As an Eels supporter, my approach to most seasons is quite similar. It usually features a vast gulf between my hopes and my realistic expectations. This season was different. Those aspirations and expectations were on a par as I viewed 2016 as a genuine Premiership window. Unfortunately, history will record that the Eels breached the Salary Cap and it’s impossible to erase that from the documentation of this year. It will probably remain the yardstick by which many critics will judge Parramatta in 2016.
Nonetheless, this season should still be seen as a window of opportunity of another kind, and thankfully one which has been taken. Under the guidance of Max Donnelly, Parramatta has taken the reins for instituting excellence in administration and undertaking governance reforms.
So, as I write the review of a season marred by off-field dramas, I do so in the knowledge that the future offers so many positives.
Premiership Hopes
This was meant to be the big season. Outstanding recruitment had resulted in the best spine in recent memory, a backline of speed and potency, and a forward pack that contained both power and mongrel.
Watching the Eels go through their pre-season paces, my positivity was strengthened by the attitude of both the players and the coaching staff. Key to this was their work ethic and their self-belief. My only lingering doubts came from the regular absence of Foran from any opposed sessions. His training was modified due to a concern for a long-term hamstring injury. Even so, the first of many whispers surrounding his off-field issues reached my ears before the first trial. I dismissed what I heard as absurd and threw it into the ridiculous rumour basket. It would prove to be more than a rumour.
Doing those hard yards during the pre-season.
As I concluded my pre-season observations, the certainty of a finals appearance coloured my early season posts. A top four finish was not beyond this team, and from there a real tilt at the title. This was going to be a good year …..
Auckland Glory And A Star On The Horizon
For long-suffering Eels fans, the success in the Auckland 9s was a much needed fillip after too many years of Premiership failure. For many, it provided a glimpse of the attitude and the team bonds that would prove to be characteristic of the Eels this season.
The excitement of victory in this tournament was enhanced by Bevan French’s individual performance. Within the club he has long been regarded as the next big thing. On this weekend in New Zealand, he announced that promise to the rugby league public. It was the shape of things to come.
How sweet it was in Auckland!
Early Season Successes Erased
On the field, the first 9 rounds had the Eels entrenched near the top of the ladder. A victory over the Cowboys, a thrashing of the Raiders and two wins against the Bulldogs were amongst the highlights of a team which was already playing under the imposing shadow of a likely Premiership points deduction. Some of Foran’s personal dramas were already in the public spotlight, but resilience was becoming a hallmark of this team.
When that 12 point penalty was first announced, there was a curious mix of both hope and resignation – a similar feeling to how many Eels supporters begin each season. There’s the hope of reaching some unrealistic target coupled with the resignation that it’s highly unlikely. As much as the club would tell us that there was some hope, the truth was that all of the achievements of the year to that point had been stripped from this team. Could it really get much worse?
Goodbye to Mates
The dynamic of a team runs much deeper than the individual and the collaborative skills which they take onto the field. There are bonds and deep friendships that exist within the playing group. They support each other like brothers and they genuinely want to be able to look each other in the eye and know that they’ve earned respect. It’s a curious mix of professionalism and old school footy attitude.
The departures of Peats, Paulo, Foran and Morgan, coupled with the retirement of Watmough, was an incredible challenge for the Eels players to face. In purely dollar terms, it was heading towards three million dollars of the cap. For blokes who had busted their guts alongside their mates, it was a tough blow.
Saying goodbye to team mates like Paulo would not have been easy.
Dealing with the dramas became the daily challenge for Brad Arthur. His ability to meet the challenge would soon stamp him as a coach of exceptional quality.
Injuries And A Suspension Add To The Woes
Every club experiences significant injuries at some point. Usually, season reviews will show that the more successful teams will be those who’ve experienced the least impact from injuries.
For Parramatta, significant periods without Jennings, Takairangi and Radradra were compounded by the injuries to back up players Toutai, Folau and Faraimo. This resulted in blokes like Ma’u, Edwards and Scott filling in backline positions. Throw in long term injuries to back up halves Kelly and Cornish along with forwards such as Hasson and Tanginoa, and the depth of the club was severely tested.
As if the injury situation and the departure of players was not significant enough, the lengthy suspension of Corey Norman would prove disastrous. The silver lining of Clinton Gutherson’s emergence as a quality utility player was the consolation to be taken from the suspension. We should also acknowledge the mid season return of Jeff Robson to plug the haemorrhage in the halves.
