2012 Parramatta Eels season

Last updated
2012 Parramatta Eels season
NRL Rank16th
Play-off resultDNQ
World Club Challenge DNQ
2012 recordWins: 6; draws: 0; losses: 18
Points scoredFor: 431; against: 674
Team information
CEOBob Bentley
Coach Flag of New Zealand.svg Stephen Kearney (Round 1–20)
Flag of Australia (converted).svg Brad Arthur (Interim, Round 21–26)
Captain
Stadium Parramatta Stadium (Capacity: 20,741)
ANZ Stadium (Capacity: 83,500)
Avg. attendance16,803 (Home)
17,021 (Home & Away)
Agg. attendance201,633 (Home)
408,493 (Home & Away)
High attendance45,863 (2 September vs St. George Illawarra Dragons, Round 26)
Top scorers
Tries Flag of Australia (converted).svg Ken Sio (13)
Goals Flag of Australia (converted).svg Luke Burt (53)
Points Flag of Australia (converted).svg Luke Burt (134)
  2011 List of seasons 2013  

The 2012 Parramatta Eels season is the 66th in the club's history. Coached by Stephen Kearney (who was replaced part-way through the season by assistant coach, Brad Arthur) and captained by Nathan Hindmarsh, they competed in the NRL's 2012 Telstra Premiership. Parramatta finished the regular season in last place for the first time since 1972, also failing to make the finals for the third consecutive year.

Contents

Summary

2012 saw the retirement of Eels legends Luke Burt and Nathan Hindmarsh. It would also mark the first time since 1972 that the team would succumb to the dreaded Wooden Spoon. Parramatta struggled all year, securing just their first win of the season in Round 5 against defending premiers Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles before ending a six-game losing streak against the Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks. This horror start to the season, and a win rate of less than 25% over almost two seasons with the club, coach Stephen Kearney was forced to resign and assistant coach Brad Arthur would become caretaker. The team responded to this producing three wins from four games, including competition front-runners Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos to give the fans some hope for the rest of the season. However this was short lived and following a 38-6 thumping to the South Sydney Rabbitohs in round 25 of the Telstra Premiership were officially unable to avoid the wooden spoon.

Whilst Parramatta's problems were largely attributed to their relatively poor defence, numerous pundits claimed Parramatta's problems in 2012 were largely credited to the recurring absences of star fullback Jarryd Hayne. Even whilst producing higher per-match statistics than any other fullback in the game (eight tries, 14 try-assists), Hayne only managed to complete ten games from the season's 24, due to both injury and State of Origin duty.

Throughout the season many of the Parramatta players came under scrutiny and were dropped to the NSW Cup, including high-profile recruit Chris Sandow, who at the time was touted as overweight and unfit, [1] and veteran Luke Burt. As a result, players Matt Ryan, Jake Mullaney and Nathan Smith were called up to the top squad and have impressed in their roles of Second-Row, Fullback and Hooker respectively, making a suitable replacement for injured stars Jarryd Hayne and Matt Keating.

Towards the end of the season Ricky Stuart was announced as the new coach for the Parramatta Eels from 2013. [2]

Standings

National Rugby League

PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs 2418062568369+19940
2 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm (P)2417072579361+21838
3 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 2416082559438+12136
4 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 2416082497403+9436
5 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 2415092597445+15234
6 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 24130112545536+930
7 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks 24121112445441+429
8 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 24120122481447+3428
9 St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons 24110132405438-3326
10 Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers 24110132506551-4526
11 Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Gold Coast Titans 24100142449477-2824
12 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights 24100142448488-4024
13 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters 2481152462626-16421
14 New Zealand colours.svg New Zealand Warriors 2480162497609-11220
15 Panthers colours.svg Penrith Panthers 2480162409575-16620
16 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 2460182431674-24316

National Youth Competition

Pos.TeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bulldogs 2417162774517+25739
2 Auckland colours.svg New Zealand Warriors 2417162680516+16439
3 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders 2416082766599+16736
4 Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers (P)2415092666514+15234
5 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers 2414192694501+19333
6 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs 2414192734592+14233
7 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters 2413292694570+12432
8 St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons 24131102638553+8531
9 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm 24122102547556−930
10 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sharks 24112112619684−6528
11 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights 24101132646574+7225
12 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos 2490152629790−16122
13 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys 2472152545732−18720
14 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly Sea Eagles 2462162519811−29218
15 Parramatta colours.svg Parramatta Eels 2450192558814−25614
16 Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Gold Coast Titans 2450192424810−38614

Fixtures

Pre-season

DateOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
11 February Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Bluetongue Stadium, Gosford Loss2012 E. Tonga, Toutai Burt 2
17 February Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Centrebet Stadium, Penrith Loss2612 Sio, Sandow Burt 218,511

