2019 Parramatta Eels season

The 2019 Parramatta Eels season was the 73rd in the club's history. Coached by Brad Arthur and captained by Clinton Gutherson, they competed in the NRL's 2019 Telstra Premiership.[1]

2019 Parramatta Eels season
NRL Rank5th
Play-off resultSemi-finalists (Lost 0–32 vs Melbourne Storm, 1st Semi Final)
World Club ChallengeDNQ
2019 recordWins: 14; draws: 0; losses: 10
Points scoredFor: 533; against: 473
Team information
CEOBernie Gurr
CoachAustralia Brad Arthur
Captain
StadiumBankwest Stadium (Capacity: 30,000)
ANZ Stadium (Capacity: 83,500)
TIO Stadium (Capacity: 12,500)
Avg. attendance18,396 (Home)
18,686 (Home & Away)
25,194 (Finals Series)
Agg. attendance220,757 (Home)
448,464 (Home & Away)
50,387 (Finals Series)
High attendance29,372 (15 September vs Brisbane Broncos, 1st Elimination Final)
Top scorers
TriesFiji Maika Sivo (22)
GoalsLebanon Mitchell Moses (92)
PointsLebanon Mitchell Moses (201)
← 2018List of seasons2020 →

Summary

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Before the start of the 2019 NRL season, Parramatta were predicted by many to finish towards the bottom of the table or claim another wooden spoon. The club started off the year with back to back victories over Penrith and arch rivals Canterbury-Bankstown. In round 6 of the 2019 NRL season, Parramatta played their first game at the new Western Sydney Stadium against the Wests Tigers and ran out 51–6 winners in front of a sold-out crowd.[2][3]

In round 9 against Melbourne, Parramatta suffered one of their worst ever defeats losing 64–10 at Suncorp Stadium. In the aftermath of the defeat, coach Brad Arthur and the players were placed under intense scrutiny but just a week after the loss, Arthur was given a two-year contract extension by the Parramatta board. The club would then go on to lose against North Queensland and last placed Penrith in the coming weeks.[4][5]

Between round 12 and round 22 of the 2019 season, Parramatta would go on to win eight of their ten games. In round 22 against the Gold Coast Titans, Parramatta qualified for the 2019 finals series with a 36–12 victory at Cbus Super Stadium.[6]

At the end of the 2019 regular season, Parramatta finished fifth on the table. In the elimination final against Brisbane, Parramatta won the match 58–0 at the new Western Sydney Stadium. The victory was the biggest finals win in history, eclipsing Newtown's 55–7 win over St. George in 1944. The match was also Parramatta's biggest win over Brisbane and Brisbane's worst ever loss since entering the competition in 1988.[7]The following week against Melbourne in the elimination semi final, Parramatta were defeated 32–0 at AAMI Park which ended their season. The loss against Melbourne was also the sixth time Parramatta had been defeated by Melbourne in a finals game since 1999.[8]


Standings

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PosTeamPldWDLBPFPAPDPts
1 Melbourne Storm2420041631300+33142
2 Sydney Roosters2417071627363+26436
3 South Sydney Rabbitohs2416081521417+10434
4 Canberra Raiders2415091524374+15032
5 Parramatta Eels24140101533473+6030
6 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles24140101496446+5030
7 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks24120121514464+5026
8 Brisbane Broncos24111121432489−5725
9 Wests Tigers24110131475486−1124
10 Penrith Panthers24110131413474−6124
11 Newcastle Knights24100141485522−3722
12 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs24100141326477−15122
13 New Zealand Warriors2491141433574−14121
14 North Queensland Cowboys2490151378500−12220
15 St. George Illawarra Dragons2480161427575−14818
16 Gold Coast Titans2440201370651−28110

Fixtures

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Pre-season

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RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and time (Local)VenueAttendance
1 Parramatta Eels20 – 22 Canberra RaidersFriday, 15 February, 7:00 pmSt Marys Leagues Stadium
2 Penrith Panthers0 – 20 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 2 March, 7:00 pmPanthers Stadium6,339
Source:[9][10]

Home and away season

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RoundHomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and time (Local)VenueAttendance
1 Penrith Panthers12 – 20 Parramatta EelsSunday 17 March, 4:05 pmPanthers Stadium12,604
2 Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs16 – 36 Parramatta EelsSunday, 24 March, 4:05 pmANZ Stadium20,134
3 Parramatta Eels18 – 32 Sydney RoostersFriday, 29 March, 7:55 pmANZ Stadium13,367
4 Parramatta Eels24 – 12 Cronulla-Sutherland SharksSaturday, 6 April, 7:35 pmANZ Stadium11,185
5 Canberra Raiders19 – 0 Parramatta EelsSunday, 14 April, 6:10 pmGIO Stadium16,059
6 Parramatta Eels51 – 6 Wests TigersMonday, 22 April, 4:00 pmBankwest Stadium29,047
7 Newcastle Knights28 – 14 Parramatta EelsSunday, 28 April, 4:05 pmMcDonald Jones Stadium19,604
8 Parramatta Eels32 – 18 St George Illawarra DragonsSunday, 5 May, 4:05 pmBankwest Stadium25,872
9 Melbourne Storm64 – 10 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 11 May, 7:35 pmSuncorp Stadium41,612
10 North Queensland Cowboys17 – 10 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 18 May, 5:30 pm1300SMILES Stadium12,493
11 Parramatta Eels10 – 16 Penrith PanthersThursday, 23 May, 7:50 pmBankwest Stadium16,228
12 Parramatta Eels26 – 14 South Sydney RabbitohsFriday, 31 May, 7:55 pmBankwest Stadium21,645
13 Cronulla-Sutherland Sharks42 – 22 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 8 June, 5:30 pmShark Park12,386
14 Parramatta Eels38 – 10 Brisbane BroncosSaturday, 15 June, 7:35 pmBankwest Stadium16,854
15 Parramatta Eels22 – 16 Canberra RaidersSaturday, 29 June, 7:35 pmTIO Stadium5,391
16Bye Round
17 Wests Tigers18 – 30 Parramatta EelsSunday, 14 July, 4:05 pmBankwest Stadium24,125
18 Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles36 – 24 Parramatta EelsSunday, 21 July, 4:05 pmLottoland15,245
19 Parramatta Eels24 – 22 New Zealand WarriorsSaturday, 27 July, 3:00 pmBankwest Stadium17,392
20 St George Illawarra Dragons4 – 12 Parramatta EelsSunday, 4 August, 4:05 pmNetstrata Jubilee Stadium9,645
21 Parramatta Eels20 – 14 Newcastle KnightsSaturday, 10 August, 6:30 pmBankwest Stadium20,671
22 Gold Coast Titans12 – 36 Parramatta EelsFriday, 16 August, 6:00 pmCbus Super Stadium10,780
23 Parramatta Eels6 – 12 Canterbury-Bankstown BulldogsThursday, 22 August, 7:50 pmBankwest Stadium18,071
24 Brisbane Broncos17 – 16 Parramatta EelsFriday, 30 August, 7:55 pmSuncorp Stadium33,020
25 Parramatta Eels32 – 16 Manly-Warringah Sea EaglesFriday, 6 September, 6:00 pmBankwest Stadium25,034
Source:[11]

