2000 - 2009 /

2000 /

2000 team pic

The season of the new millennium was the year of the Sydney 2000 Olympics and a year of promise for the Parramatta Eels. The club had been on the verge of returning to the days of glory and had the squad to take them all the way to the grand final. The departure of older players saw fan favourite, Nathan Cayless given the first grade captaincy at just 21 years of age. Parramatta reached their third straight NRL Preliminary Final, but it ended up being ‘Third Time Unlucky’. The Blue & Gold were nicknamed ‘The Baby Eels’ with the club having just eight players in the entire squad over the age of 25. Jason Smith, Michael Vella and Nathan Hindmarsh represented Australia, and Nathan Cayless, David Kidwell and David Vaealiki represented New Zealand.

2000 Debutants: Jason Moodie (610), David Westley (611), Brett Hodgson (612), Gary Larson (613), Wade L’Estrange (614), Andrew Ryan (615), Troy Wozniak (616), Chad Robinson (617), PJ Marsh (618), Pat Richards (619), Daniel Irvine (620), Jason Cayless (621), Jamie Lyon (622), John Wilson (623), Adam Wheeler (624). 

2001 /

2001 team pic

In 2001, the Eels took out the Club Championship for the fifth consecutive year and secured the Minor Premiership three weeks out from the Final Series, breaking almost every record in the history books along the way. The year saw the Eels progress to the 2001 Grand Final as favourites having scored most points scored (839), most tries (159), highest winning margin (62-0) and largest differential (433). However, it wasn’t meant to be. They were beaten by the Newcastle Knights 30-24 in the Grand Final which left players and fans shattered. It was reported Recruitment manager Noel Cleal had over 300 scouts throughout Australia and the Pacific looking for young talent. He said the secret was identifying talent with “speed and savvy with a football nous.” Skills and strength could be taught at training. In a rugby league first, the entire Eels team took out the Ken Stephen Award for outstanding community involvement.

2001 Debutants: Brad Drew (625), Jason Taylor (626), David Solomona (627), Alex Chan (628), Adrian Rainey (629), Scott Donald (630), Danny Sullivan (631), Ben Duckworth (632).

2002 /

2002 team pic

Although the Eels would be unsuccessful in reaching the Grand Final, 2002 was another record-breaking year. The season began with Luke Burt breaking the club record for most points in a first grade match when he scored 28 points in the 64-4 victory over Penrith. Brian Smith broke the then record with 200 games as a first grade coach of the Parramatta Eels. The club won the Club Championship for the sixth consecutive year. Parramatta had five players represent NSW in State of Origin with Brett Hodgson, Jamie Lyon, Jason Moodie, Nathan Hindmarsh and Michael Vella. A ‘best ever’ team of 13 players from the club’s first 55 years were selected by members as the ‘Legends of Parramatta’ which would become the inaugural inductees of the Club’s Hall of Fame.

2002 Debutants: Andrew McFadden (633), Dean Widders (634), Adam Dykes (635), Daniel Heckenberg (636), James Webster (637), Adam Mogg (638), Andrew Meads (639), Jamie Russo (640), Willie Tonga (641), Ashley Graham (642), Matt Petersen (643), Trent Robinson (644), Nathan Hollingsworth (645).

2003 /

2003 team pic

Season 2003 was in stark contrast to the previous season. Injuries to Nathan Hindmarsh in the first round kicked off consecutive losses at the beginning of the season leaving the team out of finals contention. Despite the disappointing performances of first grade, there were some positives with the Club recording its highest winning score, a 74-4 victory against Cronulla, and its seventh consecutive Club Championship to equal the record that the Club set between 1976-1982. The Harold Matthews Cup team coached by Gareth Holmes, went through the qualifying weekend undefeated and easily won their Grand Final.

2003 Debutants: Paul Green (646), Lee Hopkins (647), John Morris (648), Adam Peek (649), Shayne Dunley (650), Chris Armit (651), Kylie Leuluai (652), Michael Witt (653), Darren Treacy (654), Nathan McMillan (655), Ronald Prince (656), Willie Leyshon (657), Justin Tsoulos (658).