Home and away season

DateRoundOpponentVenueResultScoreTriesGoalsAttendanceReport
2 MarchRound 1 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss618 Sandow Burt 1/111,339 [4] [5]
12 MarchRound 2 Auckland colours.svg New Zealand Warriors Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss2036 Sio, Blair, Sandow (2) Sandow 2/412,102 [4] [6]
18 MarchRound 3 North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys Dairy Farmers Stadium, Townsville Loss426 O'Hanlon Sandow 1/18,239 [4] [7]
23 MarchRound 4 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss639 Maitua Sandow 1/113,788 [4] [8]
31 MarchRound 5 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Win2920 Hayne (2), Keating, Sio Sandow 6/6 & FG: 1/113,518 [9] [10]
8 AprilRound 6 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights Hunter Stadium, Newcastle Loss146 T. Mannah Sandow 1/124,158 [11]
15 AprilRound 7 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Toyota Stadium, Woolooware Loss2418 Hayne (2), Blair Sandow 3/314,327 [12] [13]
29 AprilRound 8 Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss3031 Blair, Hayne, Ryan, Sio, W. Tonga Burt 5/519,654 [14] [15]
4 MayRound 9 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park Loss1246 Morgan, Sio Burt 2/228,214 [16] [17]
13 MayRound 10 Canberra colours.svg Canberra Raiders Canberra Stadium, Canberra Loss4034 Morgan (2), Sio (2), Blair, Sandow Burt 5/69,210 [18] [19]
18-21 MayRound 11Bye
26 MayRound 12 St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons WIN Jubilee Oval, Kogarah Loss1412 McGuire, Ryan Burt 2/212,756 [20] [21]
4 JuneRound 13 Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Win2920 Burt (2), Hayne (2), Morgan Burt 4/5; Sandow FG: 1/110,009 [22] [23]
8-11 JuneRound 14Bye
16 JuneRound 15 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park Loss624 Maitua Burt 1/114,212 [24] [25]
23 JuneRound 16 Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers Centrebet Stadium, Penrith [26] Win1918 Burt, Hayne, Morgan Burt 3/3; Sandow FG: 1/115,275 [27] [28]
30 JuneRound 17 Newcastle colours.svg Newcastle Knights Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Loss1220 M. Keating, Sio Burt 2/212,022
8 JulyRound 18 Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles Brookvale Oval, Brookvale [29] Loss4024 Sio (2), Burt, Mullaney Burt 4/416,065
13 JulyRound 19 Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park [30] Loss1232 Morgan, Sio Burt 2/231,102
21 JulyRound 20 Melbourne colours.svg Melbourne Storm Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Win1610 Hindmarsh, Sio, B. Smith Burt 2/39,029
30 JulyRound 21 Brisbane colours.svg Brisbane Broncos Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane [31] Win2242 Sandow (2), Burt, Moimoi, Poore, Sio, N. Smith Burt 7/722,626
6 AugustRound 22 Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers Campbelltown Sports Stadium, Campbelltown Loss5126 Mullaney (2), Roberts, Sio, Tautai Burt 3/514,822
11 AugustRound 23 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters Parramatta Stadium, Parramatta Win3622 Morgan (2), Sandow (2), Blair, Hindmarsh Burt 6/712,193
19 AugustRound 24 Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Gold Coast Titans Skilled Park, Gold Coast Loss2416 Burt, Lasalo, Sandow Burt 2/314,159
26 AugustRound 25 South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park [32] Loss638 Burt Burt 1/124,121
2 SeptemberRound 26 St. George colours.svg St. George Illawarra Dragons ANZ Stadium, Sydney Olympic Park Loss829 Morgan Burt 1/1, Hindmarsh 1/145,863

Players and staff

Parramatta Eels
NRL Premiership SquadCoaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coach


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)
  • Cruz Roja.svg Injured

Updated: 27 March 2012
Source(s): Player profiles, [33] Coaching staff, [34]
Injury update, [35] Rugby League Project

Transfers

In:

Nat.Pos.NameFrom
Flag of Samoa.svg SO Ben Roberts Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Flag of Australia (converted).svg HK Nathan Smith Canterbury colours.svg Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs
Flag of New Zealand.svg PR Taulima Tautai Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Flag of Australia (converted).svg PR Jon Mannah Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Flag of Tonga.svg CE Esikeli Tonga Gold Coast Titans colours.svg Gold Coast Titans
Flag of Australia (converted).svg CE Willie Tonga North Queensland colours.svg North Queensland Cowboys
Flag of the United States.svg LF Joseph Paulo Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers
Flag of New Zealand.svg SR Daniel Penese St. George colours.svg St George Illawarra Dragons
Flag of Australia (converted).svg SH Chris Sandow South Sydney colours.svg South Sydney Rabbitohs
Flag of Australia (converted).svg WG Cheyse Blair Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters
Flag of Australia (converted).svg FB Jake Mullaney Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers

Out

Nat.Pos.NameTo
Flag of Tonga.svg PR Manase Manuokafoa Bullscolours.svg Bradford Bulls
Flag of Australia (converted).svg SH Jeff Robson Cronulla colours.svg Cronulla Sutherland Sharks
Flag of Australia (converted).svg SO Daniel Mortimer Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters
Flag of Australia (converted).svg WG Daniel Tupou Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Sydney Roosters
Flag of Tonga.svg WG Etu Uaisele Penrith Panthers square flag icon with 2020 colours.svg Penrith Panthers
Flag of Australia (converted).svg CE Joel Reddy Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
Flag of Australia (converted).svg FB Tom Humble Wests Tigers colours.svg Wests Tigers
Flag of New Zealand.svg PR Pele Peletelese Manly Sea Eagles colours.svg Burleigh Bears

