What's new
The Front Row Forums

Register a free account today to become a member of the world's largest Rugby League discussion forum! Once signed in, you'll be able to participate on this site by adding your own topics and posts, as well as connect with other members through your own private inbox!

Eels in the media

lingard

Coach
Messages
11,218
The Telecrap picked our team of the decade.

https://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/s...e/news-story/2ea53b8903f4f1e8907ff7f04e92063e


Jarryd Hayne

1. At his peak, Hayne was unstoppable, the best player in the game. The Hayne Plane won a second Dally M Medal in 2014.

What it didn’t bring was finals appearances. In his six seasons this decade, he didn’t feature in the post season once. That may have been different had he not quit the club in 2014 to chase his NFL dream. He was around, though, for the three wooden spoons of 2012, 2013 and 2018.

Stream over 50 sports Live & On-Demand with KAYO SPORTS on your TV, computer, mobile or tablet. Just $25/month, no lock-in contract. Get your 14-day free trial and start streaming instantly >

23f740ad1d986da9d8c27634676a96d1

Hayne did not experience team success at the Eels. AAP Image/Brendan Esposito.
2. Semi Radradra

The stats speak for themselves - 82 tries in 94 games is an amazing strike rate.

Fast and strong. His kick returns make up a highlight reel all on their own.

The Semi Trailer was the cult hero the Eels needed as they finally broke through for their first finals appearance of the decade in 2017 before, like Hayne, quitting the club at the peak of his powers.

3. Michael Jennings

It’s almost sacrilege to include a bloke who declared “I don’t hate the Parramatta players, just the team they represent” while playing for Penrith in the same decade.

But Jennings has come a long way since that 2011 statement.

The experience he brought to the Eels is a big reason why they made their maiden finals appearance of the decade in 2017.

Always dangerous in attack and strong on the edge in defence, most recently Jennings has helped integrate Maika Sivo into first grade.

d163dcfe898104d986d9626aba6ab92e

Jennings has spent four good years with the Eels. Photo by Mark Metcalfe/Getty Images.
4. Clint Gutherson

Eligible for a place a fullback, centre, on the wing and at five-eighth. The Eels’ Mr Reliable has even filled in at dummy half, as his versatility proved invaluable.

Leadership qualities were rewarded with the captaincy and you can’t question his commitment as he’s consistently the fittest bloke at the club.

Gutho’s sicking game takes pressure off the halves and he has the organisational skills to be an extra ballplayer.

Fullback is his ideal position but he’s not pushing Hayne out of that spot in this team.

5. Maika Sivo

One season, 22 tries in 25 games. One of the great debut seasons.

The former Gundagai Tiger is a proven matchwinner and in one year was able to take the wing position from club legend Luke Burt.

While he’s already 26, he’s still learning attacking patterns and how to beat defences, although barging straight over them seems to work just fine.

Evokes memories of Semi Radradra and the “Si-vo, Si-vo” chants are already synonymous with a packed house at Bankwest Stadium.

b721f0b5a2e1dda9527252baeacec732

Sivo was an instant hit in 2019. AAP Image/Brendon Thorne.
6. Corey Norman

Polarising, brilliant and frustrating, but Norman was an easy selection at five-eighth.

At his peak in 2017, he and Mitchell Moses led the Eels to the finals in what looked like a return to the good old days at Parramatta, before that partnership faltered and he was shipped off this season.

7. Mitchell Moses

Joined midway through 2017 and showed flashes of brilliance. Now the Eels’ chief playmaker and is slowly building the consistency needed of a top-quality half. He was a big reason Parramatta went from last to fifth in a year.

8. Tim Mannah (c)

May have finished 2019 in reserve grade, but Mannah was the glue that held the Eels together in a tumultuous 10 years. The hard-hitting prop earned NSW Origin selection early in his career and carried them as captain for a large part of it.

Parra could always rely on Mannah to get them out of trouble and take a hit-up when they were on their heels, deep in their own territory.

Mannah was one of Parramatta’s true warhorses. Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images.
9. Reed Mahoney

It was a tough choice between the current Eels rake and Nathan Peats.

Surprisingly though, both have only played 35 games for the Eels.

While Peats had some strong performances before his Parramatta stint was cut short, Mahoney, who debuted in 2018, has had a tremendous impact on the Eels’ spine. He gets the nod because he helped guide the Eels to the finals, something Peats failed to do.