2004 /

2004 team pic

2004 was a sad year for the Club with the passing of founder Colonel Jack Argent at the age of 99. Colonel Argent was the ultimate Parramatta man, and his contribution should never be forgotten. A horrific injury toll suffered by the NRL squad placed a huge burden on the lower grades, yet they performed with great dedication and commitment every time they took the field. The coaching methods of Brian Smith came under scrutiny, but it was hard to find rhythm with so many players unavailable through injury. The season saw 16 debutants including a young Fuifui MoiMoi who would become a cult figure of the Eels in coming years.

2004 Debutants: Wise Kativerata (659), Corey Pearson (660), Aaron Cannings (661), Craig Stapleton (662), Luke O’Dwyer (663), Junior Langi (664), Fuifui Moimoi (665), Shane Muspratt (666), Wade McKinnon (677), Chris Thorman (668), Chris Muckert (669), Jack Afamasaga (670), Brett Anderston (671), Mal Kaufusi (672), Feleti Mateo (673), Ben Smith (674).

2005 /

2005 team pic

By 2005, there were only six of the 2001 grand final team still in the squad, so coach Brian Smith recruited heavily from other clubs. The Eels qualified for the finals but were ruthlessly eliminated in the Preliminary Final against the North Queensland Cowboys, 29-0. The team was without Nathan Hindmarsh (cruciate ligament damage) and FuiFui MoiMoi (suspended). Despite the loss, the Eels reclaimed the Club Championship in 2005 after narrowly losing it in the previous year. The Premier League team won their Premiership coached by Jason Taylor and Jersey Flegg finished runners-up. S.G. Ball and Harold Matthews Cup made the final series.

2005 Debutants: Glenn Morrison (675), Mark Riddell (676), Tim Smith (677), Paul Stringer (678), Timana Tahu (679), Henry Perenara (680), Ian Henderson (681), John Williams (682), Joel Reddy (683), Brett Delaney (684).

2006 /

2006 team pic

Season 2006 was another difficult year when long-time coach Brian Smith decided to leave the club. Jason Taylor was appointed caretaker coach for the remainder of the season and brought a more relaxed approach to the Club. From Round 15, the Eels won nine straight games and moved from second-last to fourth on the ladder, eventually finishing the season in eight position as a result of injuries, suspensions and off-field issues with alcohol.

2006 Debutants: Josh Cordoba (685), Peter Lewis (686), Zeb Taia (687), Marcus Perenara (688), Jeremy Smith (689), Jarryd Hayne (690).

2007 /

2007 team pic

Michael Hagan took over as coach in 2007 but lasted just one season as a result of ill health. It was a rollercoaster season with off-field discipline having a direct impact on the team’s performance. The Eels blitzed Brisbane in the last round 68-22 to ensure a top eight berth. Krisnan Inu scored three tries and seven goals, and Timana Tahu scored his 100th career try. The Eels beat the Bulldogs the following week, only to be eliminated by Melbourne the next.

2007 Debutants: Brett Finch (691), Todd Lowrie (692), Richard Fa’aoso (693), Blake Green (694), Krisnan Inu (695), Junior Paulo (696), Weller Hauraki (697).

2008 /

2008 team pic

The 2008 season was impacted by political upheaval with the unseating of the club’s long-time board and administrator Denis Fitzgerald. Several losses and injuries had further impact on the onfield performance with the team finishing in 11th position.

2008 Debutants: Taulima Tautai (698), Joe Galuvao (699), Matthew Keating (700), Brendan Oake (701), Kris Keating (702), Tony Willliams (703), Broderick Wright (704).

2009 /

2009 team pic

By 2009, the golden era was showing promise. Veterans Nathan Cayless, Nathan Hindmarsh and FuiFui MoiMoi provided the engine room, Jeff Robson and Daniel Mortimer starred in the halves, and a fullback Jarryd ‘The Hayne Plane’ Hayne had everyone joining the ride. The Eels took seven consecutive victories to make the grand final including the qualifier against Canterbury, but lost to Melbourne, who later had their title stripped due to a salary cap infringement.

2009 Debutants: Tim Mannah (705), Jeff Robson (706), Etu Uaisele (707), Jeremy Latimore (708), Kevin Kingston (709), Daniel Mortimer (710), Taniela Lasalo (711), Jonathan Wright (712).