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PARRAMATTA EELS
2021 Record: (regular season) W15 L9 - 63% win rate
Finals outcome: eliminated in week two
Ladder finish: 6th
Season grade: B
The Eels late season finals fade out threatened to eventuate again, but didn’t. They may have been knocked out at the semi-finals stage again, but this was not the capitulation we have come to expect from the Eels in September. The Eels were top four all season before a form slump from Round 19-22 saw them lose 28-0 to the Roosters, 40-12 to the Rabbitohs and 56-10 to the Sea Eagles and their fans were saying here we go again. However under-siege coach Brad Arthur was able to find some much needed resolve in his group after they beat the minor premiers the Storm for the second time in the season in Round 24 with a 22-10 upset. The Eels then beat the Knights in the elimination final before producing their best defensive performance of the year in arguably the game of the season, an 8-6 loss to arch rivals the Panthers. Along the way the Eels unearthed a real talent in centre Will Penisini who is set for a bright future in the NRL, while Haze Dunster also had a breakout season on the wing. The club also had arguably the buy of the year in Isaiah Papali’i, who gave them staunch defence and relentless potency on the edge. Most importantly the Eels’ spine players in Clinton Gutherson, Dylan Brown and in particular Mitchell Moses overcame mini form slumps to deliver at the right end of the season. Things did get tricky though when Maika Sivo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Reed Mahoney got injured — Mahoney’s absence was particularly hard to overcome. If the Eels can have a bit more luck with injuries next season they will fancy their chances of breaking the longest premiership drought in the NRL after beating last year’s premiers twice this year and pushing this year’s eventual premiers to the end in their finals exit.
2021 Record: (regular season) W15 L9 - 63% win rate
Finals outcome: eliminated in week two
Ladder finish: 6th
Season grade: B
The Eels late season finals fade out threatened to eventuate again, but didn’t. They may have been knocked out at the semi-finals stage again, but this was not the capitulation we have come to expect from the Eels in September. The Eels were top four all season before a form slump from Round 19-22 saw them lose 28-0 to the Roosters, 40-12 to the Rabbitohs and 56-10 to the Sea Eagles and their fans were saying here we go again. However under-siege coach Brad Arthur was able to find some much needed resolve in his group after they beat the minor premiers the Storm for the second time in the season in Round 24 with a 22-10 upset. The Eels then beat the Knights in the elimination final before producing their best defensive performance of the year in arguably the game of the season, an 8-6 loss to arch rivals the Panthers. Along the way the Eels unearthed a real talent in centre Will Penisini who is set for a bright future in the NRL, while Haze Dunster also had a breakout season on the wing. The club also had arguably the buy of the year in Isaiah Papali’i, who gave them staunch defence and relentless potency on the edge. Most importantly the Eels’ spine players in Clinton Gutherson, Dylan Brown and in particular Mitchell Moses overcame mini form slumps to deliver at the right end of the season. Things did get tricky though when Maika Sivo, Reagan Campbell-Gillard and Reed Mahoney got injured — Mahoney’s absence was particularly hard to overcome. If the Eels can have a bit more luck with injuries next season they will fancy their chances of breaking the longest premiership drought in the NRL after beating last year’s premiers twice this year and pushing this year’s eventual premiers to the end in their finals exit.
Awkward problem Storm couldn’t solve; silver lining we all missed: Final grades for EVERY team
Awkward problem Storm couldn’t solve; silver lining we all missed: Final report card
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