Season Review 2009 /

By Jack Hodder – Eels Institute internship

The greatest fairytale that never was is the most apt way to describe the Eels’ 2009 season.

The story began in late 2008, when coach Michael Hagan resigned in October due to personal reasons, paving the way for Daniel Anderson, an accomplished coach at St Helens and former Eels lower-grade coach and assistant, to take charge. In the lead up to 2009, Anderson identified a lack of size in the Eels’ forward pack, believing they needed a more expansive attacking style to compete. Despite winning all three trial games, the Eels were not favoured to produce much for the 2009 season. 

Oddsmakers and pundits were not too keen on the Eels, Parramatta’s odds to be crowned premiers were set at $26, $34 to win the J.J. Giltinan Shield, $2.75 to finish in the top eight and $13 to win the wooden spoon. Panthers great Greg Alexander, through Big League magazine, would go as far as to label the Eels as potentially the least remarkable team of the season:

With a number of departures and no signings of note, Daniel Anderson inherits a team with plenty of question marks. Nathan Hindmarsh’s consistency was the highlight of ‘08 and even he will need to change his game if the Eels are to improve. The young stars they invested so much in need to fire.

Greg Alexander

The start of the campaign quickly went from mixed to concerning. The Eels fell 18–26 to the Warriors before bouncing back with victories over the Rabbitohs and Raiders.

This middling form saw halfback Brett Finch dropped by Anderson, who no longer saw him as a regular first grader. The former Blues game winner stood himself down for selection before requesting an immediate release in April, which was granted two days later. With Finch gone, Anderson shifted Jarryd Hayne from the halves into the centres and gave Jeff Robson his first grade debut against the Dragons. 
The Eels proceeded to lose three games on the trot against the Dragons, Bulldogs and Broncos.

In the lead up to Round 8 against the Cowboys, Anderson shifted Hayne to fullback after earlier playing him at centre and five eighth. The switch paid dividends, with Parramatta winning 28–18 and putting Hayne in a position that allowed him to flourish.

After a Round 9 bye, the Eels suffered a 10–34 defeat to the Sea Eagles in their 2009 heritage round clash. Worse than the result was the injuries, with Kris Keating suffering a season ending broken jaw and Feleti Mateo tearing his bicep. 
With injuries continuing to disrupt, Jeff Robson received his No. 7 jersey back. Following a 16–16 draw with the Rabbitohs, young gun Daniel Mortimer made his NRL debut against the Sharks in Round 12. Whilst initially struggling against the Sharks in a 13–10 defeat this combination would stick until season’s end. 
From Rounds 13–18, the Eels’ form continued to remain shaky, with wins over Newcastle and Brisbane mixed with losses to the Tigers, Panthers and Titans. During this period the 2009 Origin series occurred, Hayne was Parramatta’s sole representative and a shining light for New South Wales, producing strong performances on the wing despite the Blues struggling overall.

Leading into Round 19, the Eels sat 14th on the ladder with just five wins, paying $151 to win the premiership and favourites to finish with the wooden spoon. However, with club legend Nathan Hindmarsh celebrating his 250th NRL first grade appearance, the Eels produced an exceptional effort to defeat the Storm 18–16. This play continued with a 27–8 victory over the Bulldogs before Parramatta dismantled the Sharks 30–0 in Round 21. The Eels had suddenly found their rhythm, with combinations beginning to gel and Jarryd Hayne producing incredible individual performances.