10. Junior Paulo

The Eels were gutted when they lost the local junior to Canberra for three years, but he returned a better player and gave an often outmuscled pack some much-needed aggression.

Struggled with his judiciary record early in his career but seems to have matured into a real forward leader.

11. Nathan Hindmarsh

While the 2010s version of Hindmarsh wasn’t the barnstorming back-rower who terrified defensive edges earlier in his career, Hindy was the Eels’ new Mr Perpetual Motion. Set NRL records for tackles made and never gave up the chase on a breakaway. One of the Eels’ greatest players and games record holder (330) deserves his place.

3955129476139448405b0c29b04d8440

Was ever a Parramatta player more beloved than Hindmarsh?
12. Manu Ma’u

Six quality seasons where he was awarded the Ken Thornett Medal in 2016 as the club’s best player. A destructive ball runner and tackler, his 2019 campaign was arguably his finest as he made the Eels’ right edge lethal in attack. Disappointingly, the 31-year-old has departed for Hull FC in the English Super League following 115 first grade games.

13. Nathan Brown

A couple of unfortunate injuries have played havoc with the Eels career of the 2017 Ken Thornett Medallist. But it’s in Brown’s absence that you see how important he is to the team. Hard-running forward with a high work rate who gets Parramatta’s sets rolling along in attack, and bruising tackles are a trademark of his defence.

14. Luke Burt

While Burt’s best days came in the 2000s, he maintained a high level of play up until his retirement in 2012. He finished his career as the Eels’ all-time tryscorer (124), second to only Mick Cronin for most points (1793) in his 264 games. Selflessly switched between fullback, wing and centre to accommodate Jarryd Hayne’s emergence.

Burt is one of Parramatta’s great pointscorers.
15. Brad Taikarangi

Versatile veteran who fits in at centre, back row or even on the wing. Scored his first career hat-trick in 2019 and chalked up 100 games for the Eels. Can be erratic at times but, at his best, Taikarangi has a smooth set of hands, is a constant threat in the air and is a problem for defences with his rangy frame and footwork.

16. Daniel Alvaro

One of the unheralded go-forward men at the Eels over the past five years. He was named the club’s best and fairest and won the fans’ award in 2018. At 26, his best years are ahead of him.

17. Fuifui Moimoi

Another cult hero who excited fans and inspired his teammates with his barnstorming runs — and ever-changing hairstyles. Fui was a wrecking ball and while his aggressive style sometimes earned him a date with the judiciary, he had a tremendous impact at the Eels

Strange team for mine. At their best (and that is what we're looking at here, isn't it?) I'd include Feliti Mateo and Krisnan Inu. How does Shivo get in on the strength of one year? Eric Grothe Jnr must be unlucky. And Luke Burt is so under-rated (I realise the days of small, fast wingers is pretty much over, but he was a prolific try scorer and goal scorer who could also fill in at fullback and at times acted like a second five-eight. I know these guys only just scrape into the last decade timewise, but …..
 

Angry_eel

First Grade
Messages
8,565
It's interesting that our best team is basically the remnants of the gf team and the best players of the current team. We basically did not have any good hookers or halves until now.
 

84 Baby

Referee
Messages
28,312
For mine outside of Hayne, Semi, Mannah, Fui, Mau and to lesser degree Hindy (he’s there cause he’s Hindy) every other spot is up for grabs. It’s hard to pick because some of those decent players in the back half of last decade were quite garbage at the start of this decade
 

Soren Lorenson

First Grade
Messages
6,930
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/26fa3b7c56b368eae33e87e606518283

EELS

Positions to fill:Back row, centre, fullback

Analysis: The Eels came along in leaps and bounds last season to go from wooden spooners the previous season to a fifth-place finish.

However, the Eels were ultimately blown off the park by the Storm to be ousted from the finals series and there is a feeling they still require a strike player in their back row or outside backs.

Clint Gutherson is a reliable skipper and consistent performer at the back for the Eels, but it remains to be seen if he has the ability to shine on the big stage like James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Ryan Papenhuyzen, or Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. His best position could potentially be at centre.

In the centres Michael Jennings and Waqa Blake are solid options, but there ability to challenge the centre pairings of the top four sides in finals footy remains a question mark.

And while Ryan Matterson is a massive boost to the back row, the Eels may struggle to fill the void left by noted hardman Manu Ma’u.

Verdict: The Eels need a strike attacking fullback.

Soren Lorenson's verdict: bullshit. Discuss.
 