Resilience – And Then Some!
It would be easy enough to say that this Eels team is a resilient group. It’s certainly an expression of praise but it doesn’t truly express what this team delivered.
Unquestionably, the group of players that finished the season deserved to be playing finals football. If not for bad luck and poor officiating, an injury ravaged Eels should have defeated the Sharks, the Panthers and the Raiders. Even without Corey Norman, this Eels line up was in better form than a number of teams that limped into the finals.
The late season suspension of Norman did not help the Eels’ cause.
I will dedicate some much deserved praise to Brad Arthur, but for the players to compete in every match the way that they did speaks volumes for their character. Perhaps Arthur’s greatest achievement has been to identify players who have the intestinal fortitude to face and rise to challenges, and importantly to take pride in pulling on the blue and gold jersey. It’s something that’s not gone unnoticed by the fans.
Brad Arthur
Most supporters love this man because he is blue and gold to the core. Indeed, with family links to the club that extend back to 1947, his pedigree as an Eels man would be difficult to equal. Parramatta is the club that he wants to coach and he has long term plans to that end.
Of course, you don’t survive as an NRL coach without having genuine coaching chops. The role of a coach extends well beyond that of match tactician. Man management is probably a paramount quality in the modern game and the players soon find out any coaches that don’t measure up in that category. How often do we hear the term “lost the dressing room” when coaches are about to lose their job? It’s a common prelude to player initiated change.
BA – 2016 exemplified what he means to the Eels.
In a year that few coaches would ever face, Arthur has cemented his status and respect, not only with the playing group, but with the NRL public. He’s always been a coach to get in the trenches with the team during the tough pre-season work, and this year he became the face of the club at a time when the media seemed to feature an Eels related drama on a daily basis. Not once did the team lose focus on their goals and standards. This was a great testimony to the work of Arthur and his staff. In fact, his coaching staff certainly deserve their share of the praise, and BA himself would be the first to offer it.
Player Of The Year
So many players put their hand up for different reasons. As a hard headed leader, Beau Scott was probably the most important addition to the squad. However, his late season injuries probably eliminate him from this accolade.
If this was a nomination for player of the future, then French wins hands down. His incredible strike rate set the team alight and probably cemented his Parramatta rookie of the year award.
Manu Ma’u would no doubt be nominated for his consistent performances and versatility. To alternate between back row and centre and maintain his high standards spoke volumes for his development as a genuine star.
Corey Norman would have been a shoe-in before his unfortunate suspension. His golden vein of form drew plenty of praise from NRL pundits and rightly so. However, the season is 26 weeks long, so for mine he fell just short.
The player of the year should go to a bloke who improved exponentially throughout the season – Clint Gutherson. With every positional change that shifted him closer to the action, Gutho’s game went up a notch. To transition from winger to five-eighth in his first full season of NRL was an incredible achievement. He was an absolute stand out for this accolade.
Clint Gutherson was arguably the most improved player in the Premiership.
The Highlight
For mine, the against the odds victory over the Bulldogs in Round 9, typified what the Eels delivered to their fans in 2016. With injury ravaging the team before and during the match, and television coverage showing nobody on the bench, the stage was set for what should have been a comfortable Bulldogs victory. However, the Eels defence held out everything that the Dogs could throw at them to record a 20 to 12 result.
Back in April I rated this match in my top 10 Eels moments. On reflection it was probably in my top 10 when it came to instilling pride as a supporter. It remains the season highlight for me.
What Needs To Improve?
This is a tough call. Obviously, effectiveness in attack springs to mind. Certainly the Eels were impacted by having to play with makeshift halves for large parts of the season. This was compounded by the loss of Nathan Peats and human wrecking ball, Junior Paulo. Any team would struggle with such obstacles, but critics will point to the fact that the Eels never truly clicked in attack, even when all players were available.
There still remains a positive in the Eels offence. Any supporter would want their attack peaking towards the business end of the season. For the Eels, we saw some of their most spectacular attack in the final two rounds. Though the opponents weren’t the high fliers of the Premiership, it did provide an insight into what the future may hold for the team. Any side that features both French and Radradra will pose plenty of threats in with the ball in hand.