Finals series

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FinalHomeScoreAwayMatch Information
Date and time (Local)VenueAttendance
EF Parramatta Eels58 – 0 Brisbane BroncosSunday, 15 September, 4:00 pmBankwest Stadium29,372
SF Melbourne Storm32 – 0 Parramatta EelsSaturday, 21 September, 5:30 pmAAMI Park21,015
Source:[11]

Players and staff

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The playing squad and coaching staff of the Parramatta Eels for the 2019 NRL season as of 28 July 2019.[12]

Parramatta Eels
Top 30 squadExtended squadCoaching staff

Head coach

Assistant coaches


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)

Updated: 28 July 2019
Source(s): Eels Team Profiles


Transfers

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In:

Nat.Pos.NameFromTransfer windowDateRef.
Dylan BrownYouthPre-season
Andrew Davey Townsville BlackhawksPre-seasonOctober 2018[13]
Salesi Fainga'aYouthPre-season
Blake Ferguson Sydney RoostersPre-season
Shaun Lane Manly Warringah Sea EaglesPre-seasonOctober 2018[13]
Ethan ParryYouthPre-season
Junior Paulo Canberra RaidersPre-season[14]
Maika Sivo Penrith PanthersPre-seasonOctober 2018[13]
Stefano UtoikamanuYouthPre-season
Matthew McIlwrick South Sydney RabbitohsMid-seasonMarch 2019
Waqa Blake Penrith PanthersMid-seasonJune 2019

Out:

Nat.Pos.NameToTransfer windowDateRef.
Kirisome Auva'aRetiredPre-season[15]
Cameron King Featherstone RoversPre-season[16]
Suaia Matagi Huddersfield GiantsPre-season[17]
Corey Norman St George Illawarra DragonsPre-seasonDecember 2018[18]
Beau ScottRetiredPre-season[19]
Tony Williams Blacktown Workers Sea EaglesPre-season
Nathan DavisReleasedPre-season
Jarryd HayneReleasedPre-season
Siosaia Vave St Marys SaintsPre-season
Kaysa PritchardRetiredMid-seasonJune 2019
Bevan French Wigan WarriorsMid-seasonJuly 2019

References

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  1. ^ "NRL 2019 – Parramatta Eels – Rugby League Project".
  2. ^ "Parramatta Eels thrash Wests Tigers 51–6 to christen new Parramatta Stadium". ABC News. 22 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Where each club will finish in 2019". NRL. 23 December 2018.
  4. ^ "Arthur signs new contract with Parramatta". www.nrl.com. 14 May 2019.
  5. ^ "Parramatta Eels sign coach Brad Arthur to new NRL deal". www.foxsports.com.au. 14 May 2019.
  6. ^ "Moses guides Eels past sorry Titans in NRL". 7 News. 16 August 2019.
  7. ^ "Parramatta Eels eliminate Brisbane Broncos from the NRL Finals with a thumping 58–0 win". ABC News. 15 September 2019.
  8. ^ "Melbourne Storm crush Parramatta 32–0 in their semi-final to set up prelim against the Roosters". ABC News. 21 September 2019.
  9. ^ "Moses and Brown gives Eels fans hope for 2019 – Eels". 15 February 2019.
  10. ^ "Eels triumph over Panthers in trial – Eels". 2 March 2019.
  11. ^ a b "NRL 2019 – Parramatta Eels". Rugby League Project. 6 April 2019.
  12. ^ "Teams".
  13. ^ a b c "Eels confirm new signings for 2019". 29 October 2018.
  14. ^ "Junior Paulo Canberra Raiders Parramatta Eels deal". foxsports.com.au. 19 April 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  15. ^ "Kirisome Auva'a retires from NRL, Parramatta Eels". foxsports.com.au. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Cameron King signs with Championship club Featherstone Rovers after viral tweet". Sporting News. Retrieved 17 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Huddersfield Giants sign Samoa prop Suaia Matagi from Parramatta". Sky Sports. Retrieved 16 March 2019.
  18. ^ "Dragons sign Norman". 19 December 2018.
  19. ^ "Eels star calls it quits". wwos.nine.com.au. Retrieved 16 March 2019.