highlighting the fact that the Panthers have managed to keep the wins flowing even without Cleary pulling the strings.
Both Moses and Cleary suffered injuries back in round three, with Moses nursing a fractured foot and Cleary nursing a hamstring strain.
While Cleary is set to make his return against the Cowboys this weekend, Moses is facing another month on the sidelines.
It's crunch time for the Eels as they look to turn their season around and silence the critics.