French, ” Le-Freak”
The Crystal Ball
Theoretically, Parramatta could go into next season in much better shape than 2016. With two impact forwards, Vave and Brown, added to to the pack, the Eels promise to be more damaging through the middle. The return (and contract extension) of Corey Norman coupled with the incredible development of Clint Gutherson will see the halves offer more than Foran ever did in 2015. Further strengthening of the squad will occur before the 2017 season begins. No doubt we should all “watch this space.”
Importantly, Brad Arthur’s extension and the self belief that the players will take from this season will springboard the team into a positive headspace. Throw in the removal of salary cap dramas, along with the appointment of Bernie Gurr as Eels CEO, and the potential is there for a finals placing in 2017.
If the pain that Parramatta has endured in 2016 proves to be the catalyst to long term success, then it will all be worth it. I can’t wait for next season to begin!
Eels Forever,
Sixties
Images courtesy of the Parramatta Eels and the NRL.
Superb write up Sixties.
My player of year is Manu Mau. I just think forwards don’t get the same accolades as backs, and I totally get your point about Gutho. He improved every game, and is worthy of the honour.
Great read and well said. BA showed his mental side and his ability to keep us focused.
Come on pre season…ill be down to the salesyards again in Jan.
I’m sitting here waiting for the Cornulla and Canberra game to get on, and really don’t like either but would rather Cronulla get up.
Go Parra…..do we know when they will sort the football manager job..?
Thanks mate. I look forward to catching up with you soon. As for the managers job, I’ve heard a few of their ideas, but nothing definitive. In the end, I suspect that BA will have a big say in it.
60’s, Great read as usual.
Not an easy season overall to give due credit to the areas that deserved it, but you did it in a concise manner.
Player of the year, hard to go past Gutho for that position, same with Ma’u as Mitchy suggested, the biggest problem in making a choice is that some players who are more than worthy of the award were also injured & these were players who responded to calls to playing in unfamiliar roles, at least in recent times.
Three I put in that mold Mannah, Taka & Edwards. Mannah showed his team & player value by coming back strong & having his best year yet, even though it was severely affected by his shoulder injury, some fans tried to say he should be dumped, but gee those weeks he was out we struggled & he showed to all & sundry his value as the season progressed.
Both Taka & Edwards ended up in the 6 spot, sure they had played there before but the before was some time back, Taka in particular showed up new skills with the boot for some very well placed ones leading to tries. Edwards, well he not only played great footy but was also the entertainer. Perhaps the new team joker with his coloured beads rather than cards.
In putting it down to one player, I would have to go with Gutherson as the player of the year, following his first 3 games his progress from being called to be dumped, me being one of them with the Oh No! winger problems of poor defensive reads, through to playing in every backline position except perhaps 7, showing how adept he was in all of them, along with each week showing new skills. DId he miss a game this season? I do not know but pretty sure he didn’t.
Last year, at the Thornett Medal, BA spoke to Forty and I and said that he was close to announcing a good backline signing. He didn’t name him, but that player turned out to be Gutho. He’s the most improved player in the Premiership and has thrived at the Eels under BA.
Great write up mate, I sat down and had a good long look at the season just passed to sort out my player of the year and after watching all games either at the grounds or on tv and watching replays over and over [ year I know I’m an addict cannot help it] I could not go past young Clint Gutherson to me every game he just got better and better and if you remember what Brad said earlier in the year about him ” He is a footballer” and that is what I think of him. Anyway I am more than confident that he will be one of the best footballers we have at our great club. Was good to catch up yesterday with you and the other Parra desperados and I look forward to Thursday night at the Ken Thornett medal ( may he rest in peace ) All of the people who contribute to this site well done and keep up the great work. Again thanks.
Thanks Joe. You’re a great Eels man – a true supporter! I’m a bit concerned about your number fixations, but that’s another story.
Not wishing to sound like an echo chamber but I wholeheartedly agree with your comments regarding Clint Gutherson and all of your supporting comments. In a difficult year his improvement and ultimmately achievements were outstanding. He grew so much as a player this year. From his shakey start on the wing to his sublime performances at 5/8. His last 2 games were outstanding. We forced the Warriors to make 7 drop outs in that last game, that was a big effort.
It goes without saying that there were many other great players involved in fact the entire sqad stood up under adversity and had a great year. However other performances of note for me include the year Taka had. Whilst it was punctuated with injury he stood up. Having a man of that size and speed at centre who can basically play as a third half is enormous. His kicking and passing game was excellent this year for a centre. Who can ever forget that kick inside to French for a try.