84 Baby

Referee
Messages
28,312
I agree we could do with a strike outside player but disagree it should be fullback. A Mennings circa 2014 or whatever would be perfect
 

84 Baby

Referee
Messages
28,312
Although with a more dominant forward pack, nothing to say Gunco or Wacker can’t be more strikey
 

Joshuatheeel

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
19,625
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/26fa3b7c56b368eae33e87e606518283

EELS

Positions to fill:Back row, centre, fullback

Analysis: The Eels came along in leaps and bounds last season to go from wooden spooners the previous season to a fifth-place finish.

However, the Eels were ultimately blown off the park by the Storm to be ousted from the finals series and there is a feeling they still require a strike player in their back row or outside backs.

Clint Gutherson is a reliable skipper and consistent performer at the back for the Eels, but it remains to be seen if he has the ability to shine on the big stage like James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Ryan Papenhuyzen, or Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. His best position could potentially be at centre.

In the centres Michael Jennings and Waqa Blake are solid options, but there ability to challenge the centre pairings of the top four sides in finals footy remains a question mark.

And while Ryan Matterson is a massive boost to the back row, the Eels may struggle to fill the void left by noted hardman Manu Ma’u.

Verdict: The Eels need a strike attacking fullback.

Soren Lorenson's verdict: bullshit. Discuss.

That’s a f**ken terrible article!! The author has no idea!!
 

Joshuatheeel

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
19,625
Strange team for mine. At their best (and that is what we're looking at here, isn't it?) I'd include Feliti Mateo and Krisnan Inu. How does Shivo get in on the strength of one year? Eric Grothe Jnr must be unlucky. And Luke Burt is so under-rated (I realise the days of small, fast wingers is pretty much over, but he was a prolific try scorer and goal scorer who could also fill in at fullback and at times acted like a second five-eight. I know these guys only just scrape into the last decade timewise, but …..

Inu’s last season was 2010, Grothe 2010 (only 8 games) and Mateo 2010. So they were hardly here this decade.

Sivo actually played more games for the eels than Inu / Grothe this decade while he also scored more tries then both of them combined this decade.....
 

Noise

Coach
Messages
17,321
Inu’s last season was 2010, Grothe 2010 (only 8 games) and Mateo 2010. So they were hardly here this decade.

Sivo actually played more games for the eels than Inu / Grothe this decade while he also scored more tries then both of them combined this decade.....
And Luke Burt was shit from about 2010 onwards.
 

Gronk

Moderator
Staff member
Messages
74,104
https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nr...s/news-story/26fa3b7c56b368eae33e87e606518283

EELS

Positions to fill:Back row, centre, fullback

Analysis: The Eels came along in leaps and bounds last season to go from wooden spooners the previous season to a fifth-place finish.

However, the Eels were ultimately blown off the park by the Storm to be ousted from the finals series and there is a feeling they still require a strike player in their back row or outside backs.

Clint Gutherson is a reliable skipper and consistent performer at the back for the Eels, but it remains to be seen if he has the ability to shine on the big stage like James Tedesco, Tom Trbojevic, Ryan Papenhuyzen, or Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad. His best position could potentially be at centre.

In the centres Michael Jennings and Waqa Blake are solid options, but there ability to challenge the centre pairings of the top four sides in finals footy remains a question mark.

And while Ryan Matterson is a massive boost to the back row, the Eels may struggle to fill the void left by noted hardman Manu Ma’u.

Verdict: The Eels need a strike attacking fullback.

Soren Lorenson's verdict: bullshit. Discuss.

Work experience journos writing the copy again ?
 

emjaycee

Coach
Messages
13,073
So according to the esteemed author of the above article, our centres in Mennings and Blake have a question mark over their ability to challenge the centre pairings of the top four sides...

Roosters 2020 Centres: Manu, Mitchell(??), Billy Smith and Ikuvalu - if they lost Latrell they have Manu and 2 rookies to choose from.

Storm 2020 Centres: Olam, Eisenhuth, Seve and Lumelume - right, so any of these 2 will outplay Mennings and Waqa - yeah sure.

Rabbits 2020 Centres: Gagai, Roberts, Dennis and Goodwin - maybe if Roberts can find and keep his form from 2016, but really don't see much here that is better than Mennings and Blake.

Raiders 2020 Centres: Croker, Leului, Scott, Smith-Shields, Cotric and Kris - probably the only lot of centres that one could say will definitely be better than Mennings and Waqa in 2020.
 

Latest posts

Top