Next up in this NRL season preview series we have a look at the Parramatta Eels and how they are shaping up for 2015.
In 2014, they made massive improvements from the 2013 season under coach Brad Arthur, but in the end they just missed out on making the top eight.
Looking forward to 2015, the Eels will be expecting nothing less than last season and will no doubt be hoping their stars can help replace the void left by club legend and NSW fullback Jarryd Hayne’s departure to America.
While this could have a massive influence on the Eels’ season, they have not been as reliant on Hayne as they were before Brad Arthur’s tenure as coach and therefore should be able to continue to improve without him. There is no question, however, that finding a replacement for him is next to impossible, and it is going to take a whole team effort.
Their playmakers such as Chris Sandow, Corey Norman and whoever moves into fullback along with returning hooker Nathan Peats need to really pick up the creativity burden, while the rest of the squad have to do their job to support these players.
Pre-season fixtures
Jan 31 – Feb 1: Auckland Nines versus Newcastle Knights, St George Illawarra Dragons and Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Feb 13: versus Wests Tigers @ Alice Springs
Feb 21: versus Penrith Panthers @ Sportsbet Stadium
The Parramatta Eels’ pre-season is an interesting one. After the Auckland Nines, they take on Wests Tigers in Alice Springs. Interestingly this game falls on the same weekend as the NRL All-Star game, which would seem to be a strange call. But looking further into it, both clubs will be wanting to test some new combinations for what could become a prolonged period during the game.
From the Eels point of view they have lost Hayne and need to see exactly where they are headed, so mabe playing without their players that were selected to the All-Star squad will give Arthur a chance to see who is the best fit for the fullback role.
Their other trial is against the Penrith Panthers, and this should serve as a good hit out for the Eels to try and build some momentum coming into the season against a club that performed well last year and are expected to go very well again this year.
Ins and outs
2015 gains
Beau Champion (South Sydney Rabbitohs, 2015), Ben Crooks (Hull FC, 2016), Isaac De Gois (Mid Season: Cronulla Sharks, 2016), Richie Fa’aoso (2015), Cody Nelson (Gold Coast Titans, 2016), Adam Quinlan (St George Illawarra Dragons, 2015), Reece Robinson (Canberra Raiders, 2015), Brad Takairangi (Gold Coast Titans, 2015), Anthony Watmough (Manly Sea Eagles, 2018) and Danny Wicks (2015).
2015 losses
Mitchell Allgood (Hull Kingston Rovers), Evander Cummins (QueenslandCup), Liam Foran (London Broncos), Daniel Harrison (London Broncos), Jarryd Hayne (NFL), Jacob Loko (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs), Lorenzo Ma’Afu (QueenslandCup), Fuifui Moimoi (Leigh Centurions), Lee Mossop (Wigan Warriors), Api Pewhairangi (New Zealand Warriors), Brenden Santi (Wests Tigers), Ken Sio (Hull Kingston Rovers), Ben Smith (retired), Kelepi Tanginoa (North Queensland Cowboys) and Willie Tonga (Catalan Dragons).
The Parramatta Eels have had what looks like a very solid recruitment of players over the off-season. They have picked up arguably the biggest signing for this year in Anthony Watmough from the Manly Sea Eagles and have added plenty of spare pieces that could really solve the jigsaw of the Eels’ final 17.
Players like Beau Champion, Adam Quinlan, Reece Robinson and the returning Danny Wicks could prove vital. All of them seem to be good recruitment options for the Eels in their current state and the players they have let go of seem to have been well thought out.
Apart from Jarryd Hayne, who a team would never wilfully let go of, the Eels haven’t lost any other massive names, just players that were fringe first grade players or not even in the reckoning for a shot at the Eels’ best 17.
Draw analysis
The Eels are just one of a raft of teams that will be looking to make an exceptionally strong start to their 2015 NRL season. After having an inconsistent 2014, the Eels need to come out and make a statement at the start of the season. However, this is going to be a lot easier said than done.
They start their season against the Manly Sea Eagles, followed up by a tough clash against the 2014 grand finalists in the Canterbury Bulldogs before a trip across the Tasman to play the Warriors. This is all capped off by a Round 4 clash against last year’s premiers the South Sydney Rabbitohs.
For a club that needs to make an early statement in 2015, there would be no better way to do it than beat all these clubs, however if they don’t show up for these games, they won’t have Hayne to revive them and could be looking at four losses to start their season.
The Eels will then look to excel in the middle part of the season before they come up against a challenging run home, playing the Bulldogs, Cowboys, Panthers, Roosters and Sea Eagles within the last eight weeks of the competition, meaning if the pressure is on them in the back end of the season to win games it will be easier said than done.
The Eels’ home games are spread evenly around their season but they play four away games in between Rounds 20 and 24, and a home game in Darwin, which is going to make like very difficult for the Blue and Gold. The teams the Parramatta Eels will play twice during the 2015 NRL season are the Manly Sea Eagles, New Zealand Warriors, South Sydney Rabbitohs, North Queensland Cowboys, Melbourne Storm, Canterbury Bulldogs, Wests Tigers, Gold Coast Titans and Penrith Panthers.
Predicted impact of State of Origin
Very little. Anthony Watmough should be selected for the New South Wales side but with no Hayne in the Eels squad it is hard to see where the Eels will have any other players selected for the State of Origin series in 2015.
Predicted finish and final word
For the Eels, they have had decent recruitment, but with a tough draw I just can’t see them overcoming the loss of Jarryd Hayne. Tipping them to miss out on the top eight.
Season fixtures
R1 Fri 06 Mar 2015, 7:45pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Sea Eagles
R2 Fri 13 Mar 2015, 7:35pm, ANZ Stadium Bulldogs V Eels
R3 Sat 21 Mar 2015, 3:00pm, Mt Smart Stadium Warriors V Eels
R4 Fri 27 Mar 2015, 7:35pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Rabbitohs
R5 Mon 06 Apr 2015, 3:00pm, ANZ Stadium Eels V Wests Tigers
R6 Sat 11 Apr 2015, 3:00pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Titans
R7 Sun 19 Apr 2015, 4:00pm, Hunter Stadium Knights V Eels
R8 Sat 25 Apr 2015, 8:00pm, Suncorp Stadium Broncos V Eels
R9 Sun 10 May 2015, 4:00pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Storm
R10 Sat 16 May 2015, 3:00pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Warriors
R11 Fri 22 May 2015, 7:45pm, ANZ Stadium Rabbitohs V Eels
R12 Fri 29 May 2015, 7:45pm, Sportingbet Stadium Panthers V Eels
R13 Mon 08 Jun 2015, 7:00pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Cowboys
R14 Mon 15 Jun 2015, 7:00pm, AAMI Park Storm V Eels
R16 Sat 27 Jun 2015, 7:30pm, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Dragons
R17 Mon 06 Jul 2015, 7:00pm, ANZ Stadium Wests Tigers V Eels
R19 Fri 17 Jul 2015, 7:35pm, ANZ Stadium Eels V Bulldogs
R20 Mon 27 Jul 2015, 7:00pm, 1300 Smiles Stadium Cowboys V Eels
R21 TBC, Cbus Super Stadium Titans V Eels
R22 TBC, TIO Stadium Eels V Panthers
R23 TBC, Allianz Stadium Roosters V Eels
R24 TBC, Brookvale Oval Sea Eagles V Eels
R25 TBC, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Sharks
R26 TBC, Pirtek Stadium Eels V Raiders
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