I liked the improvement that I seen in Peni Terepo this year also, he is really running hard to the line and making great metres. The rise of Kenny Edwards as a cult player is just awesome. Corey Norman showed a lot more ability to game mange this year and I look forward to seeing him work with Gutho.
My view is that unless a star half is signed in the off season that Gutho will be Normans partner in 2017. On 1eyed Eel some are talking up Jamal Fogarty as being ahead of Gutho in the halves but I just do not see it.
John, Agree with you overall but as for Fogarty ihe is really is an unknown at this point of time at least in the minds of many, although those who have seen him play are quite happy with him, & BA would not have signed him to a 2 year deal without seeing something in him. Personally, and I say this based on my early assessment of Gutherson, I am not prepared to write him off, & more than prepared to see how he goes. In many respects its not much different to how it was with Gutherson, he had a wow year at Manly then got injured & out for a season before coming here he got thrown in to the top side from the word go, & his performances were less than stella, actually much less – what it did show was that he was not a winger. Once moved from there he has grown from strength to strength, remembering that BA had said he came here to be a center.
BA has said that he will be the 5/8 next year, that says Norman is pretty well inked in for the 7 spot, the two I believe will work well together & likely form the main scrum base partnership. Fogarty has played well in the QRL ISP cup, half of the year & has been a good scorer of tries & goals, was graded before with the Titans so there is enough there to see how he develops. He will along with Cornish likely be watched as the primary back up halves, as I don’t see Kelly being resigned but its possible.
I have to wonder at this point of time whether or not we really need to sign a high profile half especially if they want big coin.
Col I have reread the statement from BA regarding Gutho being 5/8. First time that I read it I was convinced that he was inked in to play alongside Norman next year. I now believe that will occur if he does not get a star signing. I do not think that he has ruled out completely another signing either for 2017 or 2018 in the halves. What worries me is the possibility that Gutho could end up being a utility. He demands better than that. Do we need to sign another high profile half. You would need to get inside BA’s head to answer that one.
Gutho’s early season form at wing was not great. But the calls for his immediate sacking was wrong. He worked on his game and got better. His move into centre began to show what a good player he was.
With regard to Fogarty I see him as a bit of a project player and hence the 2 yr second tier contract. A bit like Folau. You mentioned Cornish, if he is resigned and I have stated this before, I see that he would be ahead of Fogarty as well. At least initially.
Assure you BA dosent view gutho as a utility but as an essential player in the backline close to the action , hes a creator not a finisher ,BA,s words not mine
I like the sound of that Grumpy.
Colin, I’d sign a winger and further develop Gutherson in the halves.
With Mead gone to the mules, the next in line from my thoughts would be Ken Sio, sorry he left in the first place but overpriced himself, then again he was pretty well the best winger we had at the time.
John, the coaching staff have an extremely high opinion of what Taka brings to the team.
Admit that sixties – “fillip” was your word of the week. You had to use it in a sentence. You saw your chance and took. Well played.
I typed that on my phone. A bit of a shocker but you know what I mean.
It was used by a boss in a past life. I vowed that one day, when the time was right, I too would use that word. Little did I realise that 25 years later an Eels victory in Auckland would deliver that opportunity.
A great read Sixties, very professional. When I look back over 2016 I will do so with mixed feelings- great promise coupled with ineptitude. However I do believe that it marks a turning point for the club. From a playing perspective I’ve seen a team with self belief, character and a toughness and grit that has been lacking in years gone past. Brad Arthur has shown himself to be the man of the moment. I shudder to think if he wasn’t there. From an off field perspective, we now have come to a watershed moment. Lets hope that people of character and strength step up tp the fore because we certainly do need them to. Wirh Max and now Bernie, I feel we the process has begun.
And to the future, I believe that this year was the defining moment when the club could finally let go of its mantle of an underperforming, self interested laughing stock and rise to become the juggernaut it deserves to be.
Apologies for the spelling and grammatical errors.
Well done Sixties on another great read. I enjoy everything you write as you offer a rational and balanced view which is something we Eels are not necessarily known for! Congratulations to you and the others who have built this site as it is a gem.
For me watching the team was very satisfying. Its the first year that I could honestly say that the team had a real dig every single week.
Keep up the good work and I look forward to 2017. I think if we get an even break with injuries and suspensions we are going to be very hard to beat