2010 - 2020 /

2010-2020 – TOUGH TIMES

In 2016, off-field dramas dominated the headlines after a series of salary cap breaches which resulted in the intervention by the NRL and State Government.

The Parramatta Eels were stripped of 12 competition points and their Auckland Nines title and continued to play out the season finishing at the bottom of the ladder.

A review by the NSW Independent Liquor and Game Authority Board was conducted and determined to replace the Parramatta Leagues board with a temporary administrator. The announcement confirmed that the appointment did not relate to any suggestion of insolvency.

In 2018, the Authority found four ex-directors of the club were not “fit and proper” and the Authority ordered the club to play over $100,000 in legal and investigative costs.

2010 /

2010 team pic

Losses in games that should have been won added to the frustration and summed up the season. Veteran Nathan Cayless retired from the club. An Eels fan from childhood, he remained a one-club player retiring having captained the Eels the most matches. Following a strategic football review, it was determined to seek a new direction, including a new coach and football staff.

2010 Debutants: Justin Poore (713), Shane Shackleton (714), Justin Horo (715), Tom Humble (716), Pele Peletelese (717), Manase Manuokafoa (718), Lee Te Maari (719), Anthony Mitchell (720).

2011 /

2011 team pic

Under new coach Stephen Kearney, the 2011 season will be remembered as the year the Eels ‘almost’ won their games. Kearney made several reshuffles trialling players in different positions. The Eels took a record four games into Golden Point, however, were unable to win any. Parramatta had won only five of their 24 games and scored a final round win against the Gold Coast Titans to avoid the wooden spoon.

2011 Debutants: Mitchell Allgood (721), Ryan Morgan (722), Chris Walker (723), Chris Hicks (724), Paul Whatuira (725), Billy Rogers (726), Carl Webb (727), Jordan Atkins (728), Jacob Loko (729), Reni Maitua (730), Pat O’Hanlon (731), Joseph Paulo (732), Rory Brien (733), Ken Sio (734).

2012 /

2012 team pic

A string of poor performances and questionable fitness saw the team slump to consecutive losses. Coach Stephen Kearney was forced to resign, and assistant coach Brad Arthur was appointed caretaker. The year also saw the retirement of veterans Nathan Hindmarsh and Luke Burt. Towards the end of the year, Ricky Stuart was appointed to take over the Eels from 2013. Parramatta finished the season in last place for the first time since 1972 and failed to make the finals for the third consecutive year.

2012 Debutants: Cheyse Blair (735), Ben Roberts (736), Chris Sandow (737), Esikeli Tonga (738), Matt Ryan (739), Luke Kelly (740), Jake Mullaney (741), Nathan Smith (742).

2013 /

2013 team pic

Another wooden spoon followed in 2013, with the Eels suffering their second biggest loss ever against Melbourne (4-64) in Round 24 and another three scores of 50 or more. In September 2013, it was announced Ricky Stuart would leave the Eels to take up a head coaching position at Canberra.

2013 Debutants: Darcy Lussick (743), Kelepi Tanginoa (744), Vai Toutai (745), Peni Terepo (746), Kaysa Pritchard (747), Api Pewhairangi (748), Junior Paulo (749), Brayden Wiliame (750), Daniel Harrison (751), Semi Radradra (742), Ken Edwards (753), Joseph Ualesi (754).

2014 /

2014 team pic

Former assistant coach, Brad Arthur took on the role as First Grade Head Coach full time following the departure of Ricky Stuart and would remain in the position for ten years. Arthur took the reins and implemented a full rebuild and released some 12 players and signed new fitter and faster players. Despite the new culture, the Eels missed out on the finals for a fifth consecutive year.

2014 Debutants: William Hopoate (755), Corey Norman (756), Nathan Peats (757), Manu Ma’u (758), David Gower (759), Pauli Pauli (760), Justin Hunt (761), Lee Mossop (762), Isaac De Gois (763), Tepai Moeroa (764), Bureta Faraimo (765).

2015 /

2015 team pic

The club recorded a thrilling 42-12 victory in the opening match against Manly but would only go on to win a further two games and by round 11 sat on the bottom of the table. Parramatta recovered by winning three games in succession to finally finish the season in 12th place. Semi Radradra broke the then club’s most tries record with 24 tries. Jarryd Hayne decided to terminate his contract to pursue a dream to play NFL in United States of America.

2015 Debutants: Beau Champion (766), Brad Takairangi (767), Reece Robinson (768), Anthony Watmough (769), Danny Wicks (770), John Folau (771), Daniel Alvaro (772), Cody Nelson (773).

2016 /

2016 team pic

Parramatta would start the season with a loss, then won the following three matches. Despite the promising start, in May 2016, the NRL announced the club would be docked 12 competition points they had accrued, as well as a fine of $1 million and the 2016 NRL Auckland Nine’s title that they won a few months earlier in February as a result of a salary cap breach. The players and coaching staff had the resolve to front up every week and play the game they loved, finishing in 14th position. The year saw the debut of a young Clint Gutherson, who would go on to captain the Eels and play over 200 games for the Blue & Gold. It was also the last season at Parramatta Stadium before the club moved to Homebush to make way for construction of their new home, Western Sydney Stadium.

2016 Debutants: Michael Gordon (774), Michael Jennings (775), Clint Gutherson (776), Beau Scott (777), Kieran Foran (778), Bevan French (779), Rory O’Brien (780).

2017 /

2017 team pic

Parramatta finished fourth on the ladder and qualified for their first Final Series since 2009 having enjoyed a nine-match winning streak midway through the season. The Eels narrowly lost to Manly in week one of the finals and lost to the North Queensland Cowboys the following week. The year saw the debut of Mitchell Moses, who would go on to become one of the greatest halfbacks to play for the Eels.

2017 Debutants: Josh Hoffman (781), Suaia Matagi (782), Nathan Brown (783), Frank Pritchard (784), Siosaia Vave (785), Kirisome Auva’a (786), Will Smith (787), Mitchell Moses (788), Nathan Davis (789), Cameron King (790).

2018 /

2018 team pic

In what many thought would be a promising year for the Blue & Gold, the Eels finished last on the ladder and claimed their 14th wooden spoon when their points were deleted as a result of an alleged salary cap infringement. The Eels recruited well adding some depth and toughness to their forward pack. It was the last season to be played at Homebush and the return to Parramatta at the new stadium couldn’t come fast enough.

2018 Debutants: Kane Evans (791), George Jennings (792), Marata Niukore (793), Reed Mahoney (794), Jaeman Salmon (795), Oregon Kaufusi (796), Ray Stone (797).

2019 /

2019 team pic

The highly anticipated return to the site of ‘Cumberland’ at the new Western Sydney Stadium was met with a thrilling Easter Monday clash with the Eels defeating Wests Tigers 51-6 in front of a capacity crowd. Halfback, Mitchell Moses will be remembered as scoring the first try, goal and field goal at the club’s new home. A young Fijian winger named Maika Sivo joined the Eels and developed a cult following with his barnstorming runs down the sideline and flattening anyone in his way. The season saw the return of rookie five-eighth Dylan Brown following back surgery and Junior Paulo joined the Blue & Gold after three seasons with the Raiders. The Eels had a late season run to the finals but would eventually be eliminated by the Melbourne Storm. Long-serving clubman, Tim Mannah retired.

2019 Debutants: Maika Sivo (798), Blake Ferguson (799), Dylan Brown (800), Shaun Lane (801), Ethan Parry (802), Waqa Blake (803).