Victories over the Warriors and Knights saw the Eels clawing their way up the ladder and into contention for the finals. Their biggest challenge came in Round 24 against the local rival Wests Tigers, with both sides fighting for a place in the finals. What followed was one of the most entertaining games of 2009, with Parramatta winning 26–18. The game also saw the return of Feleti Mateo, who, with Robson and Mortimer establishing themselves in the halves, shifted into a ball playing lock role. 
In the penultimate round of the season, the Eels faced the Panthers, with victory locking in a place in the top eight. Parramatta ran out 48–6 winners, completing an incredible turnaround from likely wooden spooners to playing finals. However, the final round brought a disappointing 37–0 defeat to the Dragons at Kogarah Oval. Newcastle’s victory over the Panthers confirmed the Eels would finish eighth, while the Bulldogs’ shock loss awarded St George Illawarra top spot and the J.J. Giltinan Shield. As a result, the two teams would meet again in week 1 of the finals. 
The Dally M Awards were held on September 8th, where Hayne’s season was recognised with both the Dally M Player of the Year and Fullback of the Year awards. During the 7 game streak, Hayne ran for over 2,300 metres at an average of 192 metres per game, recording 103 tackle busts, 24 offloads, 17 line breaks, 8 line break assists, four 40–20 kicks and four tries.

What appeared to be Groundhog Day was anything but that for Parramatta, shockingly defeating the Minor Premiers 25-12, with Jarryd Hayne producing one of his finest performances of the season. Showing the same Dally M winning form that had defined his year, with his scintillating solo try going down in rugby league folklore. The Eels became only the second team under the McIntyre system to defeat the Minor Premiers of the finals, also being the last to do so before the format was changed.

Following their victory, the Eels advanced to a Week Two finals clash against the Gold Coast Titans, who had finished third in the regular season. Played at the Sydney Football Stadium, Parramatta continued their remarkable run of form with a dominant 27–2 victory. Despite losing young halfback Daniel Mortimer to a hip injury early in the game, the Eels had more than enough firepower to overcome the Titans, with Jeff Robson stepping up to help guide the side around the park. The Eels had now booked a preliminary finals appearance against the arch-enemy Bulldogs. 
The stage was set for a blockbuster clash at ANZ Stadium on September 25th, with the match attracting a then record crowd of 74,549 for a non-Grand Final finals game. After trailing 12–10 at half-time, the Eels produced another outstanding performance to defeat the Bulldogs 22–12. Parramatta had now beaten three of the competition’s strongest sides in consecutive weeks, becoming the first team to reach the Grand Final from eighth position under the McIntyre system.

The Grand Final began with Melbourne showing their class, racing to a 10–0 lead after 24 minutes. Eric Grothe Jr gave Parramatta a spark with a try early in the second half, bringing the score back within four points. However, tries to Greg Inglis and Billy Slater soon after pushed the Storm ahead 22–6, leaving the Eels with a mountain to climb and time running out.

Yet, the Eels refused to surrender. A converted try to Joel Reddy brought the margin back to 10 points, before Fuifui Moimoi crossed just three minutes later with a memorable wrecking ball finish. With eight minutes remaining, the score stood at 22–16, and suddenly the impossible looked within reach. After everything the Eels had overcome to reach the Grand Final, they were once again fighting their way back into a game that appeared to be slipping away.

However, the momentum was halted by a refereeing decision involving Moimoi and Slater. After Moimoi made a tackle on Slater, the Melbourne fullback appeared to lose control of the ball as he attempted to play it. Referee Tony Archer awarded Melbourne a penalty, despite replays raising questions over the decision. A minute later off the back of the penalty, Inglis kicked a field goal to add another point to Melbourne’s lead, The Eels’ comeback had been brought to a halt, and Melbourne went on to win 23–16.

The decision quickly became controversial, leaving many to wonder what might have happened had the decision gone the other way. Yet the controversy surrounding the 2009 Grand Final did not end on the night. Melbourne’s salary cap breaches eventually resulted in the club being stripped of its 2007 and 2009 premierships, with no premiers officially recognised for the 2009 season.

The 2009 Eels completely turned their season around in ways few could have imagined, however, the journey ended in the most dramatic and controversial circumstances. The 2009 Eels are remembered for what they achieved against the odds, but also for how painfully close they came to completing the fairytale. They had gone from looking like wooden spooners to coming within minutes of a premiership, creating a magical but bittersweet season that would live on in rugby league history.