Retirees

Note: Former Manly player and NSW representative, William Hopoate will join the Eels in 2014 after completing a two-year religious mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [36]

Player statistics

Player statistics as of 26 August 2012. [4]

Name App T G FG Pts
Mitchell Allgood 170000
Cheyse Blair 2050020
Luke Burt 186510126
Jarryd Hayne 1280032
Nathan Hindmarsh 212008
Justin Horo 40000
Matthew Keating 152008
Luke Kelly 40000
Taniela Lasalo 101004
Casey McGuire 111000
Reni Maitua 192008
Tim Mannah 221004
Fuifui Moimoi 211004
Ryan Morgan 1780032
Jake Mullaney 530012
Pat O'Hanlon 21004
Joseph Paulo 210000
Justin Poore 211004
Ben Roberts 171004
Matt Ryan 172008
Chris Sandow 21914367
Ken Sio 22130052
Ben Smith 81004
Nathan Smith 71004
Taulima Tautai 91004
Esikeli Tonga 30000
Willie Tonga 121004

Milestones

Part-way through the season it was announced that head coach Stephen Kearney would depart the club, with his assistant Brad Arthur taking over for the remainder of 2012. About a week later Ricky Stuart was announced as the Eels' head coach for the 2013 NRL season.

Jersey and Sponsors

Parramatta retain Pirtek Fluid Systems as major sponsor in 2012. The team is often referred to as the Pirtek Eels. Apparel sponsors for 2012 are Law Partners Compensation Lawyers, the University of New England, and Capital Corporation. [37]

References

  1. Sterling Slams Overweight Sandow The Daily Telegraph[ dead link ]
  2. Ricky Stuart To Coach Parramatta Eels For Next Three Seasons Herald Sun[ dead link ]
  3. Middleton, David (ed.). 2012 Official Rugby League Annual. Sydney: NewsLifeMedia. p. 107.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 "NRL 2012 - Parramatta Eels". The Rugby League Project. 26 August 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  5. "NRL Game Report: Eels vs Broncos". League Central: The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. 2 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  6. "NRL Game Report: Eels vs Warriors". League Central: The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. 12 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  7. "NRL Game Report: Cowboys vs Eels". League Central: The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. 17 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  8. "NRL Game Report: Eels vs Panthers". League Central: The Daily Telegraph. Sydney: News Limited. 23 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  9. "NRL 2012 - Round 5 (PAR-MAN)". Rugby League Project. 1 April 2012. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  10. "NRL Match Centre". Fox Sports. Retrieved 1 April 2012.
  11. "NRL 2012 - Round 6 (NEW-PAR)". Rugby League Project. 10 April 2012. Retrieved 10 April 2012.
  12. "NRL 2012 - Round 7 (CRO-PAR)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  13. "NRL Match Centre: Cronulla v Parramatta, Full Time 24-18". Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 15 April 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  14. "NRL 2012 - Round 8 (PAR-WTI)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  15. "NRL Match Centre: Parramatta v Wests Tigers, Full Time 30-31". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 29 April 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  16. "NRL 2012 - Round 9 (PAR-CTB)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  17. "NRL Match Centre: Parramatta v Canterbury-Bankstown, Full Time 12-46". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 4 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  18. "NRL 2012 - Round 10 (CNB-PAR)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  19. "NRL Match Centre: Canberra v Parramatta, Full Time 40-34". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 13 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  20. "NRL 2012 - Round 12 (STI-PAR)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  21. "NRL Match Centre: St George Illawarra v Parramatta, Full Time 14-12". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  22. "NRL 2012 - Round 13 (PAR-CRO)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  23. "NRL Match Centre: Parramatta v Cronulla, Full Time 29-20". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 26 May 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  24. "NRL 2012 - Round 15 (PAR-SOU)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  25. "NRL Match Centre: Parramatta v South Sydney, Full Time 6-24". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 16 June 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  26. 2012 NRL season results: Round 16
  27. "NRL 2012 - Round 16 (PEN-PAR)". Rugby League Project. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  28. "NRL Match Centre: Penrith v Parramatta, Full Time 18-19". The Sydney Morning Herald: League HQ. 23 June 2012. Retrieved 28 August 2012.
  29. 2012 NRL season results: Round 18
  30. 2012 NRL season results: Round 19
  31. 2012 NRL season results: Round 21
  32. 2012 NRL season results: Round 25
  33. "NRL Squad". Parramatta Eels. Telstra BigPond. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  34. "NRL Coaching Staff". Parramatta Eels. Telstra BigPond. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  35. "NRL Injury Update". Parramatta Eels. Telstra BigPond. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  36. Massoud, Josh (4 October 2011). "William Hopoate to sign with Parramatta Eels". The Daily Telegraph. Sydney. Retrieved 27 March 2012.
  37. "Sponsor Directory". Parramatta Eels. Telstra BigPond. Archived from the original on 21 March 2012. Retrieved 27 March